Welcome to the Thursday prospect ramblings! Now that my Decade of Drafting series is over, I better get back to talking about fantasy prospects. With everyone’s eyes focused on the upcoming draft I decided to take a look on Fantrax and look for some players owned under 25% that could be on a prospects roster, depending on the size and type of league you have. I am looking at straight points here nothing over the top.

 

But first! Here is my #GoodTweet of the week:

 

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Pius Suter (CHI), 24% owned

Suter has been one of the better Swiss NLA players and recently signed a one-year deal with Chicago. Why I bring him up is that people may have forgotten about this, and although it is unknown where he will fit on the Chicago roster, he could have a surprisingly productive first NHL season. He will likely get put right in to the top nine but the hope is that he can play with players who also have skill. Chicago is good at finding skilled European players (that unknown 7^th round 2013 draft pick Dominik Kubalik) and whenever they bring over a prospect it should alert all fantasy owners.

• Do not forget they also brought over Andrei Altybarmakyan (8% owned on Fantrax) this off season as well

 

Jonatan Berggren (DET), 21% owned

Lots of people have forgotten about Berggren and he is unowned in most of my leagues. Injuries may have ruined what he could have been but there is still a chance he could become the fantasy asset we all thought he could. If your prospect bench is deep enough there is no reason to not have him on your roster.

 

John Leonard (SJ), 21% owned

When San Jose Sharks players are not getting “sucker punched in the face” a majority of them are not scoring. Leonard may be in a great spot to jump in to the roster and gain a middle-six role, as the Sharks really only have three legit top six wingers. He was one of the best NCAA players in 2019-2020 and may be able to skip AHL time altogether. If he is available, I would advise adding him.

 

Dmitry Zavgorodniy (CGY), 21% owned

He is still a ways out to the NHL, and with Lafreniere gone from the QMJHL for 2020-2021 him production may drop. If the production stays steady (or slightly dips) he is still legit. Zavgorodniy has shown enough in the QMJHL to warrant adds in all keeper leagues depending on how deep the benches are.

 

Lias Andersson (NYR), 20% owned

Another forgotten prospect that may still be unowned. I believe many people have forgotten about him (like Vitali Kravtsov) because of his minimal playing time last season and the shiny new picks the Rangers have. He could be a sneaky add in trades if you can convince your rival GM the Rangers will never give him a shot. He could still produce in the future but it will likely be on a different NHL team.

 

Reilly Walsh (NJ), 20% owned

Walsh is a player that seems to never get to show his full potential because he is always behind someone else who is slightly better. Walsh is a forgotten prospect. He is still is a good two-way defenseman who can put up a strong amount of points if necessary. In the NHL he will likely be behind Ty Smith for powerplay time though, so his usual position in the NCAA.

 

Mikhail Abramov (TOR), 17% owned

It is really difficult to want to own a prospect winger in the Toronto system since they have so many skilled wingers, and who knows where any of them will land in the line up (or on another team if traded). Abramov will likely stay in the QMJHL for another two seasons and hopefully the path become clearer in the NHL for him to grab a top nine spot.

 

Trey Fix-Wolansky (CBJ), 17% owned

Wolansky has skill and I am a big fan of the small player. If your league counts points, he should be added, as simple as that. There is not much else I can add, I just hope he makes the NHL in a proper role.

 

Ryan Johnson (BUF), 17% owned

Johnson’s first year in the NCAA was quite poor statistically, with eight assists only in 37 games. Buffalo still used a first round selection on him, so he will be given all the opportunity possible to make the NHL. I think he is too skilled to put up those poor numbers again so if you can get him now, do it, and wait for the rewards.

 

Ivan Morozov (VGK), 17% owned

Morozov is a skilled two-way centre who is getting moved all around the KHL and its minor leagues in both 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. This upcoming season he is slated to stay in the KHL, but at 20 he probably will not get the ice time allot for him to put up the points. If you can get him for free on the waiver wire, he needs to be on your roster.

 

Joni Ikonen (MTL), 13% owned

Injuries have knocked Ikonen in to the unknown realm of prospect ownership. He did of course only play 13 games from 2018 to 2020, missing all of the 2019-2020 season. I hope these knee injuries will not affect his future, so if your prospect bench is deep enough, he should be added. Ikonen may be one of the prospects to leave on the waiver wire until he shows the promise he previously showed, but at least keep him in mind.

 

 

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