Fantasy Goalie Analysis: Dubnyk's injury; Top-25 rankings; goalie news and notes

Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk sustained a lower-body injury against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday and is week to week.

Dubnyk, 73rd overall and eighth among starting goaltenders in Yahoo based on standard-category performance, finished among the top 10 fantasy goalies in each of his previous three seasons since joining Minnesota.

Backup Alex Stalock (19 percent owned) relieved Dubnyk against the Flames and got his second straight win, stopping 16 of 17 shots faced. He also started and won at the San Jose Sharks on Sunday, stopping 31 of 34 shots faced. Stalock will start against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; FS-N, SNO). He is a short-term streaming option for owners of Dubnyk, but should not be prioritized over some stronger outside options.

The best starting goaltender available in most leagues is Antti Raanta (23 percent owned) of the Arizona Coyotes. His strong play lately and the fact that he's in the final year of his contract warrant fantasy attention. If he is not going to sign long-term with the Coyotes, they could end up trading him to a contending team. Even for now, Raanta has bounced back from multiple injury absences and a season-opening four-game winless streak (0-2-1) by going 4-4-1 with a .930 save percentage over his past 10 games.

After Raanta, there are a number of fantasy-relevant backups, namely Aaron Dell (SJS; 31 percent owned), Ryan Miller (ANA; 43 percent) and Kari Lehtonen (DAL; 11 percent). Lehtonen has emerged as an intriguing pickup considering he has played two straight games, winning each and stopping 56 of 59 shots faced. The Dallas Stars play a road back-to-back set against the New Jersey Devils on Friday and Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, so Lehtonen will likely get another start this week.

If Dell, Miller or Lehtonen is not available, the next-best strategy is to opt for a starter-turned-backup like Tristan Jarry (PIT; 32 percent owned) or Malcolm Subban (VGK; 34 percent). The Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights are in Stanley Cup Playoff position, but Jarry and Subban are among the most-dropped goalies this week because Matt Murray and Marc-Andre Fleury are back from injuries. That said, each goaltender should still see playing time on occasion and receive strong goal support.

- Pete Jensen, NHL.com

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TRENDING UP

Brian Elliott, PHI: The Philadelphia Flyers have followed their 10-game losing streak by winning four in a row, with Elliott starting each of the games. Elliott (69 percent owned) allowed a combined seven goals in impressive road wins against the Calgary Flames (43 saves), Edmonton Oilers (24 saves) and Vancouver Canucks (36 saves) before making 20 saves in a 4-2 home win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday. Elliott was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week for the period ending Sunday. He's lowered his GAA to 2.76 and improved his save percentage to .912. Elliott is expected to start against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG-B, NHL.TV); it will be his season-high sixth straight start. Backup Michal Neuvirth (7 percent owned) has a leg injury and, even if he returns this week, may not get much playing time; Neuvirth is 2-5-1 with a 2.65 GAA and .915 SV% and has allowed three or more goals in four of five starts, including four or more in three of them.

Kari Lehtonen, DAL: It's somewhat surprising that Lehtonen (11 percent owned) has started four of the past six games for the Dallas Stars, but he has been better than No. 1 Ben Bishop lately. Lehtonen is 3-1-0 and allowed seven goals in those four games, including 32 saves in a 5-2 win against the New York Islanders on Wednesday for his 300th NHL win. His 2.44 GAA and .913 SV% are much-improved compared to his previous three seasons, and he's been playing his way into more starts recently. Bishop has been inconsistent this season; he's 13-9-0 with a 2.75 GAA, SV% and two shutouts, and has allowed at least three goals in five of seven games. With Lehtonen playing as well as he has, coach Ken Hitchcock could easily ride the hot hand, making Lehtonen a valuable streaming option and handcuff for Bishop owners.

Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK: The Vegas Golden Knights goaltender returned Tuesday after missing 25 games because of a concussion. Fleury (77 percent owned) was 3-1-0 with a 2.48 GAA and a .925 SV% in four starts before the injury and looked sharp in his return, making 35 saves in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The 33-year-old should see the majority of the workload for Vegas if he remains healthy. The Golden Knights went 16-8-1 without Fleury, whose return mostly affects backup Malcolm Subban (7-2-0, 2.33 GAA, .924 SV%). Subban (36 percent) was rostered in one-half of Yahoo leagues two days ago but now is the clear No. 2 goalie behind Fleury.

TRENDING DOWN

Tristan Jarry, PIT: The rookie was serviceable in the absence of starter Matt Murray; Jarry (36 percent owned) has started the Penguins' past six games and is 5-2-2 with a 2.49 GAA, .919 SV% and one shutout. But with Murray expected to return Thursday at the Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN. SN360, ATTSN-RM, ATTNS-PT, NHL.TV), Jarry's run could be over. Murray has not played since Nov. 27, when he left a game against the Flyers with a lower-body injury, and although he has a high GAA (2.95) and low SV% (.906), he'll start the majority of the games if he remains healthy and benefit from Pittsburgh's high-scoring offense and power play. As a result, Jarry can be safely dropped in most leagues.

John Gibson, ANA: This isn't as much a knock on Gibson as it is praise for backup Ryan Miller, who is 3-0-4 with a 1.73 GAA and .945 SV% in eight games (six starts). Miller, the second-oldest goalie in the League at 37 (Roberto Luongo of the Florida Panthers is 38), appears to be fresher in his new role after starting 50-plus games in each of the past two seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. If Gibson gets injured or struggles at any point, Anaheim likely won't hesitate to give more playing time to Miller, who's available in three-fourths of leagues. Gibson does have nine wins and a .921 SV% but has allowed three or more goals in six of his past eight games.

Connor Hellebuyck, WPG: Prior to allowing one goal on 26 shots in a 5-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday, the Winnipeg Jets goalie had allowed nine goals in two games and at least three goals in four of five. Hellebuyck has decent peripherals (2.44 GAA, .920 SV%) and is tied for sixth in the NHL with 16 victories, but may not be a must-start option anymore. The Jets have one of the NHL's best offenses, so Hellebuyck can even win games where he allows three-plus goals. With Steve Mason injured and no experienced backup, Hellebuyck isn't in any danger of losing his job. That said, fantasy owners may want to take more of a game-by-game approach when deciding whether to start him.

TOP 25 GOALIE RANKINGS

Standard Yahoo categories include wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goaltenders. ... Value has been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past production, team goaltender situations, anticipated start volume, projected goal support (or lack thereof), injury history, age, sleeper, bounce-back or breakout potential, potential regression, contract status and overall upside for this season. Any players with day-to-day injury concerns (DTD) are noted. NEW - INJ. indicates a player who has returned from injury and rejoined the rankings.

1. Andrei Vasilevskiy, TBL (SAME)
2. Jonathan Quick, LAK (SAME)
3. Pekka Rinne, NSH (+1)
4. Sergei Bobrovsky, CBJ (-1)
5. Frederik Andersen, TOR (+2)
6. Braden Holtby, WSH (-1)
7. Corey Crawford, CHI (+1)
8. Matt Murray, PIT (NEW - INJ.)
9. Carey Price, MTL (-3)
10. Jake Allen, STL (+1)
11. Tuukka Rask, BOS (+4)
12. Martin Jones, SJS (-3)
13. John Gibson, ANA (-3)
14. Cory Schneider, NJD (-1)
15. Connor Hellebuyck, WPG (-1)
16. Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK (NEW)
17. Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (-1)
18. Ben Bishop, DAL (-1)
19. Mike Smith, CGY (+2)
20. Ryan Miller, ANA (NEW)
21. Jaroslav Halak, NYI (-2)
22. Brian Elliott, PHI (NEW)
23. Aaron Dell, SJS (+2)
24. Kari Lehtonen, DAL (NEW)
25. Antti Raanta, ARI (NEW)
Dropped out: Tristan Jarry, PIT; Semyon Varlamov, COL; Malcolm Subban, VGK; James Reimer, FLA; Jacob Markstrom, VAN

Key injuries: Cam Talbot, EDM; Devan Dubnyk, MIN (dropped out); Roberto Luongo, FLA; Oscar Dansk, VGK; Michal Neuvirth, PHI

- David Satriano, NHL.com

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News and Notes from Rotoworld.com:

• Andrei Vasilevskiy will get the start for Tampa Bay on Thursday. Vasilevskiy is going for his fifth straight victory. He has a 20-4-1 record, 2.15 GAA, and .933 save percentage in 25 games in 2017-18.

