Daoust delivers the goods on some cap-friendly PIM deliverers. 

Two weeks ago we looked at the underrated value of players who provide a high volume of hits and PIM. The results showed that even players who are not high-level talents at the offensive end of the rink van be very effective overall contributors in the right type of league. Furthermore, the name value of these scrappers is generally inferior to their equally-valuable and offensive-minded counterparts often making them easy to acquire. This week we will look at rugged players who signed cheap contract extensions within the last month. They may be undervalued but are certainly worthy of consideration for acquisition.

Using FantasyHockeyGeek (FHG) with this year's stats we will look at the value of the production of various players in three formats: points-only, Yahoo standard (G, A, +/-, PIM, PPP, GWG) and the United Hockey League (UHL), which is composed primarily of dobberhockey forum members. The UHL is a 24-team head-to-head roto league with the following scoring categories for skaters: G, A, +/-, PIM, SOG, GWG, PPP, SHP, Hits, Blocks and FOW. Keep in mind that FHG values are based on the full season and not on what a player provides on a per-game basis.

Radko Gudas is one of the most underrated multi-category defensemen in the league.  He arrived in the NHL this year and made his mark quickly to obtain a new contract. The FHG values are impressive for both the standard Yahoo league and UHL but keep in mind that he played less than half of the season. Had he played from start to finish he would rank much higher. There is no doubt that, barring injury, he will suit up for the vast majority of contests next year.

Most people will overlook the fact that Gudas is far from an inept offensive player. He has five points in 22 career games which scales up to 19 points over 82 games. Meanwhile, prior to joining the Lightning he had 20 points in 57 AHL games. Those are not great numbers but certainly help him stand out above other bruisers.

Aaron Volpatti was picked up on waiver from the Vancouver Canucks by the Washington Capitals on February 28. He provided some much-needed sandpaper to his new club and earned a two-year contract extension. He is a non-factor offensively with just five points in 71 career NHL games but his ability to accumulate hits and PIM make him a decent depth option in the right context.

Keep in mind that the negative FHG values in the roto leagues indicate that his production was inferior to what is considered the worst player owned meaning he is waiver wire material. However, it is important to note that he only played two thirds of the season meaning that, like Gudas, his production per game is better than his value and rank indicate.

With the extension signed one can only hope that he can suit up on a more consistent basis moving forward. Healthy scratches and injuries stemming from the rugged style of play make him a risk but in leagues with daily roster changes he could be a good asset to own.

Jay Rosehill joined the Philadelphia Flyers at the end of the season and posted great roto league numbers during the short stint. His FHG value is near zero in both roto formats which is very impressive because he played just 11 games.

In four NHL seasons Rosehill has appeared in 83 games and has three goals, three assists, a minus-16 rating, 262 PIM, 138 hits and 20 blocked shots. If he plays a full season it would not be unreasonable to expect this trend to continue. But he is simply not a player who suits up every night. Perhaps the new contract means that he will get more opportunities to play in the future but his value is definitely at its highest in leagues with daily roster changes that allow owners to bench him when his NHL team does.

Sticking with the Flyers, Zac Rinaldo is already a well-known multi-category contributor.  He has produced an average of more than three hits and three PIM per game during his two years in the NHL. There are few in the league who can match this output. Meanwhile he has averaged one point every seven games and one blocked shot every three games which help make him passable in those categories.

It is important to understand Rinaldo's value. His FHG value is strong in the roto formats but would be even higher if he played more games. Barring injury he is going to see more action than his teammate Rosehill which makes him a more reliable contributor. At such a low cap hit he is a must-own.

Previously from Daoust:

• Cheap NHL Labor – Part 1
• Cheap NHL Labor – Part 2
• Cheap NHL Labor – Part 3
• PIM Producers in Cap Leagues
• Under the Radar Rookies Turning Pro

Give Eric a follow on Twitter (@DH_EricDaoust)