Fantasy: Sleeper candidates for 2017

There are plenty of disappointing fantasy players (i.e. Patrice Bergeron, Anze Kopitar, John Klingberg) who still carry high ownership because they are well-known names with a chance to bounce back in the second half of the season.
There also are some under-the-radar injured players (i.e. Jonathan Huberdeau, Mika Zibanejad, Max Domi) who could do significant fantasy damage in the coming months upon returning to their respective lineups.

But sleepers can be much harder to pinpoint with the New Year just around the corner. Last season Brayden Schenn of the Philadelphia Flyers (44 points in 46 games, T-6th) and Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets (39 points in 37 games, T-19th) were among the NHL scoring leaders from Jan. 1 until the end of the regular season. Low-ownership goalies (at the time) like Matt Murray, James Reimer, Mike Smith and Joonas Korpisalo helped many win their fantasy leagues.
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The point is, there's still more than half of the season left to play, and there will be plenty of lineup changes, trades and surges in production along the way. Here are some players readily available in Yahoo leagues that could emerge as fantasy difference-makers the rest of the season (NOTE: Ownership figures and statistics are entering Saturday, Dec. 31).
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Mikael Granlund, C/LW, Minnesota Wild (42 percent owned)
The Wild have one of the most dangerous top-nine forward groups in the NHL, and Granlund has taken their scoring depth to the next level. He has 13 points, 22 SOG and is plus-12 in his past 11 games, helping him rise into the top 100 fantasy realm based on Yahoo's performance-based rankings (79th). He's covering five of the six standard categories well with 27 points and a plus-18 in 35 games, and his ceiling is higher in the second half. He also averages 2:03 per game on the power play and has six power-play points.

Matthew Tkachuk, LW (38 percent owned), or Sam Bennett, C/LW (19 percent owned), Calgary Flames
Tkachuk has become well-known because of his high penalty minutes total (64, sixth in NHL) nearing the one-half mark of his rookie season, but has been bringing the offense recently with a five-game point streak. His ownership is way too low considering he's sixth among rookies in scoring (21 points). He ranks 48th in Yahoo playing on the Flames' third line with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik. If Tkachuk is owned, Bennett has two goals in his past four games and has been seeing even-strength minutes alongside Johnny Gaudreau.
Ivan Provorov, D, Philadelphia Flyers (30 percent owned)
With so many injured defensemen (Kris Letang, P.K. Subban, Justin Faulk), keeper-league fantasy owners would be foolish to ignore Provorov's current fantasy worth and second-half potential. Mark Streit (shoulder) remains sidelined, and Provorov is tied for second among rookie defensemen in points (16) behind Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets (24). Provorov isn't getting nearly as much power-play usage as Werenski but has similar overall usage (Provorov: 21:10; Werenski: 21:22). If your league counts blocked shots, Provorov is tied for 16th in the League with 74.
Sam Reinhart, C/RW, Buffalo Sabres (27 percent owned)
Reinhart is picking up steam, with points in five straight games, and has been doing it on a line separate from Jack Eichel. The appeal of adding Reinhart is his solidified spot on the Sabres' first power-play unit with Eichel, Kyle Okposo, Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan O'Reilly (out with appendectomy). With O'Reilly sidelined, Reinhart has centered the Sabres' second line with Okposo. Reinhart finished strong from Jan. 1 to the end of his rookie season, with 27 points in 41 games, including seven power-play points.

Sebastian Aho, LW/RW (18 percent owned), or Teuvo Teravainen, C/LW/RW, Carolina Hurricanes (17)
Aho and Teravainen are worth owning separately given their high upside, but are mentioned as a package deal because the Finland natives play on the same line at even strength and on the Hurricanes' second power-play unit. They have combined for a point on 12 team goals, making them the second-best point pair on the Hurricanes -- not far behind Jeff Skinner and Victor Rask (13) for the lead. Aho is dual eligible and Teravainen is tri-eligible, and each remains under the radar just outside Yahoo's top 200. It should only be a matter of time before their strong possession numbers materialize into more consistent point production.
Travis Konecny, C/LW, Philadelphia Flyers (14 percent owned)
Konecny plays on the Flyers' second line with Schenn and Wayne Simmonds, and received a big lift on the second power-play unit with the return of center Sean Couturier against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday from a lengthy injury absence. Konecny had two assists, giving him 18 points this season despite a current 22-game goal drought. His shooting percentage (5.1; four goals on 78 SOG) should correct itself with exposure to such productive players, and many fantasy owners can take advantage of his low ownership. He was a healthy scratch Friday against the San Jose Sharks, but should return to the lineup soon and promises to be an important component of the Flyers' Stanley Cup Playoff push.

