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      2023 Fantasy Hockey Team Previews: Tampa Bay Lightning

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      The 2023 DailyFaceoff Fantasy Hockey Projections has projected stats for over 650 skaters and goalies.

      The Fantasy Hockey Team Previews have all the projections for that team and mini-bios for all the Re-Draft and Dynasty relevant skaters and goalies.

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      Boston BruinsDetroit Red WingsNew York IslandersTampa Bay Lightning
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      Chicago BlackhawksMinnesota WildPittsburgh PenguinsWashington Capitals
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      In addition to the Fantasy Hockey Previews, Daily Faceoff is previewing all 32 NHL teams for 2022-23, with a new in-depth breakdown dropping every weekday! Click here to find every preview in one place.


      Skaters

      Nikita Kucherov

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      76.939.069.2108.212.343.111.040.9245.315.9%200.819.848.4

      It was great to see Kucherov helping fantasy teams again in 2021-22, even if he only played 47 games. His 69 points had him ranked second only to Connor McDavid in points-per-game (1.47). Even with the injuries taking him in and out of the lineup, he still finished tied for 51st in league scoring, fueled by him finishing 19th in power-play-points (30). The elite right winger has scored over a point-per-game every season since 2015-16. Even with an entire season lost due to injury in 2020-2021, and another 35 games missed last year, Kucherov still ranks eighth in the NHL in points (467) over the previous six seasons. Kucherov is one of the best point producers on one of the best teams in the NHL, and that is sure to continue in 2022-23 if he can stay healthy. It would be completely acceptable to take him anytime after Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, as he’s one of the few players with a real shot at 110-plus points. 

      Steven Stamkos

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      77.238.352.590.713.633.215.932.0219.917.4%18.5514.930.684.3

      Stamkos enjoyed his most productive season in 2021-22, surpassing 100 points (106) and 60 assists (64) for the first time in his 14-year career. In addition, the one-time, 60-goal scorer eclipsed 40 or more goals (42) for the sixth time in his career while shooting above 16 percent (17.4) for the eleventh time. He finished the 2021-22 season ranked sixth in points, ninth in goals, eight in power-play points (36), and tied for first in game-winning goals (11), all while producing a plus-24 rating. Despite Kucherov missing 66 percent of the games over the last two seasons, Stamkos is still 15th in the NHL in points-per-game (1.18), and he could get a considerable boost in 2022-23 if he plays with Kucherov more than the 22 percent of 5v5 ice-time from a season ago. Stamkos is a strong second-round option if you go winger or Cale Makar in the first round. At 32 years old, 40 goals and 50 assists almost seem like his floor. 

      Victor Hedman

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      80.116.758.975.615.538.54.834.4210.37.9%25.50.0120.888.6

      In 2021-22, Hedman finished with 20 goals and over a point-per-game for the first time in his 13-year career. His highest goal, assist, point and shot (219) totals ranked him third behind only Roman Josi and Makar in both goals and points among defensemen. In the last six seasons, no defenseman has posted more assists (289), points (374), or a better plus/minus (+117) than Hedman, making him the top fantasy defensive selection over those years. Elite defensive production and a near point-per-game should be expected again for Hedman in 2022-23 as he works on another Norris Trophy finalist campaign (six straight top-3 Norris voting seasons). He shouldn’t be drafted ahead of Makar but has a great case to be the No.2 defenseman off of the board. 

      Brayden Point

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      75.732.538.170.62.927.310.523.1193.516.8%19.7418.630.859.5

      Point is coming off of a productive but injury-riddled season. He scored 28 goals with 30 assists (58 points) but missed 20 percent of the games for the second time in three years. His 0.88 Points/GP ranked him 73rd among all NHL skaters. However, Point has still been a top fantasy producer in the last four NHL seasons, as he is 25th in points (262), 18th in goals (117), and fifth in shooting percent (18.3%). Point is a high-upside pick on draft day, as we can expect him to play almost the entire season next to Kucherov and maybe even Stamkos. An increase in shots on goal; (187th in SOG/60 in the last three years) would go a long way toward increasing his overall fantasy production.

      Alex Killorn 

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      81.525.130.555.52.753.97.114.5166.015.1%18.42.722.282.6

      Killorn quietly enjoyed a career-best season in 2021-22 as he put up his most assists (34), points (59), and power-play-points (14). It was only the second time he’s passed the 20-goal mark in his 10-year career, a direct result of his career-high 15.2% shooting percentage. His numbers inflated as he was the top fill-in when Kucherov missed 35 games, but still another strong 25-goal, 30 assist season should be expected from the 32-year-old Killorn. As a result, he makes a safe fantasy option with a limited ceiling.

