With the calendars flipping to September and training camp just a few weeks away, fantasy hockey leagues have started to schedule their drafts. Hopefully, you have been keeping up with the off-season moves, rookies added, and players looking to take a step forward, while some may be regressing in other cases. To help you plan, this series of columns will focus on fantasy hockey sleepers, one per team in each division.
Fantasy hockey sleepers mean different things to each person. For some, it’s the hot rookie. For others, it’s those who will take a step forward. Some view them as prior year players or acquisitions in new situations, enabling that individual to exceed projections or their initial role. For purposes of this series of columns, the focus will mainly be on the latter – those who have a chance to surpass expectations or prior production. I welcome feedback, criticism, thoughts, etc., as one man’s meat is another man’s poison, and your view may differ vastly from mine.
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Ep 69: NHL Preseason, Rumors, Mike Babcock Saga
by Full Press Coverage on September 24, 2023 at 4:07 am
Jim and Chris are back to discuss the beginning of the NHL preseason, the […]
We kicked off this series looking at the Atlantic Division, which was completed Monday. Wednesday, we started the Central, which will be followed by the Metro and Pacific. As noted, in each column, two teams will be covered. To simplify it, we are going alphabetically by first team name rather than by nickname. The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are covered in this column, continuing the Central Division review.
Colorado Avalanche:
The Avalanche will be without Gabriel Landeskog for the second straight season, putting additional pressure on the offense. To mitigate that absence, Colorado acquired Ryan Johansen for pretty much nothing from the Predators, who retained 50% of his salary cap hit, providing the team with a second-line center. RyJo is coming off a down year, tallying just 12 goals and 16 assists in 55 games last season for Nashville after having a renaissance season the prior year with 63 points in 79 contests.
The 2022 Cup Champions will utilize the former first-line center from the Predators on their second line. Freed up from the pressure of carrying a team offensively, Johansen will also be surrounded by several solid forwards up front, as well as Cale Makar and Devon Toews from the backline. The presence of those scorers should enable Johansen to have a rebound campaign.
Ross Colton could also see an uptick in output, though in his case, it might be a smaller bump. Penciled in as the third line pivot, Colton provides the Avalanche a physical element up front. Twenty goals might be in sight for Colton, who lit the lamp 16 times last season for Tampa. One more “deeper” target is Jonathan Drouin. If healthy, he should skate alongside Nathan MacKinnon, his junior hockey teammate, and Mikko Rantanen. That line placement would be a boon to Drouin.
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Dallas Stars:
Mason Marchment had an okay first season in Big D, though less than what was hoped. After a decent start, Marchment slowed substantially, finishing with 12 goals and 19 assists in 68 games. He should benefit from skating on a line with Tyler Seguin and Matt Duchene to see a rise in production.
Wyatt Johnston is no longer a sleeper after a solid rookie campaign. He settled in seamlessly on the Dallas roster, posting 24 goals and 17 assists in 81 games. Johnston, currently the third-line center taken 23rd overall in 2021, will eventually move up the ladder and projects down the road to be a possible first-line pivot.
If taking a flier, especially in deeper leagues, Thomas Harley is certainly worth a look. The 2019 first-round pick spent most of the year with Texas of the AHL, notching 10 goals and 24 assists. Harley, who played six regular season games with the Stars, showed his puck-moving ability and mobility in the playoffs and will get a chance to build off that success during the season, as he could be the #2 option offensively on the blueline behind Miro Heiskanen.
Atlantic Division:
Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres
Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs
Central Division:
Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks
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Ep 69: NHL Preseason, Rumors, Mike Babcock Saga
by Full Press Coverage on September 24, 2023 at 4:07 am
Jim and Chris are back to discuss the beginning of the NHL preseason, the […]
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Ep 68: Auston Matthews Extension, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Much More
by Full Press Coverage on September 1, 2023 at 2:23 am
Jim and Chris are back to chat about the Auston Matthews extension, the […]
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Ep 67: Karlsson Trade, Matt Dumba Signs, NHL News and Notes
by Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2023 at 2:21 am
Jim and Chris discuss the big Erik Karlsson trade to Pittsburgh, the Matt […]
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Around the NHL: What is Going in Tampa and Toronto As Training Camps Begin
by Full Press Coverage on September 24, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Vox Media NHL Analyst Bruce […]
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Around the NHL: Mike Babcock Resigns as Head Coach In Columbus
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 1:48 pm
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Around the NHL: From Columbus to Montreal To Calgary To Atlanta
by Full Press Coverage on September 16, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Vox Media NHL Analyst Bruce […]
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Ep 86: David Krejci Announces Retirement
by Full Press Coverage on August 14, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Ian and Chris react to David Krejci's retirement. Learn more about your ad […]
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Ep 85: Offseason Reset: Lucic, Bergeron, Krejci, and More
by Full Press Coverage on July 23, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the changes the Bruins have seen over the last few […]
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S5Ep3 - Mike Babcock Out in Columbus and Steven Stamkos Drops The Hammer in Tampa
by Jim Biringer on September 22, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back for the fifth season of the Final Word on Hockey […]
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S5Ep2 - What Carey Price Meant to the Montreal Canadiens
by Jim Biringer on September 19, 2023 at 1:00 pm
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Nashville Predators Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 25, 2023 at 3:30 pm
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Minnesota Wild Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 22, 2023 at 4:10 pm
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Dallas Stars Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 21, 2023 at 3:45 pm
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Episode #144: 22-23 AHL Awards Show
by Full Press Coverage on July 14, 2023 at 10:00 pm
The 2022-23 AHL season has come to a close, and what better way to […]
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Episode #143: Dessert > Desert
by Full Press Coverage on June 24, 2023 at 5:54 pm
On this episode of The Calder Farmstead, Sean and Sarah wrap up the […]
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Full Press Canadiens - 9-22 - Bogan Konyushkov is dominating the KHL
by Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 4:30 pm
Josh Gosse and Jesse Poirier speak about the latest Montreal Canadiens […]
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Full Press Wild - 9-25 - Recapping the Wild’s preseason opener.
by Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Preseason, Daemon Hunt, injury Learn more about your ad choices. Visit […]
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ROP Special Commentary: Representation Matters
by Charlie Saunier on September 24, 2023 at 5:01 am
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Full Press Canadiens 9-22 - Intra-squad scrimmages
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Josh Gosse and Jesse Poirier speak about the latest Montreal Canadiens […]
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Full Press Wild - 9-22 - Recapping prospect camp and a player signing.
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Prospect camp, signing, Jujhar Khaira Learn more about your ad choices. […]
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Leafs Digest - 9-22 - Nylander MOVED to Center, Murray and Muzzin OUT for Season | Toronto Maple Leafs News and Updates
by BCM on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Zack Phillips reacts to Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach, Sheldon Keefe, […]
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9/25 - Week 3 Reactions, Dolphins Hang 70, Biggest Disappointments
by Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Ian and John react to a fascinating Week 3 in the NFL and talk about some […]
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9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
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9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talk
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
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9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teams
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
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9/25 - Week 3 Reactions, Dolphins Hang 70, Biggest Disappointments
by Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Ian and John react to a fascinating Week 3 in the NFL and talk about some […]
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Ep 184: Week 3 Instant Reaction
by Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 12:47 am
The Green Bay Packers were in another 1-point game, this time a 18-17 win […]
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Ep 135: 49ers Move To 3-0, NFC South Buy or Sell, Week 3 Picks/Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 24, 2023 at 3:13 pm
Ian and Braden discuss the 49ers win on Thursday Night Football, the […]
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Ep 171: Discussing The Career Of George Kunz With Son Matt
by Full Press Coverage on September 23, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Matt Kunz, son of former Colts lineman George […]
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Ep 183: The Sandman
by Full Press Coverage on September 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm
This week we're diving back into the extreme and looking at the career of […]
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9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
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9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talk
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
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Ep 183: Week 3 Preview vs Saints
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:11 am
In this episode, Kyle Senra is joined by Courtney Burrows (luvtractor3) […]