Yahoo Fantasy Hockey: Power play producers to consider

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BY STEVE LAIDLAW

It is obvious to say that the power play is the easiest time for teams to score in the NHL but it is bears mentioning when considering fantasy value. Thanks to the abundant turnover this summer there are a ton of power play jobs available across the league. The players that fill those jobs will have excellent opportunity to pad their point totals. Let’s check in on the juiciest jobs up for grabs.

Arizona Coyotes

The Departed: Mikkel Boedker

Boedker was quietly among the league leaders in power play ice time, finishing ninth this past season with 3:57 minutes per game. Someone will have to gobble up those minutes alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Whoever does could see a huge fantasy boost.

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Simply figuring out what the Coyotes’ top unit will look like is a bit of an exercise. If the end of last season is any indication, the trio of Max Domi, Martin Hanzal and Anthony Duclair will be used on the top unit. They were frequently joined by Alex Tanguay after the departure of Boedker at the trade deadline but Tanguay was not brought back.

The Favourite: Radim Vrbata

Vrbata was brought back as a free agent after cashing in with the Canucks. He should get a crack to renew his role as sniper on the Coyotes’ top power play unit. His last season in Arizona saw him net 11 power-play goals (PPG), and 21 power-play points (PPP).

The Dark Horse: Christian Dvorak

Dylan Strome is the biggest name rookie but Dvorak is a blue chipper in his own right. Both were big time scorers in junior and are Calder Trophy contenders but Dvorak is a year older and more developed giving him an advantage.

Other Candidates: Strome, Tobias Rieder, Shane Doan, Michael Stone, Jamie McGinn, Alex Goligoski

Boston Bruins

The Departed: Loui Eriksson

Claude Julien finally stopped rolling his power play units evenly and pushed out a stacked top unit comprised of Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Ryan Spooner, Torey Krug and Eriksson. The result was a lethal power play that finished seventh in the league in efficiency. Eriksson’s departure leaves a big hole as the winger contributed 10 PPG.

The Favourite: David Backes

Backes doesn’t play the same game as Eriksson but he has a ton of special teams experience having acted as the net-front presence on the Blues’ power play for years. The Bruins didn’t sign him to a big contract to have him sit on the bench so expect heavy usage.

The Dark Horse: Brad Marchand

Coming off a 37-goal breakout season it’s hard to believe that Marchand could have more to offer. Marchand was notably missing from the Bruins’ top power play last season. He has never gotten much power play time throughout his career for whatever reason. One would think his skills, smarts and tenacity would translate. He did score six PPG in just 1:29 per game, while skating on the second power play unit. There’s a chance he jumps to the top unit, which could easily push Marchand above the 40-goal plateau. Many would like to see David Pastrnak’s name in this spot but Marchand could turn superstar if used in this role.

Other Candidates: Pastrnak, Matt Beleskey, Frank Vatrano (when he returns from injury)

Calgary Flames

The Departed: Jiri Hudler

While Johnny Gaudreau reached new heights, and boring Sean Monahan continued to bore us with his brand of 60-point competence, Hudler tanked going from 76 points to just 46 points, splitting time between Calgary and Florida. That Hudler struggled last season does not make this spot any less potentially lucrative. That Hudler’s spot at even strength is also open means there is room for a 70-point scorer to emerge. Indeed, the Flames’ top line could be among the league’s best.

Hudler was replaced by Joe Colborne on this line after the trade deadline with Colborne having a good deal of success, finishing up with 22 points in his final 24 games. However, Colborne left as a free agent so the position is once again open.

The Favourite: Troy Brouwer

Brouwer has spent his entire career providing depth scoring for contenders. He’s a big body capable of getting into knife-fighting range to get the dirty goals. He is a perennial 20-goal threat with some ability as a net-front presence on the power play. The problem is that Brouwer has been tried as a top line option everywhere he has played and his career high is just 43 points. Nick Foligno once clicked for a 70-point season so we cannot rule out an aberrant performance from the now 31-year-old. Just consider such a performance extremely unlikely.

The Dark Horse: Sam Bennett

Do not expect Bennett to skate with Gaudreau or Monahan at even strength. He has too much potential to become a force at center to continue to be used in a wing capacity. Bennett could click with Gaudreau and Monahan on the power play. If he does win the spot, Bennett could be in for a breakout sophomore season.

