2023 Fantasy Hockey OnlyFans: Forward Sleepers
After hitting the goalies, we continue the OnlyFans series in order to find those league winners in fantasy hockey. Which forward sleepers should you be paying attention to in fantasy hockey ahead of the 2023-24 NHL Season? Let’s get right to the list.
* I am only considering players ranked outside of the top 150. Anyone ranked inside the top 100 isn’t a real sleeper. Trust me, I thought about making it outside of the top 100 but it’s insane how many guys are ranked too low. We’ll make it harder and only go for the deep sleepers.
Robert Thomas (St. Louis Blues) F94, 154th overall
Any time you can get a first line center this late in the draft, I’m probably going to be interested. Thomas posted 65 points in St. Louis during a down year for the Blues. The year prior he posted 77 points. The former Blues first round pick now heads into his age-24 season and is the guy for St. Louis. I don’t see any way that Thomas doesn’t surpass this ranking. Especially if the Blues bounce back even slightly. This is just a gut feeling but I think Thomas has a career young. The young Blues in the lineup are poised to break out. Thomas is the best of the bunch.
Jonathan Huberdeau (Calgary Flames) F96, 158th overall
Yes, I’m eating the cheese on Jonathan Huberdeau. Everything that could have gone wrong basically did go wrong for the Flames last year. Nothing went right for the Flames last year and it was pretty obvious that Darryl Sutter hated Huberdeau. I think you can say that applies to Huberdeau hating Sutter too. A new coach in the building is probably a great thing for his value.
Huberdeau had 115 points in his final year with the Panthers compared to 55 in his first year with the Flames. Huberdeau is still one of the best passing forwards on the planet. He’s a walking assist. Conventional wisdom would lead you to believe that this year’s point total will be somewhere in the middle. If that happens, he’s a bargain. If you get more of the same from last year, then you really didn’t get burned with this late of a selection. I just think we’re getting a better Huberdeau. This is the same guy that was traded for Matthew Tkachuk and nobody batted an eye.
Drake Batherson (Ottawa Senators) F98, 165th overall
Where do I sign? This is stealing. Batherson is poised for a top-six role on a rising Sens team. His point total has also increased in every single year he’s been in the league. Batherson will now head into his age-25 season after posting 65 points a season ago. Josh Norris should be healthy again and his other partner five on five is Claude Giroux. This is WAY too low.
Brock Nelson (New York Islanders) F100, 168th overall
I understand that the Islanders never score and that’s a problem. I’m still getting a second line second that gets tasked with first PP duties. Nelson is coming off a career-high 75 points and would anticipate it’s more of the same this year. Especially with Bo Horvat being tasked with more of a two-way game. If Nelson simply repeats what he did last year, he’s a big value. I also think Nelson might lowkey be the Islanders’ best player but don’t tell anyone…
Connor Brown (Edmonton Oilers) F102, 171st overall
Getting a bite of the Oilers’ apple is a great thing in fantasy. How do I find a way to cherry pick some of those points from Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl? At five-on-five, Brown is expected to be the top-line right winger next to McDavid. I understand that Brown is hurt all the time. On the off chance he’s healthy, this is a no-brainer pick. At this spot, I’ll take my chances. Brown’s deal is entirely incentive-laden so he has the motivation to produce too. Brown doesn’t even have to be good. The guy just needs to exist and McDavid will do the rest.
Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks) F103, 173rd overall
I don’t know who needs to hear this but Troy Terry is currently the best player on the Anaheim Ducks. Maybe that will change but there is no question that Terry is the star there. He just got PAID too. Terry posted 61 points last year and 67 the year before. I don’t think the Ducks can possibly get worse either. Even if they’re slightly more competitive, Terry’s point totals will rise. I don’t love taking guys on bad teams but this is so low that you almost have to.
Jonathan Marchessault (Vegas Golden Knights) F109, 182nd overall
In the three years of playing fantasy hockey, I can’t remember Jonathan Marchessault’s ranking ever being this low. The guy won the Conn Smythe and somehow got a downgrade in fantasy. That’s Sean Allen for you, I guess.
It wasn’t a super crazy productive season for Marchessault last year notching just 57 points. However, towards the later portion of the season, it became clear that Marchy was the VGK goal scorer. Marchy and Jack Eichel have started to form great chemistry on the top line. I expect that to continue this year. He’s an easy 30-goal-per-season guy and if you’re getting that at this portion of the draft it’s a no-brainer. Given the chemistry he has with Eichel, I predict a career-high in goals scored this year.
Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights) F111, 184th overall
I understand that Mark Stone is hurt all the time. Even when Stone is on the ice he’s still probably hurt. I hear you and understand why he’s ranked this low. I also don’t care because he’s one of the best two-way players in the sport. Stone is also a walking point per game guy with ace defense and you don’t find that in this portion of the draft. So what if he misses time? At 184, I’m getting guaranteed value anytime he’s on the ice. Stone helps me win weeks and that’s all I care about.
