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Fantasy Prospects Report
400+ drafted prospects · NHL Draft section · 20th Edition

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Draft season is fast approaching and you don’t want to be caught unprepared. Behold, our 2022 fantasy hockey draft rankings are here to help you reign supreme over the competition in your league.
Before we get to the players on our list, here are a few things to keep in mind when viewing the rankings:
Here are the top 250 fantasy player rankings for the 2022-23 season:
1. Connor McDavid, EDM, C: Winning four of the past six scoring titles and coming off a playoff performance for the ages keeps McDavid firmly at the top of the list. There should be no debate who the No. 1 player coming off the board should be.
2. Leon Draisaitl, EDM, C: You could make an argument for Auston Matthews in this spot, but Draisaitl has 52 more points than Matthews over the past three seasons and only finished five goals behind him last year.
3. Auston Matthews, TOR, C: The best goal scorer in hockey playing with one of the best passers is a can’t miss recipe for success. The expectation for Matthews should be at least 50 goals, with a realistic shot at 60 and maybe even beyond.
4. Cale Makar, COL, D: Makar should cruise to 25 goals and 80-plus points. That would be tremendous value for any player, but to get that kind of production from a defenseman on your roster is simply too important to pass up in the top five.
5. Kirill Kaprizov, MIN, LW: It’s no coincidence Ryan Hartman and Mats Zuccarello had career years playing with Kaprizov last season. Kaprizov is a threat to hit 100 points and 300 shots, and can create offense from anywhere, playing with anyone.
6. Nathan MacKinnon, COL, C: Don’t be fooled by MacKinnon barely cracking the top-20 in league scoring last year. He still finished seventh overall with 1.35 points per game and the Avalanche are loaded with talent around him.
7. Nikita Kucherov, TB, RW: Kucherov is coming off a campaign where he had his lowest point total since 2015-16, but that’s because injuries limited him to just 47 games. He still finished second in the NHL in points per game and Kucherov will be a steal in this spot if he plays all 82.
8. Mitch Marner, RW, TOR: One of the game’s elite passers playing with the best goal scorer in the world is a great combination to produce points. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Marner reach the 100-point plateau for the first time in 2022-23 if he and Matthews can stay healthy.
9. Mikko Rantanen, RW, COL: Rantanen gives you high-end production in nearly every category, but it’s his newly found shot volume that pushes him into the top 10. After never reaching 200 shots in a season, Rantanen exploded for 254 last year. With those shot totals and the fact that Rantanen is a legit threat to hit 40 goals and 100 points, you can’t ask much more from your first pick.
10. Jonathan Huberdeau, LW, CGY: Leaving the highest scoring team in the league isn’t ideal for Huberdeau, though there is reason to believe it shouldn’t impact his production too much. Huberdeau will play next to Elias Lindholm and likely either Tyler Toffoli or Andrew Mangiapane, who both can score, so his production shouldn’t fall too far from the 115 points he put up in 2021-22.
11. Alex Ovechkin, LW, WSH: Despite quickly approaching his late 30s, Ovechkin isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. He’s coming off a campaign where he posted 50 goals and over 300 shots for the ninth time in his career. Don’t be scared off by his age.
12. Artemi Panarin, LW, NYR: Not a huge goal scorer but Panarin will fill up the assist category with ease. He’s essentially a lock for 90-plus points and 100 isn’t out of the question if newly added Vincent Trocheck shakes off last year’s mediocre scoring campaign.
13. Roman Josi, D, NSH: I’m not sure he’ll flirt with 100 points again, but even if he falls back into the 80-90 range, that’s still tremendous value for a defenseman. Josi led the league in secondary assists a year ago and he should have little trouble finishing in top three in scoring among defensemen once again in 2022-23.
14. Igor Shesterkin, G, NYR: Shesterkin gave up one goal or less in 23 of his 53 appearances last season and is a quality start machine on a good team. Give me Andrei Vasilevskiy in a must-win Game 7, but for an entire season I’ll take Shesterkin.
15. Aleksander Barkov, C, FLA: Losing Huberdeau isn’t ideal, but even if Barkov doesn’t score at a 107-point pace this season, his floor is still likely somewhere in the mid-80s. Add in that he’ll likely also give you 250 shots, and Barkov will be great value as a 15th overall pick.
16. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TB: No goaltender has played more than Vasilevskiy over the past three years when you factor in playoff games, so it wouldn’t shock me if the Lightning give him a little more rest this season to keep him fresh for the playoffs. That’s why I’d give Shesterkin the edge over him in 2022-23, but you can’t go wrong with Vasilevskiy. He’s about as safe a goalie pick as you can make.
17. David Pastrnak, RW, BOS: Even with Brad Marchand missing a significant chunk of the season, the return of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci ensures Pastrnak will still be playing with one quality centre. Pastrnaks’s shot volume took a nice bump in 2021-22, eclipsing the 300 mark for the first time in his career and he’s a threat to score 40 or more on an annual basis.
18. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, CBJ: Gaudreau is coming off a season where his 90 even strength points were the most since 1995-96, so don’t worry too much about his move to the Columbus Blue Jackets impacting his value. Plus, he’ll be playing next to one of the best finishers in the game in Patrik Laine.
19. Kyle Connor, LW, WPG: Speaking of even strength scoring, only Matthews had more even strength goals in 2021-22 than Connor. He seems like he’ll be a threat to score 50 and post 300 shots a season for the foreseeable future.
20. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, FLA: Tkachuk feels like he could be one of the most overdrafted players this year after coming off what may end up being the best season of his career. Sure, he’s going to highest scoring team in the league, but wherever he slots in to the Panthers lineup, it’s hard to imagine it’s a better spot than playing with Gaudreau and Elias Lindholm. He’s probably more of a 75-80 point player than a 100-point player.
21. Steven Stamkos, C, TB: Not many players have a career year and hit 100 points for the first time at age 32, so beware of overpaying for Stamkos. If he’s available late in the second or early in the third round you should pounce, but just keep in mind the odds of him playing 80 games once again are low.
22. Sidney Crosby, C, PIT: Crosby has flown a bit under the radar in fantasy over the past few years due to injuries, but he still scored at nearly a 100-point pace in 2021-22. Don’t let the fact that he’s 35 years old dissuade you from making him a second-round selection. He may even be a steal there.
23. Victor Hedman, D, TB: Given the incredible campaigns Makar and Josi had, Hedman’s career year was somewhat overshadowed. He also averaged a career-best 25:05 per night and there’s no category he won’t fill for you.
24. Brady Tkachuk, LW, OTT: Tkachuk is more valuable in leagues that count hits, but a player that is capable of 30 goals and 300 shots is nothing to sneeze at. The additions of Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux into Ottawa’s top six should only help Tkachuk’s offensive numbers as well.
25. Patrick Kane, RW, CHI: There’s virtually no one of consequence left in Chicago for Kane to play with, but he’s proven throughout his career he can put up points with just about anyone. There’s only so far you can let him fall in your draft. Plus, if he gets moved to a contender at the deadline, his value may skyrocket right in time for the fantasy hockey playoffs.
26. Adam Fox, D, NYR: Fox set new career highs in goals, points, power play points and shots in 2021-22, and at just 24 years of age, he may just be scratching the surface of what he’s capable of. There’s no reason Fox can’t be an 80-point defenseman like the first three defenders on this list.
27. Sebastian Aho, C, CAR: Aho isn’t flashy and likely won’t explode for a huge offensive season, but he’s one of the safest picks you can make. He should average a point per game and somewhere between 20-30 power play points on the year.
28. Jake Guentzel, LW, PIT: It’s not going to be long before Guentzel passes Crosby as the first Penguin that should be taken in drafts. Guentzel is morphing into one of the league’s elite scorers and 40 goals should be close to a lock if he can stay healthy for the majority of the season.
29. JT Miller, C/LW, VAN: Miller exploded for 99 points last season and that was with Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson having somewhat quiet years for their standards. It’s not impossible to think he could better that total if those two have bounce back campaigns.
30. Mika Zibanejad, C, NYR: If there’s an area where Zibanejad can grow this season it’s with the man advantage. He had 28 power play points last year and then 11 more in the postseason, where he started to unleash his shot more. If that carries over to 2022-23, Zibanejad could flirt with 35-40 power play points for the campaign.
31. Jason Robertson, LW, DAL: Since entering the league, Robertson has been a very consistent goal scorer, posting 58 goals in 128 games, meaning he finds the back of the net almost once every two outings. His line with Roope Hintz and Joe Pavelski boasted a trio that all scored at least 70 points in 2021-22 and you can expect more of the same this season.
32. Aaron Ekblad, D, FLA: The only thing that is preventing Ekblad from being higher on this list is injuries. He’s missed significant time over the past two campaigns and could’ve been in the Norris conversation last year if he’d been healthy, as Ekblad was on a 93-point pace. Even if he only plays 65 games or so, though, Ekblad will still be great value.
33. Timo Meier, RW, SJ: Meier erupted for 76 points and 326 shots last season, both of which easily smashed his previous career bests in those categories. That actually feels sustainable based on his ice-time, which jumped more than three minutes from what he was playing in 2020-21. If he’s playing close to 19 minutes a night with Tomas Hertl on his line, expect similar production this season.
34. John Carlson, D, WSH: Don’t forget about Carlson with all the hype surrounding some of the defenders higher up on this list. He’s hit the 70-point mark in the last three full 82-game seasons and was on pace to hit that mark in the shortened Covid campaign as well. Carlson is as consistent and reliable as just about any defenseman you can draft.