• Laurent Brossoit will be Edmonton's starter on Thursday. It will be Brossoit's seventh straight start as Cam Talbot continues to recover. Brossoit has a 3-6-1 record, 3.15 GAA, and .891 save percentage in 12 games this season.

• Frederik Andersen will play between the pipes Thursday night. Andersen has had to face at least 36 shots in each of his last three starts, so we'll see if the Maple Leafs give him a little less work tonight. He's 17-9-1 with a 2.69 GAA and .922 save percentage in 27 contests this season.

• Antti Raanta will get the nod for Arizona on Thursday. Raanta turned aside 33 of 34 shots on Saturday, but the Coyotes still lost that contest. He has a 4-6-2 record, 2.68 GAA, and .919 save percentage in 14 contests in 2017-18.

• Aaron Dell is expected to start for San Jose Thursday night. Dell earned a 25-save shutout on Saturday. He's 5-3-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .939 save percentage in 11 contests this season.

Satriano: Jarry, Price, Dell trending up

NHL.com Staff Writer David Satriano released his updated Top 25 Fantasy Goaltender Rankings on Thursday, and said that Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens, and Aaron Dell of the San Jose Sharks are "trending up" in terms of percent owned in standard Yahoo! leagues.

Here is what Satriano wrote of Jarry:

Pittsburgh Penguins starter Matt Murray was in the Trending Down section last week, prior to his injury. Now that he's week to week with a lower-body injury, Jarry likely will get most of the starts. Jarry has seen his ownership skyrocket (up 33 percent in the past two days) and is 2-0-2 with a 2.83 GAA and a .907 save percentage in four games (three starts) this season. He has made 41 saves on 45 shots in his past two appearances. Jarry has five games of NHL experience, but he had 28 wins, a 2.15 GAA and .925 save percentage in 45 American Hockey League games with Wilkes/Barre Scranton last season. Casey DeSmith (less than 1 percent owned) likely won't challenge Jarry, so the job is likely his, for better or worse, until Murray returns.

Here is what Satriano wrote of Price:

There were obviously concerns from the Montreal Canadiens and fantasy owners alike when Price returned from his lower-body injury last weekend. So far, he's put all those questions to rest. Price has led the Canadiens to three straight wins, making 100 saves on 102 shots (.980 SV%) against the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators. He's looked sharp in each game, showing the form that won him the Vezina and Hart trophies in 2014-15. It's clear as long as he's healthy, he's the No. 1 in Montreal. That's not to say fantasy owners should expect these types of performances every night, but Price looks like a different goalie than the one who was 3-7-1 with a 3.77 GAA and .877 SV% before the injury.

Here is what Satriano wrote of Dell:

Martin Jones sustained a lower-body injury on Saturday during a 4-0 win against the Winnipeg Jets in which he made 38 saves and got a shutout. Jones didn't leave the game and traveled with the San Jose Sharks on their four-game road trip, although Dell got the start on Tuesday. He made 22 saves in a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers to improve to 3-3-1 with a 2.06 GAA and .924 SV%. Dell was very good backing up Jones last season (11-6-1, .200 GAA, .931 SV%) in 20 games (17 starts) and has already made nine appearances this season. Even if Jones is able to play Friday against the Florida Panthers, it's the first game of a back-to-back, meaning Dell likely would start against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Dell is one of the most valuable fantasy options in the League.

DFS NHL Picks - November 25, 2017

Center:

Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche: MacKinnon has been solid in his past five games, recording two goals and eight assists with his plus-minis at a +7 in that span.

Wingers:

Josh Bailey - New York Islanders: Similar to MacKinnon, Bailey has two goals and seven assists in his past five games. The only downside to Bailey is that his plus-minu8s is a -2 in that span, but he is still producing despite that. He also has two penalty minutes in the five-game span.

Johnny Gaudreau - Calgary Flames: In his past five games, Gaudreau has recorded four goals and six assists, with a +2 rating and two penalty minutes in that span.

Defensemen:

Nick Leddy - New York Islanders: Leddy has three goals and three assists in his past five games. He's a solid pick in terms of time-on-ice easily going over 20 minutes almost every game.

P.K. Subban: It came down to Subban and Oliver Ekman-Larsson for this choice. Subban has recorded six assists in his past five games, with a +1 rating. OEL has two goals and three assists in his last five, but has a -2 rating. Suban has one extra point in his tallies in the respective spans and has a better plus-minus too.

Goaltender:

Corey Crawford - Chicago Blackhawks: Crawford ranks fifth in the league in Goals-Against-Average (2.23), second in save-percentage (.932), and sixth in shutouts (2).

NHL Projected Goalie Starters - Oct. 27, 2017

Below are all projected goalie starters for all teams in action in the NHL tonight (Oct. 27, 2017):

AVALANCHE: Semyon Varlamov

GOLDEN KNIGHTS: TBD

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SENATORS: Mike Condon

DEVILS: Keith Kinkaid

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JETS: Steve Mason

BLUE JACKETS: TBD

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BLUES: Carter Hutton

HURRICANES: TBD

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PREDATORS: TBD

BLACKHAWKS: Corey Crawford

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STARS: Kari Lehtonen

FLAMES: Mike Smith 

DFS NHL Picks (October 10, 2017)

Center:

Bo Horvat - Vancouver Canucks: In the Vancouver Canucks' season opening 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, Horvat scored twice, once on the power play, and had two shots on goal. He led Vancouver in points (52) last season as well.

Wingers:

Vladimir Tarasenko - St. Louis Blues: Tarasenko is coming off two goals in a 3-2 shootout win against the New York Islanders on Monday, and has three goals, one assist and seven SOG in three games.

Martin Frk - Detroit Red Wings: Frk has two goals and one assist in his first two games of the season despite averaging 11:18 of ice time.

Defensemen:

Dion Phaneuf - Ottawa Senators: The Canucks had the third-worst penalty kill (76.7 percent) in the NHL last season. Plus, Phaneuf has with two points (one goal, one assist), eight SOG and nine blocks in two games.

Kevin Shattenkirk - New York Rangers: Shattenkirk registered two points (one goal, one assist), including his 300th career NHL point, on Oct. 7 at Toronto. He has tallied three points (one goal, two assists) this season, all on the power play, and he is tied for the NHL lead in power play points in 2017-18.

Goaltender:

Brian Elliott - Philadelphia Flyers: Elliott is a perfect 2-0-0 this season, having only given up five goals on 58 shots faced in those first two games. He defeated San Jose on Oct. 4 and defeated Anaheim on Oct. 7, logging 120:17 of ice time. His SV% is at .914 on the year and his GAA is at 2.50. He is expected to start at Nashville tonight.

DFS NHL Picks (October 4, 2017)

Center:

Leon Draisaitl - Edmonton Oilers: Draisaitl had a great Stanley Cup Playoff with 16 points in 13 games after recording 77 points regular season. He had six points (three goals, three assists) in five preseason games.

Wingers:

Patrik Laine - Winnipeg Jets: Laine finished among the League leaders in preseason goals (five; tied for 1st) and points (eight; tied for 3rd). Laine's 0.49 goals-per-game average last season was tied with Auston Matthews for second among rookies since the 2005-06 season behind Alexander Ovechkin (0.64) among those with a minimum of 70 games played.

Kailer Yamamoto - Edmonton Oilers: Yamamoto had seven points (five goals, two assists) in six preseason games, but he may be a slight risk due to his lack of NHL experience. But his prices can be so cheap that it's worth the risk.

Defensemen:

Kris Letang - Pittsburgh Penguins: Letang had 34 points in 41 games last season, and he is healthy after a full offseason recovering from season-ending neck surgery. Since 2011-12, Letang has dealt with multiple injuries but has the second-best point-per-game average (0.85) among defensemen behind Erik Karlsson (0.91).

Morgan Reilly - Toronto Maple Leafs: In Toronto's short playoff run in 2017, Reilly averaged 4.3 points per game on Draft Kings. He recordex four points (one goal, three assists), one power-play goal and 11 SOG in four preseason games.

Goaltender:

Matt Murray - Pittsburgh Penguins: With veteran Marc-Andre Fleuryselected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft, Murray has the starting job to himself and should begin strong at home, where he was 17-3-2 last regular season and 5-0 last postseason.

