MORE FANTASY COVERAGE:
Top 250 rankings
NOTES:These fantasy projections (for 82-game season), a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua, have been quantified based on factors including but not limited to past performance in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, projected line combinations, power-play usage, team goalie situations, injury history or concern, sleeper upside, anticipated regression or bounce-back candidacy, age, contract status and overall upside for this season. The below totals are safe estimates and do not necessarily indicate each player's ceiling or floor and should be used as a basis for decision-making in all fantasy leagues. Players are listed below in order of NHL.com top 250 rank.
Capitals 32 in 32: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects]
Alex Ovechkin, LW -- He ranked fourth in the NHL in goals (50) last season, was second in shots on goal (334) behind Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (348) and tied for third in power-play goals (16). Ovechkin leads the NHL in goals (222 in 353 games) and shots on goal (1,520) over the past five seasons combined (since 2017-18) and reached the 50-goal mark for the ninth time of his career. In addition to leading the Washington Capitals in goals and shots on goal last season, he had their most points (90 in 77 games; 16th in NHL) and power-play points (29), and should be considered a top 15 overall fantasy player and top five left wing.
NHL.com point projection for Ovechkin: 87
John Carlson, D -- He ranked fifth in points (71 in 78 games), fourth in goals (17) and third in power-play goals (seven) among NHL defensemen last season. Carlson has reached the 70-point mark in three of his past four seasons, with the exception being the shortened season of 2020-21 (44 points in 52 games). He ranked third on the Capitals in power-play points (25) and shots on goal (195) last season, brings added value in leagues counting blocked shots (1,653; fourth in NHL since his first full season in 2010-11), and should be considered a top five fantasy defenseman and top 40 overall player.
NHL.com point projection for Carlson: 75
Evgeny Kuznetsov, C-- He was second on the Capitals in shots on goal (NHL career-high 208) and points (78 in 79 games), and tied with Carlson for their most assists (54). Kuznetsov will play on the top line with Ovechkin and potentially wing Connor Brown (acquired from Ottawa Senators on July 13; 39 points in 64 games last season) with right wing Tom Wilson (knee surgery) expected to be out for the start of the season. Kuznetsov (NHL career-high 20:17 per game last season; 20th among forwards) will likely play heavier minutes than ever before with veteran center Nicklas Backstrom (hip surgery) also out long term and should be considered a top 20 fantasy center and top 75 overall player.
NHL.com point projection for Kuznetsov: 77
Darcy Kuemper, G-- He ranked fifth in the NHL in save percentage (.921), tied for fourth in wins (37) and tied for fourth in shutouts (five) with the Colorado Avalanche last season, and helped them win the Stanley Cup (10-4 in postseason). Kuemper should still be considered a fringe top 10 fantasy goalie after signing a five-year contract with Washington, which has qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in eight straight seasons and can provide plenty of goal support (3.29 per game last season; 10th in NHL).
NHL.com win projection for Kuemper: 31
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Other WSH players to consider in fantasy: T.J. Oshie, C/RW; Dylan Strome, C/RW; Hendrix Lapierre, C; Connor McMichael, C/LW; Anthony Mantha, LW/RW
Injured players worth stashing in most leagues: Tom Wilson, RW; Nicklas Backstrom, C
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