Well he won't be a PPG player this year, but yes I do believe he's for real. He's not a typical rookie, as he spent the last 5 years (including this year) playing in the KHL against grown men. He didn't come from a junior league, so he's a little more mature (being 21 helps) and has that experience against older stronger players.
Long-term he's a great player to own. I was a little cautious with his one-year outlook because I wasn't sure how the Blues would use him (didn't know if he'd get enough PP time). But it looks like they're putting him in a situation to succeed, and he's come through to this point. I'd still temper expectations a bit for this year since I'm sure he'll slump at some point and maybe he loses that PP time when that happens. But for the future he's one of the best young players to own.
20 Team Dynasty (points per) - G (25, 50 for defense) A (25) PIM (3) PPP (15) SHP (25) OTG (15) GWG (25) HTr (50) SOW (75) HIT (1) BLK (2) W (50) SHO (100) OTL (10) GA (-15) SV (2) Use actual NHL salary
Start 12 F, 6 D, 1G weekly
F: Kucherov, Marchand, Barkov, Gaudreau, Laine, Aho, Dubois, Dadonov, Huberdeau, Trocheck, Bertuzzi, Beauvillier, Khaira, Grigorenko
D: Ekman-Larsson, Yandle, Edler, Pulock, Borowiecki, Weegar, Mike Reilly
G: Andersen, Hart
Farm: Boldy, Beckman, Wise, Mascherin, Kovalenko, Manukyan, Walker, Morozov, Shafigullin, Palmu, Tychonic, Zhuravlyov, Kesselring, Zamula, Lankinen, Sogaard, Ingram, Rybar