Stralman is a top-pairing defender, but he's not the fantasy type. His offense fell off the map in 2016-17 and he finished with 22 points. It was the second straight season that Stralman's scoring declined. He still uses his body -- he's averaged 104 hits a season over the last three — but without offense, Stralman is just another one-hit wonder who produces in an obscure category. Be glad he's helping keep Andrei Vasilevskiy's crease clear, but don't put him on your fantasy squad.
Stralman is an absolute stud on the blue line. He drives possession, orchestrates plays that deliver goals for his forwards and fires shots. And he is a stud shutdown man in his own zone. Last season ended early for Stralman when he fractured his leg in March, but he returned against Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference finals and played north of 23 minutes by Game 7. Stralman is massively underrated despite being a top-20 or even top-15 NHL defender and doesn't mind one bit. Opponents despise playing against him and the Bolts adore having him. Count on another 35-40 point season of performance for Stralman while toiling in all situations.
Stralman is a low-maintenance, lunch-bucket defender who is one half of what might be the one of the NHL’s most underrated defensive pairings. You don’t have to look any further than the Stanley Cup Finals to see how well he and Victor Hedman smothered (and frustrated) studs like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. But he’s more than just a defensive specialist. Stralman is an elite passer and skater who delivered a career-best nine goals and 30 assists in 2014-15. He had 30 of his 39 points skating alongside Hedman, but his output slipped when Hedman hit the IR. If Hedman can enjoy better health this season, Stralman may be able to top the 40-point plateau this time.
Stralman would be a dream if fantasy hockey pools tracked advanced statistics. He's 27 and will be one of the Bolts' top shutdown defenders for the next four years. As such, he'll be tasked with shadowing the best players the opponents can throw on the ice. Unfortunately, he won't see much power-play time and won't deliver much by way of points, hits, blocked shots, PIMs or shots on goal.
Stralman is a career third-pairing defenseman. In fact that the most goals Stralman has ever compiled in one season was way back in 2009-10 when he netted six and registered 34 points during his first season in Columbus. That said entering the second year of his two-year extension, the Swede could get top-4 minutes if injuries remain a problem on the Rangers blue line but Stralman should not be considered even remotely fantasy relevant.
Stralman will return to Madison Square Garden after signing a two-year, $3.4 million contract as a restriced free agent this past offseason. The 26-year-old Swedish blueliner took a step back in 2011-12 (2 goals, 16 assists) after two solid seasons with Columbus, but he should be able to improve upon those totals in 2012-13 as he will likely be paired with the improving Michael Del Zotto. Stralman won't be someone targeted by fantasy owners in drafts this fall, and rightly so, but he's a player worth keeping an eye on if he can revert to his 2009-10 form that saw him notch 34 points.
Stralman is a proficient skater with good vision, but the Swede has yet to land on the better side of the plus/minus rating in four seasons at the NHL level. As of mid-August, the defender is still looking for work as an unrestricted free agent, though there have been reports that he is drawing interest from several Swedish clubs. If he's still not with a club by draft day, consider adding him on waivers and stashing him with hopes that he'll latch on with an NHL team sooner than later.
Stralman and the Blue Jackets flirted with arbitration in the offseason, but in late July of 2010, the two sides agreed to a one-year deal that will pay him $1.95 million. Now that all contract talk is behind him, we believe Stralman can build off his 34-point campaign from a year ago given the lack of a true #1 power play quarterback on the roster, and improving on last year's minus-17 rating would also be doing his fantasy owners a favor.
Calgary acquired Stralman from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the offseason. He is in a dogfight to make the Flames roster this year. Calgary is loaded on the blue line and Stralman could end up in Abbotsford (AHL) as a result. He is an outstanding skater and moves the puck exceptionally well so don't be surprised if he makes an impact at some point. Stralman will be a solid fantasy defensman in the near future but wait to see how the Flames will use him this season before investing in him. Keeper league owners should have him on their radar by now.
There were points last season when young Stralman was the Leafs best puck-carrying defender. But there were also more than a few growing pains. Then he had an outstanding World Championships tourney and showed us glimpses of future greatness. He might be a risk this season – after all, the Leafs will be bottom feeders. But keeper leaguers should grab this guy – he’s going to be worth 60 points a season before long.
There were points last season when young Stralman was the Leafs best puck-carrying defender. But there were also more than a few growing pains. Then he had an outstanding World Championships tourney and showed us glimpses of future greatness. He might be a risk this season – after all, the Leafs will be bottom feeders. But keeper leaguers should grab this guy – he’s going to be worth 60 points a season before long.
