Top 10 Players Ranked Too Low on Yahoo

Tom Collins

2022-08-29

I always believe that the release of the Dobber guide is the unofficial start of the hockey fantasy season, but many others consider the fantasy season begins when Yahoo opens their fantasy hockey site.

The best part of the Yahoo site is the mock drafting, as it allows fantasy general managers to see which players have certain values before their actual draft begins.

Yahoo rankings are broken into three categories: overall ranking, experts ranking and the average draft position. The last one should be the key one that fantasy general managers focus on. That’s the one that will come closest to the true value for your potential draft.

Below are 10 players who are ranked too low in the average draft position in Yahoo. As a reminder, Yahoo's default categories are goals, assists, plus/minus, power-play points, shots on goal and hits for forwards and defensemen, and wins, goals against average, save percentage and shutouts for netminders. Keep in mind that these numbers are of Sunday night, so the average draft position can change as more drafts are completed.

10. Jakob Chychrun

Chychrun had a down season last year, but still had an 82-game pace of 37 points, while finishing with three shots per game average. He also averaged at least one PIM, one blocked shot and one hit per game. Injuries are the biggest concern with Chychrun, but there are rumors he might be traded at some point, which could help him reclaim top power-play time. He’s currently being drafted around 148th overall, but he’s a high-risk, high-reward player.

9. Cal Petersen

Petersen is in a 1A/1B tandem in L.A., but he might be the number one starter down the stretch with the Kings. That’s an important time of the fantasy season for head-to-head leagues as it is the championship season. Jonathan Quick is signed for only one more year, but while his cap hit is $5.8 million, his salary is $2.5 million, which would make him attractive to some teams. Petersen is signed for three more years at $5 million per season and is the team’s goalie of the future, so don’t be shocked if he is the team’s number one netminder even if Quick isn’t dealt. It’s great value if Petersen is available in your draft at 173rd overall, which is his average draft position now.

8. Jeff Petry

Petry is being nabbed 145th overall, which is much too low for someone who can contribute in so many categories. Sure, he’s behind Kris Letang for power-play and offensive zone minutes, but he spent a good chunk of his time in Montreal behind Shea Weber for top power-play minutes as well, but Petry still reached double-digit power-play points in those seasons. Petry is being selected behind guys like Jake Sanderson and Hampus Lindholm, which seems like a mistake. If Letang misses any games (a distinct possibility despite his relatively good health the last two seasons), Petry’s value should be much higher.

7. Mark Scheifele

Although centres are usually the easiest spot to fill in hockey drafts, it’s a tragedy that Scheifele is being selected as low as he is, at an average draft position around 135. Scheifele is coming off his sixth-straight point-per-game season, regularly averages more than two shots per game and is a threat for 20 power-play points. In the last six seasons, Scheifele ranks 16th in points. You know he’s a great offensive player, so don’t sleep on him in your draft.

6. John Gibson

Hot start, slow finish is the motto for anyone who drafts Gibson should be familiar with, but in leagues where there are cumulative stats, such as saves, he should be drafted much higher than he is. Gibson is currently the 44th goalie selected, behind injured stars such as Carey Price and Robin Lehner, and also behind backups such as Dan Vladar, Charlie Lindgren and Eric Comrie. If you believe the Ducks will have a better season this year than last year, then Gibson will be a beneficiary of that. The Ducks probably won’t go on another streak with 16 losses in 18 games, which will also help immensely.

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5. Josh Morrisey and Neal Pionk

It is tough to know who will be the Jets’ power-play quarterback as the team seems to rotate each of them into that role depending on the hot hand and what type of cereal the coaching staff had for breakfast. Last year, Pionk (drafted on average 156th this season) started on the top power-play unit but ceded that spot to Morrissey (drafted on average 165th this year) near the end of January. Both of them have a shot at 40 points, and both will contribute in hits and blocked shots. Both will probably finish with a positive plus/minus and in double digits in power-play points. Since they both contribute in non-offensive categories, they’ll still provide value to your squad, even if one of them doesn’t get top power-play duties.

4. Brad Marchand

Marchand is being drafted on average 120th overall, showing the concern many fantasy general managers have for Marchand’s injury. However, Marchand is only expected to miss the first month of the season. If he comes back on Nov. 1, that’s only nine missed games. If he comes back on Nov. 11, that’s 14 missed games. Last season, Marchand missed 12 games but finished with 32 goals, 80 points, plus-16, 90 PIM, 242 shots, 78 hits and 27 power-play points. Don’t be worried about the 10-15 missed games as he will still be elite when he plays.

3. Brady Tkachuk

It seems weird to have Tkachuk in this spot, considering his average draft position is 32nd overall. However, Tkachuk is poised for a monster breakout year. He’s already one of the best for shots and hits, but with the moves the Senators have made this offseason, Tkachuk could potentially hit a point-per-game pace for the first time in his career. He should also see an uptick in power-play production (last year, he had a career-high 18 power-play points). He might also finish with a positive plus/minus for the first time. He should be bumped up your standings if your league counts PIM.

2. Evan Bouchard

The Oilers’ defenseman is ranked 139th, while his average draft position is 104.5th. So at least some fantasy general managers are getting the memo about Bouchard’s potential. Bouchard was one of the most underrated defensemen last season, finishing with 12 goals, 43 points, 205 shots, 80 hits and 112 blocked shots. The only category he was lacking in was power-play points, where he had seven. But there are rumblings that Bouchard is poised to get more power-play time this season. If that happens, Bouchard will be a great multi-cat option.

1. Jack Hughes

In eight months from now, Hughes will be that player that we all wondered why we didn’t take him in the top two rounds. Hughes was excellent last year, putting up 56 points in 49 games (a 94-point pace). If he can stay healthy, he’s a threat for 100 points. He also averaged 3.4 shots per game and had 14 man-advantage points. However, his average draft position is 93.6. He’s poised to become an elite player, but he’s not being treated as one in fantasy drafts.

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