Points only dynasty: Palat or Stepan?

[loco man]

Who'd you rather own?

Thanks

[Axeman33]

Palat for me, but it's close.

[The Bottlenecker]

I agree with Axeman that it is close, but I prefer Stepan. I think there is more highly touted prospects in TB, Drouin & Namestinikov to name a couple, vying for top 6 minutes and who will eventually take some of those minutes from Palat. Stepan doesn't have that problem on a still very good Rangers team.

[franklin]

It's close but Palat.

[Goldendelicious]

Stepan for me. I need to see more than just one explosive season out of Palat to be a true believer

[Happy Hour]

Palat's position in the top 6 is safe so long as he continues to click with Kuch and TJ. Drouin should get a spot with Stamkos this year or next and I don't see Namestnikov putting Palat in jeopardy anytime soon, if anything I think Killorn is the one in jeopardy. I like Palat here.

[Pengwin7]

Stepan for me.
He's good enough for PP1 time.

Palat is the two-way guy on the TJ/Kucherov line.
Yes, there's a lot of token points to be had just from playing with those two... and Palat is a good player in his own right.
But he doesn't get PP1 time. Just 11 PPP last year - something that we'll see continue, especially as guys like Drouin rise up.
That means Palat had 50+ ESP last year, a tough feat to repeat.

Personally, I think Palat settles in as a 55-60pt NHL player who is perhaps a Selke candidate each year.
Think Patrice Bergeron on the wing. [True note: I wrote the sentence before I found the link by googling: Palat Selke.]
Do you want that kind of guy in fantasy hockey?
[Real hockey, oh yes! Fantasy... meh.]

Meanwhile, Derek Stepan has been trending up for about 5 straight years... but disguising it a bit.
His 44pt in 48gp season of '12-'13 is disguised as a short season.
His 57pts in 82gp season of '13-'14 is disguised by an abnormally low shooting percentage (8.5%)
His 55pts in 68gp season of '14-'15 is disguised by missing 14gp due to injury... but it's a 66pt pace.

He's a sleeper for 70pts if he plays 82gp.
If the NYR PP clicks with Keith Yandle, we could be getting that 50 ESP + 20 PPP from Mr.Stepan.
And, last year's 14 games missed was the first games missed of his 5 year NHL career.
And... he's just 25 years old. [Don't be fooled by the receding hairline?!! LOL.]

[ericdaoust]

I'd go with Stepan as well. He has more potential for further improvement.

[Zorro]

Palat is so underrated in fantasy circles.. I really like Stepan though and think he will out point Palat just by a bit..

Tough choice.. Great debate!!

[Nikerato]

I think they're both underrated haha.

I would say flip a coin; but if you forced me to choose just one I would pick Stepan based on the reasons that Pengwin stated. Stepan is better than Brassard and will continue to get the PP1 time no matter how good or bad they both are (relative to each other).

[sharpp87]

another vote for Stepan here.

[FinnishFlash]

Coin flip, but I'll give the edge to Palat. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet.

In a multi cat though I'd prefer Palat by a larger margin.