Trevor Daley, D, Pittsburgh Penguins (10 percent owned)
Justin Schultz's rise to prominence has been one of the stories of the fantasy season, but don't be surprised if Daley catches up or even surpasses his teammate in fantasy value in the final months of the season. With Letang out and always an injury risk, Daley could do serious multicategory damage if he stays healthy. He has 12 points, four on the power play, with 47 SOG, a plus-7 and 25 PIMs this season. That's strong coverage of all standard-league fantasy categories. He had an assist in his return to the lineup against the Hurricanes on Wednesday and he averages 1:46 per game on the power play, recently on the first unit with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin even before Letang got injured.
Josh Bailey, LW/RW, New York Islanders (8 percent owned)
Speaking of fantasy value by association, how about the season Bailey is having for the Islanders alongside John Tavares? Since assuming that spot during a three-game road trip against the three California teams that began Nov. 22, Bailey has 14 points (six on the powr play) and 40 SOG in 18 games. His ownership remains below 10 percent, likely because most fantasy owners don't trust his staying power with this being his ninth season and first of fantasy relevance. That said, he's been a staple on the first unit with Tavares and is the Islanders' second-leading scorer with 22 points, behind Tavares' 25.
Anthony Mantha, LW/RW, Detroit Red Wings (6 percent owned)
Mantha, a 6-foot-5, 22-year-old forward, has been dynamite for the Red Wings since taking on greater usage in recent games. He is still available in the vast majority of Yahoo leagues and has a five-game point streak after scoring the overtime winner with six SOG against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday. He has an impressive points-per-60 average (2.23) through 21 games and could follow in the footsteps of teammates Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar as a second-half fantasy commodity if he sticks in his current spot on the top line and first power-play unit with Henrik Zetterberg.

Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators (6 percent owned)
Fantasy owners in deep leagues need to jump on this rising star before it's too late. Saros is ranked 61st overall in Yahoo given his efficiency in spot starts this season for the Predators. He had his first career NHL shutout Friday at the St. Louis Blues and has allowed one goal or fewer in five of his six starts (.957 save percentage). With the Predators currently outside of a playoff spot in the Western Conference, he could get the call more often in the coming months. Pekka Rinne, Saros' mentor and fellow Finland native, has lost four straight at home, opening the door for Saros to steal playing time.
Timo Meier, RW, San Jose Sharks (2 percent owned)
The top line for the Sharks has been Patrick Marleau with Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, but it wouldn't be surprising if coach Peter DeBoer eventually turns to Meier, a rookie, in place of Marleau. Meier consistently has generated scoring chances since being recalled from San Jose of the American Hockey League earlier this month, scoring one goal on 22 SOG in his first six NHL games mostly alongside Joonas Donskoi. He's worth monitoring in keeper leagues, especially once Tomas Hertl returns from injury.
Jared Coreau, G, Detroit Red Wings (2 percent owned)
With Jimmy Howard (knee) sidelined 4-6 weeks and the Red Wings' long-standing postseason streak (25 seasons) in jeopardy, don't be surprised to see them emphasize their young players, with Mantha up front and Coreau in goal. Petr Mrazek has the fourth-worst goals-against average (3.11) among the 29 goalies with at least 20 games played entering Friday, and Coreau has started two of the Red Wings' past three games, going 2-0-0 with five goals allowed. The 25-year-old has had a .922 save percentage or better in each of the past three seasons with Grand Rapids of the AHL and appears poised to take the next step in his career.

Additional second-half sleeper candidates

Valtteri Filppula (C/LW, Tampa Bay Lightning - 21 percent), Oscar Klefbom (D, Edmonton Oilers - 18 percent), Jarome Iginla (RW, Colorado Avalanche - 19 percent; could be traded in contract year), Dmitry Orlov (D, Washington Capitals - 10 percent), Ryan Dzingel (LW, Ottawa Senators - 4 percent), Jaccob Slavin (D, Carolina Hurricanes - 3 percent), Troy Stecher (D, Vancouver Canucks - 2 percent), Esa Lindell (D, Dallas Stars - 1 percent owned)