WNBA Best Bets (Wednesday 9/25)
Josh Gross
Below you’ll see a few fantasy hockey bounceback candidates for the 2024-25 season in the NHL.
The easiest way to identify a bounceback candidate in fantasy hockey is to not only look at last season’s numbers but to look at years prior. They have to have some sort of a track record in the NHL, so don’t expect to see a sophomore or third-year player on the list below. Those types of players can be found in the breakout section of the fantasy hockey draft kit.
Most of the players you’ll see either suffered from a low-shooting percentage, coaching change mid-way through the season which benefited them later on, or a change of scenery. Most of the time it’s as simple as a move to another team or a loss/addition of a linemate that can open up a larger role.
Check out the full fantasy hockey draft guide!
2024-2025 Fantasy Hockey Bouncebacks
Tage Thompson, C/RW, Buffalo Sabres
After back-to-back seasons with a 15% shooting rate, Thompson’s percentage dropped to 11.8%. It wasn’t a huge dropoff, but he scored 47 goals in 2022 and 38 in 2021. He managed to find the back of the net 28 times last season, but I think he can get back up to 35-plus goals. Keep in mind he dealt with a wrist injury last season, which may have resulted in a lower number. He was a late first-/early second-round pick this time last season, and you can get him in the fifth round this year.
Mikhail Sergachev, D, Utah Hockey Club
Sergachev missed time last season due to fractures to his left tibia and fibula. He was unlikely to replicate the 64-point season he had in 2022-23, because Victor Hedman took his spot back on the top power play, but he doesn’t have to deal with Hedman this season. Sergachev has a fresh start in Utah where he’ll most definitely be on the number one power play. He had a career-high 27 power play points in 2022 when he was on the first unit, and although the Utah power play won’t be as strong as Tampa’s that season, the usage rate will be high. Wheels up for Hedman as he’s back in the top-five conversation at defense, and his former teammate isn’t far behind.
Tim Stutzle, C/LW, Ottawa Senators
Stutzle scored 39 goals and had 90 points in 78 games in 2022-23, but he took a big step back in the goal department last season. The Sens’ center only scored 18 goals thanks to a career-low 9.4% shooting rate. If you can believe it, he only has one power play goal after scoring 17 total in his two previous seasons. I don’t think he’ll flirt with 40 goals, but he can get to 30. He has 50-plus assists in back-to-back seasons, and he has at least 100 hits in three straight seasons.
Andrei Svechnikov, W, Carolina Hurricanes
I tried to leave off players who dealt with injuries, but Svechnikov has really battled over the past couple of years. He was limited to 59 games last season and 64 in 2022. He was still able to top 50 points in both of those seasons, including 52 last year. He’s not quite a point-per-game player, but 70 is within reach. Carolina lost a couple of players up front, so this could be his best season to date.
Jeff Skinner, LW, Edmonton Oilers
Skinner’s 82-point season from 2022 will go down as an outlier. However, he could flirt with 70 points in Edmonton, given their firepower. Skinner has five 30 goal seasons on his resume, and I’d say the 24 he recorded last season is his floor with the Oilers.
Brandon Montour, D, Seattle Kraken
Montour also had an outlier season in 2022 with the Panthers that saw him score 16 goals and register 73 points in 80 games. The power play won’t be dominant in Seattle like it was in Florida, but he’ll be the anchor on PP1, and he’ll make it better. Montour is a player who touches a lot of categories and isn’t afraid to shoot the puck. He’ll improve on his 8-goal, 33-point season last year.
Other Candidates
Jake Guentzel, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Elias Lindholm, C, Boston Bruins
Patrik Laine, LW, Montreal Canadiens
Artturi Lehkonen, RW, Colorado Avalanche
Viktor Arvidsson, LW, Edmonton Oilers
Matty Beniers, C, Seattle Kraken
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Tomas Hertl, C, Vegas Golden Knights
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, Washington Capitals
Trevor Zegras, C/RW, Anaheim Ducks
Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils
Darnell Nurse, D, Edmonton Oilers
Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa Senators
Jacob Markstrom, G, New Jersey Devils
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning
Darcy Kuemper, G, Los Angeles Kings
