Fantasy - 5 biggest surprises this season
Fantasy hockey leagues are often won by managers who find gems with mid- to low-round picks.
Everyone has a list of sleepers they hope will come through with big years, and if we hit on two or three, it can be a boon to building the best possible squad.
Here's a look at five of the biggest surprises in fantasy hockey this season.
Blues F Vladimir Tarasenko
Shining brightly on the fantasy radar after a 21-goal, 22-assist performance in 64 games for the St. Louis Blues last season, Tarasenko has exceeded expectations by placing himself among the best players in hockey.
Originally ranked 157th by Yahoo, Tarasenko enters the All-Star break as the fifth-best player in fantasy leagues after further breaking out to the tune of 24 goals, 23 assists, 161 shots on goal and a plus-23 rating.
Tracking towards a 40-goal, 80-point season, Tarasenko is playing like a first-round pick after generally being selected from rounds seven to ten on draft day.
Lightning F Tyler Johnson
The Tampa Bay Lightning forward was named a finalist for the 2014 Calder Trophy after a 24-goal, 26-assist performance in 82 games.
Viewed as a depth forward heading into the season, Johnson ranks 13th among all fantasy-eligible players with 17 goals, 31 assists, 125 shots and a plus-26 rating.
At the All-Star break, Johnson has registered more points than teammate Steven Stamkos, who was likely selected with one of the top three picks in most leagues.
Teammate Nikita Kucherov deserves an honorable mention. The 2011 second-round pick has exceeded all expectations with 17 goals, 26 assists, 111 shots on goal and a plus-28 through 48 games. The only downside to his fantasy game is that he has only two power-play points, but he's looking like a force worth owning for years to come.
Predators F Filip Forsberg
A surefire Calder Trophy candidate through the first half of the season, Forsberg is finally making his mark in the NHL after spending most of last season in the minors.
The highly-touted forward is shining under new Nashville Predators head coach Peter Laviolette, recording 15 goals, 25 assists, 143 shots and a plus-12 rating, with 11 power-play points to boot.
Originally ranked 379th in Yahoo leagues, Forsberg has produced like a top-25 player this season, much to the delight of fantasy managers who drafted him in later rounds and to the chagrin of those who thought Jonathan Drouin would be the league's top rookie.
Islanders D Johnny Boychuk
Largely irrelevant for fantasy purposes throughout his tenure with the Boston Bruins, Boychuk has asserted himself as a top-25 defenseman since being traded to the New York Islanders.
Through 36 games, Boychuk has registered four goals and 18 assists, one point off the career-high he set last season in Boston. He's also chipped in 12 points on the power play after averaging only one per year over his last five seasons.
Given the opportunity to take on a more offensive role in Long Island, Boychuk is set to become a 45-point player, who fires at will and loads up on power-play points.
Ducks G Frederik Andersen
Expected to battle with young John Gibson for the starter's job in Anaheim, Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau decided to ride Andersen in the first half of the season, with delightful results for fantasy owners.
Andersen started 38 of Anaheim's first 47 games, posting a record of 26-6-5 with a .917 save percentage, a 2.30 goals-against average and two shutouts.
Unable to crack the top-25 goalies based on Yahoo's original rankings, Andersen has outplayed the likes of Tuukka Rask, Jonathan Quick, Corey Crawford, Cory Schneider, Ben Bishop and Semyon Varlamov.
Fantasy managers who hunted this duck on draft day are surely flying high at the break.