Frozen Fantasy: Preseason Gambles

The greatest game on earth is back. You and I love hockey. We might love fantasy hockey even more. And like me, you've been stalking the Twitter-verse for insights into preseason surprises. They make great gambles.

With your last few picks, of course. Not before.

Every year, there will be a few players who are serious overdrafts. And typically, they're always the next big things. Or at least that's what owners think. Every. Single. Year. Any chance Nico Hischier exceeds his $18 price tag at the RotoWire staff auction?

Not a chance. Not on THAT swampy team.

But every season, there are guys who truly surprise at camp and force their way onto – or up rosters. They're the kind of guys I gamble on late in my drafts. What's the worst thing that happens?

Toss 'em back and go waiver fishing early.

Here are a few of the players who caught my eye this preseason. I've already scooped up three (Boedker, Chabot and Djoos) and have my sights set on a few more. I gotta put my money where my own mouth is … right?

Here we go.

Mikkel Boedker, LW, San Jose (2 percent Yahoo owned) – Do NOT sleep on this guy. Boedker is set for a major bounce back this season and is showing off his speed and smarts in preseason play. The Sharks need to replace Patrick Marleau's speed and skill, and the door is wide open for this Dane. Remember – Boedker was a two-time 50-plus point winger in the three seasons before his arrival in San Jose last year. He might just end up being the cheapest 50-point guy you grab this draft or auction.

Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa (28 percent) – Everyone in Canada knows this kids's name. So does every dynasty league owner on the planet. Chabot is perhaps the top blue line prospect in the league and he's showing the poise of a grizzled veteran at just 20. Erik Karlsson won't be ready to play opening night and the Sens will look to Chabot to be the proverbial finger in the dike until he returns. I think he can do it. He can't replace Karlsson, but he can deliver solid offense and defense in Canada's capital.

Filip Chytil, C, New York Rangers (1 percent) – The 21st overall pick in 2017 has not only made the Rangers, he's about to start the season in the top six centering a line with Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello. Wow. No, WOW! Chytil is only 18, so there's a real chance he heads back to his junior club after nine games. But he has earned the role and his presence gives the Rangers a potent top nine. At worst, trade him after week one to that Rangers homer in your league and reap the reward.

Brett Connolly, RW, Washington (1 percent) – Connolly is a pure goal scorer who might have been a 35-goal NHLer had some breaks gone his way. But he has been injured or misused every year dating all the way back to his draft season. Connolly has some of the slickest and silkiest mitts in hockey, and they're largely forgotten because of his middling success in the NHL. But he has seen some time on the Caps' top line with Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov this preseason and they sure looked good together. Now, he's in tough to win that gig, but look out if he does. He's on my watch list.

Alex DeBrincat, RW, Chicago (7 percent) – This 19-year-old offensive buzz saw has been a standout at Hawks camp alongside Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik. DeBrincat is all of 5-foot-7 and 165 pounds, but that hasn't stopped him from driving to the net with the force of a cobra strike. The Hawks are clearly better with him on the ice and the team needs some entry-level contracts to balance out the big bucks they're paying their stars. DeBrincat has played well enough to start the season on the second line beside Patrick Kane and Nick Schmaltz, and that means an easier defensive workload and a disproportionate number of offensive zone starts. Offense is on its way.

Christian Djoos, D, Washington (0 percent) – I really like this guy. He exploded in the A last season and finished 13th overall in league scoring with 58 points in 66 games. Djoos is Torey Krug-tiny (OK, slight), but just as smart and talented. He will struggle against heavier NHL forwards, but can transition the puck well and knows when to jump into the play. Opportunity has knocked on the Caps' blue line and he's showing off his skills after struggling his first few preseason games. That's a testament to his hockey IQ and in today's game that will take you a long way. He's a name worth mispronouncing.

