PowerPlay Magazyn

The NHL season is just around the corner. Pre-season games are underway, and I'm sure many of us here at PPM are involved in fantasy hockey.  With a lot of fantasy drafts taking place in the next couple of weeks, I thought we'd take a look at some potential late round sleeper picks that could come in handy in deep leagues.  Keep in mind, I'm no expert, just a crazed fan, but here are some of my picks anyway.


Jonathan Drouin, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning

I hesitated to call this a sleeper pick, as lots of people will be watching Drouin closely this season, so lets get this out of the way first.  He is considered to be one of the more NHL-ready prospects to come out of the last draft, and will likely slot in somewhere in Tampa's top 6.  There is even the chance he could see some PP time alongside St.Louis and Stamkos.   You shouldn't expect him to light up the league this season, but he could produce some, and holds a lot more value in leagues with a keeper format.


Colin Wilson, C, Nashville Predators

Wilson provides good goal scoring depth, and can usually be found late in drafts, or sometimes undrafted.  Don't be fooled by his 19 points last season, as they came in only 25 games before he was sidelined with shoulder injuries and subsequent surgeries on both sides only 3 weeks apart. He's always solid in +/-, and has the potential to be a hair under a point per game player.  Keep an eye on his recovery, but if you can get him in a late round, do so with confidence.


Brayden Schenn, C, Philadelphia Flyers

Brayden Schenn probably isn't going to be cracking the top 30 in scoring, but in leagues that have categories like hits, and PIMS, his grit becomes valuable.  He's not a one trick pony either, as he does get PP time, and could improve on his 0.55 points per game from last season.  If you're looking for a good late round pickup that will touch on 4-5 categories in your fantasy league, look no further.


Beau Bennett, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins

Bennett had a decent showing in his rookie year.  He didn't light up the scoring sheets, but he performed well for a rookie.  The speculation this season, is that he'll find a home on a line with Malkin and Neal, which will without a doubt help his production.


Steve Downie, RW, Colorado Avalanche

Downie is another player who provides good value in leagues with goon categories like hits and PIMS.  Interestingly, he's been practicing alongside Duchene and O'Reilly on Colorado's top line.  He was injured for almost all of last season, but if he's recovered and ready to play I don't see why he couldn't hit 50 points on that line, while also providing lots of penalty minutes, and a solid amount of hits.


Mikkel Boedker, LW, Phoenix Coyotes

Boedker will be playing alongside Mike Ribeiro on Phoenix's top line this season.  This should translate to a boost in production over his 0.54 points per game last season.  He'll be coming in to this season at 23 years old, and with a few seasons under his belt at this point, he could be poised for a breakout season.


Chris Neil, RW, Ottawa Senators

The goon.... With him, there won't be a lot of point production. The hits and PIMS however, should be plentiful.  Take him in late rounds if your league counts goon categories, and you're lacking grit on your roster.


Zack Kassian, RW, Vancouver Canucks

Kassian is a tough one, he's a risky pick, but if you can get him in the last round or two of your draft it might be worth the gamble.  All indications are that he'll be getting a chance to play with the Sedins to start the season. He'll have to remain consistant (something he has struggled with) in order to retain a spot on the first line.  That will make or break Kassian's fantasy season. Watch closely. Draft late.


Jason Garrison, D, Vancouver Canucks

As a Canucks fan, Garrison intrigues me.  He had lower point totals due to inexplicably being left off Vancouver's PP for most of last season despite finishing 2nd in goals amongst defensemen the previous season.  Under new coach John Tortorella, we might see Garrison getting PP time with the Sedins. Henrik used to  love setting up Sami Salo's booming shot on the point, and will now have a similar bomber in Garrison to pass to.


Patrick Wiercioch, D, Ottawa Senators

Wiercioch finished last season with 10 PPP which was 2nd only to Justin Schultz in rookie power play production. Now that Gonchar is gone, he could be seeing more time alongside Karlsson, and that's not going to hurt at all.


Jonas Brodin, D, Minnesota Wild

Brodin is young, and will probably be seeing regular minutes alongside Ryan Suter.  Enough said.


Ryan McDonagh, D, New York Rangers

If you're looking for a solid +/- guy, here he is.  He's spent his young career as more of a defensive defensemen, but the addition of coach Alain Vigneault to the Rangers could help his point production some.  During his time with the Vancouver Canucks, Vigneault seemed to have a tendancy to hybridize his d-men, so you may see McDonagh being coached to jump into the play more often.


Ray Emery, G, Philadelphia Flyers

Two words, Steve Mason.  If Mason has his typical inconsistancies, then Emery will likely take the starting job. He has the potential to be left off of a lot of people's draft lists, and could be a starter amongst backups in the late rounds.

So there you have it, some of my sleeper picks for the 2013-2014 NHL season.  Best of luck to everyone in their respective pools. Unless of course you're in one of my leagues, in which case, I wish you the worst of luck, and a season plagued with injuries.