35. Filip Forsberg, LW, NSH: Forsberg’s shooting percentage was a little inflated last season at 18.6% and he hasn’t played 70 games since 2016-17, so another 40-goal campaign may not be in the cards. Still, Forsberg’s floor should be 30-35 goals and 65 points. He’s a very safe pick with upside if he can stay healthy for all 82.
36. Elias Pettersson, C, VAN: Pettersson struggled in the early part of the season last year, but scored at an 81-point pace after Bruce Boudreau took over behind the bench. A full season under Boudreau should see Pettersson reach the 80-point mark for the first time.
37. Juuse Saros, G, NSH: Nobody played more between the pipes than Saros last year and his play never dipped, despite making a whopping 67 appearances. There’s no one to challenge Saros for playing time, so expect a ton of volume and if you draft him, you may be able to get away with carrying only two goalies as long as you have another quality starter.
38. Jack Hughes, C, NJ: You probably won’t see Hughes this far down rankings for much longer if he can stay healthy. He scored at a 94-point pace in 49 games last year and the Devils suddenly boast a very potent top six that can score. Hughes is a star in the making.
39. Roope Hintz, C, DAL: Probably the most unheralded player on Dallas’ top line, Hintz put his injury woes behind him in 2021-22 and shockingly played 80 games. Hintz failed to score in his first 11 contests and only had two points over that stretch, but still finished with 37 goals and over 70 points. An 80-point campaign isn’t out of the question if he gets off to a better start.
40. Mark Scheifele, C, WPG: The hype around Scheifele is starting to fade somewhat, but he’s averaged a point per game or better in six straight seasons. If he’s still hanging around your draft in the late third or early fourth round, don’t hesitate to pounce.
41. Andrei Svechnikov, LW, CAR: It always feels that Svechnikov is capable of so much more, as he’s failed to hit the 70-point plateau in his first four seasons. Still, Svechnikov exploded in the shots department last season, recording 249 total and 60 more than he had in any other previous campaign. He’s also only 22 and still has a lot of potential and a high ceiling.
42. Ilya Sorokin, G, NYI: The Isles had a miserable season in 2021-22, yet Sorokin managed to improve his save percentage from .918 to .925 from his rookie to sophomore campaign. Perhaps more importantly, he’s established himself as a true number one netminder and should no longer be splitting time with Semyon Varlamov so evenly. If New York can get back to being one of the stronger teams in the East, Sorokin could easily hit 35 wins.
43. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, COL: A steady presence that’s scored 155 points in his past 159 games over the past three seasons. Landeskog is on one of the best lines in hockey, but the concern with the Avs captain is that he hasn’t reached the 55-game mark in the last two full 82 game campaigns. The sky is the limit when it comes to production for Landeskog if he can avoid injury and give you 75 games or so.
44. Chris Kreider, LW, NYR: A remarkable 52 goals for Kreider last season after his previous high had only ever been 28. That, and a shooting percentage significantly higher than his career average leads me to believe he won’t be a 50-goal scorer once again. That said, New York’s top six is potent and Kreider shot the puck a ton last year, so don’t expect his numbers to regress too much.
45. Jacob Markstrom, G, CGY: Markstrom was one of only five goalies last year that made 60 appearances and he finished fourth overall in save percentage. Darryl Sutter plays him a ton and that’s great news if you’re in a league that has volume categories like saves. Calgary’s offseason looked like it was going to be a disaster and now the Flames suddenly appear to be even better than they were a year ago, which is only going to help Markstrom’s numbers.
46. Patrik Laine, RW, CBJ: Could Laine hit 50 goals this season? It seems like a longshot, but he’ll be paired with Johnny Gaudreau, who helped Matthew Tkachuk to a 100-point season in 2021-22. This is probably the most talented linemate that Laine has ever played with, so expect Gaudreau to bring the best out of him.
47. Jake Oettinger, G, DAL: Oettinger went from third on the depth chart to top 10 fantasy goalie in less than a year. He was outstanding in the playoffs last spring and is going to get the volume on a strong team to make him a top goaltender for your squad.
48. Alex DeBrincat, LW, OTT: Even though Ottawa’s top six is certainly stacked now with all the offseason additions, it’s hard to imagine DeBrincat’s value going anywhere but down slightly since he is no longer playing with Patrick Kane. DeBrincat should be a lock for 30-plus goals and around 250 shots if he stays healthy, though.
49. Robert Thomas, C, STL: Thomas would be much higher on this list if he simply shot the puck more. Over a point per game last season, but he managed just a measly 115 shots in 72 games. Thomas will fill the assists category and get you plenty of points, he’s just not the most versatile forward option out there.
50. Quinn Hughes, D, VAN: Another defenseman that got overshadowed by the incredible campaigns of Josi and Makar last season. Hughes has always been a high-end offensive talent, but he became a more complete fantasy option in 2021-22 when he finished the year a plus-10 after being a double-digit minus in the previous two seasons, as well as reaching 30 power play points for the first time. He’s another Canucks player that benefited when Boudreau was brought in.
51. Nazem Kadri, C, CGY: There were definitely worse landing spots for Kadri in free agency, but the Flames are certainly not the Avalanche. Sure, he’ll get top power play time, though it’s unlikely he reaches the 80-point mark again playing on Calgary’s second line with Blake Coleman and either Toffoli or Mangiapane.
52. Thatcher Demko, G, VAN: A winning record and a sparkling .915 save percentage a season ago on a non-playoff team should have Demko on everyone’s radar this year. He also ranked third overall in total saves, which is great if you league values volume numbers. If the Canucks improve somewhat, Demko has top-five goalie potential.
53. Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT: He fell off the map a bit in 2021-22 because of injuries, but Malkin was still good for more than a point per game in a shortened season. At 36, he probably won’t be as coveted in your draft as he once was, so Malkin could end up being a steal in the fifth round or so if he can stay healthy.
54. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, STL: Nobody wanted Tarasenko in a trade or in the expansion draft a year ago, and he promptly responded with a career high in points. Now Tarasenko could be motivated even more heading into a contract year. Don’t make the same mistake 31 other teams did.
55. Darnell Nurse, D, EDM: Not a massive points guy, but Nurse is a versatile asset that should push for 200 hits, well over 120 blocks, and around 200 shots. Even if he’s only giving you 35-40 points, Nurse’s other category coverage makes him worthy of a selection in the first six or seven rounds.
56. Jack Eichel, C, VGK: Once a sure-fire top-20 pick, Eichel is now a bit of a wild card after playing only 56 games over the past two years because of a neck issue. In a 33-game cameo last year, he scored at a 72-point pace, and had flashes of what made him an elite player. There’s still an incredible amount of upside to Eichel if he plays a full year on Vegas’ top line and if the Golden Knights look more like themselves in 2022-23.
57. Kevin Fiala, LW, LAK: Fiala had a tremendous season playing mainly with the likes of Matt Boldy and Frederick Gaudreau, so there’s real optimism to see if he can produce even more if he gets a bump in the lineup with the Kings. It’ll be tough to improve on a career year of 85 points and 262 shots, but if Fiala plays on the top group with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, it at least seems reasonable to believe he can duplicate it.
58. William Nylander, RW, TOR: John Tavares may be slowing down a bit, but that doesn’t seem to be impacting linemate William Nylander. He shattered career bests in points, shots and power play points and seems poised to continue the upward trend as long as he remains anywhere in the Leafs top six and on the first power play unit.
59. Evander Kane, LW, EDM: Playing next to McDavid proved fruitful for Kane, as he scored at a 74-point pace and was on track for 290 shots over 82 games when joining the Oilers last year. You could make an argument Kane should be much higher on this list, but he comes with substantial risk given his off-ice issues over the course of his career.
60. Morgan Rielly, D, TOR: Rielly is one of the safest defenders out there, as he’s only missed significant time in one of his nine seasons and he’s missed just one game in the past two years. You can typically count on him for 60-plus points, 20-plus power play points, and around 220 shots.
61. Dylan Larkin, C, DET: The emergence of Lucas Raymond and the additions of David Perron and Andrew Copp have suddenly given Larkin some more weapons to skate with in the top six. He scored at nearly a point per game last year and with more offensive talent in the lineup, you’d think his floor should be around 70 points now.
62. Josh Norris, C, OTT: Norris posted 35 goals in only 66 games last season and it feels like he’s only scratching the surface of what he’s capable of. It remains to be seen how Ottawa’s newly bolstered top six shakes out, but the additions of DeBrincat and Giroux can only help Norris, especially on the power play.
63. Kris Letang, D, PIT: Letang is aging like a fine wine, posting a career high in points at age 35 and he finished fourth in the entire league in ice time. He’s also one of the more well-rounded defenders in fantasy for multi-cat leagues, as he also averaged 1.5 blocks and more than two hits per game last season. Letang’s newly signed contract may not age well, but in one-year leagues he’s still a great option.
64. Frederik Andersen, G, CAR: An incredible bounce back season from Andersen proved he could still play at a high level, but injury concerns became a problem again in the postseason. He’s got the talent and the elite defensive team in front of him. You just have to assume the injury risk with Andersen if he’s the top goalie on your roster.
65. Brayden Point, C, TB: The 92-point season from Point three years ago seems like it may be difficult to reach again, but he’s still a fine option for your squad playing next to Kucherov and Stamkos. A 70-75 point season feels plausible if he can stay healthy for the majority of the year.
66. John Tavares, C, TOR: For all the talk of Tavares slowing down, he’s still incredibly durable and scored at virtually a point per game over the past five seasons. Maybe he’s not elite anymore, but around 75 points and 250 shots will do just fine.
