SportsForecaster.com y PREMIUM PLAYER ANALYSES y TOP 100 FANTASY PROSPECTS y FANTASY PROJECTIONS y TOP 400 CHEAT SHEET y IN-DEPTH TEAM REPORTS y COMPLETE DEPTH CHARTS y PROJECTED LINES y 5-YEAR ROSTERS y KEEPERS LIST y 750+ PROSPECTS NHLSAMPLER PREVIEW 2021-22 & FANTASY GUIDE y HART TROPHY WINNER CONNOR McDAVID THE ESSENTIAL HOCKEY YEARBOOK GET THE EDGE y Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl GET THE EDGE with more than CENTERS 150 Fantasy Outlooks y ELITE y BREAKTHROUGH split yby BUYER positions BEWARE Leon Draisaitl, C/LW, Oilers: He enters Anthony Cirelli, C, Lightning: He is in line Max Domi, C/W, Blue Jackets: His his age 26 campaign as the probable No. 2 for a season of 20-plus goals and 50-plus offense disappeared in his first season with overall pick in most non-keeper drafts. How points, which would be a first for him. Draft Columbus. Domi needs a strong recovery good would he be on a deep roster? him expecting career totals. from shoulder surgery in a contract year. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Avalanche: Only Roope Hintz, C/LW, Stars: Assuming a full Jack Eichel, C, Sabres: If it is all systems injuries prevent him from being taken No. 1 recovery from groin surgery, Hintz should be go then he is a fantasy stud; it all depends on overall in a lot of drafts (he has played 82 a central figure in the Dallas attack. What his injury rehab and how quickly he can forget games three times in eight seasons). could he do when healthy? about 2020-21. Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs: He Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C/LW, Canadiens: Yanni Gourde, C/RW, Kraken: He is unlikely should be picked in the first round of virtually There is too much talent to ignore here. to match his 2017-18 career totals (82 GP, all non-keeper drafts this year (he is largely Kotkaniemi might become one of the best 25-39-64), and his wonky shoulder is also an unavailable in keeper formats). breakthrough players of 2021-22. Draft him late. issue. Do not overrate him. Connor McDavid, C, Oilers: Can McDavid Alexandre Texier, C/LW, Blue Jackets: A Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, Capitals: Only 29, he reach the 150-point mark this season? To bet third-year breakout is possible--although not has plenty of time to turn things around. He is against him would be unwise. Draft him first assumed--for the 22-year-old Texier. It could an obvious bounce-back candidate, but also overall for the win. Profit. all depend on new coach Brad Larsen. risky business, in 2021-22. Brayden Point, C, Lightning: Now that he Robert Thomas, C/RW, Blues: Last Victor Rask, C/LW, Wild: Despite his has his right-winger (Nikita Kucherov) back, campaign figures to be a mere bump in the bounce-back season in ‘20-21, Rask is not a there is no limit to his goal-scoring acumen. road to excellence for Thomas, who could recommendable fantasy option in all buy the Could Point crack 50 goals? approach 55-70 points if he stays healthy. deepest draft leagues. Beware. y DON’T OVERRATE Sam Bennett, C/W, Panthers: His fantasy value has changed for the better but can he be trusted in ‘21-22? He might be drafted a bit too early in some leagues. Patrice Bergeron, C, Bruins: At some point, Bergeron will start to slow down. His points- per-game average regressed for the second season in a row in 2020-21. Phillip Danault, C, Kings: His offense fell badly in a contract year in ‘20-21 but a return to 40-plus points may occur. He just does not score enough goals. Jordan Staal, C, Hurricanes: His production rate was up last season, but he has not recorded 50-plus points since leaving Pittsburgh in 2012. Do not overrate. Chandler Stephenson, C, Golden Knights: Drafting him based on his 2020-21 role just y Chandler Stephenson may be a foolish decision this time around, so do not overrate him. Be judicious here. (DRAISAITL AND MCDAVID)C. COMEAU; (STEPHENSON) M. SANCHEZ; (PINTO) D. CAIN; (BOQVIST) R. GRAESSLE / ICON SMI y TOP ROOKIES DOMINANCE GUIDE FOR DRAFT-DAY THE ULTIMATE 1. Trevor Zegras, C/LW, Ducks: A top Calder TOP candidate in 2021-22, Zegras is expected to step right into a feature role with the Ducks. His upside is exceptional. 2. Alex Newhook, C/W, Avalanche: He can be drafted in all league formats this year, but he has 100 more value in keeper leagues. A season of 50-plus points is doable. FANTASY PROSPECTS 3. Connor McMichael, C/LW, Capitals: He This compilation ONLY takes into account may begin his NHL career on the wing but could the top prospects that have the most overall eventually emerge as Washington’s No. 1 center. fantasy value. (with [position], age, 2020-21 team) He is an early keeper selection. 