Patrik Laine

There are very few instances in which a 30-goal, 50-point season would be called a down year, but that was certainly the case for Laine. This is especially true considering the elite sniper went through both a 12-game and 15-game goal drought during the 2017-18 campaign. Expectations were high for the Finn after he racked up 44 goals in his sophomore season, but despite the slumps, he still managed to hit that 30-goal mark for a third straight year, with half of his goals coming on the power play. While Laine figures to anchor the second line for Opening Night versus the Rangers on Oct. 3, he could periodically be shifted into the top group to play alongside Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler throughout the season and will no doubt continue to be a top-end fantasy target.

The Finnish winger -- drafted second overall in 2016 behind Auston Matthews -- lit the lamp 44 times to rank No. 2 in the league last year, and he also dished 26 helpers while amassing a whopping 31 points on the power play. Possessing a wicked wrister that accounted for more than half of his 241 shots in 2017-18, Laine is special because the 20-year-old sniper exhibits keen awareness and positioning from the slot. He posted “only” five goals on 56 shots during the playoffs for a pedestrian 8.9 shooting percentage, though the hockey world should bear witness to a more patient Laine as the stocky skater gains more experience. He's the real deal.

If a concussion hadn’t sidelined Laine for eight games in January, the Finn would have had a great shot at beating out Toronto’s Auston Matthews for the rookie scoring title. Instead, the sniper came just five points shy, finishing with 36 goals and 28 helpers. Like many rookies before him, Laine did hit the skids for a bit -- just five points in March -- but he should be able to rebound as he adjusts to the grind of an 82-game season. Fantasy owners shouldn't be overly concerned that he’s likely be on the Jets’ second line behind Blake Wheeler; after all, he still averaged 17:54 of ice time in that role during the 2016-17 campaign. Generally considered a pure goal scorer -- a la Alexander Ovechkin -- the teenager figures to eclipse the 40-goal threshold this season.

Expectations are high for Laine after Winnipeg made him the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft. He's guaranteed a role as a top-six forward and has the ability to change the game at a moment's notice. The 18-year-old phenom has a sniper’s mentality and could jump in as a scoring threat from Day 1. Second-line pivot Mark Scheifele may move to the top line at some point, but if Laine sticks on the second unit, he'll still enjoy playing with Bryan Little. Expect the Finnish youngster to step right into special-teams situations and fire the puck with his hammer of a right-handed shot that's drawn comparisons to Alex Ovechkin. But before that comp gets you all hyped up, remember that he's still very young and there will be a learning curve in the big leagues. Still, the potential is simply too great to ignore, making him a must-own player in keeper formats and a strong upside play in yearly leagues.