Dynasty Deep Dive: Recent College Signings

I’m going to change things up today, as I’ve already done a big playoff schedule breakdown for everyone and will continue to answer all specific questions you have for those still in contention.  Today, I’m going to focus on three different players who signed in the last week and stepped right into the NHL from college.  All three are on teams in the playoff picture giving them some meaningful games right away.  I’ll talk about three players, how they project long term, and who I would prioritize for those of you in keeper leagues.  Let’s get to it!

The highest pick of the bunch that signed was Ryan Leonard with the Washington Capitals.  Leonard was a prolific scorer at Boston College, scoring 30 goals in both seasons, including leading the NCAA in goals this past season.  He’s the kind of player that all coaches love.  He’s already had a few incredible back checks breaking up plays in the defensive zone.  Leonard is relentless with his effort, especially going to the net.  He’s a fantastic shooter which is a great combo with someone who will drive play as well as Leonard should.  With how often he goes to the net, he probably needs to get a little bigger just to handle the beatings he will take, but his frame shouldn’t make that an issue.  He’s also a hot head, which for those of you in deep leagues, is a bonus.  How good he will be comes down to where he’s slotted into the lineup.  I can see Leonard playing on a first line if the coach likes him there, or on a third line serving in a defensive role but with an offensive spark.  With how good the team is, I’d keep expectations in check for Leonard for next season, but in theory, he could end up the top winger following Ovechkin’s departure.  I’d say that the more categories that your league has, it probably benefits Leonard long term.

It was a shock when Gabe Perreault fell to the Rangers at 23rd overall in the 2023 draft, and he delivered playing along side Leonard at Boston College.  Perreault is nothing like his father Yanic, who was a defensive specialist that was incredible at faceoffs.  Gabe is a pure winger with elite hockey IQ and a fantastic playmaker.  His hands are fantastic, allowing to execute things at an efficient rate with how well he sees the game.  Perreault’s shot isn’t a weakness, allowing him to punish defenseman who expect him to pass.  I have no doubt that he’s going to pile up a ton of assists, including being a main facilitator on the power play.  His skating is generally viewed as a weakness, and I’m not an expert scout, but I don’t really see his skating as a negative.  I don’t think it’s as bad as it’s made out to be, and more importantly, he’s thinking the game so far in advance that he can make up with early movement.  He’s currently on the second line with Miller and Lafreniere, so the Rangers clearly believe he can make an immediate impact.  Given he’s on PP2, I would only use Perreault as a bottom end streamer for the rest of the season.  Long term, I think he’s high floor but also has some sneaky star potential in real life, even if it’s not quite at that level for fantasy.

Jimmy Snuggerud was the other big signing, stepping into the Blues lineup, who are the hottest team on the planet at the moment.  Snuggerud played three years at Minnesota and while his freshman year was arguably his best statistically, his skating has improved to the point to increase his ceiling.  His shot is his biggest calling card for me and should be a big asset in the long term.  That said, he’s certainly not a one trick pony.  His overall skill is pretty good, he’s good in the defensive zone, and he’s very good down low.  Snuggerud is elite below the goal line finding passes to cutting players and crashes the net well.  His frame is already at a pro level, plus he’s older than the other two above, giving him a better chance to step in and make an impact.  Snuggerud went onto the third line and PP1 to start, getting his first career point in his second game today.  If things pan out, he can turn into a very good second line scoring winger who also makes a power play impact.  I really don’t see any bust potential given his two way game.  Worst case, he’s probably a third liner.

If I had to rank the three of them for dynasties, I would go Perreault, Leonard, Snuggerud.  Having said that, I acknowledge that Perreault is a riskier pick and that Leonard has the highest fantasy floor.  Given the shot rate that I expect both Leonard and Snuggerud to have, they are both players that fit into the archetype I repeatedly target in drafts.  I’m simply willing to stick my neck out and bet on Perreault turning into a elite playmaker.

That’s all for now guys.  Feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, or give any suggestions below as you make your final push for fantasy glory.  I’ll be back on Monday in some capacity.  Thanks for reading, take care!