Capped: Five Defensemen Who May Disappoint Their Fantasy Owners
Eric Daoust
2014-07-31
Five defensemen signed via free agency who are giving us cause for concern…
Along with the insanity that comes with the start of the NHL’s free agency period comes all of the scrutinizing of the amount of money and/or term being given to all of these players. History shows us that many of the massive contracts handed out will be seen as poor decisions when it is all said and done. This year is no exception. In fantasy leagues, many of these players lose a ton of value and sometimes become major liabilities to their owners. No doubt, July is a nervous month for those in cap leagues.
Unfortunately, Engelland became a fantasy liability the minute he signed in Calgary. He may be able to match the numbers he produced in Pittsburgh but now costs too much to justify the investment. Look for another rugged third-pairing defenseman to fill the void or go shopping on the wire once the season starts to maybe find the next Radko Gudas.
Dmitry Kulikov (FLA)
$4,333,333 / 3 years
Many owners have held on to Kulikov for years hoping that he finally breaks out. After an impressive 28 points in 58 games back in 2011-12, he has been a major disappointment, combining for just 29 points over the last two years since the lockout.
Now with an inflated contract in hand, Kulikov becomes a very expensive prayer to continue holding on your roster. The risk is that if he produces another dud this year, the cost on your budget is massive. At this point his value may be greater in a trade than on your roster.
Matt Niskanen (WSH)
$5,750,000 / 7 years
From a personal standpoint, Niskanen may have been the biggest winner in this year's free agency period. But from a fantasy standpoint it is time to abandon ship. After posting 35 points back in 2009 in Dallas, he spent four years posting 21 or fewer points before once again raising his level of play to 46 points in a contract year.
In Washington, Niskanen will probably be a productive player. The problem is that he has been incredibly inconsistent over the years and at this high a price tag you simply cannot afford major letdowns. He is even more risky to own in leagues where dropping him will cost your team a buyout penalty.
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