Breakout Candidate: Logan Cooley, C and Dylan Guenther, RW
Both Cooley and Guenther broke out with 60-point seasons, but I think the ceiling is even higher. If I had to pick, I’d pick Guenther over Cooley because I think his PP1 role is more secure. Because Clayton Keller seems to have more chemistry with Barrett Hayton, Cooley’s unfortunately regulated to the second line and PP2 duty. If Cooley and Keller can establish better chemistry, their ceilings will be higher. My hot-take prediction is that Guenther scores 40 goals this season, if not coming very close.
Buy Low Candidate: Barrett Hayton, C
I don’t think Hayton gets the respect he deserves. He is not a high-ceiling offensive player – perhaps 60 points at the higher end – but he’s in a great spot as the Mammoth’s preferred center between Keller and Schmaltz with an underrated two-way game. With a few more minutes and more consistency on offense, I think Hayton can push his numbers to career highs. His seven power-play goals last season was really encouraging.
While C is a deep position in fantasy, Hayton is entering the prime of his career and could rapidly improve his points and shots, and he’s emerging as the Mammoth’s top option in the dot for face-off wins with a career-high 54.1 percent win rate last season.
Riser: Jack McBain, C/LW
Offensively, McBain doesn’t offer much upside, though he does offer a little more pop than your average bruiser with the occasional shift on the power play. However, there have been many times last season where I needed hits and McBain has usually come through. In banger leagues, McBain should be a popular streaming option as a specialist.
We’re a few years away from Tij Iginla making an impact, but he’s the prospect to watch on the horizon.
Faller: JJ Peterka, LW/RW
Peterka averaged 18:11 TOI/GP with the Sabres and it’s hard for me to envision him getting the same amount of ice time with Keller ahead of him on the depth chart at left wing. I do have concerns about Peterka’s ice time also because he’s not very good defensively, and that’s always drawn the ire of coaches. With so many offensive weapons, I doubt Andre Tourigny would hesitate to bench him if he has to.
The only way I can see Peterka match last season’s 68 points is if Peterka somehow elevates his already-high shooting percentage from last season (15.6%) or if he somehow manages to get the amount of minutes as he did last season with a role on PP1. All four spots on PP1 are spoken for, which means Peterka’s likely starting the season on PP2 with Cooley.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.