Fantasy Preview – Atlantic Division Part 1 (BOS, BUF, DET, FLA)
Episode 77 of the Fantasy Hockey Hacks Podcast! Fantasy hockey previews continue as the Hacks move on to the first part of the Atlantic Division – Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, and Florida. Jesse Severe from the Fantasy Hockey Life Podcast joins as a special guest, and provides some valuable fantasy insight. As we do each week, we’ll also check in on John’s list and “hack” our way through this week’s Headlines.
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Highlights:
- Enter to win a Left Wing Lock Draft Kit!
- World Cup of Hockey set to return in 2024
- Paul Stastny provides depth for the Hurricanes; bad news for Jesperi Kotkaniemi
- Phil Kessel calls Vegas home
- Robin Lehner scheduled for double-hip surgery; big opportunity for Logan Thompson
- 50 goals for David Pastrnak? Bs Banged up
- Wiser with Tage (Thompson)? Where to draft Rasmus Dahlin?
- Lots to like in Detroit, but can they push for a playoff spot?
- Injuries and off-season movement a challenge for the Florida Panthers
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John’s List
If you have been listening to our podcast for a while, you’ve undoubtedly heard about “John’s List”; which is basically John’s $h!t list of players past and present. If you have any suggestions for players/subjects we should add to the list, let us know!
Vegas Golden Knights – The goaltender carousel continues (see below).
Headlines W/ The Hacks | August 22 – 29, 2022
The 2021-2022 regular season has wrapped, but if you’re planning to defend your fantasy hockey championship next season be sure to get your draft kit from our partner, Left Wing Lock – Available NOW! We’re giving away a few of these draft kits, starting this week – so be sure to follow us on Twitter (@FHHacks) or Instagram (@FantasyHockeyHacks) to win!
News This Week
- The Carolina Hurricanes signed 36-year old Paul Stastny to a 1 year, $1.5M contract. Stastny has averaged roughly 20 goals and 50 points over the past 3 seasons.
- The NHL and NHLPA are working to bring back the World Cup of Hockey in 2024. 8 national teams will compete, with games played in Europe and North America.
With the World Cup of Hockey scheduled to return in 2024, how do the forwards for Team USA🇺🇸 and Canada🇨🇦 shape up against each other?@TonyLuftman | @mike_p_johnson | #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/ssvEjFf1LV
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 28, 2022
- The Vegas Golden Knights signed Phil Kessel to a 1 year, $1.5M contract. The 34-year old spent the past 3 seasons with the Arizona Coyotes. Last season, Kessel shot a career-low 4.6 iSH%, well down from his 3-yr (9.5%) and career (11.0%) averages.
- Kelly McCrimmon told reporters that Robin Lehner is having double-hip surgery. One hip has already been operated on and will get the other done later.
- Fantasy Spin: Logan Thompson and Laurent Brossoit will be expected to shoulder the load for the Golden Knights next season. I anticipate Thompson will see the majority of starts.
“I think that everybody expected us to find a goalie. Internally, we liked these two guys.”
The @GoldenKnights announce their Robin Lehner replacement plan. https://t.co/daoXM1JGz9
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) August 25, 2022
- UPDATE: Adin Hill was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2024 4th round pick. Also, Logan Thompson is now the only Vegas goaltender that is waivers exempt, according to Jesse Granger.
2022 Atlantic Division (Pt. 1) Fantasy Hockey Preview
Boston Bruins
51-26-5 (4th in Atlantic) | GF/GM: 3.09 (15th) | GA/GM: 2.66 (4th) | GF%: 53.72 (11th) | CF%: 53.41 (6th) | PP%: 21.2 (15th) | PK%: 81.3 (9th)
Schedule Notes: The Boston Bruins have 14 back-to-back sets this season; tied for 3rd most with 8 other NHL clubs. 29% of their games are played on “light days” (days where fewer than 50% of teams are in action).
