NHL.com’s Pete Jensen lists a set of fantasy hockey “sleeper picks” this afternoon, and one of his picks is Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi…
Tyler Bertuzzi, LW/RW, DET
NHL.com rank: 196; ADP: 169.1The Detroit Red Wings power forward had an NHL career-high 47 points (21 goals, 26 assists) thanks to a strong finish to the regular season. He had 13 points (five goals, eight assists), a plus-6 and 22 SOG over the final seven games, including four straight three-point games, on a line with mostly center Dylan Larkin and wing Anthony Mantha. Bertuzzi was plus-11 on the season, averaged better than a hit per game (76 in 73 games) and plays for a potentially overlooked team with sneaky offensive appeal.
Continued; and in the “deep sleeper” category, Reese suggests that poolies should take a late-round flyer on Filip Hronek:
Filip Hronek, D, DET
NHL.com rank: 190The Detroit Red Wings defenseman led the position with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 10 games with Czech Republic at the World Championship and could be a fixture on Detroit’s top power play next season. Hronek was a part of the Red Wings’ strong finish to the season, scoring seven points (two goals, five assists), two on the power play, over the final six games. With Mantha, Hronek, Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi, Andreas Athanasiou, Mike Green and Jimmy Howard all ranked in NHL.com’s top 250, the Red Wings are a potentially overlooked team that can pay fantasy dividends.
