Cedric Paquette

Paquette is a valuable defensive center who loves to hit. Last season, he set a career mark in goals (13), but it came on the back of a grossly inflated shooting percentage, so it's safe to assume that there will be regression in that part of his game. However, Paquette's massive hit total -- he was sixth in the NHL with 269 in 2018-19 -- make him a decent, single-category fantasy contributor if your league counts that stat.

Paquette is a fourth-line grinder who's decent in the faceoff circle and willing to drop his gloves to protect his mates. General manager Steve Yzerman saw just enough in him to ink him to a one-year deal for this season. So at just 25 years old, Paquette is on the bubble. He delivered just nine points in 56 games in 2017-18 and didn't even lead the team in PIM, despite his propensity to protect. You just can't get fantasy value from a bubble guy.

Paquette is battling for a fourth-line gig with the Bolts after tallying 10 points and 80 PIM with the team last season. He plays far better on the ice than in the fantasy arena.

Paquette is the Bolts’ 12th or 13th forward. He’s versatile – he can score a little, agitate a lot and pick up a some decent numbers in hits and PIM. But hits aren’t a standard category, so when you strip them away, you’re left with 25- or 30-point fourth liner who might deliver 75 to 80 PIM. Not bad, per se. But that’s of almost no value if your league has positional requirements and lists him at center. You don’t want to use that deep position to roll a one-dimensional guy.

Paquette isn't the greatest or prettiest skater, but when he gets to top speed, he refuses to stop. He does it with a look in his eye that makes his opponents flinch first. Paquette is flat-out relentless on the forecheck and that will-not-stop mentality means he wins more games of chicken than he loses. Maybe it's that little bit of crazy in his eyes - we don't really know. He could be the Bolts' answer to Antoine Roussel if he improves his skating just a little bit (and finds the brake pedal every once in a while). Wait until he ever earns a full-time NHL gig before you even consider him worthy for your team, and even then, only in leagues that count penalty minutes. You'll enjoy watching him more than rolling him on your fantasy squad.