Every season we see an unexpected defenseman or two dramatically increase their fantasy stock over the course of the season. Sometimes it is their peripheral contributions or higher than expected five on five scoring, but usually it is because they have also ascended to the top power-play for their respective teams.

For this week we are diving into team deployment on the power play and comparing that to Yahoo's roster percentages. The goal is to find a few defensemen options for folks either in need of some D support, or who are hoping to catch the next big thing.

For process here I exported the Time On Ice report for defensemen over the last two weeks. The goal was to get a snapshot of recent deployment for each team. Given the smaller sample I am using both percent of the team's total power play and total power-play time to give context for each team and how they are deploying their defensemen. The roster percentages are pulled (somewhat laboriously) from Yahoo. I used a couple of filters to show defensemen getting over 55 percent of the team's power-play, and who were owned in less than 50% of leagues as a starting point, but also included a few teams that have had recent injuries which will impact deployment going forward. All data was pulled on 12/8 prior to the night's games so might look slightly different by the time the article is posted.

Arizona

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
JAKOB CHYCHRUN	ARI	7	60	2:39	67%
SHAYNE GOSTISBEHERE	AI	7	57.3	2:32	45%
J.J. MOSER	ARI	7	42.3	1:52	8%

The player highlighted here was Shayne Gostisbehere, though the entire situation bears closer examination. Gostisbsbehere started the season as the sole power-play quarterback, but upon Jakob Chychrun's return they seem to be sharing power-play duties as their deployment matches almost exactly over those eight games. That means Ghost still has value as a potential top power-play QB with a roster percent of only 45 percent. Oddly though in their recorded last game (12/7) it was JJ Moser who got 60 percent of the power-play as the lone defensemen on the top unit with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. Moser would certainly be worth the swing if he maintains that deployment, but my guess is they revert back to one or both of Chychrun or Ghost very soon.

Columbus

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
MARCUS BJÖRK	CBJ	7	73	3:35	<4%
VLADISLAV GAVRIKOV	CBJ	7	26.4	1:18	<4%

Marcus Björk became the top power-play QB in Columbus sort of by default because everyone else got injured. He has low rostered numbers because he hasn't done much. He barely shoots, and has only three hits and five blocks over his last four games. It is something, sure, but not enough to sustain in leagues where other categories besides points are counted. As far as points go there might be a sign of life as he has two over his last three games but that is coming on the heels of two points in the six games since he took the top power-play spot. He isn't very exciting, and Columbus is a bit of a mess right now, but is certainly an option if you are desperate.

Minnesota

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
CALEN ADDISON	MIN	7	70.4	3:29	12%
JARED SPURGEON	MIN	7	25.4	1:15	53%

Calen Addison sort of falls into the same bucket as Björk. He has been able to maintain the top power-play role more or less consistently in Minnesota but hasn't been putting up enough points to make him a consistent hold. He also hasn't been putting up enough peripherals to make up for that fact. His roster numbers spiked at the beginning of the season when it was announced he would get that prime deployment but have been dropping ever since. Recently though he has six points in his last seven games. His peripherals are still nonexistent so if he doesn't get a point he is doing literally nothing for you, but again, if you are in need of D he has been reasonably hot in the point department.

Montreal

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
MIKE MATHESON	MTL	7	68.9	3:47	10%
CHRIS WIDEMAN	MTL	2	26	1:28	<4%
ARBER XHEKAJ	MTL	6	10.5	0:29	22%

Mike Matheson's low roster numbers might have something to do with the fact that he was injured to start the season, or that managers are not very excited about Montreal, but Matheson has been ok to start. He has eight shots and three points over his last three games and points in five of nine to start his season. He still doesn't add much in the blocks or hits columns, but his shot rates are certainly an improvement over Björk and Addison.

Pittsburgh

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
KRIS LETANG	PIT	3	73.7	3:26	79%
JEFF PETRY	PIT	7	71.9	4:02	73%
PIERRE-OLIVIER JOSEPH	PIT	7	25	1:24	<4%

I suppose there really isn't much to say here, but with Kris Letang's health issues taking him out of the lineup Jeff Petry has taken over the top power-play role. Petry was relatively highly rostered prior, and that has only increased. He likely isn't available, but it is worth checking. The only other note then in deep leagues is that it has increased Pierre-Olivier Joseph's role on the second unit. He has two points and about two minutes of power-play time over his last four games.

St. Louis

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
TOREY KRUG	STL	7	53.7	2:37	66%
JUSTIN FAULK	STL	8	42.8	2:02	88%
COLTON PARAYKO	STL	8	10.5	0:30	12%

Like in Pittsburgh, Torey Krug's absence opens up a larger opportunity for already highly rostered Justin Faulk. It also means that Colton Parayko is seeing an increased role on the power-play and as much as St. Louis still seems to be running two units, the one with Parayko definitely has less star power. He saw 36 percent of the total power-play in the last game with Krug out but does have four points in his last four games, plus decent peripherals so he is worth a look while Krug is out.

Toronto

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
RASMUS SANDIN	TOR	7	64.6	3:40	24%
MARK GIORDANO	TOR	7	32.7	1:52	20%
CONOR TIMMINS	TOR	1	17.1	0:41	<4%

Another injury is another opportunity in Toronto. Rasmus Sandin has stepped into the void filled by Morgan Rielly and has been ok. He has five points in his last nine games and saw over 50 percent of the power-play time in all but one of those. He is an inconsistent shooter, but better for hits and blocks so there is at least something of a baseline there. Like with most of this list, he isn't running away with this opportunity, but he is providing some value if you need it.

And if you are interested – here are the breakdowns for the rest of the league. There are some interesting usages and rostered rates going on in Edmonton and Seattle, but most of the top guys are very highly rostered across leagues.

Boston

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
CHARLIE MCAVOY	BOS	6	56.4	3:18	89%
HAMPUS LINDHOLM	BOS	6	28.8	1:41	86%

Buffalo

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
RASMUS DAHLIN	BUF	7	61.3	2:52	99%
OWEN POWER	BUF	7	38.6	1:48	55%

Carolina

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
BRENT BURNS	CAR	7	67.1	3:07	96%
BRETT PESCE	CAR	7	32.2	1:30	<4%

Calgary

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
RASMUS ANDERSSON	CGY	8	62.3	3:30	83%
NOAH HANIFIN	CGY	8	41.1	2:19	58%
MICHAEL STONE	CGY	6	31.6	1:54	<4%

Colorado

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
CALE MAKAR	COL	7	75.7	5:31	100%
DEVON TOEWS	COL	7	37.5	2:44	93%
SAMUEL GIRARD	COL	7	20.7	1:30	<4%

Chicago

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
SETH JONES	CHI	7	61.4	2:58	62%
CALEB JONES	CHI	6	26	1:12	<4%
IAN MITCHELL	CHI	1	19.7	1:11	<4%

Dallas

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
MIRO HEISKANEN	DAL	7	66.2	4:18	95%
RYAN SUTER	DAL	7	30.5	1:59	<4%

Detroit

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
FILIP HRONEK	DET	7	50.3	3:04	81%
MORITZ SEIDER	DET	7	47	2:52	93%
BEN CHIAROT	DET	7	17.6	1:04	5%

Edmonton

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
TYSON BARRIE	EDM	8	51.7	2:56	66%
EVAN BOUCHARD	EDM	8	47.5	2:41	71%
DARNELL NURSE	EDM	8	17.1	0:58	93%

Florida

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
BRANDON MONTOUR	FLA	7	76.7	4:17	86%
AARON EKBLAD	FLA	7	70.1	3:55	97%
GUSTAV FORSLING	FLA	7	21.4	1:12	76%

Edmonton

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
DREW DOUGHTY	L.A	6	50.7	2:01	95%
SEAN DURZI	L.A	6	50.3	2:00	47%

New Jersey

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
DOUGIE HAMILTON	N.J	7	70.1	3:22	96%
DAMON SEVERSON	N.J	7	30.6	1:28	20%

Nashville

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
ROMAN JOSI	NSH	4	71.9	2:20	100%
MATTIAS EKHOLM	NSH	4	27.6	0:54	8%

New York Islanders

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
NOAH DOBSON	NYI	7	74.2	3:44	95%
RYAN PULOCK	NYI	7	26	1:18	37%

New York Rangers

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
ADAM FOX	NYR	8	78.4	3:53	100%
JACOB TROUBA	NYR	8	20.7	1:01	85%

Ottawa

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
THOMAS CHABOT	OTT	6	70.6	4:30	82%
JAKE SANDERSON	OTT	7	32.9	1:52	40%

Philadelphia

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
TONY DEANGELO	PHI	7	70	3:23	67%
IVAN PROVOROV	PHI	8	34.5	1:38	57%
TRAVIS SANHEIM	PHI	8	9.8	0:28	9%

San Jose

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
ERIK KARLSSON	S.J	8	78.3	3:11	96%
MARIO FERRARO	S.J	2	21.7	1:00	<4%
MATT BENNING	S.J	8	16.2	0:40	<4%

Seattle

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
VINCE DUNN	SEA	7	59.7	2:14	56%
JUSTIN SCHULTZ	SEA	7	40.1	1:30	32%

Tampa Bay

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
MIKHAIL SERGACHEV	T.B	6	57.8	3:06	91%
VICTOR HEDMAN	T.B	6	31	1:40	99%

Vancouver

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
QUINN HUGHES	VAN	8	74.3	4:09	98%
OLIVER EKMAN-LARSSON	VAN	8	26.2	1:28	15%

Las Vegas

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
ALEX PIETRANGELO	VGK	3	70.5	3:36	97%
SHEA THEODORE	VGK	8	61.3	2:52	<4%
DANIIL MIROMANOV	VGK	3	26.8	0:50	<4%

Winnipeg

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
JOSH MORRISSEY	WPG	7	72.9	3:42	88%
NATE SCHMIDT	WPG	7	29.5	1:30	<4%
NEAL PIONK	WPG	7	26.7	1:21	56%

Washington

Name	Team	GP	%PP	PPTOI	Yahoo Roster %
JOHN CARLSON	WSH	8	79	4:14	98%
ERIK GUSTAFSSON	WSH	8	21.4	1:09	<4%

That is all for this week

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