In fantasy hockey there’s no doubt that point totals are extremely important to a player’s value. However, in league’s that measure several categories, it’s important not to understate the value of stats other than goals and assists. For those who place to great of importance on just point totals, poolies can find a lot of hidden value from players who contribute in ways other than goals and assists. Though Tom Wilson is a well-known tough guy used for peripherals, I don’t think a lot of people have noticed just how much value he can provide in leagues that count penalty minutes.

Drafted 16^th overall by the Washington Capitals, Wilson was never expected to put up a ton of points. His junior league offensive numbers weren’t great, but he was projected to be a good role player who could hit and provide toughness to a team. His high draft position has led to him getting plenty of opportunity in Washington and he’s now been in the league for over five years. Since his rookie season, his point totals have been slowly increasing, going from the 10 he posted in 2014 to the 36 he’s on pace for this year.

Even with the increased offensive output though, Wilson’s point totals alone do not make him a valuable fantasy asset. Out of all players Wilson’s 33 points are only the 208^th most in the league, right behind Ryan Strome and Nick Foligno. In a points-only league, our Fantasy Hockey Geek tool ranks Wilson as only the 405^th most valuable skater.
 

So obviously in a fantasy league that only measures points, Wilson won’t be of much value. It’s when you start factoring in different stats that Wilson’s value that starts to become much more apparent. Take our usually base-line league, an average 12-team Yahoo setup counting goals, assists, shots on goal, power play points, and hits. According to our Fantasy Hockey Geek tool, Wilson’s value shoots all the way up to 177^th overall in this format.
 

Along with regular points, Wilson gets next to no power-play time, only averaging the 15^th most time with the man advantage out of all Capitals players. And though his shots aren’t great either, Wilson puts up a ton of hits, currently tied for the third most in the NHL.

This league’s not even including Wilson’s secret weapon though- his insane penalty minute totals. When factoring those into the league setup too, Wilson becomes the seventh best player in terms of fantasy value!
 

Out of all players in the league, Tom Wilson has the second-most penalty minutes with 173. Only Micheal Haley surpasses Wilson and almost no other player comes close to the two. Wilson and Haley are the only skaters to break 150 penalty minutes so far and are only two of four players to even break 100. Combine Wilson’s elite penalty minute totals with his average point totals (as most fighters can’t put up anywhere close to the points Wilson has this year) and you get one of the most valuable tough guys in fantasy hockey.