ESPN’s Victoria Matiash offers a set of rookie and sophomore players for fantasy hockey poolies to target in their drafts this fall, and she suggests that Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider stand among the “sensational sophomores” available to pick:
Lucas Raymond, F, Detroit Red Wings: Slotted alongside top center Dylan Larkin and fellow winger Tyler Bertuzzi, the 20-year-old sophomore should pick up where he left off, in contributing at a regular pace with Detroit in round two of his young career. With the additions of David Perron and Andrew Copp taking some of the pressure off the Red Wings’ top line, Raymond can be expected to bust through the 60-point mark after collecting 23 goals and 34 assists this past season. Perron’s presence also renders Detroit’s top power play, which includes Raymond, a bit more dangerous. The fourth-overall draft pick (2020) has a role to play in all but the shallowest of ESPN.com fantasy leagues.
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Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings: As with his aforementioned teammate, Raymond, there’s nothing holding Seider back from imitating, if not bettering, his rookie performance in 2021-22. This Calder-winning kid is the real deal. A productive, physical, shot-blocking gem in ESPN standard leagues, the towering 21-year-old is a top-five fantasy defender in my books.
