After spending 2013-14 in Russia, Fedotenko attempted to make a return to the NHL last season, but to no avail. The Wild did like what they saw from him in his 13 games at AHL Iowa enough to re-sign him, but he's a long shot to make the NHL roster out of training camp.
Fedotenko returns to Philadelphia as a new off-season addition who will provide the Flyers a much needed veteran presence. He’s unlikely to make much of a fantasy splash this year, having not posted 40+ points since the 2005-06 season, however he's an experienced and versatile defensive forward that will be highly useful to Philadelphia. Don't forget about him entirely in very deep leagues.
Fedotenko is the type of player that every team needs; someone to do the little things that don't always get noticed or end up on the scoresheet like chasing down loose pucks and managing the penalty kill. Although Wojtek Wolski has to be considered the early favorite to play with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, he's no lock for the spot. Fedotenko has a history with Richards and coach John Tortorella trusts him, which is enough to consider drafting him toward the middle-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts.
With so much attention on the likes of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, players like Fedotenko hardly get any credit. Some of it is understandable, because he will never come close to the level of production belonging to the former. But what Fedotenko does bring to the table is roughly 30-35 points per season as a clutch role player for the high-flying Penguins.
We saw what a change of teams from the Islanders to the Penguins could do for Fedotenko -- six more points. Fedotenko compiled 33 points in 67 games on Long Island before finishing with 39 in 65 in Mellon Arena last year. The forward, who is slated to play with Evgeni Malkin to start the season, took a paycut from $2.5 million to $1.8 this year to stay with the Stanley Cup champs. He is one of the streakiest players in the NHL.
Fedotenko has often seen hot stretches that last part of the season while the rest of the time he slumps. He's scored between 12 and 19 goals in six of seven seasons, and should finish on the high side of that figure (or perhaps even a little more) with a shot at periodical top-six time with Pittsburgh.
Fedotenko comes in as a free-agent signing. While not a big time scorer, he can chip in some goals, as evidenced by his 26-goal campaign in 2005-06. If used in the right role, he should return to the 20-goal plateau in 2007-08.
Fedotenko will once again see time on the second line with Vinny Lecavalier and Vinny Prospal and will be a decent finisher. But don't expect him to be anything more than a spot starter for you when you're desperate for goals. He'll be lucky to hit 50 points this season and that means he shouldn't be a regular on your squad.
Fedotenko's fantasy value will continue to be decent this season as he'll slot in on one of Tampa Bay's top-two lines. And perhaps he'll even come close to a 45 or 50 point season. After all, his output during the team's Stanley Cup run was outstanding (14 points in 22 games).
