Next up in our 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers series is the Dallas Stars. The Stars are heading into the 2023-24 season with high expectations, and this is understandable. With elite players like Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, Joe Pavelski, and Jake Oettinger leading the way, the Stars should do damage. However, they also have some sleepers whom fantasy managers should consider selecting for their teams. Let’s discuss them now.
2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers of the Dallas Stars
Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene will be a man on a mission in 2023-24. The veteran forward was surprisingly bought out by the Nashville Predators right before free agency began this summer. The 32-year-old had performed fairly well in 2022-23, too, posting 22 goals and 58 points in 71 games. However, the Predators felt that he did not live up to his contract, and now he is a Star because of it. This change of scenery should do him wonders.
Duchene is joining a deep Stars team full of skilled forwards. Meanwhile, he played for an offensively weak Predators team last season. Now that he will have more weapons to work with, his production should improve rather noticeably. Keep in mind, he just posted a 43-goal and 86-point campaign for Nashville in 2021-22. Thus, he is a sleeper who you should take a chance on this year in fantasy.
Wyatt Johnston
Wyatt Johnston is another Stars sleeper to watch closely this season. The 20-year-old forward had a successful rookie season last year, posting 24 goals and 41 points in 82 games. Now, he is looking to build off his strong season with an even better one in 2023-24. He should have zero trouble doing just that, too, as he has gained more NHL experience.
Johnston is expected to be slotted in the Stars’ top six this season. With that, his excellent offensive IQ and playmaking ability will surely give him power-play time. With this increased role, we should see Johnston’s production improve. Furthermore, the 2021 first-round pick has a ton of potential, so we should see him take that next step this year. Due to all of this, don’t be afraid to take a chance on him in your fantasy hockey draft once the stars are gone.
Ty Dellandrea
Ty Dellandrea is another former first-round pick by the Stars. However, unlike Johnston, his offense has not taken off too significantly just yet. The 23-year-old had a solid year in 2022-23, however, posting new career highs in goals (9), assists (19), and points (28). With that, he made a big impact physically, recording 125 hits.
Dellandrea is heading in the right direction with his development, and the 2023-24 season could be his biggest year yet. If his offensive totals improve this season, he will be a sneaky good addition to your fantasy club this season. The tools to become an impactful gritty forward are there, so let’s see if he takes a major step forward this campaign.
It will be interesting to see how well these three Stars sleepers perform this upcoming season from here. Duchene and Johnston certainly should be in for big years, but we should also not rule out Dellandrea having a breakout season. Thus, give these three some consideration in your upcoming fantasy drafts.
Make sure to check out all of the sleepers and breakouts of the 2023 fantasy hockey season!