Scott Darling

Darling, who served mostly as a backup to Corey Crawford in Chicago for the past three seasons, was traded from the Blackhawks to the Hurricanes in late April in exchange for a 2017 third-round draft pick. Soon after, he signed a four-year, $16.6 million contract, signifying that Carolina has all but committed to him as its goalie of the future. Darling was 6-0-1 during a seven-game stretch in December last season while posting a sparkling 1.71 GAA and .943 save percentage, proving that he has the stuff to be a No. 1 goaltender in the NHL. Looking ahead, don't expect similar numbers with the Hurricanes, who will give him nowhere near the offensive support he enjoyed with the Blackhawks. However, if the Canes keep improving thanks to an up-and-coming roster of young talent, Darling’s fantasy value should continue to rise over the course of the next few seasons.

Darling was decent in limited action last season, compiling a 12-8-1 record with a 2.58 GAA and .915 save percentage over 28 appearances. The University of Maine product is firmly entrenched as the 'Hawks backup goaltender, but may not see as much playing time in 2016-17. Chicago's starting netminder, Corey Crawford, was sidelined for nearly a month with an upper-body ailment towards the end of last season, leading to an inflated start total for Darling. The 27-year-old goaltender has proven to be a capable backup during his two years with the Blackhawks, and should be in line for around 20 starts in 2016-17. He'll also be playing behind one of the best teams in the NHL this season, making him a player owners should feel comfortable slotting into their lineups whenever he's between the pipes.

Darling put up some pretty impressive numbers in limited service in 2014-15 (14-8-2, 2.20 GAA, .927 save percentage) and was instrumental in the Blackhawks’ first-round series win over the Predators. He went 3-1 with a 2.21 GAA and a .936 save percentage before stumbling in Game 6 and turning the starting job back over to Corey Crawford. But it set the stage for the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup run, and Darling proved he could play big minutes under challenging situations. This season, the former University of Maine twinetender could be in line for 30 starts or more, given Crawford’s propensity for running hot and cold. He’s a great guy to stash away for those moments, and will make for a solid daily play almost any time he takes the ice. He’ll be one of the best backups in the NHL.