Buffalo Sabres fantasy preview for 2020-21

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

Sabres 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the Numbers]
Jack Eichel, C (NHL.com rank: 10) -- Eichel was on an 82-game pace for 94 points last season, scoring 78 points (T-10th in NHL) in 68 games on a line with mostly rookie left wing Victor Olofsson and right wing Sam Reinhart. Eichel was also among the NHL leaders in goals (36; eighth), power-play points (27; T-8th) and shots on goal (227; 13th). Eichel, who finished 15th overall in standard fantasy leagues last season and was better than a point per game in 2018-19 (82 points in 77 games), has 100-point potential and is worth selecting in the late first or early second round of all fantasy drafts after the Sabres signed valuable left wing Taylor Hall to a one-year contract Oct. 11.
Taylor Hall, LW(49) -- Hall should be considered a top 50 overall fantasy player again after joining Eichel and the Sabres, gaining significant value compared to last season with the Arizona Coyotes and New Jersey Devils (52 points, minus-14 in 65 games). Hall, who has scored at least 80 points twice in his NHL career, is a bounce-back candidate on the top line and first power play with Eichel and also reunites with coach Ralph Krueger after playing for him with the Edmonton Oilers in 2012-13. If Hall returns to form from 2017-18 (NHL career-high 93 points, 39 goals, 54 assists, 37 power-play points; voted Hart Trophy winner as League MVP), he and Eichel could form one of the League's top five fantasy duos.

Rasmus Dahlin, D (98) - The 20-year-old scored the second most points (84; 13 goals, 71 assists, in 141 games) by a teenage defenseman in NHL history behind Phil Housley (132 points) and gains significant fantasy value from having Hall join him and Eichel on offense. Dahlin, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, is already a fixture on the first power-play unit, which will now likely feature Eichel, Hall, Olofsson and Reinhart, putting Dahlin in line for a breakout season of 55-60 points and at least 25 on the power play. With the fantasy stack of Eichel and Hall likely to cost two picks in the first four or five rounds, it's less risky to draft one of those forwards with Dahlin, who's attainable around the top 100 overall.
Victor Olofsson, LW/RW (107) -- Olofsson was tied with Denis Gurianov of the Dallas Stars for second in goals (20) among rookies last season behind Dominik Kubalik (30) of the Chicago Blackhawks. Olofsson was especially effective on the first power play (11 power-play goals, tied for 11th in NHL). Though Olofsson would lose some fantasy value if he is moved off Eichel's line because of the Hall addition, Olofsson could just as easily shift to right wing, bumping Sam Reinhart to a strong second line with center Eric Staal and left wing Jeff Skinner, and offer enormous upside with exposure to Eichel and Hall in most situations.
Other players to consider in late rounds or off waiver wire: Sam Reinhart, C/RW (NHL.com rank: 122); Rasmus Ristolainen, D (192); Jeff Skinner, LW (217); Eric Staal, C (227); Linus Ullmark, G (229); Dylan Cozens, C
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