Next up in the 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers series is the Colorado Avalanche. This is going to once again be a very good hockey team. The difference this season? They bolstered their depth so that more scoring will come from outside of the top six. This bodes well for fantasy as there are some players in bigger roles who will benefit.
While you wouldn’t think twice about staying away from an Avalanche bottom-six player on your fantasy team last year, that is going to change. The top-six have carried this team in the past and many fantasy owners might still think that is the case. Don’t be one of them. Take advantage of this deeper team that will contend for the Presidents’ Trophy and score a ton of goals. Here are three potential fantasy hockey sleepers in Colorado this season.
Colorado Avalanche Sleepers for 2023-24 Fantasy Hockey
Ross Colton
I mentioned above that the Avalanche bolstered their depth, and some of that came in the form of acquiring Ross Colton in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay couldn’t pay him and the Avalanche could. While the Lightning are a strong offensive team, the Avalanche are a bit more. He projects to start the season centering the third line but will have capable wingers this season to help produce.
Colton is heading into his fourth season in the NHL and the 27-year-old hits multiple fantasy categories. He is one of the most physical players in the NHL, especially at forward, and he can score goals. He might have only put up 16 goals and 32 points last season, but he scored 22 goals and 39 points in 2021-22. Not only is Colton set to bounce back and produce more offense, it could really help him that Ryan Johansen and Nathan MacKinnon never stay healthy for an entire season. This will allow Colton to get top-six minutes more frequently and play with some very good players.
Jonathan Drouin
Jonathan Drouin’s time with the Montreal Canadiens was not great, but he has finally moved on. There isn’t any pressure for him to live up to a big contract or for him to be a high point producer. I think this will play in his favour. That and the probability that he will see a fair bit of top-six minutes on the wing. He is projected to play alongside Johansen and Valeri Nichushkin, so it is better than the bottom-six linemates he had in Montreal.
Related: 2023 Fantasy Hockey Sleepers: Chicago Blackhawks
Drouin’s maximum potential points with the Avalanche this year is probably around 40-45, with would not be bad for some cheap secondary scoring, Earlier in his career he was able to put up lots of goals and points, but he has struggled to score goals in particular as he’s dealt with injuries the past number of years. He won’t necessarily put up any other stats outside of points, but in his position with the Avalanche this season, we’ll see an improvement for sure. It could possibly be to the point where he’s worth rostering in some leagues, or at least streaming.
Miles Wood
While Drouin is set to spend some time in the top six and start there, Miles Wood could very well win that role in training camp and hold it. He is another newcomer to the Avalanche through free agency. Unfortunately for him, when he spent most of 2021-22 injured, he was pushed down the lineup upon return last season. This lowered his numbers, but he can still be impactful if he once again plays more.
Wood found himself in mainly a fourth-line role, but before his injury, he was a third-line player who could add scoring and physicality. He isn’t as physical as Colton, but will provide hits and penalty minutes for sure. If you are looking at these sleepers on the Avalanche, keep in mind that Wood is generally healthy, will score, and will be playing with better players than all of last season. He could potentially see a 15-goal, 40-point season while adding those other stats.
The Avalanche is definitely a good team to keep a close eye on when thinking about sleepers. They typically suffer injuries, so some depth players get more playing time and opportunity throughout the season. With newcomers in bigger roles, anything can happen. Next up in the 2023 fantasy hockey sleepers series is the Dallas Stars.