Offseason Fantasy Quick Hits: Metropolitan Division – Carolina Hurricanes

By: Daniel Render

It’s already been a pretty wild off season in the NHL with lots of big names changing teams. As we are in the dog days of summer, we might as well get prepped for the 2016-17 season and discuss the fantasy impacts of all these moves. I introduce to you Offseason Fantasy Quick Hits. I will be discussing the fantasy impact of all major moves made by all NHL teams over the course of the summer.

Today, we start with the Carolina Hurricanes:

Carolina Hurricanes



Got: Bryan Bickell, Teuvo Teravainen, Viktor Stalberg, Lee Stempniak

Lost: Eric Staal, Kris Versteeg (both traded at last year’s trade deadline)

Fantasy Impact:

Carolina has officially moved past the Eric Staal era after he inked a 3 year deal with the Minnesota Wild this offseason. I don’t think this is a bad thing either as Staal’s better days are definitely behind him. Staal’s departure should directly increase the value of Victor Rask. He was already playing top 6 minutes last year and figures to take a larger role this year after putting up 48 points last year in his sophomore season and signing a 6 year contract extension this offseason. 60 points for him isn’t out of the question. He has really clicked with winger Elias Lindholm, whom I also expect to have a somewhat breakout year. Book Rask for 60 points and Lindholm for 55.

Lee Stempniak will replace the production of the departed Kris Versteeg. The inconsistent and streaky scorer can play right wing up and down the lineup and had a pretty impressive year last year on a New Jersey team devoid of talent. As Carolina lacks depth in their forward crops, I would expect Stempniak to put up similar production to last year where he played a full season and put up 51 points.

Tuevo Teravainen is a former first round pick who was traded from Chicago as their latest salary cap casualty. Tervainen will be 22 when the season starts and put up really impressive offensive numbers in the Finnish league 3 years back. While he set a new career high in points last year in his NHL sophomore season with 35, keep your expectations of Teravainen tempered. He is still young and will have his growing pains, but he is sure to get a lot more opportunity in Carolina then he would in Chicago. I’d target him as a late round sleeper in drafts, as a guy who will likely put up around 45-50 points but has the potential to put up 60 as early as this year, especially if he fills in the left wing slot on the Rask-Lindholm line and clicks with them.

Viktor Stalberg and Bryan Bickell are not fantasy relevant.

Your comments and questions are welcome below and I will try to answer as soon as I can. Also feel free to send all your fantasy hockey related questions to akiberg@gmail.com!