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First things first – the annual DobberHockey Mid-Season Guide got released this week, you can check it out HERE. It is always an invaluable resource for fantasy owners, and I'm honored to have contributed several profiles for it once again.
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Now with half a season to judge our current rookie class, I want to dive ito which have been consistent producers (both points and bonus stats) and which have been streaky. I've arranged the top-10 rookie scorers in order or least consistent to most….for dramatic effect. Naturally there's more to a player being consistently useful than points (apologies in advance to Hischier fans), but this is from a purely fantasy hockey perspective.
Streakiest of the top 10: Nico Hischier (NJD)
Points-per-game: 0.64
Games with a point: 19/42 (45%)
Longest stretch without a point: 6 games
Multi-cat notes: >4 FOW/game average
Alex DeBrincat (CHI)
Points-per-game: 0.64
Games with a point: 21/44 (48%)
Longest stretch without a point: 4 games (twice)
Multi-cat notes: Only 4 games all season without a SOG
Jesper Bratt (NJD)
Points-per-game: 0.66
Games with a point: 19/41 (46%)
Longest stretch without a point: 5 games
Multi-cat notes: 25 games (61%) with either a hit or block
Kyle Connor (WPG)
Points-per-game: 0.70
Games with a point: 18/40 (45%)
Longest stretch without a point: 5 games
Multi-cat notes: Only 4 games all season without a SOG
Alex Kerfoot (COL)
Points-per-game: 0.74
Games with a point: 18/39 (46%)
Longest stretch without a point: 4 games
Multi-cat notes: Stats despite oly 13:38 TOI average
Danton Heinen (BOS)
Points-per-game: 0.84
Games with a point: 23/37 (62%)
Longest stretch without a point: 3 games
Multi-cat notes: I tried, but not notable in SOG, hits, blocks, PIM, +/-, or PPP
Yanni Gourde (TBL)
Points-per-game: 0.68
Games with a point: 21/44 (48%)
Longest stretch without a point: 4 games
Multi-cat notes: +16 rating, 29 games (66%) with either a hit or block, 2.6 FOW/game average
Clayton Keller (ARI)
Points-per-game: 0.76
Games with a point: 27/45 (60%)
Longest stretch without a point: 4 games
Multi-cat notes: Only 2 games all season without a SOG
Matt Barzal (NYI)
Points-per-game: 1.00
Games with a point: 26/44 (59%)
Longest stretch without a point: 5 games
Multi-cat notes: Only 3 games all season without a SOG, >4 FOW/game average
Most Consistent: Brock Boeser (VAN)
Points-per-game: 0.98
Games with a point: 26/41 (63%)
Longest stretch without a point: 2 games
Multi-cat notes: 16 games (39%) with 4+ SOG
Obviously this is a subjective measurement, so no hard feelings if you disagree with this ranking. That being said ,location in the lineup and team situation often overruled a ranking that could have been done with only "games with a point' or "longest stretch without a point". For example, Yanni Gourde forcing his way onto the 2nd line on occasion, and powering the 3rd line on others, made his stats more impressive to me than players with slightly more games with points, but done from the top line. Same goes for Kerfoot on Colorado who is putting up consistent numbers despite small ice time and no top-line minutes.
Along the same lines, the fact that Boeser plays for Vancouver gives him the extra push for the top spot. Barzal has more points, but Boeser is managing fewer pointless nights despite seeing top defenders and playing with worse linemates than Barzal.
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Hayden Soboleski
@soboleskih
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