Top 10 Surprises 2014-15

Tom Collins

2015-03-23

DevanDubnyk2

The top 10 fantasy hockey surprises of 2014-15.

While last week we looked at the top duds of the season, this week we're going more positive, looking at the top surprises of the season.

And there have been plenty of surprises. Michael Hutchinson and Andrew Hammond have each taken over the starting job on their respective teams at various points this year. Kris Letang has played the most games in a season since 2010-11. The race for the Art Ross is extremely tight, with lots of new names striving to be the league's top point-getter.

For this list, we're not going to include any rookies (they'll be getting their own list in a couple of weeks). Also, players had to have played at least 40 games at this point to eliminate small sample sizes, so no Hutchinson or Hammond.

10. Jakub Voracek

Many of us were waiting for Voracek to break out, but this season has to be a surprise even for supporters of the 25-year-old as he's in the running for the Art Ross. He's second in the league in assists and points. As a bonus, he's put up a career high 68 penalty minutes and 10 power-play goals. There's also an outside chance that he sets a career in shots (he's on pace for 230, his career high is 235).

9. John Carlson

Carlson has quietly put up another great season, and has been slowly wrestling the top power play spot away from Mike Green. Overall, Carlson is only three points away from posting a 50-point season. He has career highs in goals, assists and points, and is close to career highs in shots. He's also on pace for 200-plus blocked shots. Many expected him to continue to do well this season, but many also felt there was a ceiling on his production until Green leaves the Capitals, but Carlson is excelling even with Green in the lineup.

6. Justin Faulk

There were many poolies who figured that a Hurricanes defenceman would get 40-plus points this year, but most thought it would be Andrej Sekera, not Faulk. Faulk has been the lone bright spot in Carolina this year. He currently leads the entire team in points with 45, power-play goals with seven, power-play points with 19 and game-winning goals with four. He's also contributed in the shorthanded category, potting two goals and two assists when the Canes are down a man. He's also got 196 shots, 128 hits and 97 blocked shots. Overall, a terrific and underrated season for Faulk.

5. Vladimir Tarasenko

If the fourth year is the breakout year for many players, then poolies will be excited for Tarasenko next season. After all, the third-year Blues forward has put up career highs in every single category this year. He's been unbelievable. He's put up career highs in goals, assists, points, plus-minus, penalty minutes, power-play goals, game-winning goals, and shots. Surprisingly, he's still putting up good numbers lately despite his time on ice going down every month since December (he's averaging just 16:32 a game in March).

4. Tyler Johnson

Part of arguably the best second line in the NHL, Johnson is fighting superstar teammate Steven Stamkos for the team lead in points (the two are currently tied right now with 66 points apiece). Johnson has slowed down a little bit lately (just one point in his last five games), but he's already exceeded all expectations. His 41 assists are 12^th in the league, and 66 points is 10^th. He has an amazing plus-32 (third best in the NHL), and 14 power-play points.

3. Braden Holtby

Imagine selecting a low tier two/high tier three goalie in a Yahoo draft, but he wound up as one of the best in the league. That's what's happening with Holtby, who has been putting up good numbers across the board. Holtby was the 19^th top goalie selected on average in Yahoo leagues this season, which is pretty low when you think there are only 30 starters. Poolies were almost expecting him to be near the bottom third in NHL starting goalies. It didn't help that last season, there was some doubt about his number one status after he lost the starting job twice (once to Philipp Grubauer and once to Jaroslav Halak). This season has solidified Holtby as the Caps number one, as he's fourth in the league in wins, second in saves, eighth in save percentage, seventh in goals against and third in shutouts.

2. Nick Foligno

Foligno has always been a serviceable NHLer, but wasn't much of a fantasy option until this season. His previous career highs were 18 goals, 47 points and a plus-six. He's already beat all three of those, with 25 goals, 63 points and a plus-10, but he's also set career highs in assists (38), power-play goals (10), shots (159), and has also dished out 176 hits. Whether this can continue past this season or it will turn out to be a blip in his career remains to be seen, but Foligno has been one of the best players in Columbus this season.

1. Devan Dubnyk

About a year ago, Dubnyk's NHL career looked to be almost over. He was dealt to Montreal, the second time he was dealt last season, and then sent to the AHL. He was black ace for the Habs during the playoffs, and eventually asked to be sent home to be with his family. He was hoping to get a job as a backup just to play 20 games. Now, Dubnyk is one of the hottest goalies in the league. Since going to Minnesota, he has a 22-6-1 record, with a .935 save percentage and a 1.76 goals against average. And in cap leagues, he's even more valuable, with just a $0.8 million cap hit. Easily the biggest surprise of the season.