Fantasy: 5 players to target on the San Jose Sharks
With your fantasy draft just around the corner, theScore's Ian McLaren and Darren Kritzer take a look at 5 players you should consider drafting this season.
Top Targets
Logan Couture
Despite playing in just 65 games last season, the 25-year-old scored 23 goals and added 30 assists, along with a plus-21 rating and 233 shots on net. His 0.82 points-per-game average was his best since the 2011-12 season, and if he can stay healthy, he should be able to reach the 30-goal mark easily.
Keep in mind Couture has gotten off to hot starts the last few seasons, including 10 points in his first seven games in 2012-13 and 16 points in his first 13 games last year.
Consider taking him early in the third round, and if he gets off to another hot start, he may be worth dangling in an early deal to address a few areas of weakness on your team.
Tomas Hertl
The promising rookie was on a roll offensively to start last season, but it was derailed by a knee-on-knee collision with Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown. Hertl underwent surgery in December and didn't return until April 11.
In 37 games, the 20-year-old forward scored 15 goals and added 10 assists, and played well in the seven-game playoff series against the Kings, registering five points.
Expect Hertl to see playing time on the top line, making him a good choice around the late third to early fourth round.
Joe Pavelski
Pavelski played well last year on a line with Joe Thornton and Brent Burns, but with Burns back on defense, the 30-year-old may find himself bouncing between the first, second and third lines this year. For some players, this might be cause for concern, but for Pavelski, who scored a career-high 41 goals last year, it shouldn't be an issue.
In Yahoo leagues, Pavelski has been going off the board by the 29th overall pick, showing fantasy owners have confidence he can repeat on the offensive outburst he displayed last season.
Proceed With Caution
Joe Thornton
Thornton was stripped of his captaincy this summer, but despite rumors he was on his way out, the 16-year veteran showed up at camp ready to lead the team for his 10th season in San Jose.
Fantasy owners have known what they were getting from Thornton the last few seasons. He hasn't scored more than 30 goals since 2002-03, and hasn't hit the 20-goal mark since 2010-11, so once again, drafting him for points is what you can expect. But can he repeat his 65 assists that ranked second in the league behind only Sidney Crosby?
In Yahoo leagues, Thornton has been an average pick of 68.7 overall and has been taken on average in the late sixth round. Big change over last year when he was taken on average in the fourth.
Take A Flier On
Brent Burns
Burns is no longer playing forward, but some believe the transition back to defense may be short-lived.
He won't put up the same numbers he's capable of (22 goals in 69 games last season) on the back end, but if the team fails to show up offensively in the early going, a potential move back to forward for Burns will be a huge boost for the fantasy owners that took the risk.
Take a chance on him near the middle of your draft.