From the Press Box: Studs and Duds

Every year the pre-season prognosticators, myself included, project who might be the fantasy breakouts and disappointments for the season. Now, as we near the end of the regular season, it's an opportune time to take a look back at this season to determine our actual fantasy studs and duds.

Fantasy All-Stars

Among the forwards, we begin with Jakub Voracek, who has been at or near the top of the NHL's scoring race all season long. In fact, as we head toward the final days of the regular season, he has 81 points, leaving him only two behind Sidney Crosby and John Tavares. Voracek has been a steady point producer, who had averaged between 45 and 50 points through his first five years, before he set a career-high with 62 last season. This year he built a strong working relationship with Flyers captain Claude Giroux, himself a perennial top-ten scorer. Voracek's point totals and career-high in PIMs (78) would suggest that he has bought into the traditional Flyers mantra of tough and productive offensive hockey.

Tyler Johnson entered his second season in the NHL after producing 50 points in a fine rookie campaign when he emerged as a consistent source of secondary scoring. This season, he built on that profile and has established himself as the best playmaker on the Lightning. He has thrived in all circumstances, whether playing on Steve Stamkos' wing or anchoring a second offensive line at center. He leads the Bolts with 69 points and has quietly become one of the best two-way forwards in hockey, with a plus-33 rating to support that claim.

A deep, four-line attack in St. Louis allowed Vladimir Tarasenko to enjoy a fine, albeit unspectacular rookie season where he produced 43 points in 64 games. This year, he has taken a big step into the limelight, owing to a spike in his scoring totals (36 goals and 71 points) along with a penchant for many of his skillful plays winding up on the late-night highlight reels. He has clearly become an offensive centerpiece and has served notice that he is one of the most-skilled players in the league. He has also quieted any concern about coping with physical play. He's now expected to be in the front ranks of the elite scorers as we look beyond this season.

On defense, Roman Josi has certainly benefited from his growing partnership with Shea Weber, an annual candidate for the Norris Trophy. Josi is my "Exhibit A" for my sidekick theory to fantasy hockey. It refers to knowing which skaters are playing alongside the acknowledged best of the best. Josi enjoyed this relationship last season, when he managed to reach the 40-point plateau, though he had a modest minus-2 rating. This season, he is still a regular partner with Weber, but he has actually outscored the captain with his 55 points and plus-16 rating. He is third among defensemen in total points.

The Flames have been one of the league's biggest surprises and that is largely due to the emergence of three defensemen leading their attack. Among that trio, Dennis Wideman must be considered the most surprising component. He entered the campaign on the heels of two seasons when he played a total of 92 games and produced 43 points and a minus-24 rating in total. This season, he has assumed more of a comfort level with the Flames' systems and that has translated into a career-best 15 goals and 54 points.

The Capitals had been maligned in recent years for burning out coaches who could not get the best results out of this core group. Enter defensive tactician Barry Trotz, who has totally changed things around. Even he will say that the emergence of Braden Holtby has been a central development. Holtby has not only proven himself to be capable of taking on a heavy workload, but he has also taken the next step in his personal development. He has always been able to play a lot of games at every level, but he has finally put together his first 40-win campaign backed by a stellar 2.24 goals-against average in 71 appearances. He has thrust himself into the conversation regarding elite NHL goalies.

Fantasy Non-Stars

What follows is a list that no NHL player expects to be a part of, and yet, these players have distinguished themselves for the wrong reasons and circumstances.

Prior to this season, Phil Kessel had established himself as an elite goal scorer and point producer, someone who had regularly been among the league's top ten in each category in recent seasons. Things started poorly off the ice, with some concerns over his physical fitness, but he seemed to quiet those talks with a good start, with 21 points in the first 16 games. From then on, it seemed like he lost any advantage that his skills might have provided. After the Leafs made a coaching change later in the year, Kessel's production has all but dried up. He now sits on his worst numbers in years, with only 24 goals and 59 points. The most damning number is his league-worst minus-34 rating – not what you expect from such a skilled player.

Carolina had to think they had their next star when Jeff Skinner broke in with them five seasons ago. He had produced a total of 84 goals in the last three full seasons and was a combative force game-in and game-out. This season, he has lost his spot on the top scoring unit in Carolina and his fortunes have nosedived in line with the rest of this non-playoff team. He has only 18 goals, 31 points and a poor minus-24 rating, which suggests he is not considered a central figure on the team.

It is no secret that the Sabres are in the early stages of a complete rebuild, so most of their results can be written off. However, the case regarding Cody Hodgson should be viewed differently. He was a former high draft choice with a significant offensive upside, certainly as a scoring line center at least. In the last three seasons, he had been taking consistent strides along that trajectory. This season, however, he has taken a big step back, producing only six goals, 13 points and a minus-27 rating. The current talk about the Sabres future depth at center does not include him in the discussion. That should be alarming for this skilled forward.

On defense, Jake Gardiner entered this season after setting career-highs with 10 goals and 21 points, looking like a surefire high-scoring blueliner for years to come. Observers have always been attracted to his outstanding skating ability and his confidence to jump into the attack. This season, he has not continued to play with that same flair and has become suspect at handling the puck. The downturn has accounted for his meager four goals, 24 points and, most importantly, his minus-21 rating. As the Leafs' season has gone south, the regression in Gardiner's level of play has to count as one of the more disturbing elements. He is being counting on to be part of the solution here.

There are a few players who epitomize the decline in Colorado's fortunes from last season, and defender Nick Holden is one of the best examples. He made a name for himself in a 54-game rookie season when he registered 10 goals, 25 points and a fine plus-12 rating, all particularly good numbers while learning to play the toughest position at the NHL level. This season has been nowhere near as good for Holden and his Colorado mates. He has paid the price for his downturn, scoring only 14 points and posting a minus-11 rating while moving down on the depth chart.

In goal, Mike Smith had carved a reputation as the goalie workhorse who had propped up the Arizona franchise with a quality level of goaltending that made up for shortcomings on the rest of the roster. His career goals-against average, most of which came in Phoenix, has hovered around a very respectable 2.60 per game. Until this season, his name had been in the conversation for top Canadian-born goalies. That's how good he's been. This year, it looks like the dam has burst, as he is sitting on career-worst numbers with a 3.14 GAA in 60 appearances.

All-Rookie Team

Forwards:Johnny Gaudreau, Mark Stone, Filip Forsberg

Defensemen:Aaron Ekblad, John Klingberg

Goaltender:Michael Hutchinson