Fantasy: Mock draft 2.0 analysis for 2017-18

By Pete Jensen / NHL.com

The NHL season is less than two weeks away, and mock drafts continue to provide an accurate glimpse of the fantasy landscape.

NHL.com conducted another mock draft this weekend with fantasy staffers Pete Jensen, David Satriano and Ben Zweiman, correspondent Brian Metzer, Scott Pianowski of Yahoo, James Harding of DraftKings, Jonathan Baron of NHL Network, and five active Yahoo users.

NOTE: This was a 12-team, non-keeper mock draft with standard categories (goals, assists, plus/minus, penalty minutes, power-play points and shots on goal for skaters; wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts for goalies). Positions indicate eligibility in Yahoo leagues.

ROUND 1:

1. Baron - Connor McDavid (EDM - C)
2. FAN 1 - Sidney Crosby (PIT - C)
3. Satriano - Patrick Kane (CHI - RW)
4. Metzer - Auston Matthews (TOR - C)
5. Harding - Vladimir Tarasenko (STL - RW)
6. Jensen - Nikita Kucherov (TBL - RW)
7. FAN 2 - Carey Price (MTL - G)
8. FAN 3 - Jamie Benn (DAL - LW)
9. FAN 4 - Brent Burns (SJS - D)
10. Pianowski - Alex Ovechkin (WSH - LW)
11. FAN 5 - Evgeni Malkin (PIT - C)
12. Zweiman - Patrik Laine (WPG - RW)

Analysis: It's not surprising Kane went earlier than his NHL.com rank (7) in the midst of an impressive preseason alongside center Nick Schmaltz and rookie left wing Alex DeBrincat. … This is the earliest I've seen Tarasenko go in a standard format, but you have to love his goal-scoring ceiling given the success under coach Mike Yeo down the stretch last season and the forward depth around him this year. … Ovechkin is the best value pick of the round, especially with fresh linemates Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jakub Vrana. … Price continues to go very high despite concerns surrounding the Montreal Canadiens roster.

ROUND 2:

13. Zweiman - Brad Marchand (BOS - LW)
14. FAN 5 - Tyler Seguin (DAL - C/RW)
15. Pianowski - Jack Eichel (BUF - C)
16. FAN 4 - Mark Scheifele (WPG - C)
17. FAN 3 - Steven Stamkos (TBL - C)
18. FAN 2 - Braden Holtby (WSH - G)
19. Jensen - Nicklas Backstrom (WSH - C)
20. Harding - John Tavares (NYI - C)
21. Metzer - Matt Murray (PIT - G)
22. Satriano - Leon Draisaitl (EDM - C/RW)
23. FAN 1 - Erik Karlsson (OTT - D)
24. Baron - Victor Hedman (TBL - D)

Analysis: Seguin has been going behind Eichel and Scheifele in most mocks, but I still love him in this spot, especially playing with Benn and Alexander Radulov this preseason. That said, the new Eichel line with Evander Kane (in a contract year) and Jason Pominville could be a great fit for all three Buffalo Sabres forwards. … This is a little early for Stamkos given his injury history, but he could be a top five overall player if everything goes right alongside Kucherov. … Backstrom, playing on a line with Andre Burakovsky and T.J. Oshie this preseason, remains one of the safest bets for a point-per-game season out there. … Karlsson skated for the first time Saturday since having offseason foot surgery. If he doesn't end up missing much time, he could be a steal outside the top 20.

ROUND 3:

25. Baron - Johnny Gaudreau (CGY - LW)
26. FAN 1 - Dustin Byfuglien (WPG - D)
27. Satriano - Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ - G)
28. Metzer - Artemi Panarin (CBJ - C/LW)
29. Harding - Cam Talbot (EDM - G)
30. Jensen - Mitchell Marner (TOR - C/RW)
31. FAN 2 - Phil Kessel (PIT - RW)
32. FAN 3 - Devan Dubnyk (MIN - G)
33. FAN 4 - Joe Pavelski (SJS - C/RW)
34. Pianowski - Jake Allen (STL - G)
35. FAN 5 - Filip Forsberg (NSH - LW)
36. Zweiman - Roman Josi (NSH - D)

Analysis: Gaudreau had a strong points-per-game average (0.85) in a down season when he missed 10 games, likely why Baron reached for the Calgary Flames left wing over Panarin. … The 26-35 range of most drafts is where you can either take a proven commodity (e.g. Kessel, Pavelski, Blake Wheeler) or reach for an emerging young wing (e.g. Marner, Pastrnak). I went with the upside here with dual-eligible Marner, who's a big component of arguably the deepest offense in the League. … Dubnyk went much higher than his ADP (46.0), but he's undervalued in general. Only Braden Holtby (131) has more wins than Dubnyk (108) over the past three seasons.

ROUND 4:

37. Zweiman - Kris Letang (PIT - D)
38. FAN 1 - Tuukka Rask (BOS - G)
39. Pianowski - Max Pacioretty (MTL - LW)
40. FAN 2 - David Pastrnak (BOS - RW)
41. FAN 3 - Claude Giroux (PHI - C)
42. FAN 4 - Shea Weber (MTL - D)
43. Jensen - P.K. Subban (NSH - D)
44. Harding - Duncan Keith (CHI - D)
45. Metzer - Blake Wheeler (WPG - RW)
46. Satriano - Zach Werenski (CBJ - D)
47. FAN 5 - Pekka Rinne (NSH - G)
48. Baron - John Gibson (ANA - G)

Analysis: This is a good range for Letang, who's healthy and set to make his preseason debut Sunday. He has top 15 potential and could finish first among defensemen if he stays healthy for close to a full season. … Giroux's value is low right now, so it's probably not necessary to reach for him (especially with centers dropping in most 12-team leagues). … There was a run on defensemen in this round, with five of the 12 picks at the position. Even with Subban facing questions after Mattias Ekholm was moved to Roman Josi's defense pair, he was on pace for a 50-point season last year despite injury and not playing on the Nashville Predators' first power-play unit.

ROUND 5:

49. Baron - William Nylander (TOR - C/RW)
50. FAN 5 - Wayne Simmonds (PHI - RW)
51. Satriano - Martin Jones (SJS - G)
52. Metzer - Kevin Shattenkirk (NYR - D)
53. Harding - Ben Bishop (DAL - G)
54. Jensen - Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL - G)
55. FAN 4 - Drew Doughty (LAK - D)
56. FAN 3 - Jonathan Quick (LAK - G)
57. FAN 2 - Corey Crawford (CHI - G)
58. Pianowski - Henrik Lundqvist (NYR - G)
59. FAN 1 - Frederik Andersen (TOR - G)
60. Zweiman - Patrice Bergeron (BOS - C)

Analysis: This may be a reach for Andersen, but he has room to improve on his League-worst overtime/shootout losses (14), and, thus, has a ceiling of 35-40 wins for the surging Maple Leafs. … Shattenkirk has looked dynamic this preseason and is a good value outside the top 50. … I am high on Bishop and Vasilevskiy, but don't sleep on Quick's value as he continues to slide in drafts. He doesn't need much goal support to be a top 5-10 fantasy goalie. … Zweiman secured the dangerous Marchand-Bergeron point pair in this round, and got a Twitter reply from the left wing after the draft.

ROUND 6:

61. Zweiman - Sean Monahan (CGY - C)
62. FAN 1 - Rasmus Ristolainen (BUF - D)
63. Pianowski - Mike Hoffman (OTT - LW/RW)
64. FAN 2 - Evgeny Kuznetsov (WSH - C)
65. FAN 3 - Alex Pietrangelo (STL - D)
66. FAN 4 - Brandon Saad (CHI - LW)
67. Jensen - John Klingberg (DAL - D)
68. Harding - Ryan Getzlaf (ANA - C)
69. Metzer - Dougie Hamilton (CGY - D)
70. Satriano - Ryan Johansen (NSH - C)
71. FAN 5 - Jeff Carter (LAK - C)
72. Baron - Oliver Ekman-Larsson (ARI - D)

Analysis: Kuznetsov brings renewed fantasy optimism on a line with Ovechkin this preseason. Kuznetsov finished 51st in Yahoo last season despite an underachieving first half. … Johansen has slipped much further than this in other mocks, so make sure you're on your toes. … Klingberg brings exposure to all the potent forwards in Dallas, so I'll take him in every mock as a No. 2 defenseman. … Ekman-Larsson's bounce-back appeal looks even better with the Arizona Coyotes' improving defense (added Niklas Hjalmarsson, Jason Demers). … Getzlaf was better than a point per game over the regular season and playoffs combined, so he's the ultimate bargain this late.

