Fraser Minten signed a seven-year deal with a $7.2 Million cap hit yesterday, which feels like it was a bit of a surprise, but considering the recent growth in salaries it might end up looking like a smart bet by Boston. Last year the number might have been a five-year deal at $5 Million per year. Minten appears to be trending to becoming a middle-six centre, with plenty of room to grow as a 22-year-old with only 100 career games under his belt. If he can take a small step forward this year by driving play at a 50% rate compared to the 48% GF rate that he posted last year, it should also translate into his first 40-point season, which would provide a perfect stepping stone for his breakout threshold season the following year, putting him into the 55-point range while also bringing a lot of grit to the table. 

From a fantasy angle, Minten put up 142 Hits in an 82-game season last year, playing a bit over 15 minutes per game. If the ice time ticks up a little, and if he ends up playing a bit more in the defensive zone, those hit numbers could touch two per game. On top of that, Minten has a history of high shot rates, with nearly three per game in the AHL in his only season there. As he adjusts more to the NHL pace, that number should creep up from last season's 1.4 per game to a more fantasy relevant number around 2.0. The plus-21 rating, 51 Blks, and 400 FOWs are nice bonuses too for leagues with those categories. 

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There have been some other noteworthy tidbits out recently on contract extensions:

–Quinn Hughes has not yet made up his mind about extending with the Wild. It might be mid-season by the time this gets sorted out, which might force the Wild into a trade. 

–Sidney Crosby is discussing an extension with the Penguins, but is uncertain about how much longer he wants to play. Status quo here, and it would be surprising to see Sid take anything other than a one or two year deal at $8.7M. However, the Penguins have a lot of cap space next year and most of the roster accounted for. Does Crosby get a one year deal for $18.7 Million? He has certainly earned it. 

–Drake Batherson would like to have an extension settled before the start of the season. This I would expect to carry an eight-digit cap hit on a long term deal. 

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This note isn't fantasy relevant unless you're in a league that rosters just about every NHL player, but if that is you then Pierre-Olivier Joseph might be someone to put on your watch list. When one-way deals are signed for fringe NHLers, especially to a team like the Carolina Hurricanes, who are notably both experts at evaluating Dmen and a bit more conservative when it comes to spending, then fantasy managers had best pay attention. 

This feels like the Mike Reilly replacement, as a seventh defenceman that has some puck moving ability, but won't have a regular slot in the lineup unless injuries hit. The good news for POJ and his owners is that Reilly was fantasy relevant for stretches last season, and that Alexander Nikishin is still without a contract. 

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With the Offseason Fantasy Grades wrapped up last week, I thought I would run through a couple of the teams who I am finding that I am ending up with multiple players from on my many mock drafts on different websites. 

Some fantasy GMs like to have a stack because getting hot at the right time is how you make up ground in the standings or bury your opponent in a weekly matchup, while some don't want more than two or three players from the same team because if one line goes cold it can tank your chances for a month. For me, it's all about the balance, because if you own the better players, you win more often regardless of team. That being said, before the season starts, the team perception can be depressed, leading to some overall bargains for a group of players who individually should be a bit more sought-after. 

Typically, this happens with the non-playoff teams who rebound or grow into a more dominant offensive team, but it can also happen due to player personnel changes or other adjustments. If you get in with enough of a rising team early in the season though, it can provide a huge amount of value to carry you through the season. 

Here are four teams I'm looking at right now for some early season riser value. 

Carolina Hurricanes

It's hard to be underestimated as a Stanley Cup Championships, but with the Hurricanes not having the big star power of some other top teams, in addition to the injury to Seth Jarvis, the questions in net, and the continued negotiations with RFA Alexander Nikishin, there is some uncertainty with the group. 

However, what seems to be overlooked here is just how much stability and consistency the Canes have had over the last number of seasons. The Canes have always had a very stable fantasy value base, which has added Nikolaj Ehlers, Nikishin, and a few others players which has really lifted the depth. Shayne Gostisbehere just put up nearly a point per game, which is flying under the radar as well, and they still have multiple prospects pushing for ice time like Bradly Nadeau and maybe Felix Unger Sorum. 

