Fantasy hockey impact of Mitch Marner re-signing with Maple Leafs

Mitch Marner has finally re-signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, which means fantasy hockey players can now feel more confident about drafting the 22-year-old.

Prior to inking his new deal with the Buds, Marner’s average draft position on Yahoo Fantasy was 15.3, meaning that in standard 10-team leagues, the shifty winger was being selected in the middle of round two.

Given the uncertainty of his contract status up until Friday evening, it was fair to say that the star forward was being over-drafted in leagues on Yahoo. Now that his availability for 2019-20 is clear, however, feel free to take Marner in that range. After an outstanding 94-point campaign last season, there should be little concern about his ability to finish right near that total yet again in 2019-20.

This news is positive for John Tavares’ fantasy prospects as well. It was certainly no coincidence that the former New York Islanders captain finished last season with career-bests in goals and points while playing alongside Marner. He’s currently being taken as the seventh centre with a 20.3 ADP on Yahoo Fantasy. Now that his playmaking linemate is back in the fold, don’t be surprised if he starts to creep up a little higher in the second round. He’s locked in as a solid pick in the back half of round two.

If there’s anybody who is hindered fantasy-wise by the signing, it’s Kasperi Kapanen. Being selected later in drafts, holding an ADP of 168.4, Kapanen’s path to top-six minutes becomes murkier. He may hold down a spot to start the year, but Zach Hyman’s return from a torn ACL could push him down in the lineup. In a standard 10-team league, he’s not worth drafting.

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