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I’ve made it no secret that Fantrax is my platform of choice for dynasty hockey leagues, thanks to their incredibly deep player pool and long list of customization options. Now that we’re a month into the NHL season, and most prospect leagues have kicked off their campaigns as well, I’m going to go diving through the ownership list on Fantrax to pick out some under-owned names that you should be on the hunt for. In my experience, most long-term keeper leagues count the standard point categories, plus at least some peripherals for shots, hits, etc. – this list was made with this in mind.
Remember, these percentages are including a fair share of one-year leagues, which explains why some top prospects are un-owned (for example, top d-man Cale Makar is only 98% owned, and top forward Jack Hughes is only 92% owned). Based on a quick look, I’d say the average “obvious dynasty league name” comes in at around 30% (these are your Morgan Frosts, Bowen Byrams, Vitali Kravtsovs etc.). So I’ll be targeting players that are below this number who are deserving of a boost.
Olli Juolevi – 21%
Has he been underwhelming and often injured since being drafted? Yes, we know this. But he was drafted high for a reason and slow development is still development. He looks solid in the AHL, and the Canucks only have 4 defensemen signed for next season, meaning he could start paying dividends relatively soon. Don’t expect Hughes-like points, but he’ll chip in and could still become a minute-muncher.
Nicolas Hague – 18%
I promise this list isn’t all defensemen, but maybe there is a trend of talented rearguards flying under the radar more than forwards. Either way, Hague has cracked the Golden Knights roster as a 20-year-old, after just one AHL campaign in which he surpassed 30 points. This kid does it all, it’s just a matter of which areas he can continue to grow once he sees bigger ice time. He’s already providing hits and PIMs, and his SOG aren’t bad. In the next couple seasons, you’ll see a modest production of points to help round him into a sneaky multi-cat own.
Carl Grundstrom – 13%
Grundstrom is only 21 years old, but has succeeded offensively on two AHL teams and has 7 points in 16 career NHL games. His upside is middle-six, but his chances of making that jump are extremely high, and this guy is a multi-category stud. He scores, he gets to the dirty places, and he agitates opponents. The former second round pick deserves to be owned and will likely give you a return on investment later in 2019-20.
Calvin Petersen – 11%
We are currently witnessing the sad but inevitable decline of Jonathan Quick, who is proving that not all great goalies can stay great until their 40s. Jack Campbell has been a solid backup option, but that starter’s crease in LA is available and Petersen is killing it in the AHL. His .937 save% through 7 games is his best yet, and he put up a respectable 0.924% in 11 NHL contests last year. Plus, the Kings aren’t a competitive team right now, meaning they are unlikely to give up assets for a proven goaltender to right the ship immediately. Petersen has the performance and clear path to inherit the throne, all you need is a bit more patience.
Kyle Capobianco – 8%
His 13:48 aTOI right now looks modest, but this is a prospect that Arizona has a soft spot for. In the system since 2015, he’s served his time at every level, and improved every season resulting in his current spot with the big club. He looks to the the 3rd-pairing LD for the forseeable future with Ekman-Larsson and Chychrun signed long term, but a reliable third-pairing role is still a valuable asset in dynasty leagues where finding sneaky depth is a huge win.
Nicolas Roy – 5%
The Golden Knights were in a salary cap bind this summer, but teams always have options when trading talented players. Vegas traded Haula almost straight-up for Roy, coming off an incredible playoff run with Charlotte where he tallied 15 points in 19 games and looked truly dominant at times. He’s had very little success in his limited NHL time so far (to be fair, his ice time was embarrassingly little), but I would be willing to gamble on a player who is capable of dominance, especially when his new team specifically targeted him in a trade. He might have a longer waiting period than the other names on this list, but his upside is high.
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FIRST NHL GOALS TIME!
They just keep on coming as the first month of the season winds down. You love to see it.
He’s left all alone, but Kirby Dach’s quick reaction time is impressive for his first as a Blackhawk:
He flies under the radar in Arizona, but prospect d-man Kyle Capobianco has now tallied his first with the Coyotes:
Dmytro Timashov shows us the benefits of having scoring prospects even in 4th-line NHL roles:
A second Coyote on he list – Barrett Hayton is all smiles after Schmaltz sets him up for his first:
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Hayden Soboleski