Heading into the Pacific Division, the next team in the 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers series is the Anaheim Ducks. They finished last in the league last season but didn’t even manage to get the number-one overall pick. They made some changes to their lineup and definitely got better, but not enough to warrant any thought about this team heading to the playoffs.
The Ducks might have finished second-to-last in goals scored, but that should also improve. While you generally don’t want to load up on players from bad teams, having a select few of those players on your fantasy hockey team can definitely help. The Ducks are a young team with some interesting players, great for picking out some sleeper candidates for this season. Here are three that you should keep an eye on this year from Anaheim.
Anaheim Ducks Sleepers for 2023-24 Fantasy Hockey
Mason McTavish
The Ducks seem to have an abundance of young and talented centermen now. Our focus here is on second-year player Mason McTavish. He had an impressive rookie season on the low-level Ducks where he still managed to score 17 goals and 43 points. It wasn’t a certainty he would play in the top six last season, but he erased those thoughts and solidified his role. That role is where he’ll be playing again this season since the top line shouldn’t be broken up.
McTavish should have more help this season in the form of Alex Killorn who put up 64 points last season. Not only will he have the help and veteran presence beside him, but he is also bound to improve year by year. Some might think the sophomore slump will affect him. I’m not one of them because there really isn’t a ton to prove from him just yet. The Ducks aren’t in contention and he is in a better situation. I think a 10-15 point increase is reasonable if he stays healthy. On top of the points that will make McTavish valuable, he can also play the body a bit. I would like to see more of that from him with his heavy frame though. He could be a great power forward in this league.
Adam Henrique
As far as sleepers go on this Ducks team, Adam Henrique has to be at the forefront of the conversation. Some think he’s washed up, but last season saw his production rate on the worst team in the league. Despite an injury that might only help those who are looking at Henrique as a sleeper option this season, he scored 22 goals and 38 points in just 62 games. Being the stabilizing presence on the top line beside Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras has its benefits.
There’s no reason to think that Henrique will be moved off that line to start the season or that he’ll drop off significantly either. He should be able to provide 25 goals, 50 points, and lots of ice time to potentially bolster other areas. There is a good chance that the 33-year-old is moved at the trade deadline. If he wasn’t injured at the wrong time last season, he would have had more interest. In the last year of his deal, he could be moved to a contender after producing on the top line of the Ducks, then get a new opportunity to continue to produce. He’s a safer sleeper bet if there is such a thing.
Jamie Drysdale
The Ducks get back their young and talented defenseman, Jamie Drysdale, from the LTIR. He spent all but eight games out of the lineup and is ready to come back in and play a significant role. Coming off a more serious injury, rankings won’t be kind and other owners will be wary of drafting him too high or even rostering him. Don’t make that mistake. Many injuries are random and could happen to anyone. It is definitely a chance to take advantage of where others are too worried to go.
While Drysdale has technically been in the league for three years since 18 years old, he only has 113 games played. We are hoping that this coming season sees him play his second full season and build on his very good 2021-22 campaign. During that season, he played under 20 minutes a game but had 32 points and 12 on the power play. He could surely push Cam Fowler, his likely defense partner, for more ice time on the power play. With more scoring this season and his ability in the lineup, a fair bit of points will come around him. I can see 35-40 points out of him this season, but he definitely has a higher ceiling.
Related: 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Winnipeg Jets
Nobody on the Ducks is set to wow anyone this season, but they will help out your fantasy hockey team. This is especially true if you can take advantage later in the draft or even while picking through the waiver wire during the season. Some chemistry is already there, and more will form with some of the new talent.
Make sure to check out all of the sleepers and breakouts of the 2023 fantasy hockey season!