Key Additions: Pavel Zacha (Trade W/ NJD), Keith Kinkaid (UFA – NYR)
Key Departures: Erik Haula (Trade W/ NJD),
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Top Fantasy Targets
🎯 David Pastrnak, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 24.7 | PTS. PREDICTION: 50 Goals, 95 Points
- Last Season: 77 Pts, 40 G in 72 GP (88-point Pace)
- 4.3 SOG/GM career-high
- 75.4% PP Share career-high
- 69.4 IPP career-low
- 3-Yr Avg: 95 Pts, 47 G
🎯 Brad Marchand, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 123.8 | PTS. PREDICTION: 27 Goals, 68 Points
- Last Season: 80 Pts, 32 G in 70 GP (94-point Pace)
- 3.5 SOG/GM career-high
- 13.2 iSH% 2nd-lowest of career
- 3-Yr Avg: 100 Pts, 38 G
🎯 Patrice Bergeron, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 81.0 | PTS. PREDICTION: 35 Goals, 77 Points
- Last Season: 65 Pts, 25 G in 73 GP (73-point Pace)
- 4.0 SOG/GM career-high
- 8.5 iSH% lowest since 2016-2017
- 6.8 tEVSH% down from 3-yr average (10.6%)
- 3-Yr Avg: 73 Pts, 34 G
🎯 Taylor Hall, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 169.5 | PTS. PREDICTION: 20 Goals, 58 Points
- Last Season: 61 Pts, 20 G in 80 GP (62-point Pace)
- 3-Yr Avg: 60 Pts, 19 G
🎯 Jake DeBrusk, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 174.0 | PTS. PREDICTION: 26 Goals, 45 Points
- Last Season: 42 Pts, 25 G in 77 GP (45-point Pace)
- 3-Yr Avg: 41 Pts, 22 G
🎯 David Krejci, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 161.6 | PTS. PREDICTION: 16 Goals, 62 Points
- Last Season (2020-2021): 43 Pts, 13 G in 61 GP (58-point Pace)
- 9.6 iSH% in 2020-2021 was Krejci’s lowest since 2010-2011
- 3-Yr Avg: 63 Pts, 15 G
🎯 Charlie McAvoy, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 129.9 | PTS. PREDICTION: 7 Goals, 35 Points
- Last Season: 56 Pts, 10 G in 78 GP (59-point Pace)
- 2.1 SOG/GM career-high
- 21 PPP career-high
- 65% PP share career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 49 Pts, 8 G
🎯 Hampus Lindholm, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 141.8 | PTS. PREDICTION: 7 Goals, 36 Points
- Last Season: 27 Pts, 5 G in 71 GP (31-point Pace)
- 2.0 SOG/GM career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 31 Pts, 5 G
🎯 Jeremy Swayman, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 72.7 | PREDICTION: 42 Starts (50% Net Share), 26 Wins
- Last Season: 23-14-3, 2.41 GAA, .914 SV%, -3.61 GSAx
- Tied for 20th in Wins
- Tied for 26th in SV% w/ Oettinger, DeSmith, Campbell, Thompson
- 3-Yr Avg: 35-20-4, 2.23 GAA, .920 SV%
🎯 Linus Ullmark, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 151.5 | PREDICTION: 42 Starts (50% Net Share), 22 Wins
- Last Season: 26-10-2, 2.45 GAA, .917 SV%, -0.7 GSAx
- Tied for 17th in Wins
- Tied for 18th in SV%
- 3-Yr Avg: 33-19-5, 2.58 GAA, .916 SV%
Buffalo Sabres
32-39-11 (5th in Atlantic) | GF/GM: 2.79 (22nd) | GA/GM: 3.50 (25th) | GF%: 44.38 (26th) | CF%: 48.31 (20th) | PP%: 21.2 (16th) | PK%: 76.4 (23rd)
Schedule Notes: The Buffalo Sabres have 13 back-to-back sets this season; tied for 4th most with Colorado, Montreal, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. 34% of their games are played on “light days” (fewer than 50% of teams are in action).
