Johnny Gaudreau, LW -- To say Gaudreau had a disappointing season by fantasy standards would be an understatement. Selected on average in the first round of a Yahoo standard draft, Gaudreau finished 141st overall, scoring 61 points (18 goals, 43 assists) in 72 games. He went from a combined plus-15 the previous two seasons to minus-7, and regressed in both power-play points (16) and shots on goal (182). A slow start for the Calgary Flames and a fractured finger is likely what caused the regression, so a bounce back is probable this season. Gaudreau could be a steal should he fall outside the first two rounds.
Sean Monahan, C -- Gaudreau's running mate, Monahan has centered the scoring left wing for much of the past three seasons. In that stretch, Monahan ranks 14th among centers with 183 points (85 goals, 98 assists) in 244 games. If you like pairing teammates together in fantasy, Monahan and Gaudreau is a decent place to start.
Matthew Tkachuk, LW -- In an underrated rookie season, Tkachuk nearly finished among the top 50 overall in Yahoo (53rd) thanks to impressive category coverage. He finished with 48 points (13 goals, 35 assists) and was second on the Flames at plus-14. Tkachuk was 11th in the League with 105 penalty minutes, and has the potential to put up Wayne Simmonds-like numbers this season.
Mikael Backlund, C -- Known widely for his defensive acumen, Backlund showed off some scoring ability last season with an NHL career-high 53 points (22 goals, 31 assists) in 81 games. It was a slight jump from his 2015-16 numbers, but Backlund also took a big step forward in SOG with 197, which was also a career high. Backlund finished among the top 100 in Yahoo, but will likely be overlooked in drafts. Don't make that mistake.
