January 11, 2013

Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov was outstanding during the lockout while playing for the KHL's Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. (DAN RIEDLHUBER/Reuters)

Fantasy hockey commissioners were sent scrambling early this week with news that, yes, they would have a league to preside over this season.

Well, maybe not every one. There are big-money keeper leagues — ones with year-to-year player contracts — that may have decided to skip this abbreviated season, as the overall money pot will be decidedly less than in a normal 25-week campaign.

But for leagues deciding to forge ahead, this upcoming 48-game sprint will present some unique hurdles for fantasy team owners.