New Teams and New Possibilities for Mike Knuble and Nik Antropov
Every offseason there are players who sign with a new team and go on to have fantastic seasons. Most of these guys are marquee free agents, so it is no surprise. However, there are often quieter signings which can allow you to steal some talent on draft day. This year two of those players are in a shallow pool of right wingers, Mike Knuble and Nik Antropov
Mike Knuble (RW, Washington Capitals)
Knuble had a fine season in Philadelphia last year, racking up 47 points and 62 penalty minutes, making him a solid injury replacement when needed. This year will be a different story as he is slated for first line minutes with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Even Victor Kozlov managed 41 points in 67 games playing significant minutes last season on the first line. Knuble is currently being drafted around the 11th round so don’t be afraid to take him before then to make sure you have him on your team. If he sticks with Ovi the whole year, 70 points is not out of the question.
Nik Antropov (C/RW, Atlanta Thrashers)
I know Antropov has never scored more than 59 points in a season like he did last year, but he has also never played with a talented winger quite like Ilya Kovalchuk. He is slated to the open the season between Kovalchuk and Bryan Little on the Thrashers first line. If Kovalchuk can make a 73 point player out of Todd White, just imagine what he can do for Antropov’s game. Like Knuble, 70 points is in the realm of possibility, and the C/RW combination makes him to good to pass up. He is currently going in the 13th round of Yahoo drafts so he should be an absolute steal.