Hey guys! Sven here with our stop in Vancouver for 31 in 31! Over the next month, I will be taking a look at each team’s players to watch out for going into the 2018-19 fantasy hockey season: The 31 in 31 daily segment. This analysis features everything from surefire studs, to sleepers, to prospects that may make an appearance at some point this season. Please let me know if you guys enjoy this type of material! Reminder that the stat totals are from last season.
Forwards
Brock Boeser – 62GP 29-26-55. Until his unfortunate injury at the end of the season, Boeser was one of my best players in fantasy last year. Not bad for a pick in one of the last rounds of the draft, eh? With #1RW minutes consistently, there is no question Boeser will be able to pick up where he left off and put together a great season, free of the Sophomore Slump. He is going in rounds 6-8 in most leagues I’ve drafted thus far (higher than his ESPN ranking), but should be good for 60 points at least.
Bo Horvat – 64GP 22-22-44. Out of the Sedin’s shadow and up onto the first line, Horvat should have a killer season playing with Boeser. His relatively low ranking by ESPN makes him a low-risk mid-teens pick, with plenty of upside as he is only 23 years old.
Nikolay Goldobin – 38GP 8-6-14. Goldobin was a PPG player in his 30-game stint in the minors last season, and will hopefully have that carry over this season when he is full-time with the ‘Nucks. He currently appears to be slotted into the second-line with rookie Pettersson, which will bode well for the 2014 first-rounder if the young Swede takes off like most say he will. I don’t think there’s enough of a sample size just yet on Goldobin to make him anything more than a streamer yet.
Brendan Leipsic – 58GP 5-17-22. In just 14 games with the Canucks last season, Leipsic was able to chip in nine points – nearly matching his total with the Golden Knights in 44 games. He doesn’t appear to be getting any more than middle-six minutes for the time being, but he definitely looked good in the Canucks’ opener VS Calgary, tapping in his first of the year. I may look to stream Leipsic if he jumps onto a different line.
Defence
Alex Edler – 70GP 6-28-34. Edler ended up providing me with a nice scoring punch last season when I streamed him in the second half. With top-pair minutes appearing to be consistently provided and likely #1PP time, Edler might even be a draftable player in deeper leagues.
Chris Tanev – 42GP 2-9-11. With top-pair minutes, I was expecting a big year from Tanev last season. Unfortunately, only playing a half-season due to injury did not make that happen. I’m going to watch him closely in my 12-teamer as it is a deeper league, but I’m not expecting too much.
Goalie
Jacob Markstrom – 60GP 2.71GAA 912SV%. Markstrom will play a lot of games this year, but unfortunately I’m not sure how many of those will be wins given the team in front of him. In deeper leagues he may be a #2 if you’re late to the goalies, but I doubt he will be owned in most leagues.
Rookies/Prospects
Elias Pettersson – SHL: 44GP 24-32-56. Pettersson was a stud in everything Swedish last season, and got off to a great start in his first game against Calgary. Though he likely won’t grab big minutes for the time being, I see him as a legit Calder Trophy candidate alongside Svechnikov, Dahlin and Mittelstadt.
Thatcher Demko – AHL: 46GP 2.44GAA 922SV%. I’ve loved Demko since his lights out performance at the WJC a few years ago, and I was excited for Vancouver knowing he would blossom into their guy a few years down the road. He is starting the season on the shelf, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes their backup this year at some point.
Adam Gaudette – NCAA: 38GP 30-30-60. The 2018 Hobey Baker Award winner was drafted fifth round by the Canucks in 2015, but appears to be starting the season in the AHL. If he gets off to a Boeser-type start with Utica (AHL), we may see him in a Canucks uniform sooner than later. However, with the youth they currently have I feel like they can afford to let Gaudette transition.
Jonathan Dahlen – Allsvenskan: 44GP 23-21-44. Dahlen (no relation to Rasmus) is a second-round pick from 2016 that is jumping over from Sweden to the AHL this season. With tons of offensive upside and good work ethic, I am hoping he will tear it up in Utica this season and be a lock to make the team next year. He is only 20 years old, but I am sure his awareness and puck-handling will make him excel at the big-league level.
Olli Juolevi – Liiga: 38GP 7-12-19. With eight NHL-capable defencemen currently undere contract, The Canucks’ fifth overall pick in 2016 will likely have to wait another season before he gets the nod. Juolevi plays with a ton of poise for a 20-year-old, and will have his first taste of the North American Pros with Utica this season. Much like the Canucks’ current D corps, I don’t anticipate Juolevi putting up big points.
Zack MacEwen – AHL: 66GP 10-23-33. Signed out of the QMJHL by the Canucks two seasons ago, MacEwen was able to put together a respectable first pro season in the AHL last year. With a nose for the net and a great release, MacEwen still needs some time to develop but is trending in the right direction for the Canucks.
Kole Lind – WHL: 58GP 39-56-95. Lind possesses an absolutely ridiculous shot, and was able to use it from all areas of the ice to make all of the WHL’s goalies quake in their boots. Drafted in the second round of 2017, Lind will make the jump to the AHL this season and hopefully his scoring prowess carries over to the next level.
Petrus Palmu – Liiga: 59GP 17-19-36. A 2017 sixth-round pick, Palmu took to the Finnish league after his three-year OHL career, putting up solid numbers. Looking to jump back over to North America and play in Utica, Palmu brings blazing speed and great hockey IQ along with a stocky 5’7” frame. I’m sure he will pan out well for the Canucks, but much like Gaudette I feel like they will be patient and let him develop.
Jonah Gadjovich – OHL: 42GP 25-23-48. Gadjovich is a 2017 second-rounder that brings the power forward game, but with more of a two-way style. He plays the game on the edge, but is also a smart positional player. He will make the jump from major-junior to the AHL, and may even find some chemistry with former teammate Palmu.
