Kurtis Foster

Foster started the 2011-12 season in Anaheim before being traded to New Jersey in December, only to see the Devils ship him off to Minnesota in the Marek Zidlicky deal in late February. Foster didn't make a huge impact on any of the three teams, although he did see regular power play with all three clubs. Foster finished the season with no points in 14 games for the Wild and likely will be a fringe player at best. With the Wild bringing in Ryan Suter, there will be even less power play time to go around for Foster when you factor in the presence of Jared Spurgeon and Tom Gilbert as well.

Foster tallied 22 points (8 G, 14 A) in 74 games played for the Oilers last season and he's just two years removed from a 42-point effort. He could look to approach that level again now that he is out of Edmonton, and the new address may result in an upswing in production. Keep Foster in mind when considering your options deep in the draft. Foster should hover around the 30-point mark, quietly creeping into sleeper potential.

Foster had his best season from a statistical standpoint in 2009-10. He played in 71 games and finished with 42 points - 14 more than he's ever posted in six previous seasons. He's not as sure of a bet as say, a Christian Ehrhoff type, but he figures to be a serviceable option in deep fantasy leagues.

Foster has offensive talent but his 2008-09 was lost to injury. Then again, every year of his NHL career has been pretty much lost to injury -- the guy hasn't suited up for more than 58 games in any NHL season. He'll be undervalued on draft day but he's an decent sleeper... if you can stomach the injury risk.

Foster dazzled last year, until his season (and leg) took turns for the worse. A broken femur crippled Foster after he was thrown against the boards in a late season game versus culprit Torrey Mitchell and the Sharks. It doesn't appear that Foster will be ready until December as the best case scenario, a shame since the hard shooting defenseman was able to rack up nineteen points in 56 contests. If he could play a whole season his fantasy value would raise brows, but that simply won't happen in 2008-09.

Foster led Minnesota defensemen with 20 assists, but had just three goals, was a minus-three and was a seen as such a disappointment that the Wild almost didn't offer him a contract in the offseason. He posses a strong slap shot and gets time on the power play, so this will be a pivotal season for his development.

Foster led all Minnesota defensemen in points last season and could be a sleeper as he'll get more time on the power play. The Wild's defense-oriented system will keep his scoring chances down, but he could surprise.

The former Calgary second-rounder is big (6'5"), but needs to show more offense to get regular duty in the NHL after bouncing between the minors and several NHL clubs the last few years.