Fantasy Preview – Central Division Part 2 (MIN, NSH, STL, WPG)
Episode 76 of the Fantasy Hockey Hacks Podcast! Fantasy hockey previews continue as the Hacks move through part two of the Central Division – Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, and Winnipeg. As always, we’ll 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!
- The Flames continue to make noise this off-season, signing Nazem Kadri
- Carey Price UNLIKELY to return for the 2022-2023 season
- Canada wins World Junior Gold
- Can Kirill Kaprizov score 50 goals?
- Regression coming for the Predators?
- A point per game for Robert Thomas?
- Connor Hellebuyck could be a real value pick in drafts this Fall
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Johnβs List
If you have been listening to our podcast for a while, youβve undoubtedly heard about βJohnβs Listβ; which is basically Johnβs $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!
Lou Lamoriello & The Islanders – For not signing a single UFA this off-season (missing on Nazem Kadri)…aaannddd Kyle Turris
Headlines W/ The Hacks | August 15 – 22, 2022
The 2021-2022 regular season has wrapped, but if youβre planning to defend your fantasy hockey championship next season be sure to get your draft kit from our partner, Left Wing Lock – Available NOW! Weβre 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 Chicago Blackhawks signed Jack Johnson to a 1-year, $950K contract
- Nazem Kadri signed a 7-year, $49M contract ($7M AAV) with the Calgary Flames!Β
- Fantasy Spin: Kadri ends up in a significantly better situation than if he had signed with the Islanders. The former Av should see top 6 and PP1 duties; and will make the Battle of Alberta exponentially more entertaining! I still expect regression based on last yearβs performance, but potentially not as severe now.Β
Nazem Kadri to the Flames on a 7-year deal! π₯ pic.twitter.com/xdywEVn4h3
β TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 18, 2022
- In a subsequent, cap-related move, the Calgary Flames traded Sean Monahan and a conditional 2025 first round pick to the Montreal Canadiens; in exchange for future considerations (AKA Nothing).
- Former Oiler Kyle Turris announced his retirement from the NHL this week.Β
- Carey Price is UNLIKELY TO RETURN for the 2022-2023 regular season; career very likely over.
Kent Hughes says that this trade happened because Carey Price’s knee isn’t getting better.
They do not expect him to be available for the start of the season and doesn’t see him coming back at all this season.
That’s probably career over for Carey Price.
Oh my god.#Habs
β Habs Chronicle (@HabsChronicle) August 18, 2022
- Canada won gold at the IIHF World Junior Tournament in overtime against Finland. Anaheim Ducks prospect Mason MacTavish made a miraculous goal-line stop in the extra period; then Columbus Blue Jacketsβ prospect Kent Johnson made a nice play to score the game-winning goal.
here’s the full 3-on-1 from finland that led to mason mctavish’s goal line save and canada’s win shortly thereafter. what a play. pic.twitter.com/bQ7gdXZlPz
β zach laing (@zjlaing) August 21, 2022
- The New York Islanders signed Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov, and Kieffer Bellows to new contracts. Dobson signed a 3-year contract with a $4M AAV. Last season, Dobson posted a career-high 51 points and 13 goals in 80 games played. After a slow start (4 points in 15 GP), the Isles Dman posted 47 points in 65 games – a 59-point pace!
2022 Central Division (Pt. 2) Fantasy Hockey Preview
Minnesota Wild
53-22-7 (2nd in Central) | GF/GM: 3.72 (5th) | GA/GM: 3.04 (16th) | GF%: 55.05 (9th) | CF%: 50.52 (15th) | PP%: 20.5 (18th) | PK%: 76.1 (25th)
Schedule Notes: The Minnesota Wild have 12 back-to-back sets this season; tied for the 5th fewest with Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nashville, and Ottawa. 40% of their games are played on βlight daysβ (days where fewer than 50% of teams are in action).
