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Heading into the 2024-25 campaign, Luke Schenn should have the inside track on a lineup spot in the third pairing but will have the likes of Spencer Stastney and Marc Dal Gaizo breathing down his neck for minutes. The 34-year-old Schenn no doubt has the benefit of experience on his side, including last year when he saw action in 63 regular-season games for the Predators. In those outings, the 2008 fifth-overall pick managed one goal on 81 shots and six assists. While his offensive upside is limited, Schenn did dish out 202 hits while blocking 76 shots and could offer some value in banger formats.
Schenn signed a three-year, $8.25 million contract with Nashville in July after skating in 70 games between Vancouver and Toronto last season. The 33-year-old blueliner led the league with 318 hits after placing fourth overall in 2021-22 with a total of 273. Schenn also chipped in four goals, 18 assists, 84 PIM and 98 blocked shots last campaign. He doesn't provide enough offense to garner a regular lineup spot on most fantasy rosters, but his ability to rack up hits makes him a decent streaming option over the course of the year.
Schenn returned to Vancouver last season after briefly playing for the club in the 2018-19 campaign. He missed a bunch of time early in the year with an undisclosed ailment, but was a regular the rest of the way, appearing in 66 games and posting five goals, 17 points, a plus-15 rating and most importantly, 273 hits. It was a number that ranked Schenn fourth overall in the NHL behind only Radko Gudas, Tanner Jeannot and Ryan Reaves. Signed for one more season at a cap hit of $850,000, Schenn should again provide value for those fantasy managers looking for help in the hit department in the latter rounds of drafts.
Schenn sacrificed playing time for a Stanley Cup ring in 2019-20, making just 25 regular-season appearances with the Lightning. He had three points, 83 hits and 23 PIM, marking the fourth straight year in which he's finished with a single-digit total in the points column. Never a standout on the scoresheet, Schenn figures to resume his part-time role with the Lightning in 2020-21, although he may see more playing time with the condensed 56-game schedule. Fantasy managers should pass on Schenn, as he isn't likely to get much more than five points, although he'll provide plenty of hits.
The Ducks needed a stabilizing presence in the defensive zone, so GM Bob Murray took the liberty of signing Schenn, a veteran journeyman, to a one-year deal worth $800,000 in July. Not since the 2012-13 season has the Canadian rearguard averaged more than 20 minutes per game, and he posted single-digit point totals with the Coyotes in each of the last two campaigns. While there's hardly any fantasy upside with the heavy hitter, seek him out after the draft or scoop him off the waiver wire in case he inexplicably finds an offensive groove.
Schenn is the classic example of a player whose "real-life" value is greater than it is in the virtual hockey landscape. Why? Well, the 27-year-old is a shutdown defenseman, first and foremost, and he loves packing a wallop, as evidenced by his dialing in a third-ranked 286 hits last season. Schenn's going on his 10th year in the league, yet he's never posted more than 22 points in a single campaign. Draft him in leagues where it's important to rack up a copious amount of hits, but otherwise, consider leaving him on the waiver wire.
Schenn agreed to a two-year deal with Arizona after washing out of Philadelphia and playing half a season with the Kings. The 6-foot-2 defenseman may fare better in the Western Conference, where his size can be more advantageous, but he’ll have to earn his minutes on a stacked Coyotes blue line. When everyone is healthy, the Coyotes may have to carry eight defensemen, and right now Schenn offers limited upside as a candidate for the third pairing whose primary value stems from the many checks he's willing to dish out.
There's not a lot of glamor in what the elder Schenn does -- there seldom is in his stay-at-home style. But what he lacks in scoring skill, he makes up for in physicality. Since entering the league, the former Leaf has been among the league leaders in hits and has been incredibly difficult to play against. Nonetheless, from a fantasy perspective, his value is limited. Unless your league counts hits, there are a number of defenseman available that will deliver more.
Luke Schenn ranked third in the league with 187 hits last season. The physical defenseman doesn't collect a whole bunch of points, but he's a valuable asset in leagues that score for hits.
The Flyers picked up the elder Schenn this off season from the Maple Leafs to add some depth on the blue line. He’s likely to see improvements from his last two 22-point seasons that produced a minus-7 and a minus-6 rating with the defensively challenged Leafs. With more firepower and a solid puck possession team in front of him, Schenn could see a career year with the Flyers in 2012-13. Remember his name in the later rounds of deeper drafts, especially those in keeper leagues.
Schenn's fantasy value is in the details. More of a shutdown guy, Schenn will never get the chance to show his underrated offensive talents. But he will do his job and get the puck out away from his goalie and out of his zone with punishing effectiveness. He's the perfect number four defender on a good hockey team whose solid, steady play delivers value in the more obscure fantasy categories of hits, blocked shots and TOI. Only a fool would draft him for anything more.
Schenn is already a top-four defender at the ripe old age of 19 and one of the few untouchables on the Toronto roster. He's maturing into a shutdown defender in the mold of Adam Foote and that may be valuable in some formats. But most single-year leagues shouldn't bother.
Some day, Schenn might be as good as Adam Foote was in his prime. But right now, he needs to spend another year in junior and then apprentice a year in the AHL to build the right foundation. We just hope the Leafs don’t rush him to the NHL and ruin him the way they did with so many other young defenders over the years.
