Evaluating the Top 30 NHL Fantasy Players by ADP - Part 1

Players don't always live up to their average draft position (ADP) - injuries, poor team performance or just plain bad luck can affect fantasy fortunes.

Let's take a look at how the top 30 fantasy players in terms of preseason ADP ultimately finished up in standard-scoring leagues, beginning with Nos. 1-15 (ADP courtesy FantasyPros; rank courtesy Yahoo! Sports):

LW Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals

While Ovechkin was off the point-per-game pace he'd maintained for much of his career, he registered 50 or more goals for the seventh time and once again led the league in shots. Ovechkin isn't quite so valuable in leagues where goals and assists have equal worth, but were it not for a breakout year from Patrick Kane, would have lived up to his lofty ADP in the majority of formats.

C Sidney Crosby, Penguins

Owners who held on to Crosby despite a prolonged slump (by his standards) that saw him record 41 points in 47 pre-All-Star break games were vindicated with a 33-game stretch of 19 goals and 25 assists that closed the season. While Crosby couldn't quite live up to his second overall ADP, he likely did enough to maintain a top-3 position heading into next season.

C John Tavares, Islanders

Tavares had a mystifyingly disappointing season despite playing in 78 games. He maintained his lowest point-per-game average in five seasons, though his 13.2 shooting percentage can't be blamed, as it's in line with his career mark. His power play production was way down, from 31 points in 2014-15 to 19 in 2015-16. He could be a bargain next season if his ADP dips significantly.

C Steven Stamkos, Lightning

Blood clots ended Stamkos' season after 77 games, concluding a second straight year below a point-per-game pace. Stamkos did finish tied for seventh in goals scored, but the overall dip in performance is likely to result in a dramatically lower ADP heading into next season, whether or not he's wearing a Lightning uniform.

C Tyler Seguin, Stars

Seguin posted a nearly identical stat line to his 2014-15 campaign (71 games, 37 goals, 40 assists), though his power play production dropped by five points. An Achilles injury ended his season just in time for the start of the fantasy playoffs, but as a focal point of hockey's highest-scoring team, his ADP for next season isn't likely to suffer.

G Carey Price, Canadiens

Price was well on his way to living up to 2014-15's Vezina- and Hart Trophy-winning campaign, but persistent knee injuries derailed his season after just 12 starts. He was the first major injury casualty of the fantasy season, and he likely won't be the first goaltender drafted again in 2016-17 thanks to the stability offered by Capitals workhorse Braden Holtby.

C Evgeni Malkin, Penguins

Despite missing a sizable chunk of the season with a lower-body injury, Malkin still recorded more power play points than all but six players. Injuries have become a trend for Malkin, who has played no more than 69 games in each of the last three seasons. Still, his role on the high-powered Penguins and his prolific career scoring pace will likely keep his ADP high.

RW Patrick Kane, Blackhawks

After missing a combined 34 games in each of the last two seasons, Kane played in all 82 and blew past his career highs of 30 goals and 88 points. He was the only player to hit the century mark in points, topping second-place Jamie Benn by 17. His 46 goals ranked second only to Ovechkin, and he should be neck-and-neck with Ovechkin for next season's top ADP.

RW Phil Kessel, Penguins

Visions of a 40-goal season alongside Crosby or Malkin led to Kessel's high ADP; despite featuring in all 82 games, he couldn't top his 2014-15 production with the Maple Leafs. The partnership with Crosby was scrapped early on, and Kessel didn't really thrive until Malkin was injured for the stretch run. Kessel's ADP should see a massive dip heading into next season.

D Erik Karlsson, Senators

Karlsson led all defensemen with 82 points, though his 16 goals paled in comparison to Brent Burns' 27. An uptick in what was the second-lowest shooting percentage of his career should see Karlsson approach 20 goals again, and given that he hasn't missed a game in three seasons, health isn't a concern. The Swede remains the safest choice for offense from the blueline.

C Claude Giroux, Flyers

Giroux's 67 points was his lowest total in the last six full seasons, the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign notwithstanding. He's still a fixture on the Philadelphia power play, though the Flyers spent a second straight season ranked in the bottom third in terms of goals per game. His ADP will will likely slide as more enticing options threaten to eclipse the 28-year-old.

RW Vladimir Tarasenko, Blues

A career year helped Tarasenko exceed his ADP; the Blues were middle-of-the-pack in goals and shots per game, and a more free-flowing approach could enable Tarasenko's explosive scoring ability. That won't happen with Ken Hitchcock as coach, but with Tarasenko averaging more than 3.4 shots per game over the last two seasons, he'll still make the most of his ice time.

LW Jamie Benn, Stars

Benn valuted past Seguin as the top scorer on hockey's most prolific offense. His shooting percentage of 16.6 per cent was well above his career mark of 13.2, so despite a possible reduction in goals next season, Benn is still a great bet to produce thanks to the Stars' up-tempo approach. He was a bargain at 2015's ADP, and is likely to be one of the first 10 players chosen in 2016.

RW Corey Perry, Ducks

Despite his team's scoring woes for the first half of the season, Perry still put up a campaign in line with his career norms. After registering a combined 25 power-play points over the previous two seasons, he nearly matched that total in 2015-16 alone. Perry's still a solid fantasy option who's largely been able to avoid injuries, but at 30, his ADP will likely begin a downward slide.

G Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers

Lundqvist could only manage a tie for fourth in wins, and ranked 12th in save percentage and 22nd in GAA. At the very least, he stayed healthy, starting 64 games. While still a solid option in goal, he ultimately wasn't worth his ADP. As the team around him gets worse, it's hard to see Lundqvist's fantasy stock rising heading into next season.