Fantasy Hockey: Breakout Players and Sleepers

Breakout Players

Nico Hishier

Nico Hishier is a great two way center but hasn't put up eye popping stats thus far in his career.
With all the attention surround Taylor Hall, Jack Hughes and PK Subban, Nico Hishier becomes the forgotten player. Now entering his third season in the league, Hishier is due for a breakout playing alongside Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri. You can expect Hishier to get around 60-70 points this season.

Andrei Svechnikov

Andrei Svechnikov went through some growing pains in his rookie year but make now mistake about it, he is a special player. Svechnikov is expected to play on the Hurricanes 2nd line with Jordan Staal and Ryan Dzingel and the Canes 1st pp unit. I expect Svechnikov to score at least 20 goals this season and have more than 200 SOG.

Kevin Lebanc

With the departure of Joe Pavelski, Lebanc be playing the Sharks 1st line with Logan Couture and Timo Meier, he will also be playing the Sharks 1st pp unit. Lebanc only signed a 1 yr deal deal worth $1 million, so if he wants to get paid, he needs to prove himself this year.
Lebanc has all the opportunity in the world to have a breakout season, the fact he is in a contract year gives him added incentive to perform well. 

Rasmus Dahlin

Yes Rasmus Dahlin had a good rookie year, but he has the potential to be even better. For Dahlin, he has the potential to be one of the best defenseman in the league and you saw a glimpse of that towards the end of last season. Dahlin will be the no.1 defenseman for the Sabres this year and has the potential to score at least 50 points this season. You will want to snag Dahlin now, especially if you are in a keeper league.

Cale Makar

Cale Makar is going to have a huge year this season playing for the Colorado Avalanche. The reason Tyson Barrie was traded was because the Avs wanted Cale Makar to play on the 1st pp unit.
Playing on that deadly Colorado powerplay, you can expect Makar to get at least 40 points this season.

Phillipp Grubauer

Phillipp Grubauer is going to be the number 1 goalie for the Avalanche this season. With the Avalanche team on the rise, Grubauer should have a breakout year; it isn't unrealistic to expect Grubauer to get at least 30 wins this season.

Sleepers

David Krejci

David Krejci is can still be  a very productive player in fantasy hockey this season especially if you count FW. Last season, Krejci had 20 G and 73 Pts along with 16 PPP and 530 FW; while he might not get 70+ points this season, i think he should still get at least 55 points. Krejci is ranked 222nd overall right now, so you should be able to get him in the 17th or 18th round depending on how many teams there are in your league.

Anders Lee

Anders Lee is always a reliable fantasy player yet he is always undervalued in drafts; right now,
he is ranked 333rd overall but realistically he should go in the 150-170 range. If you are able Anders Lee this late in the draft, i say its a win for your team.

Wayne Simmonds

Wayne Simmonds should be on track for a bounceback year because he is expected to play on the much improved 1st pp unit of the Devils. Simmonds' 2018-19 campaign was derailed by injuries but he is back and fully healthy this year so he should have a bounceback year. While it is unknown if he will stick on the line with Jack Hughes, he will have fantasy value because he will get PPG, PIM and Hits.

Shayne Gostisbehere

Shayne Gostisbehere is the definition of a PP specialist, but that is great in Fantasy Hockey;
his plus minus could be bad but his production on the PP could make owners overlook his bad +/-.
Gostisbehere should be motivated to have a bouceback year after subpar season, which is another reason to consider drafting him.

Justin Faulk

While Justin Faulk's future with the Carolina Hurricanes is uncertain, Faulk will definately be a player to watch this year in Fantasy Hockey. Faulk has been in the center of trade talks but i don't think he will get moved before the season Regardless of where Faulk plays, he will have something to prove because he is on his contract year.

David Rittich

David Rittich will likely be the number 1 goalie for the Calagry Flames this year. Calgary basically has the same team as they did last year when they won the division, so there is no reason to think they couldn't win it again. If you want a goalie for good value, David Rittich is your guy.