Evgeny Svechnikov

Known for his explosive scoring drive, Svechnikov has the tools to be successful in both the NHL and fantasy hockey arena this season. Detroit chose the Russian phenom in the first round (19th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and he's since appeared in 16 games at the highest level, collecting two goals and a pair of helpers. The 21-year-old with the Halloween birthday spent most of the last two seasons spooking AHL goalies to the tune of 33 goals and 54 assists over 155 contests between the regular season and Calder Cup playoffs. Flanking the right side, he won a championship with the AHL's Griffins in 2017 and is now entering the entering the "prove it" stage of a three-year, entry-level contract. Various scouts expect the 6-foot-3, 213-pound power winger to eventually settle into a top-six role with a franchise that tends to promote from within, but he must overcome a late preseason injury that saw him go on the non-roster IR at the outset of the 2018-19 campaign.

The 19th overall pick from the 2015 draft, Svechnikov burst onto the scene by securing a game-winning shootout goal on home ice upon his NHL debut for the Red Wings last April. Prior to that highlight, the Russian dazzled scouts with his seamless transition to North American hockey -- he racked up 157 points in 105 career games spanning two seasons with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL, then subsequently unloaded 20 goals and 31 assists on AHL opponents for a Grand Rapids squad that ended up claiming the 2017 Calder Cup. The 20-year-old winger will compete for a roster spot out of training camp in September, but his minor-league teammate Tyler Bertuzzi is said to be the frontrunner for an NHL job, which may limit Svechnikov’s fantasy value to keeper formats.