Fantasy face-off: Most valuable left wing for 2018-19

NHL.com compares elite left wings Alex Ovechkin, Brad Marchand and Jamie Benn to see who is most valuable at the position in fantasy for 2018-19. See how these players compare in terms of scoring, category coverage, team security, lineup placement and other factors before viewing the @NHLFantasy Twitter poll results. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.

NOTE: Players are listed in order of rank in NHL.com's top 250.
Alex Ovechkin, WSH -- The Washington Capitals left wing led the NHL in goals during the regular season (49) and Stanley Cup Playoffs (15) to win the Conn Smythe trophy. The weight has finally been lifted off Ovechkin's shoulders after winning the Stanley Cup for the first time, and Ovechkin's ceiling could be higher than ever without the looming pressure of previous playoff letdowns. He also has the luxury of playing on a line with 26-year-old center Evgeny Kuznetsov, who finished 30th in Yahoo last season before leading the playoffs with 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists). The Capitals will have a different look under coach Todd Reirden after Barry Trotz left for the New York Islanders, but Ovechkin's goal scoring prowess, shot volume (355 shots on goal led NHL last season) and physical play (139 hits; 2.6 per game in career) still make him the top left wing in fantasy hockey.

Brad Marchand, BOS --The Boston Bruins left wing has the third most goals in the NHL over the past three seasons (110) behind Ovechkin (132) and St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (112). His performance in the category and uptick in shots on goal over the span (2.92 in past three seasons; 2.04 in first six NHL seasons) padded his already strong fantasy coverage, leading to three straight top 20 overall finishes in Yahoo. When healthy, Marchand is part of the NHL's best line with center Patrice Bergeron and right wing David Pastrnak. Each forward finished among the top 25 in points per game last season (minimum 60 games), with Marchand tied with Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov for fourth (1.25). If Marchand plays with discipline and his line stays together for a full season (Marchand: 68 games last season; Bergeron: 64), Marchand has the ceiling of being the top-ranked fantasy player in 2018-19. He and Pastrnak are each worth taking in the first round of a 12-team draft.

Jamie Benn, DAL -- The Dallas Stars forward had a career-high 36 goals last season, including an NHL-leading 15 over his final 19 games. Benn scored seven goals in three games over the final week of the regular season, winning many people their fantasy championship. The Stars have a new look under coach Jim Montgomery, who was hired May 2 and will attempt to spread out the top-heavy scoring and utilize their younger players after Dallas missed the playoffs under Ken Hitchcock. Although it's unlikely Benn will be drafted over left wings Taylor Hall (4th in Yahoo) and Claude Giroux (10th), Benn's strong category coverage in power-play points (22), plus/minus (plus-20) and shots (241) make him worthy of being a late first or early second round selection in fantasy drafts. It's also worth noting Benn has been much more consistent fantasy-wise over the past three seasons (17th last season; 30th in 2016-17; 3rd in 2015-16) compared to Giroux or Hall. Benn gains additional value because his linemate Tyler Seguin is entering a contract year (potential 2019 unrestricted free agent). Dallas also has two fresh faces in right wing Valeri Nichushkin and defenseman Miro Heiskanen, who can make their offense much deeper this season.

Next highest ranked left wings in NHL.com's top 250: Claude Giroux, PHI; Taylor Hall, NJD; Artemi Panarin, CBJ; Johnny Gaudreau, CGY; Filip Forsberg, NSH