Markus Granlund, C, Vancouver (1 percent) – The awful Orcas are playing around with their lines, but I'm putting Granlund in my bank any way. Why, you say? Aren't the Orcas as awful as described? They are and will be, but they still need someone to play with the Sedins. Granlund is a perfect fit, as he can play right wing and spell off Henrik at center, too. The Sedins are likely destined for 50-point seasons and it's my bet that Granlund will be their regular mate, regardless of who starts there this season. A 20-goal, 50-point season will be on tap.

Alexander Kerfoot, C/LW, Colorado (0 percent) – Who? Kerfoot was a coveted college free agent this summer who – for unknown reasons – chose to sign with one of the most mismanaged franchises in the league. But maybe the Hobey Baker finalist and Harvard grad was onto something. Kerfoot has been skating this preseason on the Avs' top line and has been one of their best players. He is skating with Matt Duchene and Nail Yakupov, and the trio has been fabulous. Kerfoot isn't a lock on the team yet, but I'm betting on a great start. He may well end up like Alex Killorn in Tampa, but even that's not so bad – Killorn plays in the middle-six and can fit perfectly on the power play. And that's a smart play in deep formats.

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Edmonton (19 percent) – Remember his failure to launch last season? It was almost expected – how many teenagers can actually be immediate studs in the NHL. This season, right wing is wide open on the Oil, despite Ryan Strome's arrival. And Puljujarvi has the speed to flank Connor McDavid. The fabulous Finn has seen a bit of time there this preseason and could easily get more looks once the season starts ... especially when the Oil come to their senses and send 18-year-old phenom Kailer Yamamoto back to Spokane. Puljujarvi won't get first-unit power-play time, but there's enough potential production for me to speculate on him in a later round.

Juuse Saros, G, Nashville (8 percent) – Saros is my dark horse Calder finalist this season. Yes, you read that right. First, he's a stud. Second, he already has NHL experience. Third and perhaps most importantly, Pekka Rinne is a seriously – and I mean SERIOUSLY declining asset. Rinne caught lightning in a bottle last postseason, but his body of work over the last two regular seasons has been awful (2015-16) and painfully average (2016-17). Saros is waiting in the wings if that continues and he'll be a monster behind that Preds' glorious blue line. Goalies come at a massive premium in every Yahoo! league I've ever played. Stash Saros and wait. Worst case, he's a daily league stud. Best case? I've already told you.

Nail Yakupov, RW, Colorado (2 percent) – Don't look now, but this former first-overall pick is on the Avs' top line. Sure, he's skating beside Matt (I don't want to be here) Duchene, but still – Yakupov has the speed and skill to deliver plenty of offense in Mile High. I'm rolling the dice. He's only 24 this week and sometimes it just takes a few years for guys to grow up. The skill is there; I hope he hits the nail on the head this year. Ba-dum-bump.

Pavel Zacha, C, New Jersey (4 percent) – Yes, the Devils suck. But Zacha has talent and Travis Zajac's injury means he'll get an honest look at a gig on a scoring line. Well, at least a part-time look. He's still behind Adam Henrique and Nico Hischier, but Zacha did skate on the top line with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri this week. And he has performed. Zacha had five points in his first three preseason games. Watch carefully – most owners will avoid guys on crummy teams, but there's plenty of value to be had in this swampy situation.

Back to gambles.

Excelling in the middle rounds and getting lucky in the late ones is my ticket to a winning roster to open the season. That is, of course, if you haven't blown the early rounds.

I'm talking to you, Paul – James Reimer in round two? Sure, we had three keepers, but it's James Reimer! Sorry, bud – you had to be called out.

And a gamble is only a gamble – it shouldn't break you, but it sure might help make you. If not, there's always the wire. And you and I will meet once a week to find your next gamble.

Before I go, I'm going to pump the tires of my offseason hockey project. Fellow RotoWire writer, Darryl Houston Smith, and I (along with a couple others) produced the InsideHockey.com Fantasy Guide 2017-18. It's a great tool to add more info to your arsenal as you head into the season. And hey – it was fun to do! Check it out.

Until next week.