This article is part of our Beat the Cap series.
This is the 18th edition of Beat the Cap, so with approximately seven weeks left in the regular season, it seems fitting to readdress a few previously-discussed topics and catch up with the times.
Looking to PDO to unearth pending breakouts remains a viable pursuit. Take Nathan MacKinnon as a prime example: the sophomore's PDO just reached 99.0, and he has four goals and four assists over his last seven games.
Looking at even-strength PDO, here are six more players worth keeping tabs on (PDO included):
Anze Kopitar, C Los Angeles - 96.1: In a different team system, it is likely Kopitar would be a significantly more prolific scorer. Currently mired in the worst offensive season of his career, expect an uptick in production down the stretch, especially with the Kings surging.
Eric Staal, C, Carolina - 96.2: The Hurricanes play a low-scoring brand, and Staal has carried inferior talents along with him for the majority of the season. However, since playing with brother Jordan Staal, the duo has a 57.3 CF% and consistently passes the eye test. In favorable matchups, there is upside.
Michael Raffl, LW, Philadelphia - 96.8: Perhaps just as relevant because he is skating with Claude Giroux and carries a minimal cap hit, look for Raffl to carry a high ownership percentage in the short term for those reasons. He is a nice north-south forward with opportunistic scoring ability.
Filip Forsberg, RW, Nashville - 106.2: There is no reason to criticize the rookie, but his production has began to tail off slightly -- 16 points in his last 24 games, as opposed to 35 points through his first 36. Nashville has a deep offensive cast too, and Forsberg should be viewed as a third-tier scorer in the league going forward.
Jiri Hudler, RW, Calgary - 104.3: Often times diminutive wingers can wear down over the duration of a season, and Hudler's recent play may reflect the grind. He still has five goals in February, but just 11 points over his last 18 games, minus-8 rating and fewer than two shots on net per game are warning signs.
John Klingberg, D, Dallas - 103.8: There is a chance the offense doesn't dry up, especially with the Stars needing to score in bunches to be competitive. However, he is scoring at a point-per-game pace of an elite defenseman, and maintaining such a level of production could be asking too much.
The top scorers in the league usually do their best work with the man advantage, and some teams have the clientele to be especially dangerous on the power play. Similarly, there are teams who are consistently lit up while shorthanded. Identifying favorable special teams matchups is critical.
Power-Play Units to Utilize
Detroit, Washington, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Columbus
Penalty Kills to Target
New York Islanders, Buffalo, Philadelphia, Edmonton, Arizona
PP Budget Plays
Riley Sheahan, C, Detroit: While Sheahan only has nine power-play points -- five goals -- this season, he still receives respectable minutes, including over three in each of the past two games. He also has three points over the past four games.
Marcus Johansson, LW, Washington: You know exactly what you're receiving when you slot Johansson into your lineup. He is a 0.5 point-per-game scorer who logs solid offensive minutes. Lately, there is the added bonus of skating with Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom at even strength, too.
Jori Lehtera, C, St. Louis: His power-play role is a tad inconsistent, but Lehtera could be rediscovering his offensive groove with three helpers over his last five games. He is far from a high-volume shooter, though, and is still more of a flier than anything.
David Savard, D, Columbus: The inclusion on the power play is a nice bonus to Savard's overall package because the 23-year-old rearguard contributes across all categories -- except plus/minus. Shots, blocked shots and occasional offense make him a nice low-priced target, especially in favorable matchups.
Save in the Middle, Win on the Wings
Center has the deepest pool of offensive contributors for fantasy hockey, especially on lightly-scheduled evenings. Budgeting for star wingers and matching them with modestly-priced pivots is a viable strategy for daily gamers.
Here are modestly-priced centers capable of returning excellent value in the majority of matchups.
Bryan Little, C, Winnipeg: While a little inconsistent, Little has already matched his career-high 24 goals this season and is on pace to post his best year-end point total. He is the top offensive center on a team capable of scoring.
Joe Thornton, C, San Jose: Although pointless over his last three games, Thornton was scorching hot with 17 points over his previous 13 games. His true worth lies in the middle. Still scoring and still receiving all the offensive minutes is needed to be successful.
Mikko Koivu, C, Minnesota: The success story took a dip with his pointless outing against Edmonton on Tuesday, but Koivu has been rolling offensively and leading the Wild's charge up the standings. Consistently centering Zach Parise would be nice, though.
Mike Ribeiro, C, Nashville: With 51 points, 46 penalty minutes and plus-17 rating this season, there is no reason not to target Ribeiro in favorable matchups. His pass-first game limits his shots on goal, but at his price, he rarely posts a dud.
Derick Brassard, C, New York: In the heart of his offensive prime, Brassard is having a career year. He has settled in perfectly with Rick Nash, and on the No. 1 power-play unit, where he has 15 points. Playing with a strong team helps the plus/minus, too.
If you have additional questions, or would like to see anything specifically covered in Beat the Cap, contact me in the comments below or via Twitter @naparker77.