ROUND 7:

73. Baron - Cam Atkinson (CBJ - RW)
74. FAN 5 - Corey Perry (ANA - RW)
75. Satriano - Jeff Skinner (CAR - LW)
76. Metzer - James van Riemsdyk (TOR - LW)
77. Harding - Alexander Radulov (DAL - RW)
78. Jensen - Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG - LW)
79. FAN 4 - Mark Giordano (CGY - D)
80. FAN 3 - Jakub Voracek (PHI - RW)
81. FAN 2 - Brayden Schenn (STL - C/LW)
82. Pianowski - Logan Couture (SJS - C)
83. FAN 1 - Ryan Suter (MIN - D)
84. Zweiman - Mike Smith (CGY - G)

Analysis: There is plenty of value at right wing in this round; Atkinson finished 32nd in Yahoo last season, and Radulov could have NHL career-best totals across the board in Dallas. Voracek remains with Giroux and can at least be counted on for an elite shot volume. … Many forget Skinner finished among the League's top 10 in goals (37) and shots on goal (281) last season, and is 25 years old. … If Mike Smith ends up winning 30-35 games for the defensively sound Flames, this pick could pay large dividends. … Ehlers has been moved off the Winnipeg Jets' top line this preseason but would still be a threat for 55-60 points alongside Bryan Little.

ROUND 8:
85. Zweiman - Mikael Granlund (MIN - C/RW)
86. FAN 1 - T.J. Oshie (WSH - RW)
87. Pianowski - Justin Schultz (PIT - D)
88. FAN 2 - Jonathan Drouin (MTL - LW/RW)
89. FAN 3 - Sebastian Aho (CAR - LW/RW)
90. FAN 4 - Jonathan Toews (CHI - C)
91. Jensen - Rickard Rakell (ANA - C/LW)
92. Harding - Jonathan Huberdeau (FLA - LW)
93. Metzer - Jake Guentzel (PIT - C/LW)
94. Satriano - Mark Stone (OTT - RW)
95. FAN 5 - Torey Krug (BOS - D)
96. Baron - Jordan Eberle (NYI - RW)

Analysis: Rakell has greater fantasy upside playing center and on the first power-play unit for the Ducks in Ryan Kesler's injury absence. … Drouin could potentially gain center eligibility if he remains at the position after a preseason trial. … Guentzel could see some first power-play action if Patric Hornqvist (hand) misses the start of the season. It's amazing to see Huberdeau (ADP: 78.8) and his Florida Panthers linemate Aleksander Barkov (100.2) continue to slide in drafts. … Krug (fractured jaw) is unlikely for the start of the season, opening the door for rookie Charlie McAvoy to seize first power-play minutes.

ROUND 9:

97. Baron - Scott Darling (CAR - G)
98. FAN 5 - Taylor Hall (NJD - LW)
99. Satriano - Jacob Trouba (WPG - D)
100. Metzer - Viktor Arvidsson (NSH - LW/RW)
101. Harding - Justin Faulk (CAR - D)
102. Jensen - Craig Anderson (OTT - G)
103. FAN 4 - Seth Jones (CBJ - D)
104. FAN 3 - Shayne Gostisbehere (PHI - D)
105. FAN 2 - Cory Schneider (NJD - G)
106. Pianowski - Anze Kopitar (LAK - C)
107. FAN 1 - Ryan O'Reilly (BUF - C)
108. Zweiman - Jaden Schwartz (STL - LW)

ROUND 10:

109. Zweiman - Oscar Klefbom (EDM - D)
110. FAN 1 - John Carlson (WSH - D)
111. Pianowski - Kyle Palmieri (NJD - RW)
112. FAN 2 - Aleksander Barkov (FLA - C)
113. FAN 3 - Kyle Okposo (BUF - RW)
114. FAN 4 - Ryan McDonagh (NYR - D)
115. Jensen - Aaron Ekblad (FLA - D)
116. Harding - Evander Kane (BUF - LW)
117. Metzer - Colton Parayko (STL - D)
118. Satriano - Brent Seabrook (CHI - D)
119. FAN 5 - James Neal (VGK - LW/RW)
120. Baron - Conor Sheary (PIT - LW/RW)

*NOTE: Neal (hand) has been sidelined this preseason for the Vegas Golden Knights.

ROUND 11:

121. Baron - Alex Galchenyuk (MTL - C/LW)*
122. FAN 1 - Jake Gardiner (TOR - D)
123. Satriano - Marcus Johansson (NJD - LW)*
124. Metzer - Marc-Andre Fleury (VGK - G)
125. Harding - Zach Parise (MIN - LW)
126. Jensen - Jason Spezza (DAL - C/RW)
127. FAN 2 - Kyle Turris (OTT - C)
128. FAN 3 - Keith Yandle (FLA - D)
129. FAN 4 - Ryan Ellis (NSH - D)*
130. Pianowski - Tyler Toffoli (LAK - C/RW)
131. FAN5 - Milan Lucic (EDM - LW)
132. Zweiman - Brian Elliott (PHI - G)

*NOTES: Ryan Ellis (knee surgery) will miss at least two months. Ekholm would have been a better pick than Ellis here, but this is too early to be taking any team's third defenseman. ... Galchenyuk is playing wing this preseason for the Canadiens, and Johansson is playing center for the New Jersey Devils.

ROUND 12:

133. Zweiman - Cam Fowler (ANA - D)
134. FAN 5 - Jake Muzzin (LAK - D)
135. Pianowski - Max Domi (ARI - LW)
136. FAN 4 - Nino Niederreiter (MIN - LW/RW)
137. FAN 3 - Evgenii Dadonov (FLA - RW)
138. FAN 2 - Patric Hornqvist (PIT - RW)
139. Jensen - Andre Burakovsky (WSH - LW/RW)
140. Harding - Tyson Barrie (COL - D)
141. Metzer - Nathan MacKinnon (COL - C)
142. Satriano - Jakob Silfverberg (ANA - RW)
143. FAN 1 - Jaroslav Halak (NYI - G)
144. Baron - Brady Skjei (NYR - D)

ROUND 13:

145. Baron - Charlie McAvoy (BOS - D)
146. FAN 1 - Ryan Kesler (ANA - C)*
147. Satriano - Matt Niskanen (WSH - D)
148. Metzer - Jaccob Slavin (CAR - D)
149. Harding - Ondrej Palat (TBL - LW)
150. Jensen - Nick Leddy (NYI - D)
151. FAN 2 - Patrick Marleau (TOR - C/LW)
152. FAN 3 - Nick Foligno (CBJ - LW/RW)
153. FAN 4 - Matt Dumba (MIN - D)
154. Pianowski - Marc-Edouard Vlasic (SJS - D)
155. FAN 5 - Alexander Steen (STL - C/LW)*
156. Zweiman - Alexander Wennberg (CBJ - C)

*NOTES: Kesler (hip surgery) is out indefinitely; the Ducks hope to have him back by Christmas. He is worth stashing on injured reserve if you can get him late or off the waiver wire, but don't take him this high, especially with so many viable centers being drafted following this pick (e.g. Wennberg, Mika Zibanejad, Nico Hischier). ... Steen (hand) will miss the rest of training camp. Robby Fabbri would have been a better pick in this spot.

