For the last 20 years (12 with The Hockey News) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 21st annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey both for the season ahead as well as the foreseeable future. Offensively, will the team perform? Are there plenty of depth options worthy of owning in keeper leagues? What about over the next two or three years? These questions are taken into consideration when looking at the depth chart and the player potential on that depth chart.

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Gone – Kevin Hayes, James van Riemsdyk, Kieffer Bellows, Brendan Lemieux, Jackson Cates, Tony DeAngelo, Ivan Provorov, Justin Braun

Incoming –Ryan Poehling, Garnet Hathaway, Sean Walker, Marc Staal, Victor Mete, Cal Petersen

Impact of changes – Kevin Hayes and Tony DeAngelo are likely the most valuable fantasy assets that have since departed. Hayes seemed to frequently be at odds with Tortorella and despite the injury to Sean Couturier leaving the team largely bereft of good talent at centre, Hayes's most common line mates were Scott Laughton and Wade Allison. DeAngelo posted 42 points in 70 games seeing over 3:00 of PPTOI, so that back-end production is gone. To a lesser extent, James van Riemsdyk and Ivan Provorov were occasionally worth streaming in, although JVR has had back-to-back seasons of a sub-40 point-pace and Provorov had a particularly low output last season with only 27 points in 82 games.

Should incumbent starter Carter Hart be moved prior to the end of his contract this season, or see injury, new acquisition Cal Petersen will step up to lead the crease for whatever that might be worth. Otherwise, at a five-million-dollar cap hit, he will push Felix Sandstrom down the depth chart and assume the role of backup to Hart. The remaining additions are mostly depth replacements – Sean Walker may push for a combined 300 shots, hits, and blocks if he sees more than the 14:50 TOI he previously averaged and Garnet Hathaway was top-10 in hits last season.

The most significant impact of changes here is in addition by subtraction. The exodus of depth options and Tony DeAngelo without meaningful replacements from free agency means that young players and rookies will have the opportunity to move up the lineup. Cam York stands to benefit greatly from DeAngelo's departure if he can assume that role on the power play and Tyson Foerster should now make the team.

Ready for Full Time – Tyson Foerster, Yegor Zamula

As noted, the departure of a few secondary players opens new opportunities for top prospects within the organization. Leading the charge for forwards will be Tyson Foerster and Bobby Brink. Brink was highlighted last season as being close to NHL ready although was projected to either spend his time as a depth forward or play predominantly in the AHL. Fast forward a year and he suffered a hip injury that kept him out until January. The setback likely delays him from starting with the team straight out of camp, but he should at least see some time later in the season. Tyson Foerster is a year younger but had an excellent debut last season with seven points in eight games including 15 shots and 12 hits. He is a stronger candidate for making the team full-time this season and could have decent value if he is reunited with Frost, especially in leagues that count shots and hits.

Yegor Zamula, Emil Andrae and Helge Grans are three defensemen who are making cases for a spot in the NHL this season. The strongest candidate is Zamula both due to performance and contract status. He has posted just under a point-per-game rate over his last two WHL seasons and had four points in fourteen games last year in the NHL. He is not exempt from waivers so if he does start out of camp with the roster, expect a full season as Philadelphia risks exposing Zamula if they try to send him down. Andrae captained Team Sweden at the last World Junior Cup and has been playing against adults in Sweden for the past few years. As a result of this exposure, he has been pegged as close to NHL ready. Helge Grans may have an inside track depending on how Philadelphia shapes out this season. He is projected as a strong shutdown player and may see some time in the NHL if the team feels they are lacking in that area.

Samuel Ersson is a goalie prospect that the team is high on. Due to injuries, he got called up last season and posted a 6-3-0 record in 12 games played with a 0.899 SV% and 3.07 GAA. Nothing remarkable but for a 23-year-old on a non-playoff team, he performed better than regular backup Felix Sandstrom. Unfortunately, with Cal Petersen incoming and his waiver-exempt status, Ersson may not be seen in the NHL this season barring injuries or trades.

Fantasy Outlook – One of the big questions coming into this season will be the health of Sean Couturier. His impact on this roster cannot be understated, both as a defensive forward and in wake of the departures of van Riemsdyk and Hayes. He should remain a reliable fantasy option moving forward. Cam Atkinson is also likely to return from a season-long injury and should post similar numbers to Couturier. Otherwise, much of the offense will flow through Travis Konecny who is now the best fantasy option on the roster after a breakout season that saw him pace at 83 points over a full season. He should hit that point-per-game mark again with good peripherals.

Much of the remaining fantasy value for the forward group will be determined by how far the young players can go. Owen Tippett, Noah Cates, Frost, York and potentially Foerster have opportunities to assume increased roles on the team. Frost and Tippett are entering their breakout seasons and York is primed to assume the role of power-play quarterback. If they can take steps forward in their progression it could mean good things are coming but being worth owning in most one-year leagues remains unlikely.

Hart will once again be the starting goalie and given that he is on the final year of his contract, may be motivated to prove his worth. He should be a lock for another 50-plus starts, winning close to half the time, and posting average stats (3.00 GAA with a SV% just north of 0.900). A volume starter will play in leagues that count shots or saves but ultimately, Philadelphia will almost certainly be out of the playoff picture again this season.

Fantasy Grade: C- (last year C+)

Check out the rest of the Dobber team previews here.