2023–24 Time On Ice Stats
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
Demitra's a talented player who has scored 60-70 points on a regular basis throughout his career. So why should you avoid him? Because the dude just can't stay healthy. He has missed double-digit games in each of the past five seasons and underwent offseason shoulder surgery. The current timetable puts his return at mid-September, but there hasn't been any news on his recovery over the summer. He has trouble avoiding visits to the doctor even when he enters seasons healthy, so an ailing shoulder doesn't exactly bode well for a player as injury prone as Demitra.
Quite possibly Vancouver’s most-prized offseason acquisition, Demitra will be viewed as the savior to the Canucks’ offensive woes. Fantasy owners shouldn’t be as optimistic about the 33-year-old veteran. Demitra used to be a threat to top 30 goals a season – he hasn’t crossed the 30-goal mark since 2002-03. Last season, his scoring production dipped all the way down to 15 goals and 39 assists. The current plan is to have Demitra line up alongside Ryan Kesler and Taylor Pyatt on the Canucks' second line. If he ends up on the No. 1 line with the Sedin twins, bump him up your cheat sheets.
After two injury-plagued years, Demitra was able to stay on the ice most of the season and was dynamic when paired with fellow Slovak Marian Gaborik. He'll center the Wild's top line and his fantasy production largely depends on Gaborik's health. Demitra had 31 points in 28 games after February once both were fully healthy.
Demitra lived up to his injury-prone label last year, playing just 58 games last season due to nerve damage in his right leg, a right eye injury after getting hit by a puck and a season-ending concussion. He says he's fully healthy entering the preseason. If so, he'll be on the same line as fellow Slovak Marian Gaborik, which could be a big boost to his offensive production.
Demitra looks to be an offensive force for the Kings this season, while helping some of the younger offensive players develop their game. The new rules of the NHL should benefit him greatly.