ROUND 14:

157. Zweiman - Sam Reinhart (BUF - C/RW)
158. FAN 5 - Tyler Johnson (TBL - C)
159. Pianowski - Jared Spurgeon (MIN - D)
160. FAN 4 - Mats Zuccarello (NYR - RW)
161. FAN 3 - Vadim Shipachyov (VGK - C/LW)
162. FAN 2 - Robin Lehner (BUF - G)
163. Jensen - Antti Raanta (ARI - G)
164. Harding - Anders Lee (NYI - LW)
165. Metzer - Mika Zibanejad (NYR - C)
166. Satriano - Bryan Little (WPG - C)
167. FAN 1 - Chris Kreider (NYR - LW)
168. Baron - Anthony Mantha (DET - LW/RW)

ROUND 15:

169. Baron - Robby Fabbri (STL - C/LW)
170. FAN 1 - Brendan Gallagher (MTL - RW)
171. Satriano - Ivan Provorov (PHI - D)
172. Metzer - Bobby Ryan (OTT - RW)
173. Harding - Roberto Luongo (FLA - G)
174. Jensen - Henrik Zetterberg (DET - C/LW)
175. FAN 2 - Nazem Kadri (TOR - C)
176. FAN 3 - Sami Vatanen (ANA - D)*
177. FAN 4 - Brock Boeser (VAN - RW)
178. Pianowski - Alec Martinez (LAK - D)
179. FAN 5 - Matt Duchene (COL - C/RW)
180. Zweiman - Peter Budaj (TBL - G)

*NOTES: Vatanen (shoulder) likely won't return until November, so he isn't worth drafting unless you're in a deeper league. There were higher-upside defenseman options (Nikita Zaitsev, Dmitry Orlov, Morgan Rielly, Ryan Pulock, Julius Honka) available in this spot. … Duchene's fantasy stock has never been lower for the Colorado Avalanche, but he's worth drafting this late in the hope he's traded either before or during the season.

ROUND 16:

181. Zweiman - Patrick Maroon (EDM - LW)
182. FAN 5 - Joe Thornton (SJS - C)
183. Pianowski - Eric Staal (MIN - C)
184. FAN 4 - T.J. Brodie (CGY - D)
185. FAN 3 - Timo Meier (SJS - LW/RW)
186. FAN 2 - Rick Nash (NYR - LW/RW)
187. Jensen - Ryan Strome (EDM - C/RW)
188. Harding - Shea Theodore (VGK - D)
189. Metzer - Damon Severson (NJD - D)
190. Satriano - Jimmy Howard (DET - G)
191. FAN 1 - Nico Hischier (NJD - C)
192. Baron - Mikko Rantanen (COL - LW/RW)

New York Islanders fantasy preview for 2017-18

Pete Jensen / NHL.com Senior Fantasy Editor

FORWARDS

John Tavares, C -- He has declined in points over the past two seasons (70 in 2015-16, 66 last season) after exceeding 80 in each of his prior two full seasons. He fell short of his average draft position (11.7; finished 33rd in Yahoo) last season, but thrived after the Islanders' coaching change (34 points in 35 games) before missing the final five games with a hand injury (surgery in May). New York acquired right wing Jordan Eberle on June 22, an upgrade that can help Tavares rejoin the top 10 in his contract year.

Jordan Eberle, RW -- New York needed a forward of Eberle's caliber, not only for Tavares and the top line but also to improve an underachieving power play (14.9 percent; 28th in NHL). Eberle, 27, had 51 points, 14 PPP and 208 SOG last season despite playing on a line separate from Connor McDavid and on the Edmonton Oilers' second power-play unit. A return to 70 points (NHL career-high 76 in 2011-12) is not out of the question for Eberle.

Anders Lee, LW -- He's coming off NHL career highs in goals (34) and points (52) playing alongside Tavares and right wing Josh Bailey. Lee, 27, is in line for some goal-scoring regression after a high shooting percentage (17.8), but should also benefit from the addition of Eberle with his best PPP total yet. If you miss out on Eberle, shift the focus to Lee (63rd in Yahoo last season) for exposure to Tavares in most situations.

Joshua Ho-Sang, C/RW -- Depending on Ho-Sang's even-strength linemates and whether he locks down a first power-play role, he could emerge as a Calder Trophy candidate. He showed chemistry late last season with Anthony Beauvillier and could also mesh well with playmaking center prospect Mathew Barzal on the second line. Ho-Sang had 10 points (four goals, six assists) and two PPP in 21 games last season and is an explosive skater who will be featured in Doug Weight's system.

Mathew Barzal, C -- The Islanders' No. 2 center spot is open, so Barzal can play top-six minutes if he sticks in the NHL. Barzal, 20, scored 278 points in 202 games over four seasons with Seattle of the Western Hockey League, capping it off with 25 points in 16 WHL playoff games to lead Seattle to a championship (won postseason MVP). He's a high-upside choice in the final rounds of your draft.

DEFENSEMEN

Nick Leddy -- He finished with NHL career highs in goals (11) and points (46) and SOG (137). His PPP total was disappointing (15) considering he played the entire season on the first unit, but should get a boost in that category with Eberle and the influx of young offensive talent. Leddy could be a bargain in later rounds and finish among the top 20 defenseman rankings.

Ryan Pulock -- He's likely to earn a full-time NHL role and could potentially see first-unit power-play action with Tavares, Eberle, Lee and either Leddy or another forward. Pulock had 46 points (15 goals, 31 assists) and 141 SOG in 55 games with Bridgeport of the American Hockey League last season. He was also productive for the Islanders in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs (three points, two PPP in six games).

GOALTENDING

Jaroslav Halak -- After a slow start and surprising AHL assignment, Halak kept the Islanders' playoff hopes alive until the final weekend of the season. He was recalled March 23 and went 6-1-0 with a .949 SV% and one shutout. They missed the postseason by one point, but Halak built momentum for his contract year. He's a fringe top 20 goalie who could finish higher if he runs away with the starting job.

Thomas Greiss -- He won more than half his games (NHL career-high 26 wins, three shutouts in 51 games), but his peripherals took a hit when he was the full-time starter during Halak's demotion. From Dec. 30 to March 23, Greiss played the second-most games (33) behind Cam Talbot (34), going 17-11-5 with a 2.75 goals-against average and .911 SV%. This could be the NHL's best time-share tandem if the Islanders defense stays healthy and they return to the playoffs, so Halak and Greiss are worth drafting together in the 10th round or later.

Others to consider: Josh Bailey (LW/RW), Andrew Ladd (LW), Johnny Boychuk (D), Anthony Beauvillier (C/LW), Brock Nelson (C)

New Jersey Devils fantasy preview for 2017-18

Ben Zweiman / NHL.com Staff Writer

FORWARDS

Taylor Hall, LW -- A trade to the New Jersey Devils from the Edmonton Oilers on June 29, 2016, was supposed to do wonders for Hall's fantasy prospects. That didn't exactly happen in his first season with the Devils. With an average draft position (ADP) of 48.1 in Yahoo, Hall finished just outside the top 100 (104) after he had 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) with 15 power-play points and 238 shots on goal in 72 games. His poor numbers could be linked to New Jersey's struggles on offense (2.20 goals per game, 28th in NHL), but the Devils had a busy offseason and has a deeper forward group with the additions of Marcus Johansson and Nico Hischier. Hall likely will surpass most of his totals from 2016-17, making him a solid mid-round value pick.

Kyle Palmieri, RW -- New Jersey's primary goal-scorer, Palmieri had NHL career highs in goals (30), points (57), PPP (23) and SOG (222) in 2015-16. Like many Devils, Palmieri regressed last season but managed to score 26 goals with 19 PPP and decent SOG coverage (192). He outperformed his 109 ADP to finish 69th in Yahoo. He'll continue to be a staple on the first power play and likely will be overlooked in most drafts given he's on the Devils. Chances are Palmieri will be a steal.

Adam Henrique, C/LW -- Like Palmieri, Henrique had his best season in the NHL in 2015-16, thanks in large part to some puck luck. The 27-year-old shot an NHL career-high 20.1 percent (30 goals on 149 SOG) two seasons ago. When that number regressed back to the mean last season, Henrique scored 20 goals on 142 SOG (14.1 percent). It would be shocking if his NHL career-worst minus-20 doesn't improve, and while a shift to wing could help his stock, that seems unlikely with top-line center Travis Zajac expected to miss the first four months of the season because of a torn pectoral muscle. Henrique will likely be New Jersey's first- or second-line center, and should play big minutes in place of Zajac.

Marcus Johansson, LW/RW -- The Devils acquired Johansson from the Washington Capitals on July 2 for next to nothing (two NHL Draft picks) after he had his best season in the League in 2016-17. Most of his breakout can be credited to playing in the Capitals' high-powered offense, but he should be able to translate some of that production considering his skill set. He had 58 points (24 goals, 34 assists) in 82 games, including 19 PPP, though his secondary category coverage left much to be desired. With low penalty minutes (62 in seven seasons) and SOG totals (105.4 per season), Johansson is reliant on points in fantasy.

