We are back, my dudes, with our 3rd entry into the A&G Fantasy Hockey Universe and I am amped! The NHL has been busy over the past few three weeks with the draft, trades, and UFA signings. Fresh faces in new places will be this article’s focus as we take another spin around the sun together.
I am going to break down some of the players on the move; where I see the most fantasy value and where I think you can look to draft them heading into the new year. Specifically, how they would fit within a point or scoring format. Simply put, I am not good at category or dynasty formats. I am like a caveman trying to figure out how to operate a computer in those leagues.
So come with me and let us dive in – don’t forget your floaties it might get a little crazy.
Matt Duchene – DAL
The first gentleman we are going to look at is headed to the Lonestar State to play in big D. This guy’s majestic, feathered lid flows gently as he burns d-men and winks at your wife in the pressbox before sniping top cheese. This man’s name is Matt Duchene. Fortunately for the Stars, this man is more and a beautiful head of hair; Matty D is heading from a team that is trending down to one of those sneaky cup contenders. How can this not be a positive thing for a guy that is an offensively gifted player? Yes, I know he has been very inconsistent in his career and yes, I know he is coming off a down year after a big one in the previous year. I am asking you now to say this with me: “Have faith in the hair”.
No, I do not think Matty D is going to get on that stellar Big D top line. However, I do think he can take the line-two RW spot from Dandy Dadonov (that guy is not good and is not a top 6 forward). I think that Dallas brought Matty D in to boost their offense, and support Tyler Seguin, who is on the downturn offensively. With that in mind, we can lock Matty D in on PP2 for now, with an upside.
So L2, PP2 what does that mean? I think for sure we are going to see an uptick from Matty D this season in offensive production, In my books, he falls into the 60–70-point range. I think with 20-25 goals, with upside and I absolutely think he will be much better on the PP this year with how Big D rolls both their PP units. I believe that he’ll finish with 12-17 PPP for the season.
So yes, I will be drafting him, but where would I value him? He is a solid depth RW for your fantasy roster, with a 70+ point upside. It is a win for your squads if you can get this guy between rounds 8-10 in your draft.
Evan Rodrigues – FLA
The second gentleman we want to dive in on here, is a guy I am really loving and is settling into his new(ish) home is ERod, Evan Rodrigues. ERod is heading from the Avs to the Panthers: mile-high winters to pure sunshine is a tidy switch for anyone. The Panthers have an L1, PP2 slot open with Duclair’s departure and this team can already score – if you do not know, my man ERod shoots. He shoots a lot. I mean all the time. ERod takes more shots than you and your roommates did in your entire University career.
Ok, ok I am going to take a breather. I know he shoots a ton and will most likely be skating with two studs in Barkov and Reinhart (3rd tier stud) but I want to be realistic here: He does not have a great conversion rate (7.8% career shooting percentage) even with his high shot rate. However, it comes down to deployment and potential linemates.
Consider that overall, in his career he has been a journeyman and the Panthers have chosen to invest with a favorable AVV and term on his deal. This to me means the Panthers see him as a legitimate piece to their top 6, aka a strong floor and decent upside. I do not think 50-55 points with 20 goals and 200 shots on goal is out of the question. This makes him certainly someone to grab with one of your last picks or put on your watch list immediately after your draft. It might be too early, but one could say he has at the very least streamer of the year written all over him.
Connor Brown – EDM
The third fine gentleman we will discuss, whom I am particularly excited about, is Connor Brown. He’s heading to the Oilers on a one-year deal to reunite with his former junior linemate: some guy named Connor McDavid… “Reunited and it feels so good…”
Before I completely breakout into song, let us get one thing straight: McDavid is a fantasy and quite frankly a real-life hockey cheat code. He is Super Mario when he powers up with the power star and goes straight nuclear on Bowser and the Kuppa’s whenever he touches the ice. Let us press the “pause” button on sweet, sweet Connor as this is about your soon to be new BFF, Connor Brown.
Dragon and Nighthawk are going to be paired together on L1 in the upcoming season with Brown on Connor’s RW. Brown, will be riding shotgun to the best player in the game. If it sticks, well no one should need to tell you to look out.
Brown is a workhorse and adaptable player with surprisingly good speed, he will have a high upside regardless of If he gets any PP time. Brown has scored 20 goals twice in his career and isn’t a poor finisher (11.6% shooting percentage for his career). I think if he is utilized more in an offensive role in Edmonton, he easily is north of 25 goals and could very well hit the 60-point mark.
Although I think if he does stick with his boy Connor and their junior chemistry sparks, 50-55 points is more realistic. Brown falls in a similar spot as ERod for me a great late or last pick in your drafts to see what happens. At the very least we will all be streaming him at some point this season, no doubt about that.
Tyler Bertuzzi – TOR
I have saved the finest gentlemen for last and zip it this is not homer basis…. psst maybe a little, GO LEAFS GO! It is Tyler Bertuzzi’s time in the Blue and White in Toronto. Personally, I think from a fantasy perspective this is the most impactful signing heading into the season.
Let me be clear: this man will absolutely be on the top line with Matthews and Marner. He is a dog and quite frankly the best LW that those two have ever had on their line. He has scored 20 or more goals 3 times in his career with one 30-goal season. He is an above-average converter (14.1% shooting percentage in his career). Oh, and he is a better player than Michael Bunt-Cakes ever was, and yes, he is going to fill that same role but will get more ice time than the Cake Man did.
So, let us do the math here (This one is for you, Nate), so we take the Leaf’s two best players subtract the Bunt Cake, and add Bert, what do we get? Well, according to my calculations, this is just going to be delightfully, delicious. Yes, I know Bertuzzi must stay healthy, which he has not been great at in recent years but if he can even play 60-65 games, 55-60 points is easily attainable.
He is already a player that has proven in his career he does not need PP time to produce I think he runs into 30 goals this year with no problem with 40 goal upside if healthy. If he hits that 40-goal mark, he easily surpasses 60 points on the season. I think and we all know those guys in our leagues that are Leaf fans he is going to get over-drafted quite a bit. Realistically I think I would view him with the same lens as Duchene but with more upside and look to draft him somewhere in rounds 8-10. It is going to be so hard for me not to take him too early, please someone stop me!
Well, I told you we’d get a little spicy today and I hope that can a little something from this article to help you get better a fantasy today. We are here for one another in this community as we chase those elusive championship titles. Just remember there always seems to be an adjustment to new players on new teams regardless of opportunity but my dudes you got to risk it for the biscuit, so let’s keep grinding the season is coming! Until next time keep your blades sharp and get those pucks on net, cheers!
Craig@craigerslife or look me up on the A&G discord channel @Craiger
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