Evidently, Donovan has shown the potential to be an effective all-around fantasy contributor. After the recent departure of Nikita Zadorov, there is more space on the defense for a newcomer like Donovan to make his mark. He will be in the mix for a roster spot and a role on the second power play unit. If it all works out, he will have some talent up front to work with in advantageous scoring situations to help pad his numbers

Sergei Kalinin (RW – NJ)

Not a lot is known about Kalinin or how much upside he possesses at the NHL level. But with a name that rhymes with Sergei Brylin you know he is a perfect fit for the New Jersey Devils. The 24-year-old signed an entry-level contract but has a shot of earning time in the big league right away primarily due to the team's lack of depth on the wings.

Kalinin's career in the KHL does not indicate he has a significant offensive upside. He played 50 or more games on three occasions and cleared the 20-point mark just once – last year when he posted 12 goals and 25 points in 58 games. Rather, his value lies in the opportunity that is available as the Devils shift away from hoarding yesterday's crop of decent NHL players. His presence could help take the pressure off of prospects such as Reid Boucher and Stefan Matteau, a pair of prospects that may need more seasoning in the minor leagues.

Do not give Kalinin much consideration in offense-heavy formats. If he has any value it lies in multi-category leagues if he can establish himself as a strong energy line player.

Michal Neuvirth (G – PHI)

Last year, the Flyers were awful in goal whenever Steve Mason was not available. Ray Emery and Rob Zepp combined for 41 appearances and both finished below .900. Neuvirth, a 27-year-old goalie with a career save percentage of .912, is a major improvement.

Over the course of the season, Mason suffered from lingering injuries to his back and knee and missed a total of 20 games. If he endures similar setbacks this year the Flyers will be in much better shape. In fact, Neuvirth has already shown he can post strong numbers when utilized more frequently, most recently in Buffalo last year when he sported a .918 save percentage behind a horrible team.

Sergei Plotnikov (LW – PIT)

Plotnikov is one of many KHLers that are making the jump to the NHL this offseason. Unlike Kalinin, Plotnikov possesses a ton of fantasy upside as he possesses more of a scoring touch along with great work ethic and a gritty style of play. Even better, he figures to line up next to fellow countryman Evgeni Malkin which can only help the 25-year-old winger put points on the board.

Still, do not expect Plotnikov to spend the entire year in the top-six. After acquiring Phil Kessel from Toronto and receiving news that Pascal Dupuis is on his way to a comeback, the Penguins have a lot of options on the wing. This will put Plotnikov on the outside looking in for much of the year and will in turn limit his short-term offensive potential. If he can put up third-line point totals along with good peripherals he could be quite effective even in mid-sized multi-category leagues.

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Follow me on Twitter@DH_EricDaoust.

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