Gabriel Vilardi (Winnipeg Jets) F112, 185th overall
Call me crazy, but I don’t think the Jets did that bad on the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade. Bagdonas gave the Jets an A- on the deal and Vilardi is a big reason why. If you weren’t paying attention, Vilardi was damn good for the Kings last year. I like Iafallo as a two-way player too, but that’s a story for another day.
Vilardi emerged as a mini breakout player last year posting 41 points in 63 games. That was while playing sheltered minutes and will now have a chance to play in a big role in Winnipeg. Vilardi is slotted in as the number two center and will get to play with Iafallo and young stud Cole Perfetti. He could be in for top-line duties if and when Mark Scheifele gets dealt. 65 points isn’t out of the question and that’s going to be major value in this spot.
Chandler Stephenson (Vegas Golden Knights) F113, 186th overall
Chandler Stephenson continues to be disrespected and I don’t understand why. As I stated on the Cheese list, Stephenson outproduced Dubois last year. Why are they separated by 120 spots? Stephenson is one of the biggest reasons why the VGK won the Cup last year. He’s one of the fastest players in the league and continues to get better and better every single year. I don’t see any reason why he can’t notch 65 points again while posting solid block shot totals. Stephenson has been over 19 minutes of ice time in two straight years. You have to actually watch the games to understand Stephenson’s value, but we already know Sean Allen doesn’t do that.
Valeri Nichushkin (Colorado Avalanche) F115, 189th overall
I don’t really know what’s going on with Nichushkin. All I know is that he plays for the Avalanche and produces when he’s on the ice. That’s good enough for me. The Russian forward notched 47 points in 53 games last year. I’m sure it will be more of the same, especially without Gabriel Landeskog. I’ll buy at this price point without hesitation.
Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins) F122, 207th overall
I understand that Brad Marchand is heading into his age 35 season, but WTF are we doing here? I mean seriously… is this a joke? Does Sean Allen actually think there will be 206 better players in fantasy? I don’t even know what to say. Marchand produced 67 points in 73 games last year. Barring injury, it’s almost impossible that he doesn’t outproduce this. This should be obvious to everyone who has a brain.
Nikolaj Ehlers (Winnipeg Jets) F123, 208th overall
I love Ehlers. I’ll take that guy on my hockey team any day of the week. This ranking makes absolutely no sense outside of the fact that Ehlers was hurt last year. When healthy, Ehlers still produced 38 points in 45 games a season ago. He’s also going to be on the top PP unit and first live five-on-five with Scheifele and Kyle Connor. Ehlers heads into his age 27 season and 80 points is definitely within the range of outcomes. This is straight-up stealing.
Evander Kane (Edmonton Oilers) F141, 244th overall
Hopefully, the wrist is fine. That’s really the only worry here. Again, Kane is only ranked this low because of injury. I would assume that’s the case anyway. It’s hard to know what the hell Sean Allen is thinking. This is what I know. Evander Kane racks up hits, shots, and puts the puck in the net. Oh, and he plays for the Oilers. I understand the guy has issues but we have to be willing to acknowledge he’s a damn good hockey player. This is free value.
Claude Giroux (Ottawa Senators) F150, 262nd overall
I understand that Giroux will head into his age 36 season but he was damn good last year for the Senators. 79 points in 82 games work for me! Giroux is going to be in that top six role with a rising Sens team and I like his chances to produce again. The guy was great last year and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. Even if the wheels come off slightly, he’s still walking value. Unless the guy magically sucks overnight, this is free value. Even if that somehow happens, he’s going free in drafts. Claude Giroux shouldn’t go free in drafts. Just saying.
Pavel Zacha (Boston Bruins) F155, 269th overall
Zacha took serious strides last year with the Bruins posting a career-high 57 points. He was a really good checker for the David Pastrnak line too. I’m not sure if Sean Allen is aware of this but Patrice Bergeron retired. Zacha is currently scheduled to be the top-line center in Boston. Zacha isn’t top-line center quality but that doesn’t matter. The ice time will be there and he still skates with Pastrnak. I’ll take him at this spot.
Nazem Kadri (Calgary Flames) F159, 277th overall
The 87 points that Kadri notched in his final season with Colorado is probably gone. Kadri didn’t exactly light it up in Calgary but I anticipate the Flames being better this year. I’m still getting one of the better second-line centers in the league for free. Yes, please!
Wyatt Johnston (Dallas Stars) F190, Outside Top 300
I did a longer form post on Wyatt Johnston. This is the young guy that I’m planting the flag on. My eyes tell me this kid is a future rockstar. I said the same thing about Jason Roberston who has been on my team in all three championship teams. It’s insane he’s not ranked. Truly insane. Get ready for the breakout season. It’s coming.
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