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With the fantasy hockey season proper across the nook, it’s time to take inventory of your fantasy choices for all 32 NHL groups.
For extra in-depth staff evaluation, together with projected even-strength lineups, energy play models, goalies and prospects to notice, click on on the staff to see their 2023-24 fantasy preview.
You can too view the highest 300 fantasy rankings for each customary and banger leagues. The rankings will probably be up to date frequently over the course of the season, with model 2.0 coming on the finish of September at THN.com/fantasy.
Pacific Division Predicted End
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Vegas Golden Knights
3. Los Angeles Kings
4. Seattle Kraken
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Calgary Flames
7. Anaheim Geese
8. San Jose Sharks
Edmonton Oilers
Trending: Undoubtedly up
Powered by Connor McDavid – who else – and the very best energy play the league has ever seen within the Wage Cap Period, the Oilers are a top-tier fantasy possibility. Leon Draisaitl ought to rank no decrease than third in any format, and so they’re joined by power-play menace Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (ranked thirty seventh in my fantasy rankings) and quarterback Evan Bouchard (74th), who’s simply knocking on the door of the elite tier.
The Oilers completed simply two factors behind the Knights for the division title, and with the addition of Connor Brown (177th) and a full season from Evander Kane (eighty fifth, forty second in banger) and Mattias Ekholm (278th), the Oilers are poised to complete because the league’s prime offensive staff as soon as once more.
Hidden Gem:
Ekholm scored at a 54-point tempo after becoming a member of the Oilers, and he provides the second-most offensive upside on their blueline after Bouchard, who will possible be Ekholm’s accomplice. Ekholm additionally provides up 100-block and 100-hit potential, and with a 168.2 common draft place (ADP) on Yahoo, I might positively take him over the likes of Hampus Lindholm (114.0), Brady Skjei (139.4) and Esa Lindell (165.0).
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Connor McDavid, 138 factors
Leon Draisaitl, 121 factors
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 92 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Oilers:
1. Connor McDavid, C
3. Leon Draisaitl, C/LW
37. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C/LW
Vegas Golden Knights
Trending: Barely down – it’s the one solution to go after reaching the highest
A part of the explanation it’s extremely tough to repeat within the Cap Period is as a result of it’s actually onerous to maintain everybody collectively. The important thing departure was Reilly Smith (186th), one-third of the ‘Misfits Line’ that had been so dependable and constant since their inaugural season. The offense is just a little thinner, and till Jack Eichel (thirty ninth) scores higher than a point-per-game tempo, he’s a second-tier fantasy possibility at heart.
Logan Thompson (152nd) and Adin Hill (194th) will function some type of timeshare in web, with Thompson possible getting the sting, making him a viable zero-G possibility, however their timeshare and effectiveness as a tandem is actually to be decided. The regression, if any, received’t be vital given the Knights’ top-notch capability to defend.
Hidden Gem:
It’s about time Chandler Stephenson stops getting ignored. The second-line pivot is a Swiss military knife, capable of transfer up and down the lineup with ease and play a number of positions. Although he doesn’t shoot the puck very a lot, his velocity, playmaking and enjoying time – over 19 minutes per recreation over the previous two seasons with energy play – is a assure he’ll rating 60 factors for the third straight season. He’s a secure decide within the center rounds the place 60-point scorers are considerable.
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Jack Eichel, 76 factors
Chandler Stephenson, 67 factors
Jonathan Marchessault, 66 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Golden Knights:
39. Jack Eichel, C
100. Jonathan Marchessault, RW
114. Mark Stone, RW
Los Angeles Kings
Trending: Sideways, till their younger gamers push them excessive
The Kings swapped out just a few items, however their outlook is similar because the earlier season: playoff contender however actually not one of many favorites.
Pierre-Luc Dubois (58th) now replaces Anze Kopitar (66th) as the middle with essentially the most fantasy worth, however in including Dubois, additionally they gutted a few of their depth, dropping Gabriel Vilardi (173rd), Alex Iafallo (271st) and Rasmus Kupari. It’s a wash at this level, however what might put the Kings over the sting is a breakout season from Quinton Byfield (283rd) and Arthur Kaliyev, and a powerful season from Brandt Clarke, who replaces Sean Durzi (277th) and might need some worth in deep leagues if – an enormous if – he can siphon power-play minutes away from Drew Doughty.
