Dylan Burhans & Noah Pedrazzoli give their Islanders fantasy hockey rankings starting with the forward group
It’s official: hockey is back this month. As training camp approaches, Noah Pedrazzoli and Dylan Burhans dive into fantasy hockey rankings for the New York Islanders. For those looking to bolster their fantasy teams, Hockey Night in New York will break down the top forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders for this upcoming season.
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Mathew Barzal (RW)
Burhans: Starting with the forward corps, Mathew Barzal projects to be the number one player. Over the past three seasons, Barzal posted 190 points in 211 games (0.90 P/G). The speedster from Coquitlam, BC, moved to the wing last season to play with Bo Horvat, a move that resulted in him hitting 80 points for the first time since his rookie year. With the addition of Anthony Duclair, expect Barzal to put up more points this season.
Pedrazzoli: Mathew Barzal is the playmaking magician of the Islanders roster who has proven to be a lethal skater and an artist with his stickhandling. Barzal has thrived under new coach Patrick Roy, as he has been more physical and with his increased use of his body, has made himself a dominating force on the ice. The triple threat of a fast, physical, high IQ player is something that fantasy hockey enthusiasts must consider before overlooking “the kid who won the Calder.”
Mat Barzal (courtesy Sammi Silber, THN)
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Brock Nelson (C)
Burhans: Brock Nelson has been a consistent offensive threat for the blue and orange, putting up 107 goals and 203 total points in 236 games (0.86 P/G). Nelson is the top goal-scorer on the team, but he has the potential to be an even greater force. Nelson needs to increase his high danger shot frequency from his bread-and-butter spot on the ice (net front between the hash marks), an area which he struggled with last year. If he can achieve that, do not be surprised to see him hit 40 goals.
Pedrazzoli: Brock Nelson was a lethal sharpshooter last year in fantasy hockey as a reliable sleeper pick that could provide the extra edge in the ever-crucial element of fantasy: goalscoring. Nelson is one of the most underrated players in the league as he consistently finds a way to bury the puck on a team that is overlooked in fantasy value as they are consistently labeled as a “boring” and “defensive-minded” team. Brock Nelson’s scoring touch on the Islanders top-six and on the powerplay is a clear incentive to select him as a mid-draft pick that could be the difference between winning or losing a matchup.
“With 109 points in 167 games played (0.65 P/G), Duclair will be a great piece to fit alongside Barzal and Horvat.”
– Dylan Burhans on Anthony Duclair
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Bo Horvat (C)
Burhans: Bo Horvat has been an incredible pickup for the Islanders, providing the Nassau-men with a strong two-way presence down the middle. In 230 games played, he posted 190 points (0.83 P/G). While most of these points came during his time in Vancouver, Horvat has proved to be an elite offensive weapon for the Islanders—he was second on the team with 33 goals this past season.
Pedrazzoli: The team’s first-line center is a menace not only on the faceoff dot but also as a devastating finisher to compliment Mathew Barzal. Bo Horvat, acquired in the big trade to kick off the 2023 trade deadline, has gained notoriety for his cannon of a shot on the bumper spot where he sets up his office. Horvat’s chemistry with Barzal could provide a fantasy enthusiast with a lethal duo should they be lucky enough to grab them both.
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Anthony Duclair (LW)
Burhans: Next is free-agent acquisition Anthony Duclair. With 109 points in 167 games played (0.65 P/G), Duclair will be a great piece to fit alongside Barzal and Horvat. He is a speedy scoring winger who has shown flashes of offensive brilliance—he hit the 30-goal mark in 2021 for the Florida Panthers and put up good numbers on a weak Sharks team. When traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, Duclair scored 15 points in 17 games. With consistent ice time with Barzal and Horvat, Duclair has the potential to go on an offensive tear. For those looking for a more comprehensive look into Duclair’s numbers, a full analysis can be found here.
Pedrazzoli: New York Islanders fans have a lot to look forward to this season with the newest acquisition of Anthony Duclair. Duclair is a speedy forward who has excellent stickhandling and finishing ability on the rush. He is comfortable scoring on a struggling team like the San Jose Sharks but also performs extremely well when paired alongside legitimate stars, such as when he played on Tampa Bay Lightning’s first-line alongside Hart Trophy Finalist Nikita Kucherov. Duclair will prove to be a complimentary player to have alongside a player like Bo Horvat or Mat Barzal on a fantasy hockey team.
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Kyle Palmieri (RW)
Burhans: Rounding out the list is Long Island’s very own Kyle Palmieri. Despite some consistency issues, Palmieri has been an effective goal-scorer. In 206 games played over the past three seasons, Palmieri put up 61 goals and 120 total points (0.58 P/G). Last year, he was fifth on the team in points (54) and third in goals (30). Alongside Brock Nelson, expect a strong year.
Pedrazzoli: The Long Island-produced Kyle Palmieri was a welcome surprise last year. Palmieri, like Barzal, is another player who thrived under Patrick Roy’s system. Palmieri hit 30 goals and even recorded a first-period hat trick against a top-tier team in the Boston Bruins. Palmieri is a power-forward who establishes himself on the ice and simply dominates. Fantasy hockey managers should definitely keep their eye out for this sneaky goal scorer to provide much-needed forward depth. In fantasy hockey, there is no such thing as too much offensive depth.
Catch the latest episode of HNiNY as the boys spoke to Brian Compton of nhl.com about the summer & training camp
Honorable Mention: Anders Lee (LW)
Burhans: Anders Lee is a name to look out for. Over the past three seasons, Lee scored 76 goals and 133 total points in 239 games. He will provide the team with steady depth scoring on the third line.
Pedrazzoli: Captain Anders Lee has seen his offensive capabilities decline in recent years, but not his consistency. Anders Lee is no longer a 40-goal scorer and would be hard-pressed to reach even 30 goals at this stage in his career. However, he is a consistent net-front presence and while he will most likely be demoted from the second line to the third, he has a consistent power-play presence and should be considered for fantasy hockey offensive depth. Taking a chance on an active and consistent power forward is definitely a low-cost move late in a draft.
Hockey Night in New York returns to cover the New York Islanders all season long with hosts Sean Cuthbert and Stefen Rosner live from Floored Media in Rockville Centre Sundays at 8PM ET! Regular episodes being Sunday October 6th!