67. Joe Pavelski, RW, DAL: Normally I’d be concerned about overdrafting a 38-year-old that just had a career high in points, but Pavelski’s shooting percentage was just about at his career average and he’s still on one of the most productive lines in hockey. As long as he’s on the top power play unit and playing the bulk of his time with Hintz and Robertson, Pavelski seems like a pretty safe pick.
68. Elias Lindholm, C, CGY: Things were looking bleak for Lindholm when Gaudreau and Tkachuk left, but the additions of Huberdeau and Kadri have really salvaged things. Lindholm will likely play with Huberdeau on the top line and Kadri on the power play, so his value and production really shouldn’t fall too much.
69. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, WPG: Despite some question marks surrounding the future of key players with the team, it appears Ehlers will still have Scheifele and Blake Wheeler alongside him to start the season. If that holds true, expect Ehlers to give you around a point a game and an abundance of shots. Ehlers was on a 324-shot pace last season, which would’ve been good for fourth overall in the NHL over 82 games.
70. Tristan Jarry, G, PIT: It’s time to give Jarry more respect. He owns a career .915 save percentage over 159 contests and he’s won twice as many games as he’s lost. Don’t let a couple of bad playoff games deter you, Jarry is a top-10 fantasy goalie.
71 Moritz Seider, D, DET: Seider’s potential seems endless after a 50-point rookie season to go along with over 150 hits and 160 blocks. You’d like to see him shoot the puck a little more, but if he continues to average around 23 minutes a night the shot volume will come. Seider is a no-brainer selection for your squad and is probably worth keeping long-term as well.
72. Sam Reinhart, RW, FLA: Coming off a career year of 82 points, where more than 30 of them came on the power play, Reinhart enters this season with a few questions about who his linemates will be. Mason Marchment is gone, whom Reinhart played with most frequently, and so is Huberdeau, which could really impact his power play production. Be careful of an overdraft here.
73. Tage Thompson, RW, BUF: Very quietly, Thompson had one of the best seasons no one talked about last year. To put up 38 goals and 253 shots on a bad Sabres team that ranked 22nd in scoring was no small feat. If some other young Buffalo players in the top six take a step forward, maybe Thompson has an outside shot at a 75-80 point campaign.
74. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, MIN: For the first time in a few years Fleury is on a strong team and not part of a tandem. The soon-to-be 38-year-old hasn’t shown any major durability or regression issues just yet, so he’s still a top option for your squad until he proves otherwise.
75. MacKenzie Weegar, D, CGY: Weegar is much more valuable in leagues that track hits and blocks, but he plays a ton and can still give you around 200 shots or so. Keep in mind his 44 points a year ago came while playing for the highest scoring team in the league and Weegar may struggle to get power play time on the Flames, so don’t expect that number to jump at all. If he can get around 35-40 points in Calgary, that’s good value all things considered.
76. Cole Caufield, LW, MON: It was a tale of two seasons for Caufield last year, as he really struggled before Martin St. Louis took over. Under the St. Louis, though, Caufield scored at a near 50-goal pace and looked like a completely different player. If that’s the player that shows up this season Caufield will be a steal.
77. Patrice Bergeron, C, BOS: Bergeron gets so much praise for his defensive exploits, and rightfully so, that it’s easy to forget what a force he can be in fantasy as well. Despite recently turning 37, he’s averaged almost a point per game over the past five seasons and nearly put up 300 shots last year. If there is any area of concern for 2022-23, it’s that linemate Brad Marchand is likely going to miss significant time to start the year and head coach Jim Montgomery revealed he plans to separate Bergeron and Pastrnak to start the season. That may hurt his numbers some but Bergeron is still a very safe pick.
78. Jesper Bratt, RW, NJ: Bratt had never scored more than 35 points in a season before exploding for 73 last year, so there should be some trepidation about drafting him too high. Still, Bratt never really faded for any stretch in 2021-22 and New Jersey’s top six is loaded with talent. I’d bet on him being much closer to 73 again than 35.
79. Devon Toews, D, COL: Partnering with Makar should virtually guarantee Toews 50-plus points in a worst-case scenario, but his ceiling is much higher. He recorded 57 points in only 66 games a year ago, so maybe Toews gives you 70-plus if he stays healthy. Toews is also tremendous for plus/minus, finishing in the top five in the NHL in each of the past two seasons.
80. Trevor Zegras, C, ANA: Don’t let all the flash and tricks distract you from the fact that Zegras is blossoming into a star. Zegras recorded 61 points last year and still has plenty of room to grow. He’ll be Anaheim’s top centre, get top power play duties, and play with Troy Terry a lot more in 2021-22. A breakout season could be coming.
81. Rasmus Dahlin, D, BUF: Dahlin set career highs in goals, points, power play points, PIM, hits and blocks last season, and he hasn’t even entered his prime yet. He does everything well and is probably going to rank in the top-20 in ice time once again. Dahlin will be someone you’ll want on your roster for years to come.
82. Jordan Kyrou, RW, STL: Kyrou enjoyed a breakout season with 75 points and the Blues top nine remains loaded, so no matter how the line combinations shake out, he’s going to be playing with some offensive firepower. The only concern with Kyrou might be if your league tracks hits, as he recorded just 6 in 74 games a year ago and only has 23 in 173 career games. He’s a points only kind of player.
83. Lucas Raymond, RW, DET: A very strong rookie season for Raymond should move him way up draft boards this year. The Detroit top six really loaded up this offseason, which should mean some better matchups for Raymond and the top line. He’ll be someone to target this year and beyond as we haven’t seen anywhere close to Raymond’s ceiling yet.
84. Bryan Rust, RW, PIT: Rust had the luxury of playing with Crosby and Guentzel last season, to the tune of nearly a point per game. If that continues his value will be through the roof, but if he falls down the lineup, not so much. His durability is also a bit of a concern, as Rust has only hit 70 games once in his career.
85.Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, WSH: Kuznetsov had quite the bounce back season last year and his 78 points were one of the more pleasant surprises in fantasy hockey. With Nicklas Backstrom sidelined long term, Kuznetsov should get every opportunity to play with Ovechkin and there’s no reason to think his numbers won’t remain strong.
86. Shea Theodore, D, VGK: Theodore just keeps getting better and better every year. Despite Vegas struggling in 2021-22, Theodore still managed to put up a career high 52 points and he could expand on that total with a more healthy roster around him this year. You can’t go wrong with a 50-point, 200-shot defenseman.
87. Tim Stutzle, LW, OTT: Stutzle feels like he’s on the verge of a breakout season and that could happen sooner than later with DeBrincat and Giroux injected into the top six. His point total last year was just ok, but he quietly put up 26 of them on the power play and added 125 hits. Stutzle is a more versatile fantasy option than you might think.
88. Darcy Kuemper G, WSH: Kuemper’s value takes a hit leaving Colorado, but he’s still going to play a ton on a strong team. There’s no one to challenge him for starts and he’ll give you good volume on a Caps team that’s likely going to help Kuemper, if nothing else, pick up plenty of wins.
89. Drake Batherson, RW, OTT: There should be good value in Batherson as the other five members of Ottawa’s top six will likely be taken before him in drafts. He’s recorded 17 goals in each of the past two seasons, but in only 56 and 46 games. If Batherson can stay healthy he’ll certainly be a 30-goal scorer.
90. Zach Werenski, D, CBJ: Werenski never really took off after that 20-goal season he had a couple of years ago and he’s still yet to record a 50-point campaign. Perhaps a healthy Adam Boqvist and the newly added Erik Gudbranson can take on more of the tougher minutes to free up Werenski for more offensive duties. Add in the addition of Gaudreau to the top power play unit and maybe 2022-23 will see Werenski hit a new career high in points.
91. Alex Pietrangelo, D, VGK: I’m not sure Pietrangelo can hit the 50-point mark anymore, but his shot and blocks numbers help make up for it. A defenseman who’s good for 40-plus points and well over 200 shots should certainly be worthy of a spot on your roster.
92. Matt Duchene, C, NSH: Everything went right for Duchene last year and he posted a career high 43 goals, but there are signs of a regression coming. Both he and linemate Ryan Johansen had ballooned shooting percentages of 18.9% and 22% respectively, so that seems like it will be tough to sustain for another season. If Duchene slides a bit in your draft he could be good value, just don’t reach for him.
93. Clayton Keller, LW, ARI: Keller may be stuck on a bad roster, but that shouldn’t prevent you from taking him. The Coyotes were in a similar spot last year and he still almost managed to record a point per game before getting injured. His ice time was over 20 minutes a night in 2021-22 and if that continues, he shouldn’t have any trouble posting comparable numbers this time around.
94. Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG: It’s unusual to see Hellebuyck this far down the rankings, but he’s arguably coming off his worst statistical season and Jets appear to be trending in the wrong direction from a competitive standpoint. Hellebuyck will give you lots of volume but his wins and save percentage numbers will likely be lower than you’re accustomed to. He’s a decent option, but there should be nearly a dozen better ones in net this season.
95. Claude, Giroux, C/RW OTT: Giroux’s numbers have dropped over the last few seasons and were only propped up last year by a brief stop in Florida. That said, Giroux will be playing with stronger offensive talent in Ottawa’s top six than he did in Philly, so it’s not outrageous to think he could hit 70 points again if all goes well.
96. Sergei Boborvsky, G, FLA: Bobrovsky may go through stretches of inconsistency with his save percentage numbers, but what goalie doesn’t these days? You’re drafting him for wins on a strong Florida team and his overall numbers are going to turn out just fine by season’s end. Bobrovsky went 39-7-3 last year, so you can live with some erratic play when you know he’s winning eight out of every 10 games.
