Vancouver Canucks fantasy preview for 2019-20

As part of NHL.com's 31 in 31 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the Vancouver Canucks. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the NHL Fantasy on Ice podcast.

Canucks 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the numbers]
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Elias Pettersson, C (NHL.com rank: 31) -- The center led all rookies with 66 points (28 goals, 38 assists) in 71 games last season, 21 more than the next highest total from a first-year player (Brady Tkachuk, 45). Pettersson also led rookies with 10 power-play goals and 22 power-play points and won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's best rookie. Pettersson has a ceiling of finishing top five at the position if his linemate Brock Boeser stays healthy for the full season.

Brock Boeser, RW (70) -- The right wing had an NHL career-high 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) but missed time because of injury for the second straight season. Boeser brings exposure to Pettersson on the top line and first power-play unit but may fall in drafts because of injury concerns. The reward with Boeser far outways the risk, and he should be targeted in the fifth or sixth round of standard 12-team fantasy drafts with a chance to score 35-40 goals.
Quinn Hughes, D (121) -- The rookie defenseman had three assists in five games last season and could be among the most-valuable first-year skaters in 2019-20. Much of Hughes' impact will depend on whether he brings PP1 exposure to Pettersson and Boeser. Hughes is worth drafting among the top 30 defensemen based on intrigue and has the ceiling to finish among the 20 best at the position.
Bo Horvat, C (134) -- The center had a career-high 61 points (27 goals, 34 assists) in 82 games last season. Horvat led Vancouver forwards in average ice time (20:50 per game) and shots on goal (227). He gains value in fantasy leagues that count face-offs after leading the NHL with 2,018 attempts, including the second-most wins (1,083) behind St. Louis Blues center Ryan O'Reilly.

Jacob Markstrom, G (160) -- The goalie was a quality streaming option last season, going 28-23-9 including one shutout and a .912 save percentage. Markstrom is a fantasy sleeper candidate with 30-win potential and should see the majority of starts over rookie Thatcher Demko, who appeared in nine games last season.
J.T. Miller, LW/RW (163) -- The wing had an NHL career-high 20 PPP with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season. Miller, acquired by the Canucks on June 22, was fourth among Lightning forwards in power-play ice time per game (2:35), impressive considering Tampa's loaded offense with forwards Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point. It was Miller's second-straight season with at least 18 PPP, and he'll likely slot in on Vancouver's top unit with forwards Pettersson, Boeser, Horvat and either Hughes or defenseman Alexander Edler.
Alexander Edler, D (175) -- The veteran defenseman was on pace for 50 points last season but missed 26 games with multiple injuries. Edler has not played a full 82-game season since 2011-12 but is worth drafting as a bench defenseman that could set a career-high in points (previous best: 49) if he stays healthy and captures the PP1 spot over Hughes.
Other players to consider in late rounds or off waiver wire: Micheal Ferland, LW/RW; Thatcher Demko, G; Sven Baertschi, LW; Tyler Myers, D; Tanner Pearson, LW
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