All points leagues are different, but most points leagues will favor goals over assists with extra points for plus-minus shots and blocks. Here are a few points league sleepers to bump up your ranks if you’re in a points league this upcoming fantasy hockey season.
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Points League Sleepers for 2020-21 Fantasy Hockey
Oliver Bjorkstrand – LW/RW, CBJ
Oliver Bjorkstand was on pace for a 35-goal season in 2019 which would have tied him with Nate MacKinnon for 9th in the NHL. He ended up with 21 goals in 49 games still leading the team in that department. Bjorkstrand is definitely someone worth moving up the ranks with his scoring potential. He was a top 40 player in HDCF% (High danger scoring chances). High danger scoring chances? Please sir, can I have some more of that please! It’s one of my favorite advanced stats for fantasy as I want guys that are getting scoring opportunities in the most important places. Also, as stated in a previous article, the Jackers are looking to push the tempo for the 2020-21 season which bodes well for Bjorkstrand’s outlook.
Charlie McAvoy – D, BOS
Torey Krug’s departure leaves a vacant spot on the power-play for someone to quarterback and it’ll be McAvoy’s job to lose. Although he hasn’t shown much goal potential in his young career this will be a clear opportunity to shine and we could really see him blossom this season if all goes well. He deserves extra attention in points leagues as he posts top notch plus-minus numbers with a +24 (6th in NHL), 13th in the NHL in blocks and a top-20 defensemen in hits. Sign me up for McAvoy.
Tyler Toffoli – LW/RW, MTL
Not to bore you with too many advanced metrics but it’s always a good way to look at certain scoring opportunities. Montreal Canadiens players were all over the top of lists in Corsi and Fenwick last season and now add winger Tyler Toffoli to a top-6 role. Toffoli has been all over the shots on goal list himself over the past few seasons. Top 30 last season with 203 and over 225 Shots in back-to-back seasons prior. Now he joins the Habs who were 2nd in the NHL in shots on goal per game. You’ll be happy you didn’t pass on Toffoli this time around
Elias Lindholm – C/RW, CGY
Elias Lindholm was a bright spot for the Flames last season leading the team in goals with 29 (18th in NHL) and third on the team in shots on goal. He finished the season as a point per game player and is locked into a top-6 role with the team. Don’t let him slip too far down the draft boards with that top 25 shooting percentage.
Dominik Kubalik – LW/RW, CHI
Kubalik had a fantastic rookie campaign scoring 30-goals ranking him 17th in the NHL. Not too shabby for your first season while also showing no jitters in his first playoffs racking up 3-goals in the first round versus the Oilers. There’s no reason Kubalik can’t improve on his 2019-20 numbers as he’s locked into a top-6 role with the hawks. The Hawks were in the top half in shots per game with young stars blooming in Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach mixing well the veterans Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. One of the more impressive stats from last season was Kubalik’s 1.70 goals per 60 minutes on 5v5. That ranked 1st in the NHL ahead of the likes of Ovechkin and Pastrnak. Kubalik is definitely a name to keep tabs on in your points league drafts with his scoring prowess.
Honorable mention*
William Nylander – C/RW, TOR
William Nylander is a bit of a hard player to gauge in fantasy circles for me. And I apologize for the confusion but as I am a Torontonian, Nylander is a player that tends to go quite high in my home leagues and certainly wouldn’t qualify as a sleeper to some. Now maybe take what I have to say with a grain of salt, or a teaspoon, or well I’m really not too handy around the kitchen but I expect big things from Nylander in 2020-21.
The Leafs play in an up-tempo style with Sheldon Keefe behind the bench and you also don’t have to worry about Mike Babcock sending Nylander up and down the lines as he’s locked into a top-6 role with the club. Nylander finished 15th in the NHL last season with 31 goals and was on pace for 37 in a full 82-game season. He passes the advanced metrics test with a top 50 Corsi score, top 30 offensive zone start%, and seventh in iHDCF individual high danger scoring chances. So put Nylander high up your points league ranks as 40 goals is definitely in the realm of possibility for the 2020-21 season.
Mike’s Points League Sleepers is just the tip of the iceberg! We’ll be pumping out lots more great Fantasy Hockey content in the coming weeks!
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