4. Jack Studnicka, C/RW, Bruins: He has a lot of 1. Trevor Zegras, Ducks appeal as a typical two-way forward but he may not [c/lw], 20, Anaheim (NHL) become valuable in fantasy leagues immediately. 2. Cole Caufield, Canadiens Tread lightly. [rw], 20, Wisconsin (Big10) 5. Shane Pinto, C, Senators: Expectations are 3. Alex Newhook, Avalanche high for the ex-college star after his impressive [c/w], 20, Boston College (HE) late-season cameo last spring. Consider him a 4. Nicholas Robertson, Maple Leafs Calder prospect. TOP [lw], 100 20, Toronto (AHL) y Shane Pinto FANTASY5. Peyton Krebs, Golden Knights [c/lw], 20, Winnipeg (WHL) PROSPECTS6. Connor McMichael, Capitals Perfect [c/lw],for your 20, Hershey (AHL) keeper7. Marco league Rossi, Wild y ON THE REBOUND [c], 20, ZSC Lions (Swi) Nazem Kadri, C/LW, Avalanche: He went 8. Spencer Knight, Panthers [g], 20, Boston College (HE) pointless for a stretch of 11 games in 2020-21! Kadri’s production does seem to 9. Quinton Byfield, Kings [c], 19, Ontario (AHL) come in spurts, but his totals are decent. 10. Lucas Raymond, Red Wings Sean Monahan, C, Flames: He is just two [rw], 19, Frolunda (Swe) seasons removed from a career year 11. Sam Poulin, Penguins (78 GP, 34-48-82). Monahan is too young for [lw/rw], 20, Sherbrooke/Val-d’Or (QMJHL) his recent decline to be permanent. 12. Connor Bedard, 2023 draft eligible Brayden Schenn, C/W, Blues: Expect [c], 16, Regina (WHL) Schenn to bounce back with numbers closer 13. Shane Wright, 2022 draft eligible to his talent level this season. He remains a [c], 17, Kingston (OHL) good mid-round draft option in ‘21. 14. Matvei Michkov, 2023 draft eligible Tyler Seguin, C/RW, Stars: Surgery rehab is [rw], 16, St. Petersburgh (Rus Jr.) behind him and he should reclaim a lead role 15. Anton Lundell, Panthers in the Dallas offense. Can he still be counted [c], 19, HIFK (Fin) on for 70-85 points? 16. Bowen Byram, Avalanche [d], 20, Colorado (NHL) John Tavares, C, Maple Leafs: He failed to reach 20 goals for the first time in his career 17. Jamie Drysdale, Ducks [d], 19, Anaheim (NHL) last season but expect him to rebound in y Jesper Boqvist 18. Philip Broberg, Oilers ‘21-22. There is value here. [d], 20, Skelleftea (Swe) 19. Raphael Lavoie, Oilers y SLEEPERS y ON THE RISE [rw/c], 21, Vasby (Swe2) Jesper Boqvist, C/W, Devils: He is teetering Kirby Dach, C, Blackhawks: Patience is 20. Lukas Reichel, Blackhawks [c/w], 19, Eisbaren Berlin (Ger) on the depth chart as a solid player without a key as Dach makes up for time lost to wrist role. Boqvist owns a lot of upside; he is worth surgery. Gamble on his talent and hope he 21. Jack Quinn, Sabres [rw], 20, Rochester (AHL) taking a chance on. can stay healthy moving forward. He is 22. Arthur Kaliyev, Kings Morgan Geekie, C/RW, Kraken: Jack Hughes, C/LW, Devils: Surrounding [lw/rw], 20, Ontario (AHL) probably a safer selection in keeper leagues him with better talent will lead to a big fantasy 23. Samuel Fagemo, Kings this year, but draft him late in all formats and payoff. Draft Hughes early. Keep him. His [lw/rw], 21, Ontario (AHL) hope for the best in 2021-22. value is higher than most. 24. Akil Thomas, Kings Tyler Johnson, C/RW, Blackhawks: Expect Josh Norris, C, Senators: He is the No. 1 [rw/c], 21, Ontario (AHL) him to see more minutes in 2021-22, so he center until a better one comes along, but a 25. Rasmus Kupari, Kings might return to a 20-goal, 50-point form. Do surefire No. 2 for the long haul. He should [c/rw], 21, Ontario (AHL) not sleep on Johnson in many drafts. exceed his rookie marks. 26. Alex Turcotte, Kings Jack Roslovic, C/RW, Blue Jackets: His Elias Pettersson, C, Canucks: Many a [c], 20, Ontario (AHL) 2020-21 output projected to a 58-point pace fantasy fortune swung on his injury last year. 27. Morgan Frost, Flyers over a full season. Comfortable now in his Fully recovered from a damaged wrist, he will [c], 22, Philadelphia (NHL) home state, he could easily surpass it. continue his ascent in ‘21-22. 28. Philip Tomasino, Predators [c], 20, Chicago (AHL) Colin White, C/RW, Senators: He is at Nick Suzuki, C, Canadiens: He seems a point in his career when an offensive entrenched as Montreal’s No. 1 center for 29. J-J Peterka, Sabres [w/c], 19, Munich (Ger) breakthrough often occurs. However, White is years to come.