Dmen Sleeper Picks for 2015-2016

[pmorrow]

Who you got this season?

Define "sleeper" however you'd like. For example, in a 10 team, 4 D league James Wisniewski is a sleeper. In a 20 team, 6 D league Cody Ceci is a sleeper. And so on.

[chuckcouples]

Colin Miller from Boston is a really deep sleeper. If he makes the Bruins (and Seidenberg is already out and Chara left tonight's game in the 1st period) he should get PP time while racking up a good number of hits and shots.

[Axeman33]

Stefan Elliott
Nikita Nesterov
Brian Dumoulin
Dmitry Orlov

[vallaird]

David Savard in Columbus. I would also keep an eye on Zadorov in Colorado and Ceci in Ottawa. I also agree with Colin Miller in Boston, with Chara and Seidenberg out, he is suddenly in a great position.

[evans334]

I've been keeping an eye on Colton Parayko in St Louis and snagged him off the wire in the WHL this morning.

I would say for very deep leagues only.

He's had some pretty good stat lines in two pre-season games so far:
http://blues.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/b...?id=2015010025
http://blues.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/b...?id=2015010039

[Pengwin7]

^Nice list by Axeman on the deeper sleepers.


One of my favourite ways to search out a D-sleeper is to look at teams and determine where a PP-opportunity has opened up.
Most D-men with decent offensive skills will put up 25-30 points even-strength (ESP).

We typically think of a "quality" D, in fantasy hockey, as a 40+pt scorer.
So - to get there, a D-man needs to be able to put up about 15+pts on the power-play (PPP)

25 ESP + 15 PPP = 40pts.
Presto! There's your 40pt D-man.

Last summer, myself & another predicted Trevor Daley to be last year's best "sleeper"... because he was a 20-25pt ESP D-man that was going to have a PP role.
Daley was exactly that, a guy that got PP time and paced for 40+ pts!!!

So that's the key, IMO, year-to-year, is to look for that guy that may get the PP-opp to go with his ESP.

It starts with looking at PP D-men who have LEFT their team from last year... and then realize who might step into that role:

These aren't deep sleepers, shallow sleepers:
I like Andrej Sekera playing PP1 or PP2 in Edmonton. He had 23pts last year, but he could vault to 40+.
I like Matt Irwin playing PP2 in Boston. Especially with Hamilton moved on to CGY and Chara possibly old/wonky, there's opp there and Irwin has done well so far in pre-season.
I like Matt Niskanen playing PP1 or PP2 in Washington. With Mike Green departed, it'll be Carlson/Niskanen taking turns as the 1D on the WAS two PP units.
New Jersey will have a guy emerge onto their PP... I'm not completely sure who that'll be, keep an eye on whether it is Adam Larsson, Eric Gelinas, Severson or Merrill. Zidlikcy departed at trade deadline last year.
John Klingberg is not really a sleeper after 40pt year, but... I do think he could go as high as 60pts if he runs the full 2min of the DAL PP... they have nobody else really. (Goligoski is not a slick passer, he'll be PP2 though.)
Derrick Pouliot is supposed to be the emerging PP2 guy in PIT - but it won't completely surprise me if Gonchar gets a sign-on, plays 3rd line sheltered pairing minutes, and is given a ton of PP time.
The PIT PP hasn't been ELECTRIC since Gonchar left... and with all those weapons, what PIT really really needs at the point is an elite hockey mind & passer - and Gonchar is better than Letang (IMO) in that regard.
I know he's 41... but I honestly won't be shocked if he makes the team.

[2014olympicgold]

A powerplay that is: Benn-Spezza-Seguin Klingberg-Sharp Is going to be insane, and with little help after the top line, they’ll be on the ice for 90% of the powerplays. I’d be going after Klingberg hard.

[Bass56]

No one listed Olli?? What's the Maatta with you??

[Nikerato]

Lots of good names listed.

I would add some names to the list:

- Dumba. He's gonna be a good one as he gets more PP time. It's not like they have anybody else that's good at it.
- If you're gonna list Colin Miller then you also gotta add Joe Morrow.
- Klefbom. Big new contract, big opportunities.
- Gostisbehere. He'll be their first call-up, and if the reports of a trade involving Luke Schenn are true, then this guy will be the first to benefit.
- Two guys that are set to get more PP time are Bogosian and Ryan Murphy. Bogosian has upside still but is a bandaid boy; if he plays north of 70 games you could very well have something. Murphy needs to make the team.. he's terrible in his own zone so he's a big if.
- McNabb. If 30 points has value in your league, this guy could get you there. Has upside for more too but unlikely to hit it on the Kings. Campbell​ could also come back and get 30+ points.
- Morgan Rielly. He was nearly at 0.5ppg for the last 30 games or so. Definitely has the talent to continue that trend.

[Crazy Joe Davola]

Not all super sleepers but i'm liking...

Matt Dumba
David Savard
Nikita Nesterov
Rasmus Ristoleinen
Cody Ceci
Ryan Ellis
Shayne Ghosty Ghost - Philly needs to move at least one bloated contract out to fit him in. Xmas call up perhaps?

[potatoetree]

Zadorov and Dumba

[ridethesnow]

ekholm hasnt been mentioned... Nashville is stacked on defense but hes been just under 0.5 points per game so far as a youngster playing limited minutes. I think he has a 30+ point season.

[pmorrow]

I'll add Nathan Beaulieu. Looked good at the end of last season.

Also Evgeni Medvedev in Philly.

[yougo]

I'll add Nathan Beaulieu. Looked good at the end of last season.

Also Evgeni Medvedev in Philly.

I was about to say I'm surprise nobody mentionned Beaulieu.

He's one Markov injury from PP1 duties. He's already cemented himself as a legitimate top4 D. Odds are he won't be deployed by Therrien as a top 4 D though as Therrien loves Emelin.

But.

Beaulieu is a fixture on the Habs 2nd PP unit. The PP struggled last season and is bound to improve this year. I wouldn't rule out a 30 pts season from Beaulieu. He also has a temper and can give you PIM.

[STONE.]

Somebody in Vancouver will step up. Edler was given the reins last year and didn't do enough. Bieksa used to get some time on PP2 as well. He's gone.
That's perennially a top 10 PP and last year, they didn't have a good D-man in the group.

Weber? Hamhuis? Corrado?

I was hopeful for Clendening. Ugh.