Nico Hischier, C -- Assuming the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft makes the Devils roster, Hischier has a chance to be fantasy-relevant as a rookie. The skilled center put up gaudy numbers for Halifax in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season (86 points in 57 games), but that's to be expected. Where Hischier stood out was for Switzerland at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, finishing with seven points (four goals, three assists) in five games against top competition in his age group. His transition to the NHL shouldn't take long, and he could begin the season as the Devils first-line center with Zajac sidelined until at least the middle of December. Hischier isn't going to duplicate the production of rookies Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine from last season, but he could finish with around 40-50 points.

DEFENSEMAN

Damon Severson -- The Devils lack standout fantasy defensemen. Severson is the closest to qualifying as a worthy draft pick, and even that may be a stretch. The 23-year-old has improved his point total in each of his first three NHL seasons -- 17 points in 51 games as a rookie in 2014-15, 21 points in 72 games in 2015-16, and 31 points in 80 games last season. Severson's one glaring flaw is plus/minus (minus-31 last season), but that likely will even out given New Jersey's improved roster. He's worth a late-round pick in a 12-team draft.

GOALTENDING

Cory Schneider -- Once regarded as not only one of the top goalies in the League, but in fantasy as well, Schneider had his worst season in 2016-17. A career high in goals-against average (2.82) and a career low in save percentage (.908) made Schneider arguably the biggest bust in Yahoo last season; he finished 357th after he had an ADP of 28. But as is the theme with most Devils this season, Schneider will more than likely bounce back and be a top 10 goalie again. If anything, his poor season will make him a prime late-round value pick.

Others to consider: Pavel Zacha (C/LW), Miles Wood (LW), Travis Zajac (C; INJ.)

Nashville Predators fantasy preview for 2017-18

Pete Jensen / NHL.com Senior Fantasy Editor

FORWARDS

Filip Forsberg, LW -- The 23-year-old has been a steady performer in his first three full NHL seasons, ranking 13th in goals (90), 27th in points (185) and tied for 15th in shots on goal (718). He underachieved based on average draft position (49.9; finished 96th in Yahoo) with a big dip in power-play points (23 in 2015-16; nine last season), but then led the Predators in goals (nine), points (16) and plus/minus (plus-14) in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He's NHL.com's sixth-ranked left wing.

Ryan Johansen, C (INJ.) -- He missed Nashville's final eight playoff games because of a thigh injury, but remains the No. 1 center after signing an eight-year contract July 28. The Predators' secondary scoring is questionable after losing James Neal in the NHL Expansion Draft, so Nashville will rely heavily on its top line of Johansen, Forsberg and Viktor Arvidsson. Johansen, 25, has four straight seasons of at least 60 points and is worth drafting in the fourth round or later.

Viktor Arvidsson, LW/RW -- One of the biggest fantasy steals last season (49th in Yahoo; undrafted on average), Arvidsson signed a seven-year contract to remain with the Predators on July 22. He had strong goal (31), point (61) and shot (246) totals, but did not cover PPP (nine) well based on his usage (1:59 per game). He's especially valuable in leagues that count shorthanded points (seven last season; T-1st), but don't reach for him in a standard format in case he regresses.

Kevin Fiala, LW/RW (INJ.) -- He had 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in 54 games as a rookie, but turned the corner with two goals in five playoff games before his season-ending injury (broken femur). With Neal (2:44 per game on PP) out of the picture, Fiala could see much more man-advantage time this season and is a late-round flier with 20-25 goal potential.

Scott Hartnell, LW -- The 35-year-old is known for consistent coverage of points, penalty minutes and hits. He played mostly on the Blue Jackets' third line with a diminished power-play role last season, but was still productive at even-strength (34 ES points) to finish 196th in Yahoo. Hartnell is a more experienced power-play option than Fiala and Nashville's other young forwards, so he remains a low-risk, high-reward pick in many multi-category formats.

DEFENSEMEN

Roman Josi -- He's ranks fifth among defensemen in both points per game (0.72) and SOG (415) and 11th in PPP (42) over the past two seasons combined. He finished 16th in Yahoo among defensemen even though he missed 10 games because of injury, so it's fair to expect a return to 50-55 points and the top 5-10 defenseman rankings.

P.K. Subban -- He was limited to 66 games last season because of an upper-body injury and saw significantly fewer power-play minutes per game (2:36) compared to his 2015-16 average with the Montreal Canadiens (4:36). Considering those circumstances, it's impressive that Subban finished tied for 12th among defensemen in points per game (0.61). He has a high fantasy ceiling and remains a preseason top 10 defenseman.

Ryan Ellis -- Nashville's injuries on defense opened the door for Ellis to set NHL career highs in goals (16, T-5th among defensemen), points (38) and PPP (11). But his point production in the final 19 regular-season games (13) and 22 postseason games (13), when Josi and Subban were healthy, indicates he's capable of being a valuable fantasy player again next season. He's a good way to round out your defense corps in the late rounds.

GOALTENDING

Pekka Rinne -- The 34-year-old fell short of his fantasy ADP (35.0; finished 103rd) last season, but rediscovered his elite form in the first three rounds of the playoffs (12-4; .941 save percentage). He had a forgettable Stanley Cup Final performance (2-4; .888 SV%), but has won at least 31 games in each of his five seasons with 60 or more games played. He's still a top 10 fantasy goalie, but those who draft him should handcuff 22-year-old Juuse Saros (.923 SV% last season) in late rounds. 

Others to consider: Saros (G), Mattias Ekholm (D), Colton Sissons (C/LW), Calle Jarnkrok (C), Austin Watson (LW/RW), Nick Bonino (C), Pontus Aberg (LW)

Montreal Canadiens fantasy preview for 2017-18

Pete Jensen / NHL.com Senior Fantasy Editor

FORWARDS

Max Pacioretty, LW -- The Montreal Canadiens captain is one of seven players with at least 100 goals (102) the past three seasons combined, and has the third-most shots on goal (873) in that span behind Alex Ovechkin (1,106) and Brent Burns (918). Pacioretty's never been an elite power-play producer and has lacked a No. 1 center, but has at least 60 points in each of the past five full seasons. He's a safe pick in the third or fourth round of a 12-team draft.

Jonathan Drouin, LW/RW -- The 22-year-old had an NHL career-high 53 points (21 goals, 32 assists) last season, scoring 26 power-play points on the Tampa Bay Lightning's first unit. He could improve at even strength with a heavier workload after being traded to the Canadiens on June 15, but likely will see a dip on the man-advantage. Drouin is a fringe top 75 asset with a ceiling of 60-65 points.

Alex Galchenyuk, C -- Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said in April that the best place for Galchenyuk is on the wing, but the 23-year-old could also be a great fit at center with Drouin. Montreal signed Galchenyuk to a three-year contract on July 5 amidst trade rumors, and he remains a breakout candidate after a promising glimpse last season before injuring his knee (23 points, plus-9, eight PPP in first 25 games). Take a chance on Galchenyuk in the 10th round or later in a 12-team draft.

Brendan Gallagher, RW -- One beneficiary of the Canadiens losing right wing Alexander Radulov is Gallagher, who should see more first-unit power-play action. Gallagher had NHL career highs in goals (24), points (47), plus/minus (plus-18) and SOG (254) in 2014-15, but has been limited to 117 of a possible 164 games in the past two seasons. Gallagher should improve on the lowest PPP (three) and shooting percentage (5.3) of his NHL career, making him an appealing late-round pick.

Phillip Danault, C/LW -- A first-round pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Danault finished just outside Yahoo's top 250 last season (265th), scoring 37 of his 40 points at even strength playing mostly with Pacioretty and Radulov. If the Canadiens play Galchenyuk at wing, Danault would likely play with Pacioretty and/or Drouin. If he earns a greater power-play role, he has an outside shot at 50 points.

DEFENSEMEN

Shea Weber -- The 32-year-old is another safe fantasy option on Montreal's roster. Weber covered five of the six standard categories well last season and finished tied for second in goals (17) among defensemen. He's likely to benefit from the addition of a young, skilled power-play forward in Drouin and finish among the top 10 fantasy defensemen again. He's also one of the most consistent producers of hits and blocked shots League-wide.

