Fantasy: 5 players on new teams to target next season
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It's never too early to start thinking about fantasy hockey.
With the NHL draft in the books, and after the initial flurry of offseason signings and trades, managers can begin the real work of crafting a winning fantasy roster in 2015-16.
Here are five players on new teams to target on draft day.
G Martin Jones - San Jose Sharks
In less than a week, Jones went from serving as backup to both Jonathan Quick and Tuukka Rask to a starting role with a Sharks club looking to rebound in a big way.
Traded by the Los Angeles Kings to the Boston Bruins and subsequently flipped back to California, Jones is set to get his first real shot at proving he's a No. 1 goalie, and could benefit fantasy teams in a big way.
The 25-year-old has posted a 16-11-2 record and .923 save percentage with seven shutouts in 34 career appearances. A small sample size to be sure, but the numbers bode well for Jones, especially on a Sharks team that added Paul Martin to an already solid defensive corps.
D Andrej Sekera - Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers made a splash in free agency by locking up the highly sought-after Sekera, who instantly becomes the club's most capable two-way presence on the blue line.
Faced with the prospect of taking the ice with a bevy of young talents up front - not the least of which being first overall draft pick Connor McDavid - Sekera has the opportunity to pick up some points by effectively moving the puck out of his own zone and letting the forwards take care of the rest.
He'll likely also get some power play time, and could match or top his career-high 44 points set two seasons ago. Sekera's presence could also open things up for Justin Schultz, so keep an eye on him as well.
F T.J. Oshie - Washington Capitals
Any player who can skate on a line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom deserves attention in fantasy leagues.
In Oshie, the Capitals acquired a skilled yet possibly overrated forward, having topped out with single-season highs of 21 goals and 60 points as a member of the St. Louis Blues.
Playing on the right side of the aforementioned formidable duo should be a boon for Oshie's fantasy numbers, meaning the 28-year-old's current benchmarks could rise significantly in 2015-16.
F Cody Hodgson - Nashville Predators
Hodgson was quickly scooped up on a short-term, low-cost deal by the Predators after his contract was bought out by the Buffalo Sabres, leaving him with much to prove moving forward.
The 25-year-old is coming off an abysmal season wherein he scored only six goals and added seven assists, but there's no doubting the offensive potential that exists with the 10th overall pick from the 2008 NHL Draft.
The Predators are planning to use Hodgson in a third-line role, playing him with Calle Jarnkrok, who also possesses much upside. The sheltered deployment could break things open, meaning Hodgson should be viewed as a viable sleeper candidate.
F Phil Kessel - Pittsburgh Penguins
Kessel is without question one of the top goal scorers in the NHL, and somehow managed to hit a career-high 37 in two different seasons while playing without a bona fide No. 1 center as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The thought of Kessel skating with Penguins superstar centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin should give the opposition nightmares, while inspiring fantasy managers to use a first-round pick on the 27-year-old sniper.
For his career, Kessel - who hasn't missed a single game over the past five seasons - is averaging 30 goals for every 82 games, and could very well hit 40 for the first time. Conversely, Kessel has also become a skilled playmaker, meaning his point-per-game average could go well over one.
Slot Kessel very high in the draft queue and reap the benefits.