97. Dougie Hamilton, D, NJ: Hamilton is such a talented player who shoots the puck so much, that it’s easy to forget he’s actually hit 50 points in a season once. I’m not sure he gets back there in New Jersey, as despite all the young offensive talent on the roster, the Devils only had the 28th ranked power play last season. Hamilton should probably be viewed as a 45-point guy that will give you a plethora of shots.
98. Jack Campbell, G, EDM: After a very streaky season, Campbell now takes his talents to an Oilers team that should give him similar value to what he had in Toronto. He’s in a good spot but keep in mind, Campbell has never played 50 games in a season and Edmonton is a bit worse than Toronto defensively. He’s a solid goalie for your squad but make sure you insulate him with another quality starter just in case.
99. Teuvo Teravainen, RW, CAR: A very safe pick who’s settled in comfortably on the Canes top line. Teravainen’s floor should be 65 points and 25 power play points if he can stay healthy for the majority of the season. He also set a career high in shots last year and if he can hit the 200 shot-mark again, Teravainen will have major value.
100. Tomas Hertl, C, SJ: Meier and Hertl are becoming one of the more potent duos in the NHL and the pair also really clicked when Alex Barabanov was added to their line last year as well. Hertl has proven he can put up significant production on a thin roster, so there’s no reason to think Hertl won’t cruise to 60-70 points once again.
101. Pavel Buchnevich, LW, STL: The Rangers are probably wishing they had a mulligan on the Buchnevich trade. He was a key reason the Blues finished third overall in goals per game last season, as Buchnevich exploded for a career high 76 points. As mentioned earlier, the Blues have three lines that can score and Buchnevich should be able to produce anywhere in the lineup.
102. Alexandar Georgiev, G, COL: Georgiev finds himself in a great spot with a chance to finally to get significant playing time. As a backup with the Rangers, Georgiev struggled to post consistent numbers, but when he was given a stretch of games in row he excelled. Last December when Shesterkin was hurt, Georgiev had a .935 save percentage after playing seven games in 14 days. His save percentage was .891 or worse in five of the other six months when he played sporadically. Hopefully Georgiev’s numbers elevate if he gets a chance to take the ball and run with it with the Avs.
103. Brad Marchand, LW, BOS: Marchand is likely going to miss some significant time this season as he recovers from hip surgery, so expect him to be sitting there longer than usual in drafts. He’s so valuable, though, that he’s worth stashing on your roster if you can. With Bergeron and Krejci back, Marchand will still be an asset even if he misses a couple of months.
104. Noah Dobson, D, NYI: One of the few rays of light in an otherwise dim season for the Isles, Dobson broke out for 51 points and nearly 200 shots. That all came under the defense first coaching style of Barry Trotz, so there should at least be some optimism that under a new regime Dobson might still have some heights to reach.
105. Mark Stone, RW, VGK: Stone seems like a high risk/high reward pick this year, as his health, as well as some others in the Vegas forward group, is paramount for his value. His style of play lends itself to injuries and he should likely be playing next to Eichel this year, who is also an injury concern after missing significant time last year recovering with a neck issue. If they can be stay healthy Stone has 80-point potential, but that’s a big if.
106. Sam Bennett, C, FLA: Bennett excelled last season in Florida’s high-powered offense, posting a career high 28 goals and 241 shots. With Huberdeau gone, the top six is going to look a little different, though, and it will be curious to see where Bennett fits. If the Panthers bring up Anton Lundell to the second line and move Bennett to wing, that should really help his value. But if they leave Bennett at centre and move a depth winger up to play with him and Reinhart, that’s less than ideal.
107. Anze Kopitar, C, LAK: A very safe pick at this stage of your drafts, as Kopitar is as consistent as he is durable. He’s missed just two games in the past five seasons and only 12 in the last nine campaigns. Kopitar should easily hit 65 points and 20 power play points, with a chance for even more if he plays next to Fiala for most of the season.
108. Brent Burns, D, CAR: Burns should really benefit from a change scenery, as the talent is clearly still there with a 54-point showing in a tough situation last year. Playing with Jaccob Slavin should free him up for more offense and since the Canes are much stronger than the Sharks, don’t be surprised if Burns hits 65 points for the first time since 2018-19.
109. Mathew Barzal, C, NYI: Barzal hasn’t quite captured the production of his rookie season, so it may be time to accept he might just be a 60-point player. If you’re looking at the glass half full, though, perhaps new head coach Lane Lambert can help turn him loose offensively. For now, just assume between 60-70 points with some upside if Lambert’s impact becomes fruitful.
110. Thomas Chabot, D, OTT: Chabot has finished no worse than second in the NHL in each of the past three seasons when it comes to ice time, so he’s a tremendous asset to have around for any volume categories. He might not be a huge points guy, but this could be a breakout year for Chabot with all the high-end talent the Sens added this summer.
111. Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, WPG: Slowly but surely, Dubois is becoming a very complete and versatile fantasy option. More than 100 hits and PIM to go along with 60 points and 233 shots was a tremendous combination from Dubois a year ago. A player with that much category coverage can help you in a lot of different ways.
112. Mats Zuccarello, LW, MIN: The line of Kaprizov, Zuccarello and Hartman are all coming off career highs in points after the trio captured lightning in a bottle last year. You’d probably like to see Zuccarello shoot the puck more and he doesn’t offer much outside of simply points, but as long as he’s attached to Kaprizov’s rocket ship, he’ll be a valuable commodity.
113. Taylor Hall, LW, BOS: There’s a chance Hall could be a bit of an early season surprise if he can take advantage of some extra opportunities with Marchand sidelined and the fact that it was revealed he’ll likely be skating with Pastrnak and a returning David Krejci to start. He was centred by Erik Haula for much of last year, so Krejci is certainly much more of an offensive catalyst that Hall can hopefully capitalize on.
114. Jakub Vrana, LW, DET: Injuries have only given us a small taste of Vrana’s potential in Detroit, as the forward has scored at a 46-goal pace in 37 games with the Wings. Now that Detroit has bolstered the top six with Copp and Perron, Vrana’s numbers should continue on an upward trajectory.
115. Troy Terry, RW, ANA: Terry rode a huge point streak last year to a very consistent breakout campaign. That streak may be tough to replicate, but with the young talent of Zegras and Mason McTavish starting to blossom around him, Terry should continue to produce with regularity in 2022-23.
116. Ryan Hartman, C, MIN: Hartman was mentioned earlier as benefiting from Kaprizov and Zuccarello, and out of the three, he’s probably most valuable in multi-cat leagues. In addition to scoring 34 times a year ago, he also had 239 shots and 95 PIM. Hartman will help you out in many different areas.
117. David Perron, RW, DET: Perron is often overlooked in drafts and even though he’s in his mid-30s, he’s recorded point paces of 70, 84, 70, 66 and 77 over the past five seasons. Even though he’s leaving the high-scoring Blues, there’s reason to believe Perron will be able to continue to produce at a more than serviceable level with the likes of Vrana, Copp, Larkin and Raymond to potentially skate with.
118. John Klingberg, D, ANA: Klingberg should be motivated to secure himself a long-term deal after opting for a one-year prove it contract with the Ducks, but that could be easier said than done. The veteran was a minus-28 last season and things won’t get easier on a much weaker Ducks squad. Klingberg will be in tough to hit the 50-point mark for the first time since 2017-18.
119. Zach Hyman, LW, EDM: It should be no surprise that Hyman hit a career high in goals, points and shots last year, as that’s what staying healthy and playing with McDavid and Draisaitl will do for you. Expect Hyman to flirt with 30 goals and 60 points, as well as being well over 200 shots once again.
120. Seth Jarvis, RW, CAR: Another player with major breakout potential, Jarvis had 40 points in 68 games a season ago but only played 23% of his minutes with Aho and Teravainen. Those minutes with the top group as well as his time on the first power play unit are expected to jump significantly in 2022-23, which could mean 60 points or so.
121. Jakob Chychrun, D, ARI: Between the injuries and lack of production, it was a really disappointing season for Chychrun who came into it with high expectations. It will be interesting to see if Arizona finally pulls the trigger on trading him because if Chychrun lands with a better team, he’ll have major bounceback potential.
122. Vincent Trocheck, C, NYR: Last year left plenty to be desired where Trocheck and his 51 points were concerned. Fantasy hockey enthusiasts are longing for the numbers he had a few years ago with Florida and there should be optimism he could be a 70-point player again in New York if slotted next to Panarin.
123. Jonathan Marchessault, LW, VGK: You know exactly what you’re getting from Marchessault and that type of security certainly has some value. Sure, he may not get the bump of skating with Eichel and Stone on the top line, but even so, he’s typically good for 60 points and 250 shots over 82 games. Sign me up for that every year.
124. Miro Heiskanen, D, DAL: One of those players that’s much better on the ice than he is in the fantasy world, Heiskanen has never scored more than 36 points and 11 power play points in a season, and he’s never really been close to 200 shots. Maybe he finally breaks out this year with Klingberg gone, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
125. Matt Boldy, LW, MIN: Boldy was a late-season gem off waivers last year when he arrived and started really clicking with Kevin Fiala. With Fiala gone, though, it remains to be seen where Boldy fits into the pecking order. Does he crack the top six? Or does he stay on the third line? If he doesn’t move up, Boldy will probably need a more offensive threat to join his line to replicate last year’s numbers.
126. Seth Jones, D, CHI: There won’t be many Chicago players you’ll want to draft this season, but Jones is one of them. He led the league in ice time in 2021-22 and even with the Blackhawks thin roster, Jones will have a chance 50 points, 20 power play points and 200 shots. Just make sure you can absorb his plus-minus, though, because it won’t be pretty.
