Fantasy Hockey: Predators Add Stamkos, Marchessault

Fantasy Hockey: Predators Add Stamkos, Marchessault

The Nashville Predators spent a ton of money in free agency, which included signing Steven Stamkos (link) and Jonathan Marchessault (link). We’re going to have a quick chat about what it all means in terms of fantasy hockey. I’m going to be hitting fantasy hockey posts for all the key signings of the offseason, which will be published within the next few days so be on the lookout for those.

Stamkos

This one is going to be super tricky for fantasy managers to try to figure out. The supporting cast in Nashville isn’t terrible but it doesn’t measure up to what he had in Tampa. Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point are both better players than anything Stamkos has to work with in Nashville. That can’t be disputed.

Stamkos, 34, had 40 goals and 41 assists a year ago. He should still have juice left in the tank at least this year and the following year. Stammer likely slots in on the second line left wing spot on a line with Tommy Novak and Jonathan Marchessault. Those two will settle in on the top power-play unit that also includes Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, and Roman Josi.

The positive is that Andrew Brunette’s offense seems to work. The Preds ranked 10th in the NHL in goals per game last year and these two guys should certainly help matters. The problem is the core is all at an advanced age so this thing could fall apart at any moment. The moment Josi starts to decline this whole thing is screwed.

Forsberg and Josi should remain the top two assets in terms of fantasy. Stammer probably slots in at number three. Honestly, the player that probably gets the biggest bump by all this activity is Juuse Saros, who should be in line for more wins.

Everything depends on price but I’m in on Stamkos. He should be out for revenge and should be able to notch 70 points on the safe end. Short term, this is a buy for me.

Marchessault

I’m far more skeptical on Marchessault’s fantasy value. Mostly because the 42 goals he scored last year are a career high by a long stretch. He only has two other 30 goals seasons in his 11 year career. I could see Marchessault scoring 30 goals in Nashville but that feels like the high end. Everybody who actually watches the games knows Jack Eichel had a lot to do with his career season a year ago.

Marchessault won’t be flanked with nearly that same level of talent down the middle. It’s going to be Tommy Novak setting him up. It’s just not going to be nearly the same. We’re talking about a guy that’s hit over 70 points once in a season.

I’m not saying don’t draft Marchessault but expectations need to be realistic here. You’re not picking up blocked shots or big hit totals here either. A huge problem will be that it seems unlikely Nashville will break up the top line of Forsberg, O’Reilly, and Nyquist that was so productive last year. We’re talking about Marchessault being on the second line with Novak instead of top line duties with Eichel. It’s hard to imagine he’s nearly as productive in the new environment.

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