Eastern Conference Watch List – Part One

Eric Daoust

2015-01-20

CamAtkinson

 

Fourteen Eastern Conference players to keep an eye on.

 

In fantasy hockey we are always looking to gain that extra edge over our competition in our quest for the league championship. That includes spending an insane amount of time preparing for the pre-season draft. It also includes spending even more time browsing through statistics, player news and game footage to make roster changes during the season. With the internet and social media growing every day, it is becoming increasingly difficult to act quickly when news breaks to be the benefactor of the fallout. Therefore, it is important to be ahead of the curve and anticipate change before it happens. This does not necessarily mean making a corresponding roster change immediately, but simply being mindful of players that could be helpful in the near future can give you a big advantage.

 

With that said, today we will take a moment to analyze players that should be on your radar. This list ranges from established players to potential multi-category studs to newcomers trying to make their mark. The key is that each of them has a reason for optimism which, depending on your league setup, can have a significant impact on your fantasy hockey success in the second half of the season.

 

Part One will cover the first half of the Eastern Conference. Next week will cover the other eight teams.

 

Mark Letestu – A nice secondary scorer that is an effective faceoff man, Letestu has solid value in some deep multi-category leagues. This is due to the fact that he typically plays in all situations and offers a bit of everything. This year he has had the misfortune of missing significant time to a groin injury and has not gotten back on track yet. However, keep an eye on him as he could be a valuable player to cover for an injury on your squad.

 

Detroit

 

Danny Dekeyser – Don't look now but Dekeyser is heating up. The undrafted defenseman has four points in his last four games and eight in his last 12. Never a big point-producer in college, he has always impressed his coaching staff with his offensive ability, hinting that he may be a late bloomer. Adding to his credibility is the fact that he plays 20 or more minutes almost every night and is a fixture on the power play.

 

Tomas Jurco – Even though his production so far in his full NHL season can be considered disappointing, there are signs that good things are around the corner for Jurco. He is getting decent power play minutes and is shooting often but only has two goals. Simply put, he should be scoring more. It is worth noting that he is currently out with an injury and is not expected back until after the All-Star break. Once he returns, Jurco becomes a wild card. If he can get luckier shooting the puck and cash in on some of his power play opportunities he could be a decent injury filler if you get in trouble at some point. Nothing is guaranteed here though.

 

Florida

 

Aleksander Barkov – The former fourth-overall pick has been a major disappointment in year two but is certainly in the midst of turning things around. To put things in perspective, six of his 11 points have come in the last eight contests. More importantly, Barkov clearly has the golden boy status as he receives consistently-solid ice time despite poor results including never dipping below 13 minutes since December 1st. There is a good chance that he is available in your one-year league. It would be wise to take a chance on him now. He could be a key contributor in the second half.

 

Dave Bolland – The oft-injured Bolland is often times very underrated in fantasy circles, especially in multi-category formats. In addition to being a decent point producer, he is strong in PIM, hits, blocks, faceoff wins, shorthanded points and also shoots with decent frequency. However, the elephant in the room is his inability to stay healthy which makes him unappealing as a long-term keeper investment. But in the right context he is certainly worth adding especially if you need some immediate across-the-board production. The massive contract that he signed in Florida last summer will assure that, when healthy, he is played in important roles.

 

Montreal

 

Nathan Beaulieu – Since being paired with Sergei Gonchar during his latest call-up, Beaulieu has been a much steadier defenseman. He is playing with more confidence and as a result is receiving more ice time while appearing more frequently on the power play. The points have not come yet but the smooth-skating blueliner will get his due soon, especially if the team's power play continues its recent strong play.

 

Tomas Plekanec – Plekanec is usually played in a more defensive-minded role with lesser wingers. This has hurt his point totals over the years. Recently, he has been moved up to the top line between Max Pacioretty and Brendan Gallagher. Plekanec responded extremely well primarily on Saturday when he had a four-point outing. It is not clear how long he will stay up on the top line but the difference in production is very evident. An extended stay would help Plekanec greatly exceed pre-season expectations.

 

New Jersey

 

Patrik Elias – The long-time Devil is clearly over his slow start and has gotten back on track with seven points in his past seven games. There is some big potential here for the second half as Elias has been a prolific scorer his entire career and even last year was excellent. Given GM Lou Lamoriello's loyalty to veterans and especially those with a long history in New Jersey, Elias' ice time is virtually guaranteed. This will help him avoid prolonged slumps.

 

Mark Fraser – You may not remember when Fraser was a member of the Maple Leafs and was one of the top multi-category defensemen in the league. Rugged play is his bread and butter as he racks up hits and PIM in spades. Unfortunately, his real-life play does not mirror his fantasy contributions and Fraser has had difficulty staying in the NHL. Recently he was called up by the Devils and has been back to his old antics – 20 hits and 20 PIM in seven games. This is a major wild card as Fraser could be a frequent healthy scratch moving forward or he could be out of the NHL entirely. But if he plays, he will produce in his areas of strength.

 

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Follow me on Twitter@DH_EricDaoust.

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