Garnet Exelby

Exelby, 31, has played 408 career NHL games but hasn't appeared at that level since playing for Toronto in the 2009-10 season. He was brought in by the B’s to provide veteran blue line depth, but he’s a longshot to achieve any fantasy worth, with PIMs being the only category he’d be any help in if he does see some action with the big club.

Exelby may be a Brian Burke type of bruiser. But fantasy owners shouldn't get overexcited. Exelby will battle for one of the bottom two spots on a very crowded blue line after being a healthy scratch a lot of nights in Atlanta. Avoid.

Exelby is very a steady, if unspectacular defenseman. He is good at staying out of the box (only 58 PIM's last season). With veterns Andy Sutton and Greg de Vries leaving a lot of the defensive load is going to fall to Exelby. His fantasy impact will lie more in his effect on goalie Kari Lehtonen's numbers rather than his own offensive skills. Although he had career highs in points (10) and goals (two) he has almost zero offensive potential.

Led the Thrashers with a plus eleven and has potential for 100 PIM’s but that’s where his fantasy value ends. He’s gotten one goal and ten points in both of his last two seasons. His bigger fantasy impact will be in providing some solid defense in front of potential super star Kari Lehtonen.

Exelby is only 24 years old and is one of the up-and-comers on the Thrashers blue line. His big benefit to Atlanta is his toughness as evidenced by his penalty minutes -- last season he was second on the team with 134. He may never be an offensive defenseman but his production could double from last year’s 10 points as he receives more playing time.