Arizona Coyotes fantasy preview for 2020-21

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

Darcy Kuemper, G (NHL.com rank: 135) -- The Arizona Coyotes goalie is tied with Anton Khudobin of the Dallas Stars for the second-best save percentage (.926) in the NHL over the past two seasons combined behind Ben Bishop of the Stars (.927). Kuemper, who was 16-11-2 with a .928 save percentage and two shutouts in 29 games during the regular season and 4-5 with a .913 save percentage in the postseason, is a high-volume starter ranked among the top 25 fantasy goalies. He's worth reaching for even earlier in leagues that count saves (28.9 per game last season; fourth in NHL, minimum 20 games).
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Clayton Keller, LW/RW(189) -- He scored the second-most points on the Coyotes last season (44), one behind Nick Schmaltz, and had a higher shot volume than Schmaltz (184 to 95) in the same number of games (70). Keller, who led Arizona with seven points (four goals, three assists) in nine postseason games, still has a high fantasy ceiling (scored 65 points as a rookie in 2017-18) despite the departure of left wing Taylor Hall (signed with Buffalo Sabres) and will likely be attainable in the final round of a standard fantasy draft.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D(193) -- The defenseman has scored at least 30 points in each of his eight full NHL seasons. Although his power-play point total (seven) was low last season, Ekman-Larsson ranks third at the position in goals since 2011-12 (124) behind Brent Burns (155; played some forward in span) and Shea Weber (138) and is worth picking in later rounds with strong hits coverage (1.8 per game in NHL career).

Jakob Chychrun, D (239) -- He was among the best goal scorers at his position last season, scoring 12 goals in 63 games, tied with Jared Spurgeon of the Minnesota Wild for 10th among defensemen in goals per game (0.19; minimum 10 games). Chychrun, who set NHL career highs in points (26), SOG (149) and tied his best PPP total (eight), has a higher ceiling and is worth drafting as a fourth or bench fantasy defenseman in late rounds.
Phil Kessel, RW (240) -- The right wing saw a huge dip in points per game in his first season with the Coyotes (0.54; 38 points in 70 games) compared with his prior four seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins (0.92; 303 in 328 games). Kessel saw plenty of line fluctuation and fell well short of his fantasy average draft position (68.5) last season but led the Coyotes in PPP (17) and is worth drafting late or adding off the waiver wire in the hope that his shooting percentage improves (9.2 last season; 11.2 over four seasons with Penguins).
Other players to consider in late rounds or off waiver wire: Nick Schmaltz, C/RW; Alex Goligoski, D; Conor Garland, LW/RW; Antti Raanta, G; Christian Dvorak, C/LW
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