127. Andrew Mangiapane, LW, CGY: A streaky player that when he’s scoring gives you great value, but Mangiapane doesn’t provide much in the way of assists and he isn’t a high-volume shooter or hitter. The intriguing thing about him this year is can he beat out Tyler Toffoli for the right wing spot on the top line next to Huberdeau and Lindholm? That would obviously see his value skyrocket.
128. Evan Bouchard, D, EDM: A fine season of 43 points and over 200 shots has a real chance to get even better in 2022-23 if Bouchard can officially unseat Tyson Barrie on the top power play unit for Edmonton, which seems likely to happen. Only seven of Bouchard’s points came with the man advantage but those numbers should really jump if he’s quarterbacking the Oilers third ranked power play for a full season.
129. Adrian Kempe, LW, LAK: A career high 35 goals for Kempe last year was nice, but it was his shots that were the most pleasantly surprising. After never having more than 148 in a campaign, Kempe came out of nowhere for 247 in 2021-22. Now with Fiala likely joining his line with Kopitar there’s a chance Kempe could be a 40-goal scorer and push those shot totals even higher.
130. Carter Verhaeghe, LW, FLA: A very safe pick that’s likely good for around 50-55 points, though his chances to expand on his numbers seem slim now that Huberdeau is gone. Verhaeghe will likely play with Tkachuk and Barkov on the top line, but Tkachuk can’t create offense like Huberdeau can. Temper your expectations if you’re hoping Verhaeghe’s point totals are going to take a healthy jump.
131. Alex Tuch, RW, BUF: Tuch scored at a 62-point pace last season and averaged nearly three shots per game. There’s no reason to believe he won’t continue on that pace for 2022-23 with a Sabres team that is packed full of young talent with offensive potential, especially in the top six.
132. Nico Hischier, C, NJ: Hischier had great success playing with Bratt a season ago and now Ondrej Palat is joining the party to make that line even stronger. The main concern about Hischier is that he’s missed a significant chunk of time in each of the past four seasons due to injuries. If that continues, he’s a 55-60 point player, but if he plays close to all 82, 70 points is definitely within reach.
133. Nick Suzuki, C, MON: Suzuki was another Canadien that benefitted when St. Louis took over, scoring 33 points in his final 33 games last year. A full season of Suzuki playing next to Caufield under St. Louis is exciting to think about and there’s a chance he may have point per game potential in that scenario.
134. Jeremy Swayman, G, BOS: Bruce Cassidy’s teams ranked 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd and 4th in the five years he was behind the bench, so it remains to be seen how Cassidy leaving, as well as key injuries to Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and Matt Grzelcyk to start the season, will impact Swayman. I’d be a bit cautious about drafting him has a number one for your squad in case Swayman has a difficult time adjusting.
135. Jacob Trouba, D, NYR: Trouba is much more valuable if you count hits and blocks, but he’s still an effective option for points leagues. The new Rangers captain can still give you 40 points and 200 shots, which is great value for a defenseman that will likely still be available in the 10th round and beyond in your league.
136. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, LW, EDM: The additions of Hyman and Kane limited Nugent-Hopkins to only about 30 minutes with McDavid at even strength last season and there were times where he was pushed down the lineup away from Draisaitl for significant stretches as well. As long as Nugent-Hopkins remains on the first power play he’ll have value, but the days of hoping he could be a 70-point player are likely over.
137. Brayden Schenn, C, STL: Schenn’s value is going to depend heavily on how the Blues deploy their lines this year. He scored at nearly a point per game in 2021-22, but he played quite a bit with Kyrou, who is a lock for the top six now. Schenn would likely be the third centre behind Thomas and Ryan O’Reilly, so maybe he plays with Ivan Barbashev but that’s probably it as far as offensive talent goes. It could be a tougher task for Schenn to reach 60 points or so.
138. Anton Lundell, C, FLA: It was an impressive rookie season for Lundell with 18 goals in 65 games with a plus-33 rating, and we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg of his potential. If Lundell moves up to the second line and either he or Bennett moves to wing, it’s going to be great for his value. If he remains as the third line centre, though, his numbers probably won’t jump too much in 2022-23.
139. Michael Bunting, LW, TOR: There’s no secret to why Bunting is coming off a breakout season, as you can’t help but put up points playing next to Matthews and Marner. He seems destined to play with that pair once again and as long as that doesn’t change, expect Bunting to easily reach 20 goals and 60 points.
140. Tyler Toffoli, RW, CGY: Toffoli will be in a battle with Mangiapane for that coveted spot on the top line next to Lindholm and Huberdeau. He should be a 20-goal scorer wherever he plays, but Toffoli has 35-40 goal potential if he lands the first line gig. There’s a lot riding on the fight to play with Huberdeau and Lindholm.
141. Brock Boeser, RW, VAN: Boeser’s shooting percentage was down slightly a year ago from his career average and he didn’t quite see the bump like some of his teammates did when Boudreau came in. That should hopefully change in a full season alongside Miller and Pettersson, who did excel when Boudreau took over. Boeser could be a candidate to reach 30 goals for the first time in his career.
142. Ryan O’Reilly, C, STL: O’Reilly is a safe pick, albeit one with not much upside. He probably isn’t a 75-point, 200 shot player anymore, but there’s nothing wrong with about 60 points and 175 shots. The Blues have a loaded top six and as long as O’Reilly is a part of it, he should cruise to another productive and useful season.
143. Elvis Merzlikins, G, CBJ: Merzlikins had a winning record and a very respectable .907 save percentage on a bad Columbus team last season. There’s much more reason for optimism around Merzlikins in 2022-23 with some of the offseason additions the Blue Jackets made possibly helping his win totals. You’ll probably be able to snag Merzlikins later in your drafts and he could turn out to be a gem.
144. Bo Horvat, C, VAN: Horvat’s numbers improved under Boudreau, but he’s much more valuable in leagues that count faceoffs. Without being a part of the top group with Miller and Pettersson, there’s a limit to his point production and it’s probably around the 55-60 range, even with first unit power play time.
145. Joel Eriksson Ek, C, MIN: Eriksson Ek has some sneaky value when you consider he managed 26 goals last season without playing with Kaprizov. He does a lot of damage on the power play, as 12 of those tallies came with the man advantage and you should also be able to pencil Eriksson Ek in for around 220 shots and well over 100 hits. He does a little bit of everything and can help you in a bunch of categories.
146. Cam Atkinson, RW, PHI: I’m not sure how many Flyers and going to have value this year, but Atkinson is one of them. He’s a volume shooter that should easily be good for 200 shots in a worse case scenario and even on that abysmal Philly roster, Atkinson is a threat to score 20-25 goals.
147. Jordan Binnington, G, STL: Binnington’s numbers have been declining steadily since the Blues won the Cup, so he’s a bit of a gamble as a high-end starter for your squad at this point. Still, Ville Husso is no longer there to challenge him for starts and Binnington should give you a ton of volume on a good Blues team. Just make sure you have a backup plan between the pipes in case Binnington continues to regress.
148. Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, DET: Even with missing some games last season because of his vaccination status, Bertuzzi still dropped 30 goals and more than 60 points. He also obliterated his previous career high of 131 shots, posting 180 in only 68 games. Detroit’s top line of Bertuzzi, Larkin and Raymond were very effective and they should easily be able to drive offense again in 2022-23.
149. Jamie Drysdale, D, ANA: Drysdale is going to be a fantasy stud for years to come, but keep your expectations realistic for him this season. His plus/minus likely isn’t going to be good because the Ducks won’t be a strong team and the addition of Klingberg should keep him on the second power play unit. Don’t expect more than 35-40 points from Drysdale.
150. Tony DeAngelo, D, PHI: It’s going to be tough for DeAngelo to hit 50 points in Philly. In each of the past two full seasons he’s played DeAngelo has hit that mark, but he had 19 and 20 power play points respectively in those campaigns. The Flyer power play ranked dead last in 2021-22, which will make it difficult for DeAngelo to squeeze much production out of the man advantage.
151. Rickard Rakell, RW, PIT: Rakell hasn’t been able recapture the magic of the 30-plus goal campaigns he had a few years ago with Ducks and he was underwhelming when arriving in Pittsburgh last year. Still, he’ll likely be slotted next to Crosby and Guentzel on the Penguins top line, so that alone makes him worthy of a late-round draft pick.
152. Jonathan Quick, G, LAK: Quick turned back the clock a season ago with solid numbers and outplayed the much younger Cal Petersen for playing time. That’s going to become more challenging with each passing year for the 36-year-old, but he has to at least be considered the favourite to earn more starts heading into the season on a Kings team that should be strong again.
153. Drew Doughty, D, LAK: Doughty was in the midst of an incredible bounceback season with 31 points in 39 games before going down with injury, so we never got to see if he would’ve been able to sustain that pace over a full campaign. Banking on the soon-to-be 33-year-old who is coming off a significant injury to recapture that seems like a gamble at best. Err on the side of caution when drafting Doughty.
154. Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, SEA: Bjorkstrand turned himself into a perennial 20-plus goal scorer in Columbus, but it remains to be seen how those numbers will translate to a much thinner roster in Seattle. To be fair, the Kraken have added Andre Burakovsky and drafted Shane Wright, to go along with a full season of Matty Beniers, so perhaps Bjorkstrand can sustain his numbers in the Pacific Northwest.
155. Sean Couturier, C, PHI: Couturier won’t have much help around him in Philly, but he’ll get all the featured roles like the top line and first power play unit. Even though injuries have hampered him the past few seasons, the talent is still there and you may be able to squeeze out 60 points from a healthy Couturier.