Key Additions: Ilya Lyubushkin (UFA – TOR), Kale Clague (UFA – MTL), Eric Comrie (UFA – WPG)
Key Departures: Mark Jankowski (UFA – NSH), Drake Cagguila (UFA – PIT), Will Butcher (UFA – DAL), Aaron Dell (UFA – SJS)
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Top Fantasy Targets
🎯 Tage Thompson, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 140.1 | PTS. PREDICTION: 34 Goals, 67 Points
- Last Season: 68 Pts, 38 G in 78 GP (71-point Pace)
- Career-highs last season: 3.2 SOG/GM, 0.87 Pts/GM, 15 iSH%, 66 Hits, 16 PPP, 57.3% PP Share, 17:53 ATOI
- ⚠️11.3 tEVSH%
- 40 Points, 24 goals in the final 39 games of the season!
- 3-Yr Avg: 57 Pts, 32 G
🎯 Alex Tuch, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 164.9 | PTS. PREDICTION: 22 Goals, 60 Points
- Last Season: 38 Pts, 12 G in 50 GP (62-point Pace)
- 2.8 SOG/GM career-high
- 58.6% PP Share career-high
- 18:21 ATOI career-high
- ⚠️10.6 tEVSH% career-high (8.20 3-yr avg)
- 3-Yr Avg: 49 Pts, 21 G
🎯 Jeff Skinner, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 175.8 | PTS. PREDICTION: 30 Goals, 60 Points
- Last Season: 63 Pts, 33 G in 80 GP (65-point Pace)
- 12.6 iSH% highest since 2018-2019 (14.9%). 3-yr avg is 9.7%
- Just 7 of 30 assists were secondary. 0.16 A2/60 the second-lowest rate of Skinner’s career.
- 3-Yr Avg: 43 Pts, 23 G
🎯 Victor Olofsson, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 143.3 | PTS. PREDICTION: 25 Goals, 54 Points
- Last Season: 49 Pts, 20 G in 72 GP (56-point Pace)
- ⚠️47.6% PP Share career-low
- 15:21 ATOI career-low
- 3-Yr Avg: 56 Pts, 24 G
🎯 Casey Mittelstadt, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: N/A | PTS. PREDICTION: 20 Goals, 50 Points
- Last Season: 19 Pts, 6 G in 40 GP (39-point Pace)
- 7.6 iSH% career-low (11.5% 3-yr avg)
- 2.0 SOG/GM career-high
- 13 points in the final 20 games, PP1 usage.
- 3-Yr Avg: 37 Pts, 15 G
🎯 Rasmus Dahlin, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 81.0 | PTS. PREDICTION: 12 Goals, 55 Points
- Last Season: 53 Pts, 13 G in 80 GP (54-point Pace)
- 24:02 ATOI career-high
- 7.6 iSH% career-high
- 21 PPP career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 49 Pts, 9 G
🎯 Owen Power, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 109.9 | PTS. PREDICTION: 5 Goals, 32 Points
- Last Season: 3 Pts, 2 G in 8 GP (31-point Pace)
- 3-Yr Avg: N/A
🎯 Craig Anderson, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: N/A | PREDICTION: 40 Starts (49% Net Share), 18 Wins
- Last Season: 17-12-2, 3.12 GAA, .897 SV%, -11.49 GSAx
- 3-Yr Avg: 26-26-3, 3.14 GAA, .900 SV%
Detroit Red Wings
32-40-10 (6th in Atlantic) | GF/GM: 2.77 (25th) | GA/GM: 3.78 (31st) | GF%: 42.27 (29th) | CF%: 46.62 (27th) | PP%: 16.3 (26th) | PK%: 73.8 (32nd)
Schedule Notes: The Detroit Red Wings have 14 back-to-back sets this season, tied for 3rd-most with 8 other NHL clubs; and 34% of Detroit’s games are played on “light days” (fewer than 50% of teams in action).
