Fantasy Hockey Draft Gems, Including Matthew Knies, Lane Hutson and More

Today, we are talking about draft gems. Not your top players, or first rounders, but the guys in the middle who might get overlooked who you should be keeping an eye on and trying to snag for your team this year in your fantasy draft.

I've got five skaters to discuss, and have a look at what they were able to produce last year, so let's dive right in and take a look!

Make sure to check out our Fantasy Hockey Average Draft Position (ADP) tool. You can select the amount of teams in your league, number of rounds, your pick position, and even select keepers. Do a mock draft, and be ready for your draft!

Matthew Knies - Toronto Maple Leafs

Knies has some positives and some negatives heading into next season. The elephant in the room is that Mitch Marner is no longer a Maple Leaf, and was the best playmaker on the team. That's going to hurt everybody on the team, including franchise superstar Auston Matthews.

But where there is a hole or an opportunity, someone has to fill the role. The horse that is Knies will be picking up a lot of the workload, and will be a mainstay on the top powerplay unit. His deployment and comfortability in a top line role will take a step forward, and for the entirety of the season will be stapled to Matthews' side, and may even throw some William Nylander time on the other wing. 

Knies may not have Marner, but every other aspect of his game is expected to take a leap forward. Don't let the hole on his right wing dissuade your decision on selecting this top line power forward.

Knies had 29 goals, 29 assists, and 15 powerplay points in 78 games as a forward. He also had 152 shots on goal, 181 hits, and 41 blocked shots.

Lane Hutson - Montreal Canadiens

Hutson was my pick for the Calder Memorial Trophy pretty early on, and my hunch paid dividends come season end. Even so, Hutson is still being slept on, but I predict he is going to continue to be an absolute weapon again this year for the Canadiens. He is an apple tree on the blueline, picking up an impressive 60 assists last year in his first season with the Habs.

He is also quarterbacking their top powerplay unit, making his deployment on this young skilled team elite. He is surrounded by hungry talent on a bolstered roster of current and up-and-coming superstars. 

Hutson should seriously be considered in keeper leagues, and if not taken in dynasty leagues, should be scooped up with your first pick this draft.

Hutson had six goals, 60 assists, and 26 powerplay points in 82 games as a defenseman. He also had 91 shots on goal, 40 hits, and 123 blocked shots.

Joel Eriksson Ek - Minnesota Wild

JEEK was hurt most of last year, but was still my pick for a breakout Four Nations Face-Off and he did not disappoint. At almost a point a game, hurt, with a very depleted Wild roster, he still managed to put up respectable numbers.

JEEK will be playing on the top line alongside franchise superstar Kirill Kaprizov. who as long as both players can remain healthy, will be a constant threat in the offensive end. JEEK will also get a fulltime spot on the top powerplay unit and start the season on the top penalty kill unit.

If Eriksson Ek doesn't have a breakout season while remaining healthy, I will eat my hat.

Eriksson Ek had 14 goals, 15 assists, and 10 powerplay points in just 46 games as a forward. He also had 140 shots on goal, 82 hits, and 36 blocked shots.

Dylan Guenther - Utah Mammoth

Keeping on the theme of breakout seasons, Guenther quietly doubled his point production and had over 50 points last year, with next to no help. This year, he is slated to play top line minutes alongside Logan Cooley and Clayton Keller. He is starting the season on the top powerplay unit, however lines could be jumped to spread out the talent on this thin Mammoth roster.

I would still hedge some bets that while he may not take a step and put on a 70-point season, he is a safe bet for another 50 at least.

Guenther showed great poise and maturity for his experience in the NHL and age. I don't think this was a fluke season, and while his growth won't be as exponential as it was last season, he should be set to at least maintain at worst, and take baby steps forward at best.

Guenther had 27 goals, 33 assists, and 29 powerplay points in 70 games as a forward. He also had 204 shots on goal, 53 hits, and 42 blocked shots.

Will Cuylle - New York Rangers

I wanted to include a bangers league specific, and I was between Cuylle and Kiefer Sherwood of the Vancouver Canucks. Yes, Sherwood has more hits, but I think Cuylle has huge potential production wise, and is on a much better team.

Cuylle nearly had 50 points as a player known mostly for his physicality, and this was on a struggling Rangers' team who were on the brink of a mutiny after captain Jacob Trouba was traded. Cuylle at the time was literally the only spark on the team, and was the glue holding it all together. 

An unlikely hero in a breaking point for the original six franchise, Cuylle hit and scored his way into the hearts of many fans, and onto the teams of many fantasy league players. Most expected his production to fall off a cliff, and while it did slow down some, he did continue to produce and, boy, did he continue to throw the body. He was still fourth in the league for hits last year.

On paper, Sherwood likely gets the nod here, but my gut feeling is edging towards Cuylle, who I believe will actually take a step forward this year. Currently he is slated to start the season on the second line alongside Mika Zibanejad, and has even earned a spot on the second powerplay unit. Not bad for a tough guy, eh?

Cuylle had 20 goals, 25 assists, and three powerplay points in 82 games as a forward. He also had 152 shots on goal, an impressive 300 hits, and 50 blocked shots.