Fantasy: 5 players to target on the Ottawa Senators
With your fantasy draft just around the corner, theScore's Ian McLaren and Darren Kritzer take a look at 5 players you should consider drafting this season.
Top Targets
Erik Karlsson
Karlsson isn't the top target among Senators players, he's also the consensus number one defenseman in fantasy hockey, as per theScore's composite rankings.
Over the course of the past three seasons - one of which was cut short due to injury - Karlsson averaged 0.92 points per game; not only did he rank first among all defenseman last season with 74 points, he finished with the 10th most points league-wide after recording 20 goals and 54 assists. He also finished with the 13th most shots and tied for fifth with 31 power play points.
In short, Karlsson's pretty good.
Kyle Turris
In the words of Sean Connery in the movie Finding Forrester, "you're the man now, dog." That's Turris now in Ottawa, as he becomes the de facto number one center in light of the departure of Jason Spezza.
The 24-year-old led the team with 39 even strength points last season, and ranked behind only Karlsson in 5-on-5 shot attempts with 285. Turris is set to take on the bulk of Spezza's power play time, and considering 16 of his 26 goals came at 5-on-5 last season, the extra time with the man advantage bodes well for increased production.
As such, Turris is likely to eclipse 30 goals and 60 points for the first time in his career.
Bobby Ryan
By his standards, Ryan's numbers weren't great during his first season in Ottawa - 23 goals, 25 assists in 70 games - but his play can be attributed, in part at least, to a sports hernia he was dealing with since November.
Ryan also happens to be entering a contract year (if he and the club don't agree on an extension prior to training camp), giving the 27-year-old further incentive to rebound from an off year.
The line of Turris, Ryan and Clarke MacArthur displayed great chemistry last season, and a player with his skills will need to step up to help fill the hole left by Spezza. Ryan ranked only behind Turris in terms of even strength shot attempts, and should be a good bet to near 35 goals and 60 total points.
Proceed With Caution
Craig Anderson
While Anderson is likely to have first crack at the starting gig in the Ottawa net once again, the Senators goaltending situation is anything but clear, with Robin Lehner waiting in the wings; the fact both were given contract extensions suggests the latter may not be quite ready in the eyes of the organization.
Anderson's performance has been somewhat up and down for Ottawa, but if he can come even close to replicating the otherworldly form he displayed early in 2013 (.941 save percentage in 24 games), he could be a steal in late rounds.
Fantasy owners might want to handcuff him with Lehner, however, in the event the youngster rises up to take the reins.
Take A Flier On
Alex Chiasson
As the biggest piece of the return in the Spezza deal, Chiasson will be given every opportunity to show off his offensive prowess in Ottawa. The 23-year-old scored 19 goals in his first 86 NHL games, deployed in favorable situations by the Dallas Stars early in his career.
Chiasson recorded 13 of his 35 points last season on the power play, and should be in the mix to be relied upon in that situation with the Senators. His plus/minus numbers might not be great, but he could reach 18-20 goals, 25 assists and 15 power play points, making him a decent late-round fantasy option.