It’s almost hockey season and most fantasy owners are in the middle of their slow drafts. It might be to the point in your draft where you’re looking for a sleeper. If you’re looking for a good one at defense, I’ve got you covered!

Matt Carle of the San Jose Sharks is an outstanding young and talented defenseman. While leading Denver to repeat NCAA titles, Carle became the first player in WCHA history to earn both the Player of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year Honors in the same season. He received the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. In 2004-05, Matt Carle led all WCHA defensemen in scoring with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 39 games and was eighth among all scorers.

It became evident San Jose thinks highly of Carle, and that he is in San Jose’s long-term plans, when San Jose General Manger Doug Wilson refused to trade Matt to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Chris Pronger.

“We are excited about Matt joining the San Jose Sharks,” said Wilson. “His accomplishments over the past several years speak for themselves. He has made tremendous progress in the last few seasons and that is a testament to the program at DU and guidance and leadership provided by Head Coach George Gwozdecky and his staff. We are looking forward to taking his development to the next level.”

Matt Carle, 23, is a smooth skater that will fit in nicely with the San Jose Sharks. He is what the Sharks need because he is an offensive defenseman. In 12 games last year with the Sharks, he recorded 3 goals and 3 assists (2 PPG), a +/- of –2, and 12 penalty minutes. Matt took some bad penalties and jumped into the play at wrong times (and at one time giving the opposing team an easy goal), but as he played more games, he got better and showed he was a quick learner.

Some say the Hobey Baker winner could get 50 points this year, and I have to agree. Matt Carle will be used as the power play quarterback, likely on the second unit. And when you have Joe Thornton on your team, Carle will get tons of power play time because Big Joe draws penalties game after game after game. Projections: 14 Goals (6 PPG), 35 assists, a +/- of 8, and 60 PIM.

Related Cafe Articles

• Other articles by Adrian Bell
• Nils Ekman by Jason Winhold (posted on 01/07/2006 in Sleepers)
• Patrice Bergeron by Arlo Vander (posted on 12/14/2005 in Sleepers)
• Cory Murphy by Ben Chernoff (posted on 01/20/2008 in Sleepers)


 

(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)  Loading ... Questions or comments for Ankush? Post them in the Cafe Forums! Want to write for the Cafe? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!

It’s almost hockey season and most fantasy owners are in the middle of their slow drafts. It might be to the point in your draft where you’re looking for a sleeper. If you’re looking for a young sleeper at defense, I got you covered!

Matt Carle of the San Jose Sharks is an outstanding young and talented defenseman. While leading Denver to repeat NCAA titles, Carle became the first player in WCHA history to earn both the Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year Honors in the same season. He received the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. In 2004-05, Matt Carle led all WCHA defensemen in scoring with 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) in 39 games and was eighth among all scorers.

It became evident San Jose thinks highly of Carle and that he is in San Jose’s long-term plans when San Jose General Manger Doug Wilson refused to trade Matt to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for defenseman Chris Pronger.

“We are excited about Matt joining the San Jose Sharks,” said Wilson. “His accomplishments over the past several years speak for themselves. He has made tremendous progress in the last few seasons and that is a testament to the program at DU and guidance and leadership provided by Head Coach George Gwozdecky and his staff. We are looking forward to taking his development to the next level.”

Matt Carle, 23, is a smooth skater that will fit in nicely with the San Jose Sharks. He is what the Sharks need because he is an offensive defenseman. In 12 games last year with the Sharks, he recorded 3 goals and 3 assists (2 PPG), a +/- of –2, and 12 penalty minutes. Matt took some bad penalties and jumped into the play at wrong times (and at one time giving the opposing team an easy goal), but as he played more games, he got better and showed he was a quick learner.

Some say the Hobey Baker winner could get 50 points this year. And I have to say I agree. Matt Carle will be used as the power play quarterback, likely on the 2nd unit. And when you have Joe Thornton on your team, Carle will get tons of power play time because Big Joe draws penalties game after game after game. Projections: 14 Goals (6 PPG), 35 assists, a +/- of 8, and 60 PIM.

Related Cafe Articles

• Other articles by Adrian Bell

No related articles.

 

(No Ratings Yet)  Loading ... Questions or comments for Ankush? Post them in the Cafe Forums! Want to write for the Cafe? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!