Xavier Ouellet

Ouellet will get a fresh start in Montreal after Detroit's second-round (48th overall) draft pick was phased out of Motown. Despite being met with sky-high expectations after producing 160 points (41 goals, 119 assists) at juniors with QMJHL Montreal and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (2009-13), the Frenchman failed to garner a substantial role despite the Red Wings having been in dire need of playmakers on the blue line for at least the past three years. Ouellet will have a chance to improve upon his scant 0.16 points-per-game pace in Montreal after signing a one-year deal in July, but be forewarned that Habs GM Marc Bergevin isn't the most patient person when it comes to letting young defensemen develop.

Ouellet garnered a two-year contract extension from the Red Wings in an offseason that tested GM Ken Holland's cap-crunching ability, which shows just how much the defenseman is valued. The Frenchman plays a composed and patient game, and his output of 25 assists in 61 appearances with AHL Grand Rapids from the 2015-16 campaign cast a spotlight on his passing skills. Still, Ouellet’s primary role for Detroit is killing penalties -- he averaged 1:55 of ice time in shorthanded situations with the parent club last year -- so the 24-year-old’s skill set may not translate into a tangible amount of fantasy value in the foreseeable future.

Since he ran out of options and is no longer exempt from waivers, this could be the season that the Red Wings rip the training wheels off Ouellet, a second-round (48th overall) draft pick from 2011. In both the juniors and minor leagues, the Frenchman proved to be a sound distributor from the blue line. He tallied four goals and 25 helpers with AHL Grand Rapids last season, a fine complement to his plus-18 rating. The offseason departure of Kyle Quincey has opened a roster spot for Ouellet, so now it will be up to him to seize the opportunity. It doesn’t hurt that he has been involved in postseason play in all eight seasons below the NHL level. Keep tabs on Ouellet as a late-round sleeper in fantasy drafts. With Doug Houda taking stepping in to overhaul Detroit’s blue line, Ouellet should get every opportunity to showcase his talents and wind up with meaningful playing time in 2016-17.

Ouellet failed to score in five games with the Red Wings, but recorded 17 in 70 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2013-14. He's one of the better defensive prospects Detroit has, and he will be one of the first blue line call-ups when injuries arrive. Keep your eye on him from the waiver wire.

Ouellet has shown promise in the QMJHL the last four years and should find his way to the AHL in the near future.