Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats
Gabriel Vilardi, F: He set NHL career highs in points (69), goals (30), assists (39), power-play goals (13; tied for 12th in NHL), shots on goal (150) and games played (82) last season. Vilardi, who’s scored at least 20 goals in four straight seasons, has seen an increase in goals, assists, power-play goals, average ice time and shots on goal in each of the past two seasons with the Jets. The 27-year-old is tied for 10th in the NHL in power-play goals (25) over the past two seasons combined and brings exposure to the elite forward duo of Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele at both 5-on-5 and on the power play. Per NHL EDGE stats, Vilardi was tied for eighth in the entire League in high-danger goals (23) last season and ranked highly among forwards in offensive zone start percentage (45.4; 97th percentile) and high-danger shots on goal (85; 96th percentile). Vilardi could continue to see an uptick in production and can far outperform his average draft position (146.0). — Troy Perlowitz