Jeff Petry -- The veteran defenseman is coming off an NHL career high in points (28), with his best stretch coming while defenseman Andrei Markov was out because of a groin injury. Petry had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists), three PPP, 72 SOG and was plus-8 in 22 games from Dec. 10 to Jan. 24. With Markov, Alexei Emelin and Nathan Beaulieu no longer with the Canadiens, Petry is in line for bigger minutes and could emerge as a deep sleeper with more consistent power-play time in a full season.

GOALTENDING

Carey Price -- Of the 22 goaltenders who have played at least 300 games since 2010-11, Price is tied for the best save percentage (.923) and ranks fourth in wins (210). That's impressive considering the Canadiens rank 20th in goals per game (2.64) in that span. Montreal's lack of depth at center and on defense could limit Price's wins ceiling, but his peripherals should remain strong. He went 13-6-0 with a .937 SV% in 19 games after the Canadiens replaced Michel Therrien with Claude Julien last season.

Others to consider: Artturi Lehkonen (LW), Andrew Shaw (C/RW), Paul Byron (LW/RW), Mark Streit (D), Tomas Plekanec (C) 

Minnesota Wild fantasy preview for 2017-18

David Satriano / NHL.com Staff Writer

FORWARDS

Mikael Granlund, C/LW/RW -- One of the breakout players of 2016-17, Granlund doubled his goal total (from 13 to 26) and had 25 more points last season (69) than he did in 2015-16 (44). Because of those numbers, he could be selected in the fourth or fifth round. There's no doubt he helped the power play and penalty kill and provided excellent all-around value, but he could be due for a regression. Don't count on another season of close to 70 points this season.

Eric Staal, C -- He was a point-per-game player for large stretches of last season, finishing with 28 goals, 37 assists and 65 points in 82 games, Staal was a plus-17 and had eight game-winning goals. There's no doubt he was rejuvenated in his first season in Minnesota and perhaps had something to prove following a disappointing 2015-16 season. The top-line center should provide good fantasy value again, although he may not approach last season's totals.

Zach Parise, LW -- The 33-year-old has fallen from the fantasy elite, scoring more than 56 points once in the past five seasons. He still provides value on the power play and in SOG but is an injury risk. Parise has had declining goals, assists and points totals in each of the past three seasons. However, he's a top-liner and likely wouldn't fall out of the top six no matter how badly he struggles. However, there are better options out there, including several on his own team.

Nino Niederreiter, LW/RW -- There's no reason to think Niederreiter can't replicate his success from the past few seasons; he had 25 goals last season and has at least 20 in each of the past three and is arguably the second-best scoring threat on the Wild behind Granlund. He gained confidence playing on the power play and has been a plus-player in each of his four seasons with the Wild.

Mikko Koivu, C -- Known more for his faceoff prowess and defensive play, Koivu had 58 points last season (his most since 2010-11) and has averaged 54 in the past four seasons. He's not on everyone's radar but provides category coverage and could see time as the No. 1 center, which would elevate his fantasy worth.

Charlie Coyle, C/RW -- Despite not getting as much attention as his teammates, Coyle finished fifth on the Wild with 56 points and just missed finishing in the top 100 in Yahoo's year-end rankings (108). His PIM, SOG and PPP were all up from 2015-16, but he could take a step back if he's relegated to a role on the third line.

Joel Eriksson Ek, C -- The talented center had seven points (three goals, four assists) and 15 SOG in 15 games last season, including five points in his first four NHL games. He likely will begin the season on the third line with Tyler Ennis and Charlie Coyle, but the 20-year-old has breakout potential, even if he can't crack the top six. 

DEFENSEMEN

Ryan Suter -- He finished first or second in total ice time in each of the past five seasons and rarely misses a game. He's missed eight games the past six seasons and has played every game in seven of the past 11. Suter plays in all situations and has averaged 42 points in the past six seasons. He's also scored double-digit power-play points in each of the past 10 seasons and remains one of the top 15 fantasy defensemen.

Matt Dumba -- He set NHL career highs in goals (11), points (34) and plus/minus (plus-15) to finish 148th in Yahoo (21st among defensemen). He played frequently on the Wild's first power-play unit with Suter, but still has room for improvement (12 PPP). He loses value in leagues that count blocked shots (181 in 228 career NHL games), but has added value in leagues where goals are worth more than assists.  

GOALTENDING

Devan Dubnyk -- In the past three seasons, his 108 wins rank second behind Braden Holtby (131) and he ranks tied for second in save percentage (.923) and third in goals-against average (2.23) among goalies with at least 100 starts, proving how valuable he is. Dubnyk is also tied for second with 16 shutouts in that span. He's a workhorse who has averaged 65 starts the past two seasons and is a virtual lock for 35 wins and a top 10, or five, finish among goalies.

Others to consider: Jason Zucker (LW/RW), Ennis (C/LW/RW), Marcus Foligno (LW), Chris Stewart (C/RW), Jared Spurgeon (D)

Los Angeles Kings fantasy preview for 2017-18

Pete Jensen / NHL.com Senior Fantasy Editor

FORWARDS

Jeff Carter, C -- He went from an average draft position of 130.7 to finishing 25th in Yahoo last season. Carter's ability to have 66 points (32 goals, 34 assists), 22 power-play points and 250 shots on goal in a down year for the Los Angeles Kings offense (2.43 goals per game, T-24th) proves he's a safe, self-sustainable fantasy pick. Center is the deepest fantasy position, so don't be surprised if Carter -- a perennial bargain -- slips in drafts again.

Anze Kopitar, C -- The Kings captain had weak linemates last season, and his production suffered; he had the lowest shooting percentage (8.0) and worst points-per-game average (0.68) of his NHL career. He had solid totals in assists (40; T-32nd in NHL) and PPP (19), but was one of the biggest fantasy disappointments based on ADP (29.4; finished 158th). A six-time 70-point scorer, Kopitar could be rejuvenated in a fresh offensive system under new coach John Stevens, and is a value pick anytime outside the top 50.

Tyler Toffoli, C/RW -- He was limited to 63 games because of a knee injury, and his production declined significantly after returning (0.63 points per game in 32 games before; 0.45 in final 31 games). Toffoli had a minor surgical procedure in April but should be ready for training camp. A full offseason to recover and better shot fortune (9.7 percent last season) could help Toffoli bounce back for 25-30 goals and 50-55 points with Carter or Kopitar at even strength and on the first power-play unit.

Tanner Pearson, LW -- He improved his goal (24), point (44) and SOG (187) totals considerably in 80 games last season compared to 2015-16 (15 goals, 36 points, 137 SOG in 79 games). Pearson spent most of the season playing with Carter at even strength and on the power play, but only scored eight PPP in 2:24 per game. If the Kings stick with four forwards on their first PP unit and have Toffoli healthy and more productive, Pearson could finally reach 50 points and become a late-round steal. But one potential concern is that veteran left wing Michael Cammalleri, if healthy, could cut into Pearson's power-play time.

DEFENSEMEN

Drew Doughty -- He led the League in total ice time (2225:50) and managed to finish 90th in Yahoo (13th among defensemen) despite the Kings' issues throughout the lineup. He's one of six defensemen with at least 44 points in each of the past three seasons (Erik Karlsson, Brent Burns, Dustin Byfuglien, Roman Josi, Kevin Shattenkirk) and has averaged 20 PPP per season in that span. You should be able to draft Doughty, an elite defenseman who hasn't missed a game since 2013-14, in the 8-10 range at the position, but it's definitely worth waiting to see if he falls any further.

Jake Muzzin -- The 28-year-old took a big step back in a number of key fantasy categories last season. His assist total dropped from 32 in 2015-16 to 19, his PIMs from 64 to 46, PPP from 13 to 10, SOG from 203 to 184, and he also had the worst plus/minus of his NHL career (minus-21). That said, you still can't sleep on him in late rounds with an appealing goal-scoring (27 goals over past three seasons) and power-play track record (37 PPP in same span).

Alec Martinez -- Like Muzzin (ADP: 104.6; finished 308th in Yahoo), Martinez was overvalued in fantasy last season (124.7; finished 286th). But outside of Martinez's minus-17, he set NHL career highs in points (39), PPP (15) and SOG (144). Martinez is an ideal fourth defenseman on a standard-league fantasy roster, and should be taken much earlier if your league counts hits (137; 1.7 per game) and/or blocked shots (167; 2.0 per game).