Goaltending would be the greatest concern after selecting to not re-sign Joonas Korpisalo (133rd) after a .892 SP efficiency within the playoffs, solely to downgrade to 36-year-old Cam Talbot (245th), who had a .898 SP through the season. Pheonix Copley, final season’s hero, will see some enjoying time, as might third-string David Rittich. The uncertainty in web, however the Kings’ optimistic outlook makes their goalies targets for managers with zero-G methods.
Hidden Gem:
Hopefully, it’s Byfield, however Adrian Kempe continues to get ignored in fantasy. He’s ranked 86th in the usual rankings however 68th within the banger league rankings because of his 40-goal, 250-shot, 100-hit potential. At Yahoo’s ADP of 91.4, Kempe’s an important worth decide at that slot.
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Kevin Fiala, 75 factors
Pierre-Luc Dubois, 63 factors
Anze Kopitar, 62 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Kings:
43. Kevin Fiala, LW
58. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW
66. Anze Kopitar, C
Seattle Kraken
Trending: Up, even with just a few crimson flags
The Kraken overachieved final season due to Jared McCann’s outlier 40-goal season and a first-round upset over the defending champion Colorado Avalanche. They’d be hard-pressed to copy that efficiency contemplating they made no vital modifications to their roster within the low season.
Matty Beniers (103rd) stays their prime fantasy possibility, adopted by a glut of wingers together with McCann (127th) and 4 different 20-goal scorers in Jordan Eberle (139th), Oliver Bjorkstrand (182nd) and Jaden Schwartz. The Kraken’s offense by committee works, however it reductions the fantasy worth of all of their wingers.
Goaltending is, once more, their greatest concern. Philipp Grubauer (178th) has fantasy worth as a result of he can get wins, however fantasy managers will get crushed in all different goalie classes. Grubauer is an enormous motive the Kraken are being held again from being one of many Pacific’s prime groups.
Hidden Gem:
Matty Beniers isn’t getting drafted excessive sufficient with a Yahoo ADP of 143.1. His standing because the staff’s prime heart is unchallenged, and Shane Wright is yet another season away from turning into an NHL common. The Kraken’s glut of wingers is tough to parse from a fantasy standpoint, however it’s a boon for Beniers as a result of there’s no scarcity of high quality. A 70-point season is effectively inside Beniers’ sights, whose offensive capability has exceeded expectations after being drafted as a two-way heart two years in the past.
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Matty Beniers, 77 factors
Jared McCann, 62 factors
Vince Dunn, 53 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Kraken:
103. Matty Beniers, C
127. Jared McCann, LW
139. Jordan Eberle, RW
Vancouver Canucks
Trending: Hopefully extra up than down
Among the many Pacific groups, the Canucks have the widest vary of potential outcomes.
They confirmed vital enchancment after Rick Tocchet grew to become the coach, however the murky future surrounding Elias Pettersson (twelfth) looms over all the pieces. Can the Canucks cope with each the strain of profitable video games in an intense hockey market and convincing Pettersson to remain?
The high-end expertise is there with Pettersson, J.T. Miller (thirty second), Quinn Hughes (seventieth) and Andrei Kuzmenko (a hundred and first), however the depth is questionable, and the defensive play remains to be suspect. Past these 4 gamers, the remainder of the Canucks roster has little fantasy upside.
Their season might find yourself hinging on Thatcher Demko (93rd), who’s arguably a top-five goalie if he can keep wholesome. His fantasy worth could be as immense as his significance to the Canucks’ success.
Hidden Gem:
Hughes was newly minted because the captain, however don’t overlook about Filip Hronek, their prime right-hand defenseman. Acquired from the Pink Wings, Hronek appeared in simply 4 video games for the Canucks final season because of damage however in any other case scored at a 50-point tempo. Hronek may very well be paired with Hughes and mop up any power-play minutes Hughes leaves behind.
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Elias Pettersson, 100 factors
J.T. Miller, 88 factors
Quinn Hughes, 82 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Canucks:
12. Elias Pettersson, C
32. J.T. Miller, C/RW
70. Quinn Hughes, D
Calgary Flames
Trending: The home is not burning – that’s a plus
The Flames didn’t make any vital roster modifications, however the hope is that they’ll bounce again below a brand new GM and new coach.
A disastrous season and the standing of impending UFAs Elias Lindholm (71st), Mikael Backlund (one hundred and sixty fifth) and Noah Hanifin (261st) make the Flames tough to gauge, although the three veterans may very well be good fantasy gambles as they attempt to money in on their subsequent contract. The Flames provide up no scarcity of high quality fantasy choices, and there’s little doubt they’ll enhance, however to what extent is anyone’s guess.
