RADIO
Alas, the offseason has flown by faster than Connor McDavid. It feels like just last week we saw Alexander Ovechkin drunkenly swimming in a public fountain during the aftermath of the Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup victory. Now, we stand on the precipice of the 2018-19 NHL season which also means fantasy hockey draft day is soon approaching. This piece will be going over five breakout forwards that can offer considerable value to fantasy managers.
To be clear, a breakout forward is not necessarily a player that became a star out of nowhere. These players, for the most part, are all well-known NHLers that have had varying levels of production in previous seasons. For the most part, they have just never reached their ceiling. Nathan Mackinnon and Taylor Hall were two examples of this heading into 2017-18, while William Karlsson was a guy who had no expectations and completely excelled. All of the players in this piece should be widely available outside of the first five rounds of a fantasy draft.
Let's jump right in.
Alex DeBrincat - Chicago Blackhawks
This is primarily dependent on whether or not Joel Quenneville will stop being a buzzkill. An Alex DeBrincat, Nick Schmaltz, Patrick Kane line would be an incredible offensive display that forces some goalies to consider early retirement. DeBrincat predominantly played third-line minutes as a rookie last season, and still posted 28 goals, 24 assists, 12 PPP, and 181 shots on net in 72 games. The former OHL scoring champ played exclusively on Kane's wing during the 2018 World Championships with roaring success while the entire trio was dynamite during the 2017-18 preseason. Quenneville has been hesitant to put the group together due to a lack of defensive responsibility; however, with Schmaltz and DeBrincat a year older, he could finally give in and unleash the Blackhawks' top three offensive weapons. DeBrincat is unquestionably a top-six winger with an enviable PP1 role that could gain premium exposure to Patrick Kane for an entire season. He is currently the 127th player off of the board in Yahoo standard drafts. Snag him in a later round and reap the rewards as the former Erie Otters star is ready to break out in a substantial way.
Sebastian Aho - Carolina Hurricanes
Now, Sebastian Aho has been a reliable NHL player over the first two seasons of his budding career. He followed up a productive rookie season with 29 goals, 36 assists, 200 shots, and 16 PPP in 2017-18. The thing is, Aho is currently the 64th average pick off of the board on Yahoo fantasy this season. At that spot, he could be a bigger steal than a trade with Pierre Dorion. One of the most vital reasons for Aho's success is the incredible chemistry that has developed with linemate Teuvo Teravainen. The 2018 World Championships were a prime example, as the two dominated the tournament for Finland. Aho registered nine goals and nine assists in eight games en route to being named the best forward in the competition (over superstars Patrick Kane and Connor McDavid). The two Finns remain the focal point of the Carolina attack and will receive heavy minutes each night. The Hurricanes power play should also drastically improve, after being the 22nd ranked unit in the league last season. The additions of Dougie Hamilton and Andrei Svechnikov, who should both play on the PP1, will help Aho increase his totals on the man advantage. There has been a steady progression from Aho through his first two seasons, but 2018-19 is the year he will transform into a star. Reaching 35 goals and 80 points is a realistic possibility for the 21-year-old.
Ondrej Kase - Anaheim Ducks
As a sophomore last season, Ondrej Kase probably flew under the radar of most casual fans. The 22-year-old had 20 goals, 18 assists, and 146 shots on net in 66 games during 2017-18. The thing is, Kase was routinely playing bottom-six minutes (13:55 per game) without a ton of power play time (1:18 per game). Kase was an absolute force at creating offensive opportunities during 5-on-5 situations even though he was surrounded with mediocre talent. Kase looks poised to spring up the depth chart and firmly entrench himself as a top-six winger for the 2018-19 season. He possesses slick hands, swift feet, and offers dependable two-way play. He'll be a regular on the second power play unit and should slot in alongside Adam Henrique on the second line. With that being said, Corey Perry's production has been on a downward spiral for the past two seasons. If Perry keeps slumping, perhaps Kase could overtake him on the top line and gain exposure to Rickard Rakell and Ryan Getzlaf. All things considered, Kase is being drafted as the 169th player in Yahoo standard leagues. He displays the talent to be a 30 goal scorer in 2018-19 and is a must-draft in the later rounds.
Pierre-Luc Dubois - Columbus Blue Jackets
There was a time where the 2016 draft looked a bit ominous for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Those doubts were cast aside last season, as former third-overall pick Pierre-Luc Dubois shined as a rookie. Dubois tallied 20 goals, 28 assists, 15 powerplay points, and 165 shots on net through 82 games in 2017-18. He will start 2018-19 as the Blue Jackets' top center on a line with All-Star wingers Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson. Dubois should also see an uptick in power play time, as he'll be heavily used on the first unit. Dubois offers limitless potential as well as one of the most favorable offensive situations in the entire league. He is mentally, and physically stronger heading into his sophomore campaign. Dubois should crush his ADP of 147.5 and can end up as a solid C2 for fantasy owners.
Travis Konecny - Philadelphia Flyers
Two common trends among breakout picks are youth and favorable situations. Travis Konecny perfectly exemplifies both of these traits. The 21-year-old started 2017-18 on a quiet note, but Konecny absolutely exploded once he was moved up to the top line with Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier. After being placed on the top unit, he registered 20 goals and 17 assists in 41 games. His pugnacious style of play was the perfect complement to Giroux's high-end skill and Couturier's two-way play. It seems likely Konecny will start 2018-19 in the same role, which bodes well for his fantasy outlook. He should also see more time with the second power play unit this season. Furthermore, Konecny is an incredibly valuable player for banger league formats as he registered 97 hits and 53 blocked shots last season. As long as the former Ottawa 67’s star continues seeing first-line minutes, he will be able to smash his ADP of 157.1.
