Derek Stepan - where do we value this guy

[kovalchuk17]

This guy puts up 44 points in 48 games in the lockout year.

This year:
Pre-Olympic - 35 points in 59 games (not good)
Post-Olympic - 22 points in 23 games (great)

His on-ice s% is 6.83% (which is low) but his PDO is decent at 1011 but that is carried by a high on-ice sv%. He also put up a career-low s% of 8.5%. With Nash and St.Louis his likely linemates next year, where should we peg his production?

60-65? 65 with upside?

He's on my keeper bubble at the moment and if he has a solid shot at 65+ then hes a good candidate to be kept.

[forumname]

I would be comfortable assuming 65 points from him. As with any player, you may win and you may not. Who are your other keeper considerations?

[lucifer316]

60-65 is right about where i have him with an occasional flirt with 70

[Laendarian]

I think he's a good candidate keeper, I think 60-65 is a safe projection from him, and personally I like him to be in that 70 or better range next season. His linemates will be Nash and MSL in all likelihood and with the likes of Zuccarello/Kreider/Hagelin/Richards all in the mix for top 6 spots I'd say he will be in a good spot to build on this campaign.

[fungchen3]

68-76 for Stepan. He's a very underrated player.

[kovalchuk17]

I would be comfortable assuming 65 points from him. As with any player, you may win and you may not. Who are your other keeper considerations?

The league has 13 managers, keep 6 + 1 rookie. I have two keeper spots remaining, I was originally planning on acquiring 2 fringe keepers for picks at the keeper draft then noticed Stepan had a good finish to the season.

Stepan, Schwartz, Elias, mcdonagh, sekera, and green are my choices at the moment.

[SeaDawg]

I agree with the others on Stepan. I think he is a lock for 60-65 pts, with potential for 70.

[donpaulo]

Speaking with the bias of a rangers fan I can tell you the following

DStep was clearly fighting it early on. He and his agent held out for the money which I am sure they both are happy with, however it adversely affected his performance. It was clear to see, he was talking to himself during the breaks and his body language (from what I could see) was a mix of discomfort and a lack of fitness. The numbers as posted by the OP clearly show it...

Do not judge him on this season. I think he puts up 25 and 40 next season with the potential for more assists if Nash can get himself in gear.

NY doesn't have a better centerman right now so look for DStep to get some serious icetime next season. Perhaps on certain nights Brass or Richards might outpoint him but that will be the exception and not the rule.

Plenty of powerplay time and quality wingers means he is pretty much a lock for good production

[Pengwin7]

I agree with others, I peg Stepan at 62-65pts.

[kovalchuk17]

looks like ill be keeping stepan, just because at minimum it looks like he'll be playing between elite wingers for the forseeable future. if nash can get his head out of his ass and produce like normal instead of his 49-point pace this season, stepan has a chance at hitting 70 since everyone is already in agreement that hes a good candidate for 60s.

[Shiva Blaster]

looks like ill be keeping stepan, just because at minimum it looks like he'll be playing between elite wingers for the forseeable future. if nash can get his head out of his ass and produce like normal instead of his 49-point pace this season, stepan has a chance at hitting 70 since everyone is already in agreement that hes a good candidate for 60s.

Hate to burst your bubble, but Nash is not elite and neither is Brad Richards. If you are looking for those two to prop up Stepan's stats 'for the foreseeable future', I think you are going to be sorely disappointed. I see Stepan as a 60-65 point player, I wouldn't let who he's playing with skew your view of him.

[lucifer316]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Nash is not elite and neither is Brad Richards. If you are looking for those two to prop up Stepan's stats 'for the foreseeable future', I think you are going to be sorely disappointed. I see Stepan as a 60-65 point player, I wouldn't let who he's playing with skew your view of him.

Richards is centering his own line, MSL is the other winger on Stepan's line

[Shiva Blaster]

Richards is centering his own line, MSL is the other winger on Stepan's line

I wouldn't consider MSL elite either......in Tampa with Stammer he provided elite production, but I don't see that coming to fruition in NY. I don't see MSL cracking 70 points again.

[lucifer316]

I wouldn't consider MSL elite either......in Tampa with Stammer he provided elite production, but I don't see that coming to fruition in NY. I don't see MSL cracking 70 points.

between 05-06 and 08-09, pre-Stamkos, MSL had 326 points in 326 games

we must have entirely different definitions of elite if a ppg player is not an elite player

[kovalchuk17]

i suppose 'elite' is the operative term, i likely used it too liberally when describing nash. stlouis is on that elite bubble though. that being said, im looking at 60-65 with upside from stepan. not too many in the #60-90 player (78 players + up to 13 rookies kept) range with that kind of potential production.