Key Additions: Marc-Andrea Fleury (UFA)
Key Departures: Kevin Fiala (Trade w/ LAK), Cam Talbot (Trade w/ OTT), Nic Deslauriers (UFA – PHI)
β
Top Fantasy Targets
π― Kirill Kaprizov, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 6 | PTS. PREDICTION: 47 Goals, 102 Points
- Last Season: 108 Pts, 47 G in 81 GP
- π11.8 tEVSH% well above league average (8.5 tEVSH%)
- β οΈAveraging 16.6 iSH% in first two years in the NHL – will that continue?Β
- π3.6 SOG/GM last season a significant boost from the year prior (2.9 SOG/GM)
- 3-Yr Avg: 96 Pts, 45 G
π― Ryan Hartman, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 120 | PTS. PREDICTION: 25 Goals, 57 Points
- Last Season: 65 Pts, 34 G in 82 GP
- π12.1 tEVSH% career-high, well above ~9% average the past 3 seasons
- π2.9 SOG/GM career-high (1.5 SOG/GM in 2020-2021)
- π45.4% PP share a career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 43 Pts, 20 G
π― Mats Zuccarello, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 91 | PTS. PREDICTION: 25 Goals, 77 Points
- Last Season: 79 Pts, 24 G in 70 GP
- π11.6 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 70 Pts, 23 G
π― Matt Boldy, LW/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 108 | PTS. PREDICTION: 27 Goals, 64 Points
- Last Season: 39 Pts, 15 G in 47 GP
- π12.2 tEVSH% unsustainable
- 3-Yr Avg: 68 Pts, 26 G
π― Marco Rossi, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 241 | PTS. PREDICTION: 18 Goals, 49 Points
- Last Season: 0 Pts, 0 G in 2 GP
- 3-Yr Avg: N/A
π― Joel Eriksson Ek, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 153 | PTS. PREDICTION: 27 Goals, 52 Points
- Last Season: 50 Pts, 26 G in 77 GP
- 3-Yr Avg: 46 Pts, 22 G
π― Jared Spurgeon, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 158 | PTS. PREDICTION: 12 Goals, 44 Points
- Last Season: 41 Pts, 10 G in 65 GP
- π10.3 tEVSH% career-high
- π0.63 Pts/GM (1.8 Pts/60) career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 44 Pts, 13 G
π― Matt Dumba, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 203 | PTS. PREDICTION: 9 Goals, 36 Points
- Last Season: 27 Pts, 7 G in 57 GP
- π7.9% tEVSH% – potential for regression
- π2.00 Hits/GM career-high
- π1.47 Blks/GM career-high
- π33.3% PP Share lowest since 2014-2015
- 3-Yr Avg: 34 Pts, 9 G
π― Marc-Andre Fleury, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 61 | PREDICTION: 55 Starts (67% Net Share), 32 Wins
- Last Season: 28-23-5, 2.90 GAA, .908 SV%, -11 GSAx
- 12 in SO (4)
- 14 in Wins
- 34th in SV%
- 3-Yr Avg: 34-21-4, 2.62 GAA, .912 SV%
Nashville Predators
45-30-7 (5th in Central) | GF/GM: 3.20 (13th) | GA/GM: 3.05 (17th) | GF%: 51.17 (16th) | CF%: 48.51 (19th) | PP%: 24.4 (6th) | PK%: 79.2 (18th)
Schedule Notes: The Nashville Predators have 12 back-to-back sets this season; tied for 5th most with Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Ottawa. 28% of their games are played on βlight daysβ (fewer than 50% of teams are in action).
Key Additions: Nino Niederreiter (UFA – CAR), Ryan McDonagh (UFA – TB), Kevin Lankinen (UFA – CHI)
Key Departures: Luke Kunin (UFA – SJS), Nick Cousins (UFA – FLA), Matt Benning (UFA – SJS), David Rittich (UFA – WPG)
β
Top Fantasy Targets
π― Filip Forsberg, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 54 | PTS. PREDICTION: 35 Goals, 82 Points
- Last Season: 84 Pts, 42 G in 69 GP
- π1.22 Pts/GM significantly higher than career-average (.83 Pts/GM)
- π18.6 iSH% career-high (12.9 career avg)
- π11.7% tEVSH career-high (7.67% 3-yr avg)
- 3-Yr Avg: 79 Pts, 36 G
π― Matt Duchene, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 74 | PTS. PREDICTION: 30 Goals, 73 Points
- Last Season: 86 Pts, 43 G in 78 GP
- π18.9 iSH% career-high
- π64% PP Share career-high
- π1.10 Pts/GM (0.79 Pts/GM 3-yr avg)
- π11.5% tEVSH% (8.52% 3-yr avg)
- 3-Yr Avg: 65 Pts, 29 G
π― Ryan Johansen, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 183 | PTS. PREDICTION: 18 Goals, 55 Points
- Last Season: 63 Pts, 26 G in 79 GP
- π22 iSH% career-high (11.7% career-avg)
- π11 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 51 Pts, 20 G
π― Mikael Granlund, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 263 | PTS. PREDICTION: 17 Goals, 57 Points
- Last Season: 64 Pts, 11 G in 80 GP
- π9.4 iSH% (12.8% 3-yr avg)
- π64.1% PP Share career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 51 Pts, 17 G
π― Nino Niederreiter, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 254 | PTS. PREDICTION: 24 Goals, 45 Points
- Last Season: 44 Pts, 24 G in 75 GP
- π10.1 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 45 Pts, 23 G