Jacob Markstrom (a hundred and fifth) is the uncommon workhorse goalie, however final season’s physique of labor was very poor. Surprisingly, Markstrom tends to alternate between good and dangerous seasons, making him a possible mid-round goal. At worst, he’ll rack up the saves and enjoying time, and it’s unlikely prime prospect Dustin Wolf will probably be a risk to steal the beginning job this season.
Hidden Gem:
The Flames have just one right-handed common amongst their forwards, and that’s Lindholm. To keep away from having an all-lefty lineup and on a staff missing pure proper wingers, search for prospect Matt Coronato to combat for a top-six spot. The Harvard alum is a famous shooter, as soon as scoring 48 objectives in 51 video games within the USHL. He’s watch-list materials at this level, however don’t be afraid to pounce if he can safe a job subsequent to Lindholm or Nazem Kadri (94th).
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Jonathan Huberdeau, 83 factors
Elias Lindholm, 67 factors
Nazem Kadri, 60 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Flames:
71. Elias Lindholm, C
77. Jonathan Huberdeau, LW
94. Nazem Kadri, C
Anaheim Geese
Trending: Barely afloat however not drowning
The Geese are useless within the water till their younger core can take a step ahead. That begins with Mason McTavish (one hundred and thirty fifth), who possesses essentially the most upside however isn’t on the stage of his profession the place he can lead this staff or be thought of something greater than a late-round sleeper decide. Trevor Zegras (eightieth) and Troy Terry (102nd) possible prime out round 60-something factors, becoming a member of an enormous center class of depth scorers. Even the additions of 2023 second general decide Leo Carlsson (295th), who may play within the AHL as a substitute, and free agent veteran Alex Killorn (187th), are unlikely to make a huge impact on the Geese’ general offense.
Hidden Gem:
Jamie Drysdale is poised to take over the function of power-play quarterback, although he might need to displace Cam Fowler to take action. Drysdale’s a part of the Geese’ younger core and is thought for his capability to generate offense, providing a high-risk, high-reward different to the a lot steadier Fowler. Drysdale remains to be an unsigned RFA on the time of publishing, and the extra time he misses, the much less appetizing he turns into as a sleeper decide.
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Troy Terry, 68 factors
Trevor Zegras, 67 factors
Mason McTavish, 63 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Geese:
80. Trevor Zegras, C
102. Troy Terry, RW
125. John Gibson, G
San Jose Sharks
Trending: Method all the way down to the depths
It’s unsure what stage of the rebuild the Sharks are in, contemplating the mishmash of property they acquired for Erik Karlsson. After the commerce deadline on March 3, the Sharks have been one of many league’s most offensively inept groups, rating tied for twenty eighth at 2.55 objectives per recreation. That’s unlikely to alter because the three groups under the Sharks – Pink Wings, Blackhawks and Predators – all signed forwards to bolster their offense.
The Sharks, in the meantime, took of venture on Filip Zadina and traded for Mike Hoffman, Mikael Granlund and Anthony Duclair (257th), veterans their earlier groups not needed. Their prime offensive participant is predicted to be 34-year-old Logan Couture (123th), and Tomas Hertl (96th) will flip 30 in November. High prospect William Eklund (185th) isn’t precisely being put ready to succeed, and the glut of wingers additionally blocks his path to a top-six function, stopping him from getting the alternatives that may in any other case make him a helpful deep sleeper decide.
Hidden Gem:
It’s slim pickings after Couture and Hertl, however Alexander Barabanov (282nd) had a productive season with 47 factors in 68 video games. Solely with the Sharks would Barabanov be getting prime six minutes, and he could be an asset in factors leagues. Nevertheless, observe that he doesn’t shoot the puck fairly often, and like everybody else on the staff, his plus-minus goes to endure. Like I stated, it’s slim pickings.
The Hockey Information Fantasy Information High 3 Level Projections:
Logan Couture, 60 factors
Tomas Hertl, 58 factors
Alexander Barabanov, 51 factors
Jason Chen’s High 3 Ranked Sharks:
96. Tomas Hertl, C
123. Logan Couture, C
185. William Eklund, C/LW
Information Abstract:
- NHL Fantasy Hockey Pacific Preview: Hidden Gems, Projections and Extra
- Verify all information and articles from the most recent NHL updates.