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This week’s article looks at the fantasy All-Star teams of the first half. For the purposes of this column, we’ve tried to avoid the obvious first-round picks, because what’s the fun in including them? More importantly, we didn’t include them because the expectations were already high from those players.
The Keeper Fantasy League may have seen some of these players go in the first round due to retention, but the primary focus here is the Reddraft League.
(All figures for 2022-23 are through Monday’s matches)
first team
Tage ThompsonC, BUF
Thompson took a huge step forward last season, posting 38 goals, 68 points (including 16 with the man advantage) and 253 shots on goal in 78 games. These numbers came after Thompson managed just 18 goals and 35 points in his first 140 NHL games. Thompson, who cavalry Last August, showed that the increase in production last year was not sudden, as he had 34 goals and 68 points in 50 games.
One caveat is that Thompson missed the All-Star Game last week due to an upper-body injury, so check his status going forward.
jason robertsonLW, DAL
Robertson has risen to elite status with his play during his first two and a half seasons in the league. A second-round pick in 2017, Robertson was a Calder Trophy finalist in his first full NHL season. Robertson built on that success in 2021-22, as he was one of just 17 NHL players to score 40 or more goals (41), while his 79 points put him among the top 35 in the league. He has taken it a step further this season, scoring 33 goals and the same number of assists in 51 games. He will be the top pick in next year’s fantasy draft.
Mitch Marner, RW, TOR
Marner was a borderline first-round fantasy pick coming into the season after returning to highs from his 2018–19 season, scoring 35 goals and 62 assists in 72 games. His production this year has been steady, albeit at a slightly higher point-per-game rate, with 19 goals and 41 assists in 52 games. Marner came into the All-Star break with 18 points in his last 15 games and his production could increase as Toronto relies on him even more. auston mathews (lower body) sidelined.
But if you want to swap Marner William Nylander Here, you won’t get any arguments from me.
rasmus dahlinD, BUF
Those who read this column regularly know that I am reluctant to indulge in bold treatment of two players from the same team. But it would be almost criminal, and I would be derelict in my duty, if I didn’t have Dahlin as my first-team fantasy all-star. The first overall pick in 2018, Dahlin has already set new career-highs in goals (14), assists (44) and points (55) in 49 games. Buffalo would be wise to lock him up long-term, as they did with Thompson, but his asking price has skyrocketed this season.
Eric Carlson d, sj
Karlsson was likely a late selection in most leagues, as he played in fewer than 57 games for the fourth straight season, while his production is nothing to write about. One factor that all of us may not have considered enough was the trade Brent Burns For Carolina, opening up extra ice time (especially on man advantage) for Carlsen. He has resurrected his career this year, scoring 16 goals and 50 assists in 51 games, helping him exceed his career-high 82 points in Ottawa in 2015-16. Carlsen’s name has figured prominently in trade rumors, though his contract (four more years at $11.5 million AAV) will make him somewhat difficult to deal with.
Linus UlmarkYes, BOS
Fantasy leagues are won by avoiding big mistakes, keeping your stars healthy, making good pick-ups, and finding late-stage gems. Ullmark showed last season that he was a better goalie than we saw when he suited up for Buffalo, posting a 26-10-2 record with a 2.45 goals-against (GAA) and .917 saves. Sharing time with sports in the 41 percent jeremy sweman, This year, he showed those numbers weren’t accidental, as he hit the All-Star break with a 26-4-1 record, 1.90 GAA and .937 save percentage through 33 appearances. He and Swayman could alternate starts the rest of the way, however, so Ullmark may not finish the season as a first-team Fantasy All-Star at goalie.
second team
Jack HughesSea, NJ
Hughes, the first-overall pick in 2019, was the expected breakout last season but was limited to just 49 games due to injuries. The increased strength this offseason raised hopes that this was the year Hughes cemented his place among the league’s pantheon. So far, so good, as Hughes is up to 35 goals, 67 points, 229 shots on net and a plus-15 rating through 50 contests. Hughes has become a true first-line center, and Wayne Gretzky said during the All-Star break that Hughes is the only man he believes can challenge Connor McDavid, Strong praise indeed.
Matthew TkachukLW, FLA
Tkachuk posted 43 goals and 61 assists last season in Calgary, matching his output from the previous two years combined. After that stellar campaign, Tkachuk was moved to Florida for a deal Jonathan Huberdeau And mackenzie weger, It took a while for Tkachuk to find its sea legs in the Sunshine State, but it’s been cooking with gas for a while now. He has scored 27 goals and 44 assists in 50 games, on pace to exceed last year’s total. simultaneously, Tkachuk was named All-Star MVP in front of hometown fans,
David PastrnakRW, BOS
as well as becoming a key driver of the Pasta Perfection line Patrice Bergeron And Brad Marchand, We thought 2019-20, when Pasternak scored 48 goals and 47 assists, might be the high point of his career, but he’s on pace to blow through that total, dishing out 34 apples in 51 games. Scored 38 marks. Pastrnak signed a six-year, $40 million contract with the Bruins in September of 2017, a deal that has been a great deal for the B’s. An unrestricted free agent after the year, Pasternak — at 26 — can easily clear double-digit AAVs whenever he signs.
Miro HiskanenD, DAL
john klingbergThe departure was expected to increase production for Heiskanen, who would eventually be the main man on the Dallas blueline, both at par-strength and the man advantage. Heiskanen posted between 27 and 36 points in his first four years in the league after being selected third overall in 2017, but left you wanting more. With Klingberg out of the picture, Heiskanen has begun to live up to those high expectations, scoring 40 points (18 on the power play), a plus-11 rating, 132 shots on net and 59 blocks through 49 appearances. Started posting shots taken as a fact. No. 1 Blueliner.
Dougie HamiltonDee, NJ
Hamilton, signed by the Devils in July of 2021 to a seven-year, $63 million contract, dealt with multiple injuries in his first season with New Jersey, ultimately missing 20 of New Jersey’s 82 regular season games and only scored 30 points. His production this season has put that difficult campaign in the rearview window. Hamilton has 13 goals, 36 assists, a plus-18 rating, 179 shots on net, 51 blocked shots, 42 hits and 34 PIM through 50 outings. He needs just one point to equal the career-best 50 he posted with the Flames in 2016-17.
but if you want to sub for that Josh MorrisseyNo argument from my side.
Alexander Georgievyes, colonel
Profiled last weekGeorgiev gets a second-team nod to where he was probably drafted in most leagues. conor hellebuck And others were under consideration here, but it is likely that Georgiev was selected later than those netminders. Acquired from the Rangers for draft picks this offseason, Georgiev signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract with the Avalanche last July in what so far is looking like a steal of a deal for the Avs. Georgiev is 20-11-3 with a 2.60 GAA and .919 SV%, numbers that look even more impressive due to the numerous injuries the Avalanche has suffered this season.
Elias Peterson, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Brock Nelson, William Nylander, Brandon Hagel, Travis Konekny, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, Alex Tuch, Zach Hyman, Josh Morrissey, Brandon Montour, Vince among others Dunn is included. , Jake Oettinger, Logan Thompson, Vitek Wanacek.
All-Rookie Team
Matty Benniers, C, SEA
Matthias McSally, LW, AZ
Dylan Guenther, RW, AZ
Owen Powers, D, BUF
calen addisond, min
logan thompsonYes, LV
Others include Wyatt Johnson, Mason McTavish, Dylan Holloway, Cole Perfetti, Jake Sanderson, Pyotr Kochetkov and Stuart Skinner.