2018-19 Fantasy Hockey Right Wing Rankings

Below are my 2018-19 Fantasy Hockey Right Wing Rankings. There won’t be much movement from now until puck drop, but the latest can be found on FantasyPros. I’ve touched on a few left wing targets, busts, breakouts and deep league targets.

The right wing position is just full of players I love. Snipers too. Nikita Kucherov is my second ranked player after Connor McDavid. Patrik Laine, David Pastrnak, Blake Wheeler and Vladimir Tarasenko are all strong targets. Mikko Rantanen, Clayton Keller and Mitch Marner are all strong keeper targets. This position has a lot to offer as you’ll see below.

Fantasy Hockey Rankings: Goalie | Left Wing | Right Wing | Centers | Defensemen

Fantasy Hockey: Right Wing Targets

David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins

David Pastrnak backed up his 34-goal season in 2016-17 by scoring 35 last year. He also added 10 more points for 70. Pastrnak was part of one of the best lines offensively and defensively with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Pastrnak has 23 goals and 50 power play points in his last two seasons. He’s also racked up 508 shots over that span. The Bruins’ sniper took it to another level in the playoffs with six goals, 20 points and 44 shots in 12 games. He finished as a Top 12 fantasy player last season and is getting drafted outside the second round.

Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner struggled so much in the first part of his sophomore season he was demoted to fourth line duties. He turned things around pretty quickly and scored an impressive 35 points in his final 31 games. Marner improved on his 19 goals and 61 points from his rookie season by notching 22 goals and 69 points in 2017. Now he’ll get to play with either John Tavares (most likely) or Auston Matthews. That’s a pretty significant upgrade from his regular center last which was Tyler Bozak. Marner’s 85 takeaways last season was the fourth most in the NHL and his 67 in his rookie season was the ninth highest. Marner is entering the final year of his rookie deal and could make for a great sell-high candidate depending on your keeper team outlook in Fantrax’s salary cap format. 80-90 points are within reach with Marner. He’s a great third round pick and an even better fourth rounder if he falls.

Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks

Brock Boeser was fantastic in his rookie season and may have won the Calder Trophy if not for a couple injuries which slowed him down. Boeser scored 29 goals and had 55 points in 62 games. He has a great release and isn’t afraid to let it rip. Boeser picked up 10 power play goals and had 23 total points on the man advantage. 200-plus shots and 30-35 goals are within reach in his sophomore season. He’ll get all the ice time one can dream of, which includes top power play time. 

Patric Hornqvist, Pittsburgh Penguins

If you’re playing with hits, shots, power play points and penalty minutes, Patric Hornqvist should be on your list of targets. Hornqvist has over 500 hits and 34 power play goals in his last three seasons. The right winger has had at least 220 shots and 20 plus goals in eight of his 10 seasons. His rookie year and lockout season are the only two in which he never hit those marks. He’s one of the few who touch all categories while playing with high skilled guys every night.

Others to consider: Mike Hoffman, Kyle Palmieri, James Neal 

Fantasy Hockey: Right Wing Busts

Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins

When Phil Kessel was traded to Pittsburgh three years ago he had 50-goal and 100-point expectations. They were completely unfair, but the excitement of playing with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin was there. Kessel never really clicked with either in his first year in Pittsburgh, but had a respectable 26 goals and 59 points. It was well below his two 37-goal and 80-point seasons in Toronto. Kessel improved in year two, playing mostly with Evgeni Malkin (Crosby on power play). It was a very unimpressive 23 goals by his standards, but he had 70 points. It was a sign of thing to come as Kessel got back in the 30-goal column with 34 snipes and a career-high 92 points on 2017. His 58 assists and 42 power play points were also career highs. In fact, Kessel led the league in power play points and his point total was good enough for a seventh place finish. All of this, while playing on the third line at times. There were reports of a possible trade to free up some cap space, which would hurt his value. He’s also not as appealing in some formats that count for hits, penalty minutes and blocks. 90 points may be a bit of a stretch this season. 

Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings

Dustin Brown had a career season in his 14th year in the NHL. He was one of the better late-round picks or waiver wire adds of 2017. Especially in leagues with shots, hits and penalty minutes. Brown touches a lot of categories while playing in the top six. He scored 28 goals (most since 2009), had a career high 33 assists and 61 points. He looked like the Brown of old who had five straight 50-point seasons from 2006-2011. The 19:50 per game Brown played last season was the highest over the last five years. It’s not a stretch to think Brown can flirt with 60 points again, but I wouldn’t count on 28 goals. If you don’t play with hits or penalty minutes he’s a pass. 