All of this does cause some confusion in terms of who to target, but to me it means that the solid core group of Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Gostisbehere is being undervalued, as well as that core insulating the breakout of Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven. From all of those names mentioned, on top of possibly taking a flyer on one of the goalies to be a 30+ win option in 55 games, and the option of stashing Seth Jarvis, there are plenty of value Hurricanes to be found, which leads me to believe that come draft time I will have a few on my squad. 

Florida Panthers

I own Aleksander Barkov in a couple of leagues already, and have noted my interest in Seth Jones a few times over the last month. On top of that, I have an early pick in one league which will likely end up being on a top Panthers player based on the players expected to be chosen in front of me. 

This team was not supposed to be a bottom-five team last year, and if it wasn't for injuries, they likely would have been in the playoffs – possibly even contending for another appearance in the Final. The top six is going to be excellent, with four players who could bring top-25 value in fantasy leagues, and some excellent depth to back it up. Brady Tkachuk should get a boost from the team around him, though will be capped because he's not the main offensive focal point anymore. Matthew Tkachuk and Barkov should be back to their usual high levels, now that they're fully healthy and had the offseason to train – though for Barkov don't be expecting his career peak of 100-points. It is much more likely that he jumps back in around a point per game, which is where we saw him slide down to most recently. The return of Barkov especially should also float Sam Reinhart's numbers back up, after a down year last season as he also struggled with lingering injuries. Jacob Markstrom will either thrive or be replaced by December, while the depth forwards all the way down to line three should be relevant in standard leagues as well. Lots to like here, though the biggest bargains I'm seeing are on those top-end players here. Drafting a couple panthers early and then focusing on the other three teams here in the middle rounds could win you a lot of matchups this season.

New Jersey Devils

Two of the most unlucky players in the league last season were Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt. Big bounce backs from them would improve the outlook for the whole lineup. They themselves represent two of the best bargains on draft day, but on top of that you have the addition and growth of Luke Evangelista, the impending breakout from Luke Hughes, the addition of the resurgent Anthony Mantha, and the mantle ready to be claimed by Nico Daws as the starting goalie. On top of that, the Dougie Hamilton decline has already been factored into his ADP, which means that if he doesn't fall off then you can get a bargain in a trade or on draft day. The Devils should be back in the playoff hunt next year, though that will likely depend on the health of Jack Hughes and how the goaltending holds up. 

New York Rangers

The Rangers don't have playoff level depth players, but the top end of the lineup certainly has some fantasy relevance, between Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, and Mika Zibanejad. The Vincent Trocheck trade means the FOW numbers for Miller and Zib should both tick up, but it also opens a spot in the top-six that wasn't there last year. Alexis Lafreniere and new $11 Million man Pavel Dorofeyev will make up two of the top-six wingers, but between Gabe Perreault, Eeli Tolvanen, Will Cuylle, and Oliver Bjorkstrand, you have a couple of players who are going to be fed offensive zone time with a skilled centre despite going very late in drafts. The problem is you have to manage to pick the right ones… 

Odds are that Perreault would be put in a position to thrive offensively, so he is a bit of a better bet to provide some points. Tolvanen and Cuylle both bring peripherals as well, so you can more safely pick them and at least have a floor of contribution that they will provide. Bjorkstrand might be the least likely to float into the top-six regularly, but he has some offensive pop to watch too. 

Overall, it feels like the top Rangers players are all a little further down the draft boards than they should be, and while their goal differential may not do managers any favours, a healthy Shesterkin and some top offensive players may keep them in a lot more close games than last season (leading to a lot more wins). They could be a sneaky team in the playoff race this year too. 

See you next Wednesday, and if you have any fantasy hockey questions or comments you can find me on BlueSky @alexdmaclean.