GOALTENDING

Jonathan Quick -- His season was derailed when he injured his groin in the Kings' opener on Oct. 12. Quick was limited to 17 starts, but went 8-5-2 with two shutouts, a 2.26 goals-against average and .917 save percentage, in line with his career averages (2.26; .916). The success of backup goaltender Peter Budaj (ADP: 148.4; finished 43rd) should remind fantasy owners how valuable Quick can be in the Kings' defensive system, even if he doesn't have a ton of goal support. Quick has five seasons of at least 35 wins for Los Angeles, which has been inconsistent on offense through the years, and could be a huge steal if available in the fourth or fifth round of a 12-team draft.

Others to consider: Michael Cammalleri (LW/RW), Adrian Kempe (LW), Marian Gaborik (LW/RW), Dustin Brown (LW/RW)

Florida Panthers fantasy preview for 2017-18

Ben Zweiman / NHL.com Staff Writer

FORWARDS

Aleksander Barkov, C -- Many believed Barkov would have a breakout season in 2016-17. Unfortunately, injuries had other plans. Barkov was productive when healthy, scoring 52 points (21 goals, 31 assists) with 14 power-play points and 142 shots on goal. The problem is he played 61 games. Heading into this season, the Florida Panthers have a lot of questions at forward after the departures of Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, Jaromir Jagr and Jussi Jokinen. Barkov doesn't cover enough categories to be a viable pick among the top 50, so only draft him if he free falls.

Vincent Trocheck, C -- Despite not making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Panthers found out that Trocheck's breakout 2015-16 season was no mirage. He followed it up by setting NHL career highs in points (54) and SOG (230), finishing with 23 goals, 31 assists and 12 PPP in 82 games. He exceeded his ADP (161) by finishing 112th in Yahoo, even with a minus-13 rating. His linemates may be different, but you should expect the same type of production this season, making Trocheck a decent bench filler.

Jonathan Huberdeau, LW -- Following two straight seasons of at least 54 points, a leg injury forced Huberdeau to miss 51 games last season. However, his pace was encouraging. Had Huberdeau played a full season, he would have finished with around 68 points and 227 SOG, each being NHL career highs. The Panthers' roster overhaul hurts, but Huberdeau should still play with Barkov and newcomer Evgeny Dadonov on the top line and PP unit, and has plenty of sleeper potential as a bounce-back candidate.

DEFENSEMEN

Keith Yandle -- The consensus on Yandle heading into last season was the move to Florida would do wonders for his fantasy stock. That didn't come to fruition because of injuries to the Panthers roster, and Yandle finished with his lowest point total (41) in a full NHL season since 2009-10 with the Phoenix Coyotes. Yandle's shooting percentage has declined the past four seasons (2.9 percent combined on 811 SOG). Be careful when selecting Yandle, but realize he has top 15 potential at his position.

Aaron Ekblad -- A big reason why Yandle had a down season is because of Ekblad, who outside of his shot volume was among the biggest busts in Yahoo in 2016-17. After being drafted 79.9 on average, Ekblad finished 291st overall (53rd among defensemen). But there's reason to believe he'll bounce back. Ekblad had 10 goals on 225 SOG (4.4 percent) after averaging 7.65 percent shooting in his first two seasons. If that number deviates back to the mean, Ekblad has the potential to finish top 5 in goals among defensemen.

GOALTENDING

Roberto Luongo -- He isn't getting any younger. Luongo, 38, appeared in 40 games (39 starts) for the Panthers last season, his lowest total in a full season since he was a rookie in 1999-00. He missed chunks of 2016-17 because of a lower-body injury and it's unlikely he'll start 60-plus games this season. Florida doesn't seem to be trending in the right direction, so avoiding Luongo may be the best course of action.

James Reimer -- Should Luongo get injured (and even if he doesn't), Reimer will likely play an increased role this season. He was signed to a five-year contract last offseason to be the goalie-in-waiting behind Luongo and played well in his place, finishing 18-16-5 with a .920 save percentage and three shutouts in 43 games (39 starts). Reimer is a necessary handcuff to Luongo and has plenty of upside should Florida improve.

Others to consider: Evgeny Dadonov (LW/RW), Radim Vrbata (RW), Michael Matheson (D), Nick Bjugstad (C), Denis Malgin (C/RW)

Edmonton Oilers fantasy preview for 2017-18

Pete Jensen / NHL.com Senior Fantasy Editor

FORWARDS

Connor McDavid, C -- He exceeded lofty preseason expectations by leading the NHL with 100 points (30 goals, 70 assists) with elite coverage of plus/minus (plus-27), power-play points (27) and shots on goal (251) last season. He thrived alongside mostly Leon Draisaitl and Patrick Maroon in his first full NHL season, and could have an even higher ceiling in the years to come. McDavid, 20, is the sure-fire No. 1 fantasy pick, regardless of format.

Leon Draisaitl, C/RW -- He broke out for 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) and 27 PPP last season, and was even more impressive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 13 games. He had a high shooting percentage (16.9 in regular season; 27.3 in postseason) and could be moved to second-line center to spread out the scoring, but is still worth a top 20 overall pick with coveted exposure to McDavid on the power play (at the very least).

Milan Lucic, LW -- Of all the appealing Oilers forwards in mid-to-late rounds, Lucic is the safest option because of his strong category coverage. He was one of five players with at least 50 points, 25 PPP and 50 penalty minutes last season (Alex Ovechkin, Jamie Benn, Wayne Simmonds, Mike Hoffman), finishing 76th in Yahoo. He's a near lock to finish among the top 125 and has added value in a hits league (five straight full seasons of at least 200).

Patrick Maroon, LW -- He ranked second on the Oilers in even-strength goals (24; McDavid had 26), and was a regular PIMs contributor (95; 13th among forwards). The 29-year-old had NHL career-highs in goals (27), points (42), plus/minus (plus-13) and SOG (178) to finish 78th in Yahoo, but could be bound for some regression after a high shooting percentage (15.2). A number of players could also cut into his even-strength playing time alongside McDavid.

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW -- The 19-year-old should play closer to a full season at the NHL level after having eight points (one goal, seven assists) in 28 games as a rookie. He was productive for Bakersfield of the American Hockey League, scoring 28 points (12 goals, 16 assists) in 39 games. Puljujarvi could have a path to the top line with McDavid and Draisaitl. Target him as a sleeper outside the top 150 overall.

Ryan Strome, C/RW -- The 24-year-old has fallen way short of his NHL career-high 50 points (from 2014-15) in each of the past two seasons, and did not perform well in a first power-play role last season with the New York Islanders (eight PPP in 69 games). That said, Strome is likely to take on a top-six role in Edmonton after being acquired for Jordan Eberle, and could bounce back in a spot where Eberle scored 51 points last season. No one should be surprised if Strome sees some time with McDavid and puts up NHL career bests in three or four standard categories.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C -- The second-line center had 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists), 11 PPP and an NHL career-high 200 SOG. If he remains in that role, he could benefit from the Oilers adding Strome and veteran Jussi Jokinen and return to 50 points for the first time since 2014-15 (56). A shooting percentage correction (9.0 percent in regular season; no goals on 33 playoff SOG) would do wonders for his fantasy stock.

DEFENSE

Oscar Klefbom -- With veteran defenseman Andrej Sekera out until at least November because of a torn ACL, the stage is set for Klefbom to take a further step forward. Klefbom led Oilers defensemen with 12 goals, 38 points and 16 PPP last season, and Sekera's totals (eight goals, 35 points, 11 PPP) indicate there will be plenty of offense to go around in his absence. To what extent the additional minutes are shared between Klefbom and Darnell Nurse, Adam Larsson and Kris Russell remains to be seen, but Klefbom has realistic 50-point upside with an expanded role in this potent offense.

GOALTENDING

Cam Talbot -- He was the breakout goaltender of last season, tying Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals for the League lead in wins (42) and finishing fifth among fantasy goalies in Yahoo. Talbot led the NHL in starts (73) with seven more than the next goalie (Frederik Andersen of the Toronto Maple Leafs, 66), so the Oilers need to lighten his start volume a bit so it doesn't catch up to him. Talbot remains one of the most appealing fantasy goalies in the game and should win 36-40 games again. He could even improve his peripherals if backup Laurent Brossoit takes on a heavier workload (four starts last season).

Others to consider: Jussi Jokinen (C/LW), Adam Larsson (D), Drake Caggiula (LW), Darnell Nurse (D), Mark Letestu (C), Kris Russell (D)