Zach Bogosian

Bogosian began his 16th NHL campaign in Tampa Bay before an early November trade sent him to Minnesota. He was in the lineup for the Wild nearly every night the rest of the way, finishing with three goals and 14 points in 65 games. It was actually Bogosian's most productive offensive campaign since 2018-19, to give you an idea of how infrequently he typically dents the scoresheet. Now 34 years old, Bogosian should have the inside track to a third-pairing role for Minnesota, but his lack of offensive production and middling hit and blocked shot numbers makes him a clear fantasy fade.

Bogosian's season debut had to wait until mid-November due to a shoulder injury. He was essentially a part-time player for the Lightning after arriving on the scene, appearing in 49 games and managing a goal and five points. Never known as an offensive threat, Bogosian has morphed into strictly a bottom-pair depth option in the latter stages of his career. Closing in on 800 career NHL games, Bogosian will again battle with the likes of Calvin De Haan, Darren Raddysh and Haydn Fleury for a spot in the Lightning lineup in 2023-24.

Bogosian didn't do much in 27 games split between the Sabres and the Lightning last year, amassing seven points while skating under 17 minutes per game for the first time in his career. At 30 years old, Bogosian's best years are likely already behind him, but he'll be able to play a smaller role in Toronto, as he's only expected to compete for a bottom-pairing job. There's no reason to expect a huge resurgence offensively -- Bogosian has only reached the 30-point mark once in his career, and he may struggle to reach double digits in 2020-21.

Bogosian had hip surgery in April and his recovery will likely cut into the season. That injury puts a further damper on what was already a nondescript fantasy resume, as the veteran blueliner has only topped 25 points once, and that came all the way back in 2011-12. There are plenty of comparable defensemen around who won't miss a chunk of the season right off the bat, so there's little reason to target Bogosian on draft day.

Over the past three seasons Bogosian has only played in a little over half of Buffalo's games. Bogosian, 28, should be entering his prime but chronic injuries have derailed his ability to become a dependable top-four defenseman who can play in all situations. His booming shot has all but disappeared with just 12 goals in his past four seasons, including zero in 18 games last year, and he hasn't been able to bring a calming presence to a young corps due to his lengthy absences. Bogosian has two more years on his contract and the best hope is that he stays healthy. If by miracle he manages to do so, he's a low-end multi-category contributor with hits and blocked shots but will be hard-pressed to score more than 20 points.

Bogosian’s been a loyal soldier for the Sabres for two and a half seasons, but being exposed for the expansion draft showed that he’s not considered part of the team’s future core. The hulking but oft-injured defenseman played just 56 games last season, scoring just 11 points with a minus-17 rating while seeing his average ice time (20:05) dip to its lowest level since his rookie year. With Buffalo having added some younger bodies to the blue line, Bogosian risks getting further marginalized. He’s a veteran who can provide a steady presence in all situations, but his inability to stay healthy has been a career-long problem, and it will limit his production even if the Sabres take a step forward as a team.

Bogosian scored seven goals in his first full season as a Sabre, his highest total since his sophomore season with the Atlanta Thrashers. Since arriving in Buffalo along with Evander Kane during 2014-15, Bogosian has settled in as a fixture on the Sabres' blue line, averaging 22 minutes per game and seeing regular time on both the power play and penalty kill. The biggest concern for fantasy owners remains his health, as Bogosian's played less than 65 games in each of his past four seasons. If he can stay healthy, the 2008's No. 3 overall pick is certainly capable of adding some offense to his typically strong physical play.

Bogosian figures to see a huge uptick in both opportunity and output in 2015-16. That is, if he can bloody well stay healthy. It’s clear the skills are there -- he wouldn’t have been a former third overall pick if they weren’t. But Bogosian has only played one full season in the NHL since first lacing up his skates in 2008-09. Ouch. Bogosian is now the top dog on the first power-play unit in the City of Fires, and quite frankly, the only puck-moving defender with any sort of experience on the thin Buffalo blue line. He could deliver a point every other game, but just don’t count on him suiting up for the full season. Anything more than 60 games played are pure gravy. Draft accordingly.

Bogosian struggled through a number of injuries last season, including a groin injury, the flu and an upper body ailment, but was rather effective when he was healthy. He racked up three goals, eight assists and 48 PIM in 55 games, and while those numbers aren’t all that impressive, Bogosian made his impact felt in different aspects of the game. He’s more of a stay-at-home defenseman than partner Jacob Trouba, which works well for the Jets, although not so much for fantasy owners. He’ll pick up some points simply from playing alongside Trouba as the youngster’s game develops and he has shown some offensive ability before, picking up 30 points in 2011-12. But for the most part, Bogosian is a lot more valuable in real life than in fantasy leagues.

Bogosian was signed to a long-term deal this summer, as the Jets inked him to a seven-year, $36 million contract. Just 23, Bogosian's recovery from wrist surgery delayed the start of his lockout-shortened campaign, which was ultimately truncated by a concussion in late April. After potting 19 goals in his first two seasons in the NHL, the offensive output slipped but the quality of play in the defensive zone and the development of the talent around him have made Bogosian's plus/minus much more palatable. As the season progressed, things were just beginning to click for the young blueliner as he finished the abbreviated campaign with seven points over his final four contests. Now healthy, Bogosian should log heavy minutes while making a push to best his previous career high in points (30) and contributing a hefty supply of hits and blocked shots as well.

Despite missing 17 games to injury last season, "Bogo" still managed 30 points in 2011-2012, a career high. What's more, the American blueliner averaged a handsome 23:10 of ice-time per-game, also a career best. As long as the physical defenseman can stay healthy, he should provide late-round value for fantasy owners. He's still just 22-years old despite finishing his third NHL season.

Bogosian had his worst season as a pro in 2010-11 with a career-low 17 points and an utterly disappointing minus-27 rating. That's not the stat line you would expect from a former third overall draft pick, and with All-Star blueliners like Tobias Enstrom and Dustin Byfuglien leading the charge, Bogosian's potential for substantial fantasy output is limited to say the least.

Bogosian has been slated as the “future” for the Thrashers' defense for the past two years but has yet to really take the big step to the next level. However, he has the talent, the hockey IQ, the size, and the drive to be a proven leader on the back end and simply needs to fine tune his game in order to be on the verge of a breakout season. His excellent skating ability gives him the edge on the opposition, and with another year experience in his pocket, he should have no problem improving on his 10-goal and 23-point performance last season. Bogosian is the type of young defenseman that should definitely be on your radar within keeper leagues, and makes for an excellent third or fourth blueliner in practically any fantasy league for 2010. Just be weary of the minus-18 rating that he put up on the board in 2009-10, although the Thrashers look to be an improved defensive team this year.

At the ripe young age of 18, Bogosian has set himself up for a nice sophomore campaign this season. After a devastating injury (broken leg) in late October, his rookie season looked quite bleak. But, he recovered in almost a miraculous fashion and returned in January to show what he can do. He tallied 19 points in the last 38 games of the season after returning from his injury, including 11 in his last 16 and showed his strength and puck handling ability. He has quite the shot on him as well, which he could use if he gets time playing the point with Kovalchuk. He’s young, but he has the tools to succeed in this league, and this could be his year.

Bogosian, Atlanta’s first-round pick in 2008, looked great at training camp. The Thrashers will look to give him some ice-time this season. Word on the street is he could be paired with Hainsey if he makes the team.