Other Candidates: Matthew Tkachuk, Micheal Ferland, Michael Frolik

Los Angeles Kings

The Departed: Milan Lucic

The Favourite: Tyler Toffoli

There is little to discuss here. If anyone but Toffoli wins the minutes alongside Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter on the Kings’ top power play unit then we should question Darryl Sutter’s sanity. Toffoli was already starting to win a roll on that unit last season skating 2:06 minutes per game with the man advantage and contributing nine PPG. He needs to see permanent time on that line as a scoring star who is ready to breakout in a big way.

Other Candidates: Marian Gaborik (if/when he gets healthy), Tanner Pearson, Teddy Purcell

New York Islanders

The Departed: Frans Nielsen, Kyle Okposo

The Islanders lost virtually their entire second line with the departure of Nielsen and Okposo. They also lost key special teams performers who killed penalties and skated on the top power play unit. Nielsen and Okposo contributed 14 PPG between the two of them. Big time free agent addition Andrew Ladd is a shoe-in to fill one of those spots but there is room for a young player to step into a bigger role.

The Favourite: Ryan Strome

Strome was expected to breakout last season when he won a spot on the top line out of training camp. He sputtered out of the gate, showing little confidence and extreme deference to superstar linemate John Tavares, eventually leading to a demotion, not just off the top line but all the way to the minors. Strome could very well rebound and perhaps improve on his rookie total of 50 points. A spot on the top power play unit would go a long way to accomplishing that feat. He’ll need to shoot the puck when open rather than forcing passes everyone knows are coming. Monitor his role but also his shot totals.

The Dark Horse: P.A. Parenteau

This is Parenteau’s second go-around with the Islanders. His last time suiting up for the Islanders Parenteau teamed up with Tavares to score a career high 67 points, a total he hasn’t come close to matching since. Don’t expect him to come close this season but don’t rule out a rekindling of the magic. While Parenteau has had his ups and downs since leaving the Islanders, he has proven when used in the right role he can be a productive scorer. He’ll be waiting to take over should Strome falter.

The Other Candidates: Shane Prince, Matthew Barzal, Brock Nelson

St. Louis Blues

The Departed: David Backes

With Backes now in Boston the Blues are in need of a new net-front presence. There is no obvious replacement on the roster but perhaps they will opt for a different strategy than relying on mere size to eclipse goalies in front. Teams have experimented with smaller net-front guys like Brendan Gallagher and Sam Reinhart recently and have had success. The key is to find a player with the strength and drive willing to play the composite price in front.

The Favourite: Robby Fabbri

Fabbri’s playoff showing was tremendous and he’ll look to build on that here. He fits the mould of a smaller player like Gallagher, willing to scrap to get to the tough areas. Fabbri’s stock gets an added boost with Jaden Schwartz on the shelf to open the season. He may not need to play the net-front role right out of the gate to receive top power play minutes.

The Dark Horse: Dmitri Jaskin

If the Blues opt for a traditional power/size option in front then Jaskin has the most upside on the roster as a 6’2”, 205 lbs. former QMJHL scoring star. Unfortunately, Jaskin has shown little scoring touch at the NHL level but perhaps this is the break that he needs.

Other Candidates: Paul Stastny, Jori Lehtera, Patrik Berglund

Winnipeg Jets

The Departed: Andrew Ladd

The Jets’ most common power play deployment last season was Ladd alongside Bryan Little, Mathieu Perreault, Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien. The games played after the deadline deal of Ladd would normally be a window into the Jets’ plans here but season-ending injuries to Little and Perreault forced big time improvisation.

Mark Scheifele clicked with Wheeler in a big way finishing with 32 points in the final 24 games. It’s safe to assume he has passed Little on the depth chart but that still puts Little in contention for Ladds departed spot.

The unit that the Jets deployed to close the season included Wheeler, Byfuglien, Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Nic Petan. Petan is in the mix but probably down the depth chart as well.

The Favourite: Patrik Laine

Laine has earned comparisons to Alexander Ovechkin but these probably aren’t fair. The reasoning behind the comparisons is Laine’s elite scoring ability. A spot on the top power play unit would make a 30-goal rookie campaign a distinct possibility.

The Dark Horse: Nikolaj Ehlers

It’s funny to see Ehlers fall out of the rotation but such is the numbers game when the Jets are as loaded as they are up front. No wonder they were comfortable dealing away their captain in Ladd. There is a ton of talent here. We might even see Ehlers push Perreault onto a different unit. Stay tuned.

Other Candidates: Bryan Little, Nic Petan, Kyle Connor, Drew Stafford

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Steve Laidlaw is the Managing Editor of DobberHockey. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLaidlaw.