A role player primarily deployed in shorthanded situations, Tierney requires optimal offensive efficiency in order to captivate fantasy audiences. However, the shifty bottom-six pivot is on the upswing, having reached career highs in goals (11) and points (23) last season. The 23-year-old will remain in the Bay Area after penning a one-year, $735,000 contract extension as a restricted free agent in July. While he could be motivated for a more lucrative deal next summer, be weary of spotty production as Tierney embarks on his fourth NHL campaign.

After a solid rookie campaign that saw Tierney put up 21 points in 43 games, his scoring pace was cut in half last season when he managed just 20 points – and an ugly minus-16 rating – in 79 games. The 22-year-old was a little better come playoff time in producing at a clip of 0.38 points per game, but he’ll need to show a lot more to be more than just a blip on the fantasy radar when the Sharks open up the season in defense of their Western Conference title. Tierney definitely has the pedigree to do just that, as evidenced by his 40 goals and 49 assists across 67 games in his final season with OHL London and 29 points in his first 29 games with AHL Worcester, so be sure to keep a close eye on him in both daily and season-long formats.

Tierney heads to the AHL after spending four seasons with the pro-like London Knights of the OHL. Last season was particuarly impressive for the overager -- he racked up 40 goals and 49 assists, with just 12 penalty minutes, through 67 games. He has good size at 6-1, though he needs to add some weight. He's probably a top-nine guy in the NHL -- overage numbers in the OHL are always deceiving (remember, some of his opposition is only 17). Wait for his name to appear consistently in a line score before considering him for your roster.