Good news for Read, who proved himself ready with a strong preseason. Last season the versatile forward scored 22 goals and 35 points through 37 games at Bemidji State University before finishing the season strongly with the Adirondack Phantoms. Expect him to add some grit and offense to the bottom two lines.
Schenn may have made the roster but isn't 100 percent healthy at this point. Last season Schenn scored 21 goals and 53 points over 27 games for the Saskatoon Blades following playing for the Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs and Brandon Wheat Kings. Expect him to be eased into the lineup.
Voynov deserves an extended look after impressing during preseason. Last season he managed to score 15 goals and 51 points with the Manchester Monarchs, proving his NHL readiness. Look for him to fill in for any wounded d-man and possibly playing on one of the two PP units.
Doughty will be playing his first game of the preseason, interesting to see how he adapts.
With Crombeen out, Reaves takes his spot on the fourth line. Last season he posted an impressive 78 PIM in 28 games for the Blues and has posted 130 or more over the past three seasons in the AHL. If you need PIM, expect Reaves to approach 200 while adding no more than five goals.
In his fifth full season, Letang will be relied upon to lead the Pens blue line. Last season he scored eight goals and 50 points through 82 games but his play drastically fell off when Sidney Crosby got hurt. Look for Letang to improve his consistency this season as he ascends to the elite level.
With Whitney out, look for Gilbert to run the blue line offensively. Last season he scored six goals and 26 points with a minus-14 rating. If you can spare the minus, Gilbert could approach his previous 45-point totals.
Chorney's injury directly affects the team's defensive core. Last season he scored a goal and four points through 13 games with the team. Additionally, he was ranked the fastest skater on a team that featured Taylor Hall and Andrew Cogliano. If healthy he could possibly make an impact at the NHL level.
Smid's injury directly affects the team's defensive core. Last season he only posted 10 assists through 78 points. While he aids his team defensively, don't expect any offensive production from the former 9th overall pick.
Whitney is coming off a brutal injury which limited most lower-body conditioning and training during the offseason. Last season, the former fifth overall pick scored two goals and 27 points over 35 games, leading to an inflated ADP. He should produce around 40 points for the Oilers but should not be expected to rise to an elite level until fully healthy.
Burish was an incredibly valuable player to the Stars last season despite only eight goals and 14 points. They will continue to take it easy on him when the games don't matter. While he plays a bruising style on the ice, his PIM do not translate to fantasy hockey as he only registered 91 and 107 respectively over the past two seasons.
Neither player participated but both would have played if it were a playoff game. Benn scored 22 goals and 56 points in only his second NHL season. He will be relied on to help anchor the second line this season and should play alongside sniper Loui Eriksson.
The Stars have big plans for their Danish defenseman. Last season he scored four goals and 21 points over 54 games with the Texas Stars and two assists over six games with the Stars. If he makes the team, expect him to see plenty of offensive minutes and PP time.
Vincour scored a goal and an assist over 24 games with the Stars last season. The former Vancouver Giant never scored more than 17 goals at any level so don't expect too much production from the 20-year-old. Nevertheless his two goals and four points over six preseason games could indicate a step in the right direction.
Neuvirth starts the season as the backup but is perfectly capable of handling the starting job if called upon. He posted a 2.45 GAA and ,914 SV% over 48 games played last season but figures to play significantly less with Tomas Vokoun the acting starting goalie. His best fantasy hockey value would be as a handcuff to Vokoun.
The Caps clearly signed Tomas Vokoun as their starting goalie in an attempt to better their team. Last season, the Czech native finished the season with a tidy 2.55 GAA and .922 SV%. With the Caps his peripherals should improve while his win totals skyrocket.
The diminutive center proved everything he could in the AHL, leading most to think he sticks with the team. When playing a top six role he plays significantly better than on a bottom line. At this point it sounds like he sticks with the club as a healthy scratch ready to jump into the top-6 if necessary.
Anderson started 71 games just two seasons ago, making him a reliable starting goalie. Last season he posted a 2.05 GAA and .939 SV% over 18 games with the Sens. He could very well surprise in his first full season in Ottawa.
Kessel sounds very relaxed, which could lead to more goals. He's scored 62 goals over his two years as a Leaf; he could very well breakout into the 70-80 point range with a better center like Nazem Kadri, Tim Connolly and Matthew Lombardi.
Bogosian adding wing eligibility slightly helps his fantasy hockey value. Last season, the enigmatic defender scored only five goals and 17 points for the Atlanta Thrashers. If coach Claude Noel continues to put him in high-leverage offensive situations, Bogosian could approach 10 goals again.
