Here are the 2016-17 fantasy implications of defenseman Alex Goligoski moving from Dallas to Arizona.
Goligoski was quickly becoming a well-respected defenseman in Dallas. Since 2013, the 30-year-old American scored a minimum of 36 points in each season while missing just two games in that three-year span.
Last year, he collected 37 points and posted a strong plus/minus of plus-21. Over the course of his 10-year career, Goligoski has tallied 277 points in 562 games. Of those, 222 were assists. With that in mind, Goligoski is undoubtedly a puck mover rather than individual offensive threat.
Unfortunately, Goligoski's departure from the high-flying Dallas offense is more than likely going to hurt his production. The dropoff between the Dallas and Arizona offenses is significant, and as such, Goligoski should expect a decrease in points and plus/minus.
| TEAM | GF | GPG | PP% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 265 | 3.23 | 22.1 |
| Arizona | 208 | 2.54 | 17.7 |
Last year, Goligoski was a draft day steal, finishing 33rd in scoring among defenseman despite being drafted 55th overall at the position. Entering this year's draft, Goligoski's stock should rise as a by-product of his strong 2015-16 season.
This move, however, will cool expectations. A 2016-17 draft stock between 25th and 30th among defenseman and 100-125th overall seems like a fair estimation.
Considering his high standard of health and respectable offensive game, Goligoski could be a decent D2 but is best considered a reliable D3. Having hit double-digit goals just once, his first season in Arizona should breed a stat line close to five goals, 25 assists, and a plus/minus hovering around zero.
An important factor to monitor will be how the defensive pairs shape up in Arizona. Playing alongside young star Oliver Ekman-Larsson would surely boost Goligoski's value and form a stellar power-play duo. However, it may be a safer bet head coach Dave Tippett splits them between the top two pairings.
