Capped: Recent Bargain Signings

Eric Daoust

2014-08-22

MichaelDelZotto

This week we look at a few smaller signings that may have flown under the radar…

Even with the flow of hockey news slowing down significantly during the month of August, there are still occasional signings that have an impact on your fantasy team. Sometimes the signing itself is worth analyzing. Other times you can look beyond the news itself and wonder if there are similar players out there that can help you.

Over the last few weeks there have been some interesting signings at bargain prices. Today we will look at four of these players with varying skill sets and situations. But even though they are not stars by any means they still offer some kind of appeal in the fantasy world.

Michael Del Zotto – Philadelphia
2014-15: $1,300,000

Almost immediately after it was announced that Kimmo Timonen would be out long-term with blood clots, the Flyers filled the empty roster spot with Del Zotto. The inconsistent defenseman has the potential to put up a ton of points in the right situation. If there was ever a situation that would allow him to return to form, this is it. The Flyers need puck-moving defensemen and that is what Del Zotto brings to the table.

The risk here is that Del Zotto can be a total flop and the Flyers still have a bit of cap space once they put Timonen and Chris Pronger on long-term injured reserve to make a trade if needed. But if he plays the full year in Philadelphia he should be able to post respectable numbers at the very least considering his below-average cap hit.

Mark Borowiecki – Ottawa
2014-15: $575,000
2015-16: $1,100,000
2016-17: $1,100,000
2017-18: $1,100,000

The most interesting fantasy player in this list is Borowiecki. In real life he will probably spend his career as a bottom-pairing blueliner. But in the fantasy world he may be the next rugged defender to provide golden production in leagues that count PIM and hits.

Despite just 21 games of NHL experience, Borowiecki is now under a one-way contract for the next four years. His cap hit of $1.1 million given by the budget-conscious Senators starting next season shows that he has won the team's confidence. This will allow him to make the move to the NHL full-time and provide an impact similar to what Matt Carkner once brought to the Senators.

The danger, of course, is that as a bottom-pair defenseman on a team with a surplus of bodies Borowiecki will spend some time in the press box. This will hurt his value as he cannot help you when he is not in the lineup. But when he does play he will provide a ton of nastiness which will translate to your fantasy scoreboard. If he can eventually earn a stable spot in the lineup, he can turn into a poor man's Radko Gudas. The skill set is there. All he needs is the right chance to maximize his value.

Recently from Eric:

Capped: The Rising Cost of Depth Players

Capped: The Value of PK Subban

Capped: Five Defensemen Who May Disappoint Their Fantasy Owners