The beginning of the NHL free agency season has brought immediate excitement and anticipation for fantasy hockey team owners all over. Some big names, along with a few of those important sleepers, have come off the board and signed with a team that will invest in their services. A new city paired up with new teammates can bring a brand new attitude to a professional athlete. Here’s a look at five players who have improved their fantasy value with their new deals and that will most definitely live up to your investment in them.
5. Radim Vrbata- Vancouver Canucks
Believe it or not, Vrbata may end up being the best free agent signing so far this offseason. The Canucks started their upgrade by signing the winger to a two-year deal, one in which they hope Vrbata can at the very least repeat what he did last season. Vrbata racked up a very solid 51 points, 20 in which were goals. Expect these numbers to improve on Canada’s west coast, especially since Vrbata will now most likely end up playing alongside the crafty Sedin twins.
4. Brooks Orpik- Washington Capitals
Orpik has the ability to arguably be one of the NHL’s premier d-man. Leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins is perhaps the best career move that Orpik can make. The Penguins still look to be somewhat of a mess and Orpik is well overdue for a change of scenery. Expect the durable defenseman’s -3 +/- to change for the better as a member of the Capitals, and expect him to be in your lineup on what will most definitely be a nightly basis.
3. Marian Gaborik- Los Angeles Kings
The Kings knew exactly what they were getting when they acquired Gaborik from the Columbus Blue Jackets back in March of this year. They landed a difference maker, and perhaps someone that could make them virtually unbeatable down the stretch of a long and grueling playoff run. After reaching a steady deal with the Kings this offseason, expect Gaborik to drastically improve on his 11 goal and 30 point tally of 2013-14. His +/- of +7 in last season has a chance to improve as well, with the Kings have the fantastic defense that they do.
2. Paul Stastny- St. Louis Blues
After signing with St. Louis, Stastny is going to be an absolute work horse for the Blues as well as for your fantasy team. Stastny is the type of hockey player that will undoubtedly develop into a centerman that can serve on any team’s top line at any given time. Expect him to fit in very well with the Blues’ already well-balanced lineup and better his 60-point season from 2013-14. Stastny is just the ticket to take the Blues back into the playoffs as a number one seed along with taking your fantasy team to new heights as well.
1. Brad Richards- Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks knew something was missing in their latest pursuit of the Stanley Cup. They just didn’t have the legs in the end to contend with a Kings team just looked like they were destined to win it all. Richards played an important part of every regular season game for the New York Rangers in 2013-14, and that’s exactly the the Blackhawks expect from him this upcoming season. Richards will contrinue to be a special player in Chicago, now that he will have the pleasure of making plays alongside players such as the newly resigned Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Expect Richards to have an absolute monster of a season in all ways fantasy when he first