Other candidates: William Nylander, Tyler Johnson, Corey Perry

Fantasy Hockey: Right Wing Breakouts

J.T. Miller, Tampa Bay Lightning

J.T. Miller may lose his C and RW eligibility in some leagues, but if it means playing with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, so be it. The Lightning acquired Miller from the Rangers at the trade deadline last season, and it didn’t take him long to get on the top line. Miller scored 10 goals and had 18 points in 19 games with Tampa Bay. He also had 41 hits and 45 shots on goal with six power play points. Miller touches all categories and is surrounded by talented players. The Lightning signed Miller to a 5-year, $26.25 million contract this past summer. He enters this season having scored a career-high 23 goals and 58 points last season. He has at least 20 goals over his last three seasons and is a lock to hit that mark again in 2018. Miller is bound to set career highs again this season. 

Nick Bjugstad, Florida Panthers

After scoring only seven goals and 14 points in 2016-17, Nick Bjugstad scored 19 goals last season and had a career-high 48 points and 230 shots. Bjugstad only managed 22 points in his first 47 games before notching 26 points in his final 34 contests. His strong play resulted in a promotion to the top line alongside Aleksander Barkov. Bjugstad has the potential to hit the 60-point mark, provide plenty of shots and hits while contributing on the power play. He’s one of the better sleepers out there and primed for a breakout season.

Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers

Travis Konecny has breakout written all over him in 2018-19. The 2015 first-round pick had a very slow start to last season, but he found his way on the top line with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier by the end of it. After only scoring four goals and 13 points in his first 38 games, Konecny notched 20 goals and 34 points in his final 43 games. He also went from playing 11:18 minutes a game in December to 17:54 in February. It remains to be seen if he can fight off Wayne Simmonds for a top six role with the addition of James van Riemsdyk, but it’s worth finding out on draft day. Konecny is skilled enough and proved he belonged with the big boys last season and throughought the playoffs. He contributed in the hits, blocks, shots and takeaway categories as well. Don’t count on much power play production, though, as Simmonds has that spot on lockdown.

Other candidates: Ondrej Kase, Pavel Buchnevich, Artturi Lehkonen

Fantasy Hockey: Late Round Targets

Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators

I don’t consider Mark Stone a late-round pick, but he’s falling down draft boards. He missed a chunk of time last season so he’s buried down ADP lists, but the fact that he plays for Ottawa is making a lot of people want to look elsewhere. Stone has a ton of fantasy value in leagues with shots, hits and takeaways. He only played 58 games last season, but managed to score 20 goals for the fourth straight campaign. He also had 62 points which was the third time he’s hit the 60-point mark. Impressive, because he’s only played four full seasons in the NHL. Stone has 249 points in 307 games and has 613 total shots. Stone will play top line minutes this season and could even find himself on a new team by the end of the year. He’s one of the better RW values out there with Top 10 upside at his position. Don’t let a potential bad plus/minus shy you away. You don’t even need to draft him early, just make sure you get him.

Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets

Much like Stone, I don’t think Cam Atkinson is a late round target, but he’s getting drafted as one. Atkinson was one of the biggest busts in the first half of 2017. He only had seven goals and 14 points in his first 33 games and suffered an injury which had him sidelined for almost 20 games. It’s probably the reason many don’t want to draft him again. He was dropped almost everywhere, but if you grabbed him you loved every minute of it. Atkinson turned it around nicely in the second half with 17 goals and 32 points in his final 32 games. He caught fire on a line with Artemi Panarin and Pierre-Luc Dubois, and the trio are expected to start 2018 together. Atkinson has always been a volume shooter, but he had 35 more shots in his final 32 games than his first 33. He had nine fewer shots than his career high set in 2016-17 with 17 fewer games played. Atkinson is a good bet for 200 shots and 20 plus goals in what would be the sixth straight time hitting those numbers. The Blue Jacket’s winger is one of the better values out there.

Alex Tuch, Vegas Golden Knights

Alex Tuch had a solid 15 goals, 37 points, 99 hits, 171 shots and 10 power play points in his first NHL season. He carried that over into the playoffs as he picked up six goals and 10 points. He skated on the power play and received more ice as the playoffs went on. He has a chance to skate on Vegas’ second line with Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny which would be great for his value. Even if he doesn’t Tuch has 20 goal potential while hitting other categories. There are not too many out there who can provide 20 goals and power play production in the last round of drafts.

Others to consider: Ty Rattie, Oliver Bjorkstrand

Fantasy Hockey: Right Wing Rankings