156. Jeff Skinner, LW, BUF: Skinner regained his form a season ago and ended up being a steal. The Sabres are a very exciting young and offensive team, so expect Skinner to pair with Thompson once again for another productive campaign. Skinner should be able to hit 30 goals, 60 points and 250 shots if all goes well.
157. Cam Talbot, G, OTT: After turning 35 this summer, Talbot now joins a Sens team that’s nowhere near as strong as the Wild. Talbot will also have to deal with Anton Forsberg, who was arguably the most consistent goalie in the second half last year, for playing time. At some point Talbot is going to start regressing because of his age, so it’s wise to insulate him with another strong starter if you’re taking a chance on him.
158. Ville Husso, G, DET: It feels like deja vu from a year ago with a promising young goalie landing in Detroit. Alex Nedeljkovic couldn’t sustain his numbers when he joined the Wings and I suspect Husso will suffer the same fate. Husso has good long-term value on a team with a lot of young talent, but for one-year leagues he might be an investment with plenty of ups and downs.
159. Chandler Stephenson, C, VGK: Stephenson has all the makings of a draft steal this year if he moves to left wing on the top line with Eichel and Stone. He had sneaky value last season with 21 goals and 64 points minus Stone and Eichel for most of the campaign, so there’s certainly potential for more if the trio can play together for close to 82 games.
160. Logan Couture, C, SJ: Couture is a bit of a boring pick, but he’s a safe one. He doesn’t play with Meier or Hertl aside from on the power play, so his ceiling is only so high playing on the second line. Couture should land at around 60 points and 200 shots, but even in a best-case scenario, not much more.
161. Andrew Copp, RW, DET: We’ve talked a lot about how good Detroit’s top six is looking now and Copp figures to be another forward to take advantage of it. He figures to slot in between Vrana and Perron, giving Copp plenty of opportunities for offense. Copp scored at better than a point per game when he was traded to the Rangers last year, so hopefully he can keep that momentum going in Motown.
162. Blake Wheeler, C/RW, WPG: We’ve probably seen the last of Wheeler being a 90-point player, but at age 36, he can still be a very productive option. As long as he’s playing with Ehlers and Scheifele, it should be an easy 60 points for Wheeler over a full season. The question will be his health. He missed a big chunk of the year in 2021-22 and that could become more common as he approaches his late 30s.
163. Boone Jenner, C, CBJ: Jenner was having an incredible season before injuries derailed it, on pace to shatter his career high in points and power play points. Now he’s the early favourite to claim the centre spot between Gaudreau and Laine, a role that figures to be very fruitful. As long as he can secure and hold the job, Jenner will have a decent chance to hit 60-plus points to go along with his normally solid hit totals.
164. Rasmus Andersson, D, CGY: The Flames have quietly put together one of the league’s best defense corps with Andersson right in the middle of it. Andersson broke out with 50 points, 152 shots and a plus-30 rating in 2021-22, so expectations will be high for him this time around. He also did a lot of damage on the power play, so the additions of Huberdeau and Kadri should help ensure Andersson can continue to pad his stats with the man advantage.
165. Viktor Arvidsson, RW, LAK: Arvidsson is far from a consistent and reliable scorer, but he’s a volume shooter, that if nothing else, will give you a huge boost in the shots category. He’s coming off a campaign where he hit 227 in just 66 games. If Arvidsson can play close to a full season he should at least be a 20-25 goal scorer and give you around 250 shots.
166. Brock Nelson, C, NYI: Nelson came out of nowhere with 37 goals in 2021-22 and his inflated 21.6% shooting percentage certainly had something to do with it. That’s probably unsustainable and Nelson also had a four-goal game and a hat-trick, so the odds of him replicating that again seem low. He’s still a decent option, but if he can get back to 30 goals this season consider it a win. Be careful of overdrafting.
167. Jared Spurgeon, D, MIN: Spurgeon came up four points short of a new career high and that was in only 66 games. If he’s healthy for most of 2022-23, Spurgeon should cruise to double-digit goals, 45 points and 15 points with the man advantage. Not bad for a likely late-round pick in your draft.
168. David Krejci, C, BOS: It would be easy to write Krejci off because of his age and the fact that he played in Europe last season, but I’m not giving up on him just yet. He’ll centre the second line and play with some combination of Pastrnak, Marchand, Hall or Jake DeBrusk throughout the year and Krejci’s skill set is built to age very well. It wouldn’t shock me if Krejci pushes for 60 points.
169. Ilya Samsonov, G, TOR: Samsonov and Murray are complete wild cards and essentially interchangeable in drafts. I’ve got Samsonov with a slight edge because he’s the most likely of the two to remain healthy and play more by default. The Leafs are a strong team and good defensively, so if Samsonov can even play 45 times, he’ll be worth taking a chance on.
170. Matt Murray, G, TOR: And then there’s Murray. He’ll likely be given the chance to take the ball and run with it, but Murray hasn’t given much indication over the fast few years that he’s still capable of that. Still, Murray had a .932 save percentage over January and February last season, so if that’s the goalie Toronto is getting, he’s going to have major value. Can he stay healthy and can he stay consistent are major questions Murray will have to answer.
171. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, ARI: He’s not ideal if you league counts plus/minus, but Gostisbehere is still a steady point producer and an effective power play option, even on a bad team. The thinness of the Coyotes roster is well documented, though I’d still expect Gostisbehere to push for 50 points if he can play close to 82 games again.
172. Conor Garland, LW, VAN: Vancouver’s top line is stacked, so in order for Garland’s value to take a big jump this season, he’ll need to hope Andrei Kuzmenko can inject some life into the second group. Still, Garland probably projects for around 50 points and 200 shots, even without top power play minutes.
173. Tanner Jeannot, LW, NSH: Jeannot is much more valuable if your league tracks hits and his shooting percentage will probably drop a bit this season, but 29 goals in his first 96 games is hard to ignore. He should be a 20-goal scorer that’s great for hits and PIM, with a lot of upside if he can raise his shot totals somewhat.
174. Justin Faulk, D, STL: Faulk finished in the top five in goals and plus/minus among defensemen a season ago, so you could certainly do a lot worse than the Blues blueliner with a later-round pick. Unfortunately, he’s still stuck behind Torey Krug on the power play pecking order, though, so Faulk’s numbers with the man advantage leave a lot to be desired.
175. Ondrej Palat, LW, NJ: At first glance, you might think going from Tampa to New Jersey hurts Palat’s value, but the Devils top six is fairly strong. Any way you slice it, Palat is likely going to play with some combination of Hischier, Hughes, Bratt and Dawson Mercer, all capable of helping a linemate pile up the points. I won’t go as far as saying Palat will challenge his career high of 63 points, but I don’t see him falling too far below 50.
176. Valeri Nichushkin, LW, COL: Both of Nichushkin’s main linemates from last year are gone in Kadri and Burakovsky, so if the Avs load up on their top line, he could be stuck with JT Compher and Artturi Lehkonen. Neither of whom has ever scored more than 38 points in a season. If that’s how it plays out, I can’t see Nichushkin scoring at a 68-point pace again. A season around 50-55 seems more realistic.
177. Noah Hanifin, D, CGY: Hanifin smashed his previous career highs in points and shots a year ago, developing a great chemistry with Andersson on Calgary’s top pair. Unfortunately, Andersson gets the top power play minutes, so Hanifin’s ceiling, albeit not bad, is probably around 10 goals and 50 points.
178. Mason Marchment, LW, DAL: Marchment’s production is going to be very tough to predict this season. My first instinct says his numbers will drop because he’s leaving the high-scoring Panthers, but only six of Marchment’s 47 points last year came while playing with Huberdeau and Barkov. He likely won’t score at a 71-point pace again, but I also don’t see him completely disappearing. Marchment will have huge risk/reward potential.
179. Mikhail Sergachev, D, TB: Sergachev should be able to step into Ryan McDonagh’s role and see a bump in minutes and responsibility this season. He’ll be on the second power play and will have a great opportunity to set a new career high in points. There’s a chance Sergachev flirts with 45-50 points if he can remain healthy.
180. Charlie McAvoy, D, BOS: He’s likely going to miss a significant portion of the season recovering from injury, but there’s only so far you can let McAvoy fall. If you can stash him on your roster you’ll certainly be rewarded later in the season during a potential playoff push, as he’ll still have solid value even if he’s limited to 60-65 games or so.
181. Ivan Barbashev, C/LW STL: It was a massive breakout season for Barbashev, who hit the 60-point mark after having never previously eclipsing 26 in a season. Be cautious about drafting him too high, though, as Barbashev had a shooting percentage of over 23% and he barely hit 100 shots in 81 games. He’ll have some value in leagues with hits but for points only, he comes with a bit of risk.
182. Dylan Strome, C, WSH: Strome took advantage of a lot of playing time with Patrick Kane to turn in a fairly strong season in 2021-22. Now he’ll likely slot in as the Caps second line centre, but playing with T.J. Oshie and Anthony Mantha is certainly a bit of downgrade. If he gets top power play time he’ll have a shot at 50 points, just don’t expect much more.
183. Ryan Johansen, C, NSH: As we noted earlier with Duchene, a regression could be coming for Johansen after a shooting percentage of 22%. That’s almost double his career average. He’ll probably be closer to 50 points than the 63 he put up a year ago. Don’t be fooled and overreach for him.
184. Anders Lee, LW, NYI: Lee started off slow last year, but really caught fire in March to salvage a 28-goal campaign. Perhaps most concerning were his lack of hits, as Lee failed to break 100 over a full 82-game season for the first time since 2013-14. If you’re taking a shot on him this year, you’ll have to hope Lee’s late season surge carries over and he brings back more physicality in his game.
