Brian Dumoulin

Dumoulin doesn't score much -- he's never had more than 23 points in any one season -- but the Penguins looked like a completely different team, and not for the better, after he suffered what ended up being a season-ending knee injury in Game 1 of the team's eventual seven-game first-round playoff loss to the Rangers. There's minimal fantasy value here, but Dumoulin is an ideal stay-at-home defenseman who has averaged more than 20 minutes of ice time per game for the Penguins in each of the past six seasons.

The 2020-21 season marked the second straight year in which Dumoulin was banged up, this time missing 15 games early in the campaign with a lower-body injury. Dumoulin has provided a stabilizing defensive presence alongside Kris Letang on Pittsburgh's top defensive pair when healthy, but that hasn't been the case since the 2018-19 campaign. He's also never posted more than five goals or 23 points in a single season despite averaging north of 20 minutes of ice time per game in each of the past five seasons. The Penguins play better when Dumoulin is in the lineup, but that hasn't lead to much success for fantasy managers.

An ankle injury cost Dumoulin the bulk of the 2019-20 campaign. He was ultimately only able to play in 28 regular-season contests, generating one goal on 35 shots and seven assists. Not exactly an offensive powerhouse, the defensively-gifted blueliner provides the cover that allows partner Kris Letang to jump up into the play.The puck-moving, 29-year-old has chipped in 15-plus points in four of his last five years but could struggle to reach the 10-point threshold given the shortened season. Dumoulin won't see much action with the man advantage either, which further limits his fantasy value.

Dumoulin had his best season yet as a pro in 2018-19, setting career highs in assists (20), points (23) and plus/minus (plus-31) in 76 games. However, fantasy owners shouldn't bank on the 27-year-old producing a repeat performance in 2019-20. Dumoulin's a solid passer, but his primary responsibility is to simply get the puck out of the zone and then hold down the blue line while his partner Kris Letang joins the attack. While Dumoulin's excellent in that role, it doesn't necessarily equate to fantasy value, which makes him a mid-range option at best in most formats.

With the chemistry budding over the last two seasons, Dumoulin has clearly cemented himself as the ying to Kris Letang's yang as a defensive stalwart that can serve as a last line of defense while his partner jumps up into the offensive zone. Extremely mobile for his size, the 26-year-old is coming off his best year in terms of offensive production. He registered five goals (three more than in the rest of his career combined) and 13 assists. The Maine native is unlikely to feature on the power play unless absolutely necessary and likely tops out at the 20-point threshold. Critical to the Penguins' success, Dumoulin's skill set simply doesn't convert into fantasy value.

Yes, the Penguins signed a guy with two career goals in 163 NHL games to a six-year, $24.6 million contract extension in the offseason, but Dumoulin apologists will point to his defensive contributions -- he goes up against opposing teams’ top lines game after game -- as justification for the lucrative deal. Now 25 years old, the defenseman remains a key cog on coach Mike Sullivan’s penalty kill while serving as a decent source of both hits and blocked shots. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, Dumoulin’s on-ice contributions simply don't translate into fantasy points in most formats.

He was a bottom-pairing blueliner to start last year, but somewhere along the line, Dumoulin turned into the Penguins’ most reliable defenseman. The 2009 second-round pick played in 79 games, eight more than the team’s next-healthiest defender, Kris Letang (71). Pittsburgh challenged him by relying on him so much, and the smooth-skating Dumoulin responded well, offering a solid presence on the back end. However, he’s not much of a stat accumulator – he doesn’t hit much (77 hits) or block an inordinate number of shots (68 blocks), while his offense has clearly played second fiddle to defense. Dumoulin tallied 16 assists and zero goals in the regular season, but finally found twine in the very last game of the Stanley Cup Finals, when he scored on a power play. There is room to grow, though, as Dumoulin picked up 45 points in 115 AHL contests prior to coming to Pittsburgh and could see his offensive game come along if he continues to enjoy big minutes.

The Penguins signed Dumoulin to a two-year, one-way contract in July, and thus the former Boston College standout is set to ply his trade as a regular on Pittsburgh's third defensive pairing this year despite having only 14 NHL games under his belt to this point. Dumoulin has some offensive potential -- he totaled 33 points and a plus-25 rating in the AHL this past season -- but with the higher-upside blueliners Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot ahead of him at left defense, it'll likely take injuries for him to win a bigger role. Still, Dumoulin is a person of interest in leagues that count hits and blocked shots this coming season, as he's likely to pile those up in a defensively oriented role. And if a more premier role were to open up, he could become a midseason breakout candidate.

Acquired in the Jordan Staal trade, Dumoulin appears set to make his mark in Pittsburgh. The Boston College product could start the season as the team's sixth or seventh defenseman. In two AHL campaigns, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound defender has shown some offensive potential - he accumulated 21 points in 53 games last year for Wilkes-Barre. He is arguably the most polished of the organization's defensive prospects and could slide into a bigger role as the season progresses if Paul Martin and/or Kris Letang is moved.

Acquired from Carolina in the draft-day Jordan Staal trade of 2012, Dumoulin was thought to be more of a defensive-defenseman when the Pens picked him up. After making his AHL debut for the Baby Pens, however, there's a chance he could contribute offensively someday in the NHL. In 2012-13, Dumoulin scored 23 points (6G, 17A) in 73 regular-season games and then added two goals and eight points in 15 postseason contests. Because his defensive skills are so advanced, he rates highly on the list of Pittsburgh's blue line prospects ready to make an NHL impact. His perceived upside at the offensive end of the rink isn't as high as Derrick Pouliot or Simon Despres, but he could make his debut for the Pens as soon as in 2013-14.

Dumoulin stood out with his good size (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) during the Pens' developmental camp over the summer. He's closer to the NHL than many of Pittsburgh's other prospects. A defensive-oriented player, Dumoulin spent his last three years playing for Boston College. A jump straight to the Penguins probably isn't reasonable to expect, but the fact that it's being talked about bodes well for his future. Dumoulin, acquired from Carolina in the Jordan Staal trade, stands out among Pittsburgh's defensive prospects because of the ability in his own end but, from a fantasy perspective, he's probably not a player worth getting too excited over.

Dumoulin is a smooth-skating defenseman best known for having won the NCAA Championship with Boston College in 2009. And thanks to his superb vision, the defensive prospect assisted on 51 scores for the Eagles in his first two seasons at the collegiate level. Dumoulin’s upside is difficult to ignore, but he’ll have to continue paying his dues in the lower ranks before climbing on board with the Hurricanes.

Dumoulin, the Hurricanes' second round draft pick of 2009, is coming off an unforgettable freshman campaign skating for Boston College. Before leading his team to a national championship with the Eagles, a graceful skating Dumoulin went plus-40 in the plus/minus category, which was a great compliment to his 22 assists in 42 regular-season games. He shouldn't crack the 'Canes lineup for at least another year or two, but study up on Dumoulin, as he could become an excellent keeper pick down the line.

The Hurricanes selected 18-year-old Dumoulin with pick No. 51 of the 2009 NHL entry draft. Even though he lacks physicality, his excellent skating and superior work ethic makes him someone to track.