      Anthony Cirelli 

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      72.015.724.139.710.043.52.16.2128.012.2%18.2407.855.980.9

      In his fifth season with Tampa Bay, Cirelli scored 40 points for just the second time. Cirelli fired a career-best 146 shots on goal but had the worst SH% (11.6%) season so far. Cirelli is a great two-way player but doesn’t offer enough offensive upside to be strongly considered for fantasy lineups. A similar mid-40-point season is likely as he locks down the Lightning’s second-line centre role and looks crack the 20-goal plateau for the first time. 

      Mikhail Sergachev

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      80.67.933.241.16.157.72.210.7156.55.0%22.50.0122.0128.5

      Sergachev finished 2021-22 with his fifth straight 30-plus point season (38). He posted his third-highest goal total (7) while collecting his most shots-on-goal in any of his five full seasons (149). At 24 years old, Sergachev has 92 playoff games and two Stanley Cups under his belt, a feat that takes many a career to accomplish. With Ryan McDonagh and Jan Rutta no longer with the Lightning, Sergachev should take on a more significant role this season, and that could lead to a career-best season. He has a safe floor of roughly 40 points and potentially some untapped upside, and he’s basically free on draft day. 

      Brandon Hagel

      GPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      78.019.422.141.55.729.92.25.3139.713.9%16.522.237.776.6

      Hagel enjoyed a breakout in his second full season in 2021-22, even though he struggled to produce with seven points in 22 games after being dealt from Chicago to Tampa at midseason. In 55 games with Chicago, the left-winger amassed 21 goals and 16 assists on 94 shots; 31-goal, 55-point pace across a full 82 games. Hagel watched his production falter as his TOI dipped by almost four minutes after the trade. With another season slated outside Tampa’s top line, Hagel should finish around 15-to-20 goals and 40 points as he enjoys his first full season in Tampa. He makes nothing more than a fantasy-free agent to keep an eye on if he can start to get more ice time like his days in Chicago.

      Goalies

      Andrei Vasilevskiy

      GSWLT/OSV%GAASO
      61.035.818.27.50.9162.515.0

      Vasilevskiy enjoyed another successful season as he was tied for the NHL lead in wins (39) while finishing 12th in SV% and ninth in GAA (2.49). In the last five seasons, the Russian has 26 more wins than any other goalie, ranking second in shutouts (24) and games played (275). Still only 28 years old, his impressive career .919 SV% through 365 games would have placed him sixth among all starters in 2021-22. Vasilevskiy finally has competition for the first goaltender off the fantasy boards, with Igor Shesterkin coming off a hot, Vezina-winning season. Either way, take him in the early rounds with confidence, as the goalie has led the NHL in wins for five straight seasons while finishing top five in Vezina voting in each of those years. He makes a great fantasy selection from whom you can expect 35-plus wins and top-10 splits. 


      Remaining Lightning Projections

      PlayerPosGPGAPTS(+/-)PIMPPGPPPSOGS%ATOIFOWBLKHIT
      Ross ColtonC/RW78.317.716.934.76.524.90.84.3150.711.8%12.6298.531.9138.5
      Corey PerryRW75.713.717.931.74.858.23.37.6118.411.6%13.31.926.572.5
      Vladislav NamestnikovLW77.115.113.929.0-1.542.70.61.7103.414.6%14.761.544.384.4
      Nick PaulC/LW77.111.615.627.2-3.928.81.53.3139.98.3%14.5331.445.197.5
      Pat MaroonLW79.58.716.024.78.995.71.93.887.59.9%11.910.611.7135.0
      Erik CernakD73.75.117.923.18.767.50.00.0144.73.5%22.10.0106.3214.8
      Ian ColeD77.72.516.919.513.765.30.00.077.73.3%17.40.0120.794.0
      Pierre-Edouard BellemareC80.19.99.519.311.322.40.00.082.312.0%13.1467.946.767.3
      Cal FooteD73.14.011.715.76.337.50.00.087.34.6%16.10.086.3120.7
      Zach BogosianD62.72.36.68.93.744.70.00.066.13.5%15.20.046.3117.8
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