If you’re in a deep fantasy hockey league like myself, the normal sleeper column won’t cut it. Everyone in these leagues knows that 40-point player who is ready to break out, or that guy who signed with a new team in free agency with lots of new opportunities. Let’s dive deep below the surface and find those deep league sleepers who are only owned in 40% of leagues or less. When you strike gold on a player like this, it’ll feel amazing.
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Deep League Sleepers for 2021-22 Fantasy Hockey
30% to 40% Owned
F Kyle Palmieri – NYI – I understand his production dropped to only 21 points last year, but he put up 7 goals in the playoffs. That wasn’t even with the best possible linemates, which he now has. Flanking the right side of supreme playmaker Matt Barzal and net presence Anders Lee should lead to a rebound to the 20-goal column for Palmieri.
F Cody Glass – NSH – There’s a reason why Glass was a top-10 draft pick and a reason why Nashville targeted him as a big piece of their re-tool this summer. Glass is very fast, and just needs to put the hands together with that at the NHL level. There is a severe lack of talent in Nashville that will give Glass more opportunities to shine than in Vegas. He’s already 22 so if he’s breaking out, it’s soon.
G Antti Raanta – CAR – A lot of people will point to Frederik Andersen’s 4.5 million dollar contract and anoint him the starter in Carolina. I’d be careful. Andersen has a history of concussions that make him a risky option, and it’s now been two seasons since he had over a .910 save percentage. Raanta gets hurt often too, but don’t be surprised if he ends up as an undervalued steal.
20% to 30% Owned
F Janne Kuokkanen – NJ – If Jack Hughes has a big breakout season, someone is coming along for the ride. People will point to that being Tomas Tatar or Yegor Sharangovich, but Kuokkanen has been since on Hughes’ left side several times in training camp. He was already on a sneaky 40-point pace/82 GP last season. He could end up quietly producing points in a lowkey breakout campaign.
F Alexandre Texier – CBJ – There was a ton of hype on prospect Cole Sillinger when he started training camp with Patrik Laine and Jakub Voracek. Slowly, the number one center spot in Columbus has been taken over by the slightly more experienced Texier. With his skill, he could end up breaking out in a big way. He needs to find consistency.
D Conor Timmins – ARI – Timmins has suffered too many concussions already in his young career. When he has played, his passing really shines through with plenty of offensive upside like his OHL days. He was never surpassing the young talent for powerplay time in Colorado. Timmins arrives in Arizona with not a lot of competition to get way more minutes. He also had 5 points in 4 preseason games.
F Jonathan Dahlen – SJ – The once hyped Canucks prospect went back to Sweden and absolutely destroyed their version of the AHL. Suddenly, coach Bob Boughner has thrown him onto line one with Logan Couture and Timo Meier. With Evander Kane’s spot on the Sharks in question, their LW side consists of Dahlen and rookie William Eklund in the top six. There’s plenty of time to try him out as he sneaks into the Calder Trophy conversation.
10% to 20% Owned
F Ondrej Kase – TOR – He’s made of glass, but he’s got tons of ability to at least reach 20 goals or 40+ points. He won’t get the line combination to help him at the start. He’ll have to earn that part. He’s not far removed from being an emerging talent.
F Dmitrij Jaskin – ARI – He absolutely ripped up the KHL, and there aren’t a lot of threats on Arizona to do anything offensively. This should help Jaskin get some opportunities to translate his game back into the NHL. They also paid him over $3 million dollars – they aren’t wasting him all season.
F Oskar Lindblom – PHI – Lindblom miraculously returned to the NHL after having cancer. A hell of a story. Last season was just a way for Lindblom to soak in his return and embrace the comeback. He’s now had a summer of real training again. He looked like a star on the rise before his diagnosis, and he could surprise with some strength back.
Are you buying into any of Brennan’s deep league sleepers? For more rankings and analysis, check out the 2021-22 FantraxHQ Fantasy Hockey Draft Kit!
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