Fantasy: 5 players to target on the Toronto Maple Leafs
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
Phil Kessel
What can you say. Phil Kessel may not be the most personable guy in the league, but from a fantasy standpoint, he's one of the top players, hands down.
Kessel ended his 2013-14 season with 37 goals, 43 assists, 20 power-play points, six game-winning goals, and 305 shots on net. His 80 points ranked sixth in the league despite Kessel recording his worst points-per-game average (0.98) since 2010-11 (0.78).
Once again, count on Kessel to supply a majority of the offense - especially in the early going - for a Maple Leafs team with several new players and a new philosophy focused on analytics taking center stage.
Proceed With Caution
Joffrey Lupul
Lupul, like most of the Maple Leafs players down the stretch last season, struggled on the fantasy front in his final 15 games, recording four goals and four assists. He never connected with Nazem Kadri after being moved off the top line, and is once again expected to start the year on the second line with Kadri and Clarkson, which is worrisome.
Two other factors to worry about: Lupul hasn't played in more than 69 games in an 82-game regular season since 2008-09, when he played 79. Also, his points-per-game average dropped significantly over the last two seasons - though his 2012-13 season was cut to only 16 games due to injury. But going from a 1.02 average to a 0.64 average in 2013-14 is enough of a drop to be worried.
Jonathan Bernier
Unlike last year's camp, Bernier will enter the season as the No. 1 goalie, but unless the defense improves on last season, Bernier, who missed the final three weeks of the season with an MCL sprain, will once again be seeing a ton of shots come his way in 2014-15.
Bernier recorded 26 wins in 55 appearances last season, with a 2.70 GAA and .923 save percentage - tied with Frederik Andersen and Sergei Bobrovsky for eighth in the league. Those are solid numbers for a player you might consider early in your draft, but the problem with the Leafs is their inability to keep the shots down each night - they allowed a league-worst 35.9 per game last season.
If the defense steps up their game, and trims the shots-against average a little bit, Bernier will be a nice addition to your roster.
Take A Flier On
Morgan Rielly
Rielly will enter his sophomore season with a lot to live up to after an impressive rookie campaign. The first-round pick in the 2012 draft recorded two goals, 25 assists, 12 power-play points, and 96 shots in 73 games.
He was one of four Leafs to post a Corsi For percentage of 44.5 or higher (44.7) and should see time on the second power-play unit once again for coach Randy Carlyle.
Drafting him in the middle rounds will likely net you the offense you may need from a fourth defenseman.
Jake Gardiner
Gardiner, like Rielly, was one of four Maple Leafs to post a Corsi For percentage of 44.5 or higher, so with the increased emphasis on analytics, expect to see Gardiner improve in all areas of his game.
The talented defenseman signed a 5-year, $20.25-million extension in July, and should once again be paired with Cody Franson, with Dion Phaneuf playing alongside newcomer Stephane Robidas.
Gardiner posted 10 goals, 21 assists, 11 power-play points, and 136 shots in 80 games last season. Expect those numbers to reach new highs in all categories in 2014-15, making him a great pick in your draft before it gets to the middle rounds.