2015-16 Fantasy Outlook: Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers

Eric Daoust

2015-06-16

 

Derek.Stepan.6.16

 

 

What can fantasy owners expect from the Habs and Rangers next season?

 

 

Even though there is still the entry draft and free agency to come, we can still look at current NHL rosters and get an indication of things to come next year.  The goal will not be to cover every player, but rather to focus more in-depth on some areas of great interest to fantasy owners, especially cases where there is some uncertainty that has a great impact on player values. In the final installment of the Fantasy Outlook series or the Eastern Conference we will look at the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers.

 

 

Montreal Canadiens

 

Despite not being a high-scoring unit collectively, the Canadiens possess many players that are impactful in fantasy hockey. In particular, Max Pacioretty has become an elite fantasy player over the last couple years. Not only is he one of the best goal scorers in hockey but his effectiveness across most categories have made him a must-own in roto leagues. In addition to the goals, Pacioretty is one of the best at getting pucks on net and is a dangerous option on the penalty kill, not to mention that he tied for the league lead in plus/minus this year.

 

Nash's frequent center Derick Brassard benefited greatly from the sniper's big year by posing his first 60-point campaign. Add in the fact that Brassard had never eclipsed 50 points prior to this year, and you have to wonder what the future holds considering his production is greatly influenced by Nash. Brassard's shooting percentage was not abnormal, which means he will get hit harder in the assist column, especially if Nash scores fewer goals next year.

 

Brassard's partner at center, Derek Stepan, has flirted with stardom the last few years. If not for an injury this year he would have reached 60 points for the first time. After the lockout he had 44 points in 48 games which raised expectations heading into 2013-14. That year he had just 57 points, but his disappointing 17 goals were partially influenced by a shooting percentage of just 8.5 percent. This year, his 55 points in 68 games (66 points in 82 games) look to be more indicative of what is to come. Of the two Rangers' scoring centermen, look for Stepan to be a safer bet next year, as he finally clears 60 points.

 

Unfortunately, the disappointing finish to the year likely marks the end of Martin St. Louis in New York. While he is no longer the elite player that he one was, he is still a decent fantasy option for your fall draft. Look for him in the later rounds as many of your opponents will see the down year and abandon ship. Just keep your expectations in check, as St. Louis saw a massive drop in both ice time and shots on goal. In a secondary role getting to 50 points would be an accomplishment.

 

On defense, the Rangers made a big splash at the trade deadline when they acquired Keith Yandle. In the quarter-season that he played in New York, his ice time, power play time and overall production were all down compared to the pace he set in Arizona. Barring any changes due to cap constraints, look for this trend to continue. As with many situations where the team has strong depth, players tend to suffer individually.

 

Fellow blueliner Ryan McDonagh had a disappointing 33-point year after getting 43 points in 2013-14. A return to 40 points is not out of the question, but Yandle's arrival does not help matters. With Yandle and Dan Boyle in the mix for power play minutes, McDonagh looks like he will be more of a secondary option on the man advantage, allowing him to focus more on defensive responsibilities.

 

In goal, things could get interesting this summer. Of course, Henrik Lundqvist is still the man in the crease. A scary neck injury limited him to 46 games, but when he played, he was excellent. Ever since entering the league in 2005-06, the only year that he finished with fewer than 30 wins was the 2012-13 lockout-shortened year. He has also posted a save percentage of .920 or better for six straight years.

 

The backup gig heading into 2015-16 is far less certain. Cam Talbot has been outstanding in the role, but there are rumors he could be shopped this summer to seek draft pick help. If he does indeed get moved, the new backup will likely come from outside the organization. While Mackenzie Skapski has shown a lot of promise, he has just one AHL year under his belt and would be better off staying there for now.

 

Look for the Rangers to add one of the many backups on the market that will be available for cheap. This will help the team allocate more dollars to the rest of its roster, as it tries to assemble a team that can finally get over the hump. In turn, bringing in a lesser backup would give Lundqvist more of a workload which would add to his short-term fantasy value. Keep an eye on this situation in the coming weeks.

 

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Follow me on Twitter@DH_EricDaoust.

 

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2015-16 Fantasy Outlook: Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning

2015-16 Fantasy Outlook: Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders

2015-16 Fantasy Outlook: Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators

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