Key Additions: Andrew Copp (UFA – NYR), David Perron (UFA – STL), Dominik Kubalik (UFA – CHI), Olli Maatta (UFA – LAK), Ville Husso (UFA – STL)
Key Departures: Marc Staal (UFA – FLA), Thomas Greiss (UFA – STL)
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Top Fantasy Targets
🎯 Dylan Larkin, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 145.8 | PTS. PREDICTION: 30 Goals, 72 Points
- Last Season: 69 Pts, 31 G in 71 GP (80-point Pace)
- 14.6 iSH% career-high (10.4% 3-yr avg)
- 9.9 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 64 Pts, 26 G
🎯 Lucas Raymond, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 147.7 | PTS. PREDICTION: 25 Goals, 62 Points
- Last Season: 57 Pts, 23 G in 82 GP (57-point Pace)
- 19/34 assists were secondary
- 3-Yr Avg: N/A
🎯 David Perron, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 154.3 | PTS. PREDICTION: 28 Goals, 69 Points
- Last Season: 57 Pts, 27 G in 67 GP (70-point Pace)
- 20/30 assists were secondary, career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 74 Pts, 30 G
🎯 Tyler Bertuzzi, LW/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 165.4 | PTS. PREDICTION: 34 Goals, 70 Points
- Last Season: 62 Pts, 30 G in 68 GP (75-point Pace)
- 2.6 SOG/GM career-high
- 17 iSH% 3-yr average
- ~1 Hit/GM
- 3-Yr Avg: 65 Pts, 31 G
🎯 Jakub Vrana, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 166.0 | PTS. PREDICTION: 32 Goals, 62 Points
- Last Season: 19 Pts, 13 G in 26 GP (60-point Pace)
- 20 iSH% (16.2% 3-yr average)
- ⚠️90.5 IPP
- 8.8 tEVSH% down versus 3-yr average (11.69%)
- 3-Yr Avg: 60 Pts, 32 G
🎯 Andrew Copp, C/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 170.9 | PTS. PREDICTION: 23 Goals, 62 Points
- Last Season: 53 Pts, 21 G in 72 GP (60-point Pace)
- 2.5 SOG/GM career-high
- 19:11 ATOI career-high
- 5.24 FOW/GM career-high. 53.1% FOW 3-yr average.
- 3-Yr Avg: 51 Pts, 20 G
🎯 Moritz Seider, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 44.5 | PTS. PREDICTION: 10 Goals, 55 Points
- Last Season: 50 Pts, 7 G in 82 GP (50-point Pace)
- 3.7 iSH%
- 3-Yr Avg: N/A
🎯 Ville Husso, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 124 | PREDICTION: 50 Starts (61% Net Share), 24 Wins
- Last Season: 25-7-6, 2.56 GAA, .919 SV%, 14.3 GSAx
- Tied for 15th in SV%
- 19th in Wins
- Tied for 20th in SO (2)
- 3-Yr Avg: 36-14-7, 2.74 GAA, .912 SV%
🎯 Alex Nedeljkovic, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 183.3 | PREDICTION: 32 Starts (39% Net Share), 14 Wins
- Last Season: 20-24-9, 3.31 GAA, .901 SV%, -17.57 GSAx
- 3-Yr Avg: 25-22-9, 2.89 GAA, .908 SV%
Florida Panthers
58-18-6 (1st in Atlantic) | GF/GM: 4.11 (1st) | GA/GM: 2.95 (12th) | GF%: 58.20 (2nd) | CF%: 55.55 (2nd) | PP%: 24.4 (5th) | PK%: 79.5 (16th)
Schedule Notes: The Florida Panthers have 12 back-to-back sets this season, tied for 5th fewest with Arizona, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nashville, and Ottawa. 35% of their games are played on “light days” (fewer than 50% of teams in action).
