The NHL regular season puck drop is slated for October 12th, less than eight weeks away, which means that we’re just six to seven weeks out from Fantasy Hockey. Obviously, my fantasy fanatics, all of you will need to put the proper time in to map out your draft, but let me wet your whistle with five potential breakout players.
There’s no particular order to this, but I guarantee that all five of these names will build off last year’s shortened season.
Joel Farabee, LW/RW, Philadelphia
NHL.com ranking: 221
In just his sophomore season, Farabee was already the Philadelphia Flyers’ top goal scorer last season. His 20 goals and 18 points came off an average of just 16:01 in time on ice (TOI) per game, while primarily skating on the third line.
Now entering the final year of his rookie contract, Farabee is really in line to cash in. With Jakub Voracek‘s departure, he’s projected to play opposite of Cam Atkinson with Kevin Hayes down the middle on the second line. It remains to be seen if he’ll play on the first or second powerplay, but either way, he’ll see plenty of ice time this season.
Wow. Ruthless, Joel Farabee (@FarabeeJoel). pic.twitter.com/zcLzJJenfF — NHL (@NHL) November 11, 2019
Philadelphia’s biggest need was defense, so the team went out and acquired two strong two-way defensemen, Ryan Ellis and Rasmus Ristolainen, and a powerplay specialist, Keith Yandle. So long as Carter Hart has a bounce-back season, expect the Flyers to improve as a whole and Farabee to produce.
Vince Dunn, D, Seattle
NHL.com ranking: 185
Finally, Vince Dunn is out of St. Louis. Dunn has been in and out of the Blues’ doghouse over the last four years. It finally got to the point that the Blues opted to not protect him during the Seattle Expansion Draft; Granted, Justin Faulk, Torey Krug, and Colton Parayko are far more established in the organization.
Some speculated it was his hockey sense or his work effort, but for whatever reason, St. Louis wasn’t the fit. No one denied his talent level. Offensively, his numbers are more than solid.
Looking at the right side of the table above, Dunn’s average TOI is what stands out most. Dunn was able to put up quality offensive output averaging third-pair minutes. That to me says it all. He’ll be a top-four, maybe even top-two defenseman with the Kraken, and could legitimately double his scoring.
That alone makes Dunn worth a mid-round draft pick.
Sam Bennett, C/LW/RW, Florida
NHL.com: 68
Much like Dunn, Bennett is finally in a place to not only make a career for himself but make a lot of heads turn.
Bennett is one of only four or five guys in the NHL who can legitimately play up and down a lineup, lines one through four. He is the most versatile player in the NHL. He plays powerplay, kills penalties, fights, scores, assists, and takes faceoffs. He’s a fantasy hockey jackpot.
15 points in 10 games as a Panther for Sam Bennett. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WOvLsZ8VJU — Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 9, 2021
Yes, his sample size with Florida is small, but there’s not a guy with a bigger chip on his shoulder than Bennett. To say the Calgary Flames mismanaged the former fourth-overall pick would be the understatement of the year. Geoff Ward was the worst thing to happen to Bennett’s young career.
Enter the Panthers. Bennett will be a top-20 fantasy player by the end of the year. His advanced metrics are outstanding and whether he plays on a wing with Barkov, centers the second unit, or is in the bottom six, Bennett will save your fantasy team this season.
Cole Caufield, RW, Montréal
NHL.com: 101
I don’t like where NHL.com has Caufield ranked. 101 is too high for me. I expect Caufield to have a really strong start to the 2021-22 season, but I think a full 82 game season, something the rookie has yet to endure, will slow down his production.