Fantasy Hockey sleepers and busts

It’s that time of year again, when the leaves start to change color and the air becomes crisp as we begin October.

That means fantasy hockey drafts are firing on all cylinders, and people need help with who to take when their team is on the clock.

Here are the top fantasy players to draft and avoid for this upcoming NHL season.

Sleepers

Andrei Kuzmenko, F, Los Angeles Kings

Kuzy will be playing on the top line in L.A. this season with future Hall of Famer Anze Kopitar.

Kuzmenko tallied five goals and 12 assists in 22 games after being traded to the Kings last season.

I don’t know if Kuzmenko will get back to the 39 goals and 74 points he put up his rookie season in Vancouver, but the value is there with Kopitar and Adrian Kempe on his line and a ton of power-play time to come.

Matias Maccelli, F, Toronto Maple Leafs

Maccelli is projected to slot into Mitch Marner’s old spot on the Leafs' top lin,e and I think this could potentially be a career year for the former Utah man.

If you play with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, you’re bound to put up points.

Maccelli netted 17 goals two years ago with the Coyotes, and the 24-year-old's ceiling is extremely high this year.

Look to snag him in the later rounds.

Lukas Dostal, G, Anaheim Ducks

John Gibson was traded from the Ducks to the Detroit Red Wings this past summer, which paves the way for the 25-year-old to emerge as the starting netminder in Anaheim.

This Ducks team brought in some key additions this offseason and made moves to the coaching staff, like bringing veteran head coach Joel Quenneville, who’s a proven winner.

Dostal will put up the best numbers of his career so far, and I would look to snag him as my No.3 goaltender and let him move his way into the top spot in your lineup as the year progresses.

Cole Perfetti, F, Winnipeg Jets

Perfetti set a career high a season ago with 50 points on the Presidents’ trophy-winning Jets.

Entering year number four in the National Hockey League, Perfetti is primed to have a big season.

The power play time will be there and the ice time will go up, especially with Nikolaj Ehlers now in Carolina.

Honorable mention: Anton Lundell, F, Florida Panthers

Busts

Connor Bedard, F, Chicago Blackhawks

Bedard was brought in as a franchise player and has yet to be surrounded with a supporting cast that will help him break out.

Chicago needs to improve the roster before I can say Bedard will be a top dog in the NHL and if you’re in a league where +/- is factored into the fantasy scores, look out.

Fade hard on Connor Bedard.

Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals

The big question for Thompson is if he can come anywhere near his tremendous 31-6-6 record from a season where the Capitals had 111 points.

Can he and the Caps replicate that? I don’t think so.

Thompson is a good tendy but not a fantasy number one, so don’t draft him this season thinking he’ll have the same year he had last season.

Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators

Josi is entering his age-35 season, and there are a bunch of red flags when looking into drafting him high.

Earlier this summer, Josi was reported to be dealing with a condition that causes dizziness and fatigue.

We still don’t know if he’ll be ready for opening night.

Is Roman Josi still an elite Defenceman when healthy? 100%. But I don’t see him being one of the top-ranked D-man in fantasy, and with the horrific squad he is on, look for the +/- to be in the dumps once again.

Austin Moran is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acm6506@psu.edu.