π― Eeli Tolvanen, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 406 | PTS. PREDICTION: 20 Goals, 49 Points
- Last Season: 23 Pts, 11 G in 75 GP
- 2.35 Hits/GM
- 3-Yr Avg: 32 Pts, 16 G
π― Tanner Jeannot, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 177 | PTS. PREDICTION: 25 Goals, 51 Points
- Last Season: 41 Pts, 24 G in 81 GP
- 3.93 Hits/GM (318 Total Hits)
- 1.60 PIMS/GM (130 Total PIMS)
- 3-Yr Avg: N/A
π― Roman Josi, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 20 | PTS. PREDICTION: 20 Goals, 77 Points
- Last Season: 96 Pts, 23 G in 80 GP
- π37 PPP career-high
- π1.20 Pts/GM career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 81 Pts, 20 G
π― Matthias Ekholm, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 408 | PTS. PREDICTION: 8 Goals, 35 Points
- Last Season: 31 Pts, 6 G in 76 GP
- π10.5 tEVSH%
- 3-Yr Avg: 38 Pts, 9 G
π― Juuse Saros, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 44 | PREDICTION: 65 Starts (79% Net Share), 36 Wins
- Last Season: 38-25-3, 2.64 GAA, .918 SV%, 7.69 GSAx
- 3rd in Wins
- Tied for 6th in SO (4)
- 9th in SV%
- 3-Yr Avg: 32-20-3, 2.57 GAA, .919 SV%
St. Louis BluesΒ
49-22-11 (3rd in Central) | GF/GM: 3.77 (3rd) | GA/GM: 2.91 (11th) | GF%: 56.39 (5th) | CF%: 48.05 (22nd) | PP%: 27.0 (2nd) | PK%: 84.1 (5th)
Schedule Notes: The St. Louis Blues have 14 back-to-back sets this season, tied for 3rd-most with 8 other NHL clubs; and 30% of Coloradoβs games are played on βlight daysβ (fewer than 50% of teams in action).
Key Additions: Thomas Greiss (UFA – DET)
Key Departures: David Perron (UFA – DET), Ville Husso (UFA – DET)
β
Top Fantasy Targets
π― Vladimir Tarasenko, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 51 | PTS. PREDICTION: 33 Goals, 75 Points
- Last Season: 82 Pts, 34 G in 75 GP
- π1.09 Pts/GM career-high
- π13.4 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 80 Pts, 31 G
π― Robert Thomas, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 83 | PTS. PREDICTION: 20 Goals, 76 Points
- Last Season: 76 Pts, 20 G in 72 GP
- 45 points (15 goals) in the final 37 games of the season!
- π17.4 iSH% career-high
- π1.06 Pts/GM career-high
- π13.3 tEVSH% career-high (12.1% 3-yr avg)
- 3-Yr Avg: 63 Pts, 16 G
π― Pavel Buchnevich, LW/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 64 | PTS. PREDICTION: 30 Goals, 79 Points
- Last Season: 76 Pts, 30 G in 73 GP
- π2.7 SOG/GM career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 72 Pts, 28 G
π― Ryan OβRielly, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 116 | PTS. PREDICTION: 25 Goals, 70 Points
- Last Season: 58 Pts, 21 G in 78 GP
- 3-Yr Avg: 69 Pts, 23 G
π― Jordan Kyrou, LW/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 101 | PTS. PREDICTION: 30 Goals, 75 Points
- Last Season: 75 Pts, 27 G in 74 GP
- π1.01 Pts/GM career-high
- π2.5 SOG/GM career-high
- π12.3 tEVSH% career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 63 Pts, 24 G
π― Brayden Schenn, C/LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 96 | PTS. PREDICTION: 24 Goals, 64 Points
- Last Season: 58 Pts, 24 G in 62 GP
- π21.6 iSH% career-high
- π12.7 tEVSH% career-high (8.6% 3-yr avg)
- 3-Yr Avg: 66 Pts, 28 G
π― Torey Krug, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 106 | PTS. PREDICTION: 9 Goals, 51 Points
- Last Season: 43 Pts, 9 G in 64 GP
- π12.1 tEVSH% highest since 2011-2012
- π38.4 IPP down from 3-yr avg (50.9)
- 3-Yr Avg: 57 Pts, 9 G
π― Justin Faulk, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 170 | PTS. PREDICTION: 10 Goals, 37 Points
- Last Season: 47 Pts, 16 G in 76 GP
- π9.6 iSH% inflated relative to 3-yr avg (6.5%)
- β οΈ74.1% Secondary Assists
- 3-Yr Avg: 35 Pts, 11 G
π― Colton Parayko, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 484 | PTS. PREDICTION: 8 Goals, 35 Points
- Last Season: 35 Pts, 6 G in 80 GP
- π1.7 SOG/GM career-low
- π11.3 tEVSH% career-high (7.76 3-yr avg)
- 3-Yr Avg: 35 Pts, 8 G
π― Jordan Binnington, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 165 | PREDICTION: 50 Starts (60% Net Share), 28 Wins
- Last Season: 18-14-4, 3.13 GAA, .901 SV%, -9.4 GSAx
- 30th in SO (2)
- 31st in Wins
- 48th in SV%
- 3-Yr Avg: 31-19-9, 2.75 GAA, .908 SV%
Winnipeg Jets
39-32-11 (6th in Central) | GF/GM: 3.05 (16th) | GA/GM: 3.09 (20th) | GF%: 49.70 (19th) | CF%: 49.63 (18th) | PP%: 21.1 (17th) | PK%: 75.0 (29th)
Schedule Notes: The Winnipeg Jets have 13 back-to-back sets this season, tied for 6th most with Buffalo, Colorado, Montreal, and Vancouver. 41% of their games are played on βlight daysβ (fewer than 50% of teams in action).
Key Additions: N/A
Key Departures: N/A
β
Top Fantasy Targets
π― Kyle Connor, LW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 26 | PTS. PREDICTION: 50 Goals, 94 Points
- Last Season: 93 Pts, 47 G in 79 GP
- π4.0 SOG/GM career-high
- π1.18 Pts/GM career-high
- π6.9 tEVSH% 2nd-lowest of career
- β οΈ81.6 IPP career-high
- 51 Points (24 Goals) in his last 40 games played – a 104-point pace!
- 3-Yr Avg: 86 Pts, 44 G
π― Mark Scheifele, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 98 | PTS. PREDICTION: 34 Goals, 85 Points
- Last Season: 70 Pts, 29 G in 67 GP
- 3-Yr Avg: 87 Pts, 33 G
π― Pierre-Luc Dubois, C | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 79 | PTS. PREDICTION: 29 Goals, 62 Points
- Last Season: 60 Pts, 28 G in 81 GP
- π2.9 SOG/GM career-high
- 1.38 Hits/GM
- 63.4% PP Share career-high
- 18:56 ATOI career-high
- 3-Yr Avg: 54 Pts, 23 G
π― Nikolaj Ehlers, LW/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 57 | PTS. PREDICTION: 36 Goals, 77 Points
- Last Season: 55 Pts, 28 G in 62 GP
- π4.0 SOG/GM career-high
- β οΈJust 9 PPP! Average of 12 PPp per season
- β οΈ69.6 IPP down from 3-yr avg of 83.8
- 3-Yr Avg: 73 Pts, 34 G
π― Blake Wheeler, RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 159 | PTS. PREDICTION: 24 Goals, 76 Points
- Last Season: 60 Pts, 17 G in 65 GP
- Consistent – 0.92 Pts/GM the past 3 seasons
- 3-Yr Avg: 76 Pts, 24 G
π― Cole Perfetti, C/RW | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 281 | PTS. PREDICTION: 16 Goals, 48 Points
- Last Season: 7 Pts, 2 G in 18 GP
- π5.8 tEVSH% and ZERO secondary assists in 18 games played
- β οΈ87.5 IPP
- 1.2 SOG/GM
- ~1 Hit/GM
- 3-Yr Avg: N/A
π― Josh Morrissey, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 267 | PTS. PREDICTION: 10 Goals, 42 Points
- Last Season: 37 Pts, 12 G in 79 GP
- π6.9 iSH% and 2.2 SOG/GM career-highs
- 1.90 Hits/GM
- 1.32 Blks/GM
- π7.3 tEVSH% career-low
- 3-Yr Avg: 37 Pts, 9 G
π― Neal Pionk, D | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 262 | PTS. PREDICTION: 6 Goals, 40 Points
- Last Season: 34 Pts, 3 G in 77 GP
- π2.1 iSH% second-lowest of his career
- β οΈ38.2 IPP career-low
- 3-Yr Avg: 45 Pts, 5 G
π― Connor Hellebuyk, G | 2022 Yahoo Rank: 93 | PREDICTION: 65 Starts (79% Net Share), 32 Wins
- Last Season: 29-27-10, 2.97 GAA, .910 SV%, 6.26 GSAx
- Tied for 6th in SO (4)
- 13 in Wins
- 31st in SV%
- 3-Yr Avg: 30-23-6, 2.73 GAA, .916 SV%
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