185. Dawson Mercer, RW, NJ: Mercer dropped 17 goals and 42 points as a rookie, so his ceiling figures to be much higher than that. If he plays a full season next to Jack Hughes, 60 points seems like a very reasonable possibility in 2022-23.
186. Torey Krug, D, STL: Krug is a steady point producer, but doesn’t offer much in the way of hits, blocks and shots. In fact, he hasn’t hit 200 shots since the 2017-18 campaign, which is also the last time he played 70-games. He’s a decent option if you don’t have to reach for him, but Krug’s recent durability issues concern me a bit.
187. Matty Beniers, C, SEA: Beniers showed plenty of potential in 2021-22, averaging nearly a point per game when he was brought up late in the season, albeit in a small sample size. With new additions Bjorkstrand and Burakovsky possibly flanking him on the top line, there’s a chance Beniers is could be in the Calder conversation.
188. Nick Schmaltz, RW, ARI: Schmaltz incredibly put up 59 points in 63 games with little help a season ago on a weak Coyotes roster. Sure, his shooting percentage was a tad high and Arizona’s talent is still grim, but I don’t seem him regressing so much that he isn’t at least a 50-point player. He’s a decent late-round pick or possible early season waiver wire scoop.
189. Mikael Granlund, C, NSH: Granlund was one of the few Predators forwards that had a strong season without an inflated shooting percentage. Still, he played mainly with Duchene who probably won’t be able to sustain his numbers from 2021-22, so expect Granlund’s totals to drop a bit as well. Granlund still has sneaky value for hits, though, as he’s averaged more than a hit per game over the past two seasons.
190. Martin Necas, C/RW, CAR: You could make an argument that Necas was the biggest disappointment in fantasy hockey last year. After scoring 41 points in 53 games in 2020-21, he only managed 40 in 78 games last season. With the addition of Paul Stastny, Necas will likely stay on the wing with the second line, so you can probably snag him late in your drafts as a bounceback candidate. There’s still lots of upside for Necas in that Carolina lineup, but just temper your expectations for him in 2022-23.
191. Jared McCann, LW, SEA: A career high 27 goals and 50 points for McCann last season on an expansion team was impressive, but there’s a chance he’s forced down the lineup with the additions of Bjorkstrand, Burakovsky and potentially Shane Wright. McCann on the third line and the second power play unit isn’t quite as exciting.
192. Jeff Petry, D, PIT: It was a miserable season for Petry, so it’s understandable if many will shy away from taking him. Keep in mind, though, he’s still very effective for hits and blocks and it was a rough campaign for the majority of the Canadiens last year. The Penguins are much more talented and it’s hard to imagine Petry won’t benefit substantially with the likes of Crosby, Malkin and Guentzel around. I’d bet Petry’s closer to 40-45 points than he is to 25 in 2022-23.
193. Yegor Sharangovich, LW, NJ: Another emerging member of New Jersey’s top six, Sharangovich is coming off a year where he quietly put up 24 goals. There’s high hopes to see what he can do for an encore and Hughes, Mercer and Sharangovich could form one of the more exciting lines this season. There’s a decent chance Sharangovich crosses the 50-point barrier.
194. Jack Roslovic, RW, CBJ: I mentioned Jenner earlier as the top candidate to centre Gaudreau and Laine, but there’s also a chance it could be Roslovic. He also closed 2021-22 strong, recording 10 goals and 13 points in his final 10 games. Hopefully that momentum carries over into this year for Roslovic.
195. Logan Thompson, G, VGK: So much upside, yet so much uncertainty for Thompson. It’s possible he claims the number one job on an elite team, but since he doesn’t have to clear waivers, it’s also possible Thompson starts the year in the AHL like Oettinger did a year ago. Thompson looked very good in a small sample size in 2021-22 and his potential is so great that he’s worth gambling on.
196. Jake DeBrusk, LW, BOS: DeBrusk dropped 25 goals and a career high 184 shots, all while waiting to be traded. If that’s what a disgruntled DeBrusk looks like, hopefully he can excel even more going into this season with a more positive frame of mind. Krejci’s return also ensures DeBrusk will be playing with a high-end centre wherever he slots into the top six.
197. Tyler Seguin, RW, DAL: It’s probably time to stop thinking about Seguin as that point per game player and see him for what he really is, which is still a serviceable fantasy option. Is he going to give you 80 points anymore? No. But can he be a 25-goal scorer, 50-point player that gives you 200-plus shots and over a hit a game? Definitely.
198. Travis Konecny, RW, PHI: Philly’s talent pool is anything but deep this year, but someone has to play first line minutes and on the top power play, and that’s going to be Konecny. That alone should be enough to carry him to 50 points and 200 shots.
199. Bo Byram, D, COL: Byram will probably be on the third pair again and won’t get much power play time, but 17 points in 30 games should have done enough to make him coveted as a late-round defenseman with plenty of upside. He’s still only scratching the surface of what he’s capable of.
200. Spencer Knight, G, FLA: Knight really came on in the second half of the season and started to get more playing time. Bobrovsky is still the undisputed number one in Florida, but it’s not like he’s been super consistent. Even if Bobrovsky doesn’t falter, Knight probably gets 30-35 games in a worst-case scenario on a very strong team.
201. Pavel Francouz, G, COL: So much promise with Francouz, as he’s posted a sparkling .921 save percentage in 57 career games. For the first time he isn’t fighting with a true number one goalie for starts, but can Francouz stay healthy enough to steal playing time and potentially the job? It’s a gamble, but probably one worth taking if you’re in a deep league and need a third goalie.
202. Andre Burakovsky, LW, SEA: You can bet Burakovsky won’t hit 61 points again after leaving the Avs, but Seattle’s top six is much improved and he won’t slip too far if he plays with Beniers and Bjorkstrand. Around 50 points seems reasonable for Burakovsky and he’ll probably see a decent bump in ice time, too.
203. Anton Forsberg, G, OTT: No goalie was more consistent in the second half of the season last year, recording a save percentage of .900 or better in 32 of his final 40 games. With Talbot’s arrival, though, Forsberg went from a number one to having to fight for 50% of the playing time. If they split starts and Ottawa takes a step forward, Forsberg will be a decent third goalie option for your squad.
204. Jakub Voracek, RW, CBJ: Very quietly, Voracek finished 7th overall in primary assists a season ago. Outside of helpers, though, Voracek doesn’t give you much but he should still see power play one time on what should be a much improved unit for the Blue Jackets with the addition of Gaudreau.
205. Phillip Danault, C, LAK: Known more as a defensive centre, Danault more than doubled his career high in goals last year and nearly reached 200 shots. Trevor Moore helped ignite Danault’s line and that second unit should be productive again for the Kings in 2022-23.
206. Cole Sillinger, C, CBJ: Sillinger is likely a longshot to centre Gaudreau and Laine, but he showed enough promise as a rookie to have him on your radar. Even if Sillinger doesn’t land in the top six, maybe there’s a chance he’s part of a young and talented third line with Kent Johnson and Kirill Marchenko. That unit would certainly be fun to watch and probably fairly productive.
207. Victor Olofsson, RW, BUF: Olofsson is typically good for 20 goals, but there’s a major sense of optimism in the Buffalo top six this year. If Thompson, Tuch and Skinner continue to perform the way they did last season and someone like Peyton Krebs takes a step forward, maybe Olofsson can hit 30 goals and 200 shots if he stays healthy.
208. Alexis Lafreniere, LW, NYR: Lafreniere has only offered minimal returns in his first two years in the league, which made his performance this past spring in the playoffs so intriguing. If he gets to play on the top line with Kreider and Zibanejad and is able to keep his postseason point pace going, Lafraniere could have major value this year.
209. Linus Ullmark, G, BOS: Ullmark comes with many of the same concerns Swayman does. Bruce Cassidy’s tight defensive structure is gone and the Bruins are dealing with a bunch of significant injuries to key players to start the season. If Boston takes a step back this year, so will Ullmark’s value.
210. Jamie Benn, LW, DAL: Benn isn’t going to be winning any more Art Ross trophies, but much like Seguin, he’s settling into a serviceable depth option for your roster. About 50 points, 140 hits and 180 shots isn’t going to carry your team to a championship, but Benn is still a useful player to have around.
211. Nino Niederreiter, RW, NSH: Niederreiter was fairly productive in a third line role with the Canes and he should get a shot in the top six in Nashville. He’ll probably hit 20 goals playing with Granlund, but Niederreiter hasn’t hit 50 points in three seasons and only twice in his career. There’s a limit to what he can give you.
212. Blake Coleman, LW, CGY: The addition of Kadri will help Coleman’s offense, but his real value is with hits and shots. Coleman should give you 200 shots and probably around 175 hits, which makes him worth rostering even if he won’t exceed 35 points or so.
213. Semyon Varlamov, G, NYI: Sorokin is officially the number one in Long Island, so Varlamov won’t see as much of a share of the playing time as he’s received in years past. Still, he’ll be a decent option in deep leagues and off the waiver wire for spot starts, as his career numbers have been very consistent. Varlamov has only had two seasons in his career where his save percentage dipped below .909.
214. Ivan Provorov, D, PHI: It’s been four years since Provorov has hit 40 points and don’t bet on him getting back there this season given the state of the Flyers. He still has the potential for around 30-plus, though, to go along with 150 blocks and well over 100 hits, making him worthy of a roster spot in deep leagues.
215. Vince Dunn, D, SEA: Some of the aforementioned offseason additions to the Kraken forward group should also give the power play a boost, where Dunn is the quarterback. Dunn is a good candidate to reach 40 points for the first time in his career and will probably play over 20 minutes a game.
