Welcome back to The Journey, where we track the development of prospects as they excel in junior, make the NHL, and push towards stardom.

With most of the elite free agents now signed, we can start to get a general idea of what lineups might look like for the upcoming NHL season. With that, I thought it was the perfect time to dive into prospects whose value has risen, both from a hockey standpoint and, more importantly, from a fantasy perspective after the free-agent frenzy. This will be a two-part series, and I’ll follow it with by also covering prospects whose value has decreased post-free agency. So, let's get straight into it:

Matthew Savoie

I am not sure what the Buffalo Sabres were thinking when they traded Savoie to the Edmonton Oilers. This kid lit up the WHL, scoring 47 points in just 24 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors and an impressive 95 points in 62 games with the Winnipeg Ice the season before. His stock was already soaring, and I bet we all had the same reaction: "That's all Edmonton gave up?"

Making the NHL lineup this year is unlikely but isn't out of the question for Savoie.  He will need some additional time in the Oilers’ system before making his debut with the big club. I don't expect him to be in the minors for long. The Oilers’ depth means they don't have to rush him. Instead of needing Savoie to contribute before he's ready, they have enough quality players at the NHL level to give him the appropriate ice time and confidence to make a lasting impact when he finally steps onto the NHL stage.

Savoie is most comfortable at the center position so if he gets the nod to play in Bakersfield, he'll definitely get a lot of reps and puck touches along with tons of special teams icetime, which he definitely won't get on the Oilers squad.  The center depth on the Oilers is fairly strong, so in the future, Savoie could also slot very well on the wing, offering both the organization and the player more options. 

This trade looks like a huge win for both Edmonton and Savioe.  He has the potential to be a strong and impactful player for the Oilers. Draisaitl is in his final year of his contract and McDavid the following year. Should both re-up with the Oilers, Savoie is one prosect you definitely want to snag. I do expect to see him called up some point in the season in a potential depth role with a chance at the second power-play unit. If he can make a good first impression, who knows he may stick around.

Alexander Holtz

Holtz was drafted seventh overall in 2020 and was expected to be that high-scoring pedigree winger alongside Jack Hughes, but things didn't pan out as hoped for him and the Devils. Unfortunately, his time with the organization ended this offseason and onto a new beginning in Sin City.  His trade value took a nosedive over the course of his time with New Jersey despite being the centerpiece of countless trade rumors that never materialized. The return was underwhelming given how high the Devils valued him prior to making the trade.

Now, Holtz has a golden opportunity (pun intended) to revitalize his career in Vegas. It might sound strange, but with the Golden Knights feeling the cap crunch and letting key players like Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson walk, Holtz could step into a significant role. GM Kelly McCrimmon expressed confidence in the team’s prospects, a shift from their usual aggressive roster management.

Holtz will get an opportunity to play alongside very skilled centres such as Tomas Hertl or William Karlsson, which would make him a prime candidate to breakout out of his shell. With the Devils Holtz was 13^th in 5v5 minutes on the team and even with very limited ice time he scored 16 goals and 28 points in 82 games.  Although it seems like Holtz has been around for a while he has just 110 NHL games under his belt, which still leaves a lot of room for growth.

His lethal shot, paired with the right playmakers, could make him an impactful scorer with the Golden Knights. With a new environment and more opportunities to play significant minutes, he could finally fulfill the promise that made him a top-10 pick. With the notorious reputation Vegas has with players getting injured, I think Holtz at some point will get a good shot at a solid top-six role, providing him a fresh start and a chance to shine. Keep an eye on Holtz this season – he might just become the breakout star your fantasy team needs.

Jack Drury

The Carolina Hurricanes avoided arbitration and locked in RFA Drury with a two-year deal worth $1.725 million AAV.  Drury made significant strides this season. In 74 games, the 24-year-old center scored eight goals and racked up 27 points, showcasing a strong two-way game with an impressive faceoff win rate of over 50%. Averaging 12:17 of ice time per game, Drury primarily played as a bottom-six center, but he also had meaningful stints filling the second-line center role. Riding shotgun alongside Martin Necas isn’t too shabby either. The major obstacle in his way is Jesperi Kotkaniemi, whose hefty contract hasn't aged well for the Hurricanes. I have a strong feeling Carolina is banking on Drury stepping up as an impactful second-line center sooner rather than later.

Aside from his regular-season impact, Drury also gained valuable playoff experience, netting one goal and four assists in 11 games, primarily on the second line. His promotion to the second line during the playoffs highlighted Rod Brind'Amour's trust in his ability to make an immediate impact. Now that the contract negotiations are behind both Drury and the Canes, Drury is poised to continue his upward trajectory. I think he will be a key piece in their top-six forward group. Making the top power-play unit may not be in the cards for Drury just yet, but if he can maintain that trust in Brind'Amour this upcoming season as he did in the playoffs than I expect to see him as a solid number two center option.

Brock Faber

For the most part we already know that Faber's value is already high, if not at an all time high. So, the case I am making here is for all of you that are holding on to Faber – No move is a good move. Throughout the season as an owner of Brock Faber in many leagues, I was in agreement with many saying that you should seriously consider moving Faber before the upcoming season as his stock is at an all-time high and that the Wild are without a doubt going to go shopping for an elite defenceman coming up next season after being in cap purgatory due to the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter contracts However, they made almost no significant moves to their roster or defense core for that exact reason.

So, what does this mean for Faber? It means he's still poised to hold that top spot. We might see some reduced mileage compared to last year as he might share some top-unit time with Jared Spurgeon—provided Spurgeon stays healthy—or Jacob Middleton, who was healthy but did not see much of the top power play at all. Neither of those players are appealing choices to take the top power play spot from Faber, in my opinion. The Wild did draft the highly touted defensive dynamo Zeev Buium, but I don't anticipate on seeing Buium cracking the NHL lineup immediately. This means Faber is likely safe for another year, and by that time the Wild are out of their cap constraints Faber may have proved that he is the power-play quarterback they once longed for.

However, once Buium makes that transition, the Wild are going to have to make a very difficult decision on how they split up their two top defensemen's ice time when it comes to the man advantage. In the meantime, Faber looks like he'll have another solid season coming up this year.

Thanks for reading and see you next week! Follow me on X  @Punters_hockey for more content and fantasy hockey analysis.