Key Additions: Matthew Tkachuk (Trade W/ CGY), Chris Tierney (UFA – OTT), Colin White (UFA – OTT), Marc Staal (UFA – DET), Nick Cousins (UFA – NSH), Rudolf Balcers (UFA – SJS), Alex Lyon (UFA – CAR)
Key Departures: Jonathan Huberdeau (Trade W/ CGY), Ben Chiarot (UFA – DET), Claude Giroux (UFA – OTT), Mackenzie Weegar (Trade W/ CGY), Mason Marchment (UFA – DAL)
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Top Fantasy Targets
🎯 Alexander Barkov, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 14.0 | PTS. PREDICTION: 42 Goals, 102 Points
- Last Season: 88 Pts, 39 G in 67 GP (108-point Pace)
- 18.2 iSH% career-high, 15.1% 3-yr average
- 57% FOW career-high
- On-pace for career-high 48 goals
- 3-Yr Avg: 93 Pts, 38 G
🎯 Matthew Tkachuk, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 17.0 | PTS. PREDICTION: 36 Goals, 86 Points
- Last Season: 104 Pts, 42 G in 82 GP (104-point Pace)
- 16.6 iSH% career-high
- 3.1 SOG/GM career-high
- 29 PPP career-high
- 12.4 tEVSH% (9.1% 3-yr avg)
- 3-Yr Avg: 82 Pts, 32 G
🎯 Sam Reinhart, C/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 65.8 | PTS. PREDICTION: 30 Goals, 72 Points
- Last Season: 82 Pts, 33 G in 78 GP (86-point Pace)
- 17:46 ATOI down from 3-yr average (19:10)
- 31 PPP career-high
- 16 of 33 goals came on the PP. Tied for 3rd league-wide in goals on the power play.
- 10.3 tEVSH% career-high
- 58 points in the final 47 games
- 3-Yr Avg: 71 Pts, 33 G
🎯 Carter Verhaeghe, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 173.4 | PTS. PREDICTION: 32 Goals, 70 Points
- Last Season: 55 Pts, 24 G in 78 GP (58-point Pace)
- Just 22% PP share, that should change this season with Huberdeau gone and Duclair on the shelf.
- 3-Yr Avg: 49 Pts, 24 G
🎯 Sam Bennett, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 144.9 | PTS. PREDICTION: 28 Goals, 60 Points
- Last Season: 49 Pts, 28 G in 71 GP (57-point Pace)
- 28 goals and 57-point pace both career-highs
- 3.4 SOG/GM career-high
- 16:57 ATOI career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 42 Pts, 22 G
🎯 Anton Lundell, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 156.3 | PTS. PREDICTION: 26 Goals, 58 Points
- Last Season: 44 Pts, 18 G in 65 GP (56-point Pace)
- 5th in rookie scoring with 44 points
- 6th in rookie goal-scoring with 18 goals (23-goal pace)
- 3-Yr Avg: 56 Pts, 23 G
🎯 Anthony Duclair, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 161.8 | PTS. PREDICTION: 8 Goals, 20 Points
- Last Season: 58 Pts, 31 G in 74 GP (64-point Pace)
- Out until sometime in 2023 (Achilles Injury)
- 3-Yr Avg: 59 Pts, 29 G
🎯 Aaron Ekblad, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 34.8 | PTS. PREDICTION: 18 Goals, 65 Points
- Last Season: 57 Pts, 15 G in 61 GP (77-point Pace)
- ⚠️0.80 A2/60 300% higher than the previous season, and 128% higher than his 3-yr average (0.35 A2/60). 29 of 42 total assists were secondary.
- ⚠️10.3 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 61 Pts, 16 G
🎯 Gustav Forsling, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 158.1 | PTS. PREDICTION: 10 Goals, 45 Points
- Last Season: 37 Pts, 10 G in 71 GP (43-point Pace)
- 6.9 iSH% career-high
- 21:13 ATOI career-high
- 9.9 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 39 Pts, 11 G
🎯 Sergei Bobrovsky, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 61.2 | PREDICTION: 50 Starts (63% Net Share), 34 Wins
- Last Season: 39-7-3, 2.67 GAA, .913 SV%, 9.07 GSAx
- 2nd in Wins
- Tied for 13th in SO (3)
- 3-Yr Avg: 36-15-5, 2.93 GAA, .906 SV%
🎯 Spencer Knight, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 73.7 | PREDICTION: 32 Starts (37% Net Share), 20 Wins
- Last Season: 19-9-3, 2.79 GAA, .908 SV%, -3.38 GSAx
- Tied for 20th in SO (2)
- 3-Yr Avg: 38-15-5, 2.74 GAA, .909 SV%
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