216. Anthony Mantha, LW, WSH: Mantha has never quite hit expectations so far in his career and he’s not in an ideal spot this year with the Caps. With Backstrom out, Kuznetsov will be playing exclusively on the top line and the absence of Wilson also makes the Washington top six a bit thinner. Mantha will likely slot in with Strome and the often injured Oshie, so he’s not set up well for a productive campaign.
217. Trevor Moore, LW, LAK: Moore took off for 41 points in his final 49 games last season and while he probably won’t be able to keep up that pace for a full year, his peripherals make him valuable. He should also give you around a hit per game and 200 shots, so add in 50 points to that and Moore is a player you can definitely find a spot for.
218. Erik Karlsson, D, SJ: He’s not the player he once was and he hasn’t hit the 60-game mark in four seasons, but if there’s a player to gamble on with one of your final picks it’s probably Karlsson. He showed glimpses of the elite player he was at times last year and still posted 35 points in 50 games. If he can play 60 games in 2022-23, Karlsson will definitely make it worth your while.
219. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, CAR: Kotkaniemi would’ve been much higher on this list had the Canes not brought in Paul Stastny. Now it’s Stastny that figures to have the inside track on the second line centre role, leaving Kotkaniemi on the fourth line unless he moves to wing or can outduel Stastny. Neither option really seems likely.
220. Cal Petersen, G, LAK: Petersen was near the top of the list of fantasy disappointments last season, getting outplayed by the much older Quick. He should still get close to 50% of the starts even if Quick is the first option again, making Petersen a potential option as a third goalie for your roster since the Kings are such a strong group.
221. Alex Killorn, LW, TB: I’m always wary of players who don’t have a strong finish to the season and Killorn went goalless in his final 28 games including the playoffs. He’s also likely to be slotted with Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel on what should turn into a checking line, so don’t expect a repeat of a near 60-point season.
222. Josh Morrissey, D, WPG: Morrissey hadn’t shown much offensively prior to last season. He had a career high 12 goals and 37 points, to go along 15 power play points and 173 shots. If he can give you anywhere close to that kind of offense to go along with over 100 blocks and around 150 hits, Morrissey will have tremendous value as a depth defenseman for you.
223. Jaccob Slavin, D, CAR: A Lady Byng winner as a defenseman that doesn’t hit much or get a lot of penalty minutes isn’t ideal, but Slavin can still bring something to your team. He’ll be paired with the newly acquired Burns this season, so I like his chances of exceeding his career high of 42 points and he’s usually good for 125-130 blocks.
224. Marcus Foligno, LW, MIN: Foligno doesn’t shoot much, as he’s never hit 100 shots in a season yet in his career, but he’s full value for hits and PIM. A 20-goal scorer that will give you well over 200 hits and has the potential for 100 penalty minutes is an asset you can use in deep leagues.
225. Vitek Vanecek, G, NJ: Vanecek has proven to be a consistent .908 guy for his career with about 20 wins per season. That was on Washington, though, and there’s no guarantee the Devils will be anywhere near as strong as the Caps were this season. There’s a chance Vanecek gets a much larger share of the playing time in New Jersey, but his numbers could take a hit if the team in front of him isn’t ready to make a leap.
226. Ryan Strome, C, ANA: Strome was a nice asset when he played with Panarin in New York, but there’s probably going to be a correction with his numbers in Anaheim. Still, the Ducks have some young talent like Terry, Zegras and McTavish in their top six, so watch for Strome early in the season as a waiver wire add should the Ducks start filling the net.
227. Brandon Saad, LW, STL: A safe option, Saad is typically good for 20-25 goals and around 50 points. This year should be no different, as the Blues are returning the majority of their top nine that powered St. Louis to being the third highest scoring team last season.
228. Damon Severson, D, NJ: Severson’s defensive game may not be up to par, but he’s still a steady offensive producer and an effective power play option. Pencil him in for around 22 minutes of ice time per night and as long as he continues to play that much, Severson should easily be good for 45 points or so.
229. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, EDM: Anyone that has a shot to spend significant time with McDavid and Draisaitl needs to be on your radar. Yamamoto fits that bill, as he just has to fend of Jesse Puljujarvi for a right winger spot in the top six. He quietly also registered more than 100 hits last season, so Yamamoto has some physicality to his game, too.
230. Marco Rossi, C, MIN: It remains to be seen how the Wild deploy their lines, but hopefully Rossi centres one of the top three groups. Rossi is a dynamic rookie that should have little trouble producing some solid offensive numbers if someone like Boldy is on his wing.
231. Sean Durzi, D, LAK: Only 27 points for Durzi a season ago, but more than half of those came on the power play. He could be a good depth option on defense that’s a bit of a category specialist for you. Just beware about a healthy Doughty stealing some of those power play points.
232. John Gibson, G, ANA: Three-straight seasons of 20 wins or less and no better than a .904 save percentage for Gibson. The talent is certainly there, but barring a trade, it’s going to be a challenge squeezing value out of Gibson on a rebuilding Ducks squad.
233. Yanni Gourde, C, SEA: A full season of Beniers likely means Gourde slips to the third-line centre spot. Maybe he’s fortunate enough to have McCann on his wing, but it’s still going to be tough for Gourde to hit 50 points in that situation.
234. Juraj Slafkovsky, LW, MON: There’s no guarantee Slafkovsky will get a featured role in the Canadiens lineup this season or even be on the team for that matter, but the magic head coach Martin St. Louis worked on another young goal scorer in Caufield should be enough to put Slafkovsky on your radar. He could be a good earl season waiver wire bet if he gets an opportunity in Montreal.
235. Filip Chytil, C, NYR: Chytil only had eight goals in 67 games last season, but sniped seven in 20 playoff games. If Chytil can re-ignite that offense, perhaps finding some chemistry with Vitali Kravstov, then he might be a bet worth taking.
236. Adam Henrique, C/LW, ANA: Henrique is better than het gets credit for, scoring at a near 60-point pace in 2021-22. If he moves to the wing and plays with Zegras and Terry on Anaheim’s top line, then don’t hesitate to take a chance on him and hope he stays healthy.
237. Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, EDM: There’s lots to like about some of Puljujarvi’s underlying numbers, but it just hasn’t translated to any significant production. Puljujarvi played with McDavid a ton a season ago and still only managed 36 points. Some players just have trouble finishing and Puljujarvi could be one of those.
238. Neal Pionk, D, WPG: Pionk is great for category coverage and could push for a 200-hit campaign if he stays healthy. Add in the potential for about 40 points and Pionk is a useful defender in deeper leagues.
239. Shane Wright, C, SEA: Wright is a bit of a wild card this year and there’s a chance he could return to junior. He could have a chip on his shoulder, though, after falling in the draft, so keep an eye on your waiver wire if he makes the Kraken and catches fire.
240. Gustav Forsling, D, FLA: Forsling had a sneaky 10 goals and 37 points last year playing mainly with Radko Gudas and ranked 7th in the entire league in plus/minus. With Weegar gone he should get a chance to play with Ekblad this season and improve on those numbers.
241. Alex Nedeljkovic, G, DET: Nedeljkovic saw his save percentage numbers plummet when he arrived in Detroit from Carolina and now Husso is around to compete with him for playing time. If the Wings improve greatly this year, maybe Nedeljkovic turns into a decent spot start option off waivers.
242. Tyson Barrie, D, EDM: Barrie will be more valuable if he can fend off Bouchard for first power play time, but that’s going to be tough. Without that, is he still a 40-point defenseman? Seems like a longshot.
243. Cole Perfetti, C/RW, WPG: Perfetti is another rookie to keep an eye on, as he may slide in perfectly with Dubois and Connor on a very offensive line. He should thrive in that spot if given the opportunity and with a little time on the second power play, Perfetti could be headed for a 50-point campaign.
244. Samuel Girard, D, COL: Girard has the offensive ability and talent around him in Colorado to get 40 points, even without power play time. His doesn’t offer much in the way of other metrics, though, so Girard is much more valuable in points leagues.
245. Alexander Barabanov, LW, SJ: Barabanov looked great with Hertl and Meier last season, but only skated with them 38% of the time. Keep an eye on San Jose’s lines coming out of training camp because if Barabanov starts there again, he’ll be a useful depth forward to roster.
246. Mason McTavish, C, ANA: I’d be much higher on McTavish if he moves to the wing and plays in the top six, since Zegras and Strome will likely be Anaheim’s top two centres. If the Ducks keep him at centre in the bottom six, then his value will likely be minimal for 2022-23.
247. Arthur Kaliyev, LW, LAK: Kaliyev tallied 14 goals on nearly 200 shots a season ago. If he keeps up that shooting volume his puck luck will inevitably improve and Kaliyev could be a 20-goal scorer that’s also going to fill the shot category for you.
248. Phil Kessel, RW, VGK: Kessel had a career-low shooting percentage last year at 4.6% and still put up 52 points on a bad Arizona team. If he can crack the top six in Vegas and get some power play time, he can easily be a 20-goal scorer once again.
249. Connor Brown, RW, WSH: With Tom Wilson sidelined for the first half of the season, expect Brown to skate with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov on the Caps top line. That’s a great spot to be in and it wouldn’t surprise me if Brown gets back to 20 goals and sets a new career high in points.
250. Lukas Reichel, C, CHI: Chicago’s roster is very bleak, but someone has to play with Patrick Kane. There’s a good chance Reichel will centre him and you can’t help but pick up points when you’re skating next to someone with Kane’s skill level. Reichel could be a waiver wire steal as long as Kane is still in Chicago.
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