Roman Josi‘s 40 points last year are deceiving, but not only because he played 72 games. He started the year with just four points in his first 17 games, then from December on, recorded 36 points in 55 games, a 54 point pace. During the lockout year, the Swiss native had 18 points in 48 games, a 31 point pace. As long as the new Head Coach keeps Josi paired with Shea Weber on the league’s 12th ranked power play unit, look for a career year and at least 45 points. There are a couple of possible flies in the ointment; if Seth Jones or Ryan Ellis develop faster than anticipated and challenge the 24-year-old for prime offensive minutes.

The former first overall pick from 2006, Erik Johnson tied a career high with 39 points last season. His promising career started with a bang in St. Louis, recording 33 points in 69 games, a 39 point pace. Unfortunately, the following September, Johnson ripped up his knee in a golf cart accident (you can’t make this stuff up). He missed the entire 2008-09 campaign. After the long recovery, he recorded 39 points, then was dealt to Colorado part way through the following season, where he finished with 29 points. In his first full season with the Avs, EJ scored 26 points. During the lockout year, he pretty much bottomed out fantasy-wise, recording four points in 31 games. The 26-year-old is a better than even bet to break the 40 point mark this season.

Tyson Barrie broke out in a big way in his third NHL season last year. He had 38 points in 64 games, a 49 point pace. Even more astonishing is that he had a horrible start with only eight points in his first 25 games, finishing with 30 points in his final 39 games, a 63 point pace.  In his last two seasons of junior hockey, he scored 58 points in 54 games and 72 points in 63 games. In his first year of professional hockey, he recorded 32 points in 49 games, a 54 point pace. He’s legit and about to head into his fourth year. If all breaks his way, look for north of 50 points from this up and coming 23-year-old.

Ever since recording 56 points in his second full NHL season, Mike Green has been a divisive fantasy decision. He followed that 56 point breakout performance with 12 points in nine World Championship games for Team Canada, then registered seasons of 73 and 76 points in 68 and 75 games respectively. Green then started missing games to injury, playing in only 49, 32 and 35 (missed 13 games in lockout year) games in the three seasons that followed. Last year, he played in 70 games, recording a decent 38 points.

So what can we expect this year from the inconsistent defenseman? Here’s what new Head Coach Barry Trotz had to say about Green: 

“He's such a dynamic player. I'm actually quite excited to work with Mike. I think what we're going to do as a team will be right up his alley, right for his skill set, all the areas of handling pucks and moving pucks and getting up on the play and being active and being a part of the attack, that will all be a part of what we do.” “I'm really excited about the possibilities of what he's capable of doing.”

Combine that with the fact that Green is in the final year of his contract and I’d say the 28-year-old is in for a big season.

Last year, John Carlson led the Caps in short-handed and overall ice time and was the top defenseman in power play ice time. With the arrival of Matt Niskanen, a new Head Coach and a potentially resurgent Mike Green, power play minutes will not be automatic this year. My worry is that Carlson’s offensive minutes might suffer a little to save him for the less glamorous, but equally important defensive part of the game. Since becoming an NHL regular, he hasn’t missed a game in four years, while recording seasons of 37, 22 (38 points pro-rated due to lockout), 32 and 37 points. While there is very little downside, with both Green and Niskanen in the mix for offensive minutes, Carlson is not likely to breakout this season.

Drew Doughty has a monster year in his second season with 59 points, the third highest amongst defensemen that year and then lays down consecutive seasons of 40, 36, 38 (pro-rated due to lockout) and 37 points.  Fantasy owners shouldn’t care one iota that Doughty is in reality, one of the top defensemen in the world; if he doesn’t put up big numbers, he slots in with the likes of Cam Fowler and Torey Krug on your draft list. Truth is, he’s hit for more than 40 points precisely once in his very illustrious career. Don’t overrate that on draft day.

That rounds out the top 30 NHL scoring defensemen from last season, plus Dustin Byfuglien, but there are two more blueliners worthy of mentioning because they both might end up in this year’s top 30, heck maybe even top 10.

Where to start with Kris Letang? In his only full NHL season, he recorded 50 points. Since then, he’s played 51, 35 (lockout year) and 37 games, but has scored at a pro-rated 68 point pace over those three “seasons”. He is a dynamic player on a team that sports two of the top three players in the game. If you can swallow the risk, he may reward his owners handsomely. A home run swing if there ever was.

Christian Ehrhoff started his professional hockey career with the Krefeld Pinguine (Penguins) in the top German circuit and now will ply his trade in Pittsburgh. Over his last six campaigns, he has scored at a 43 point pace, including last year’s disappointing 33 point effort. I’ll state the obvious in that he should fare better this season with all the firepower the Pens can bring to bear. He should play on the top man advantage unit, assuming they go with two defenders. If they go with only one, then he’ll have some competition with the aforementioned Letang.