Drake Batherson

An ankle injury suffered in late January sidelined Batherson for nearly two months and helped derail what was a true breakout campaign in 2021-22. He finished the year at a near point-per-game pace (44 points in 46 games) while adding 14 points with the man advantage, one shy of his previous career high. Batherson is an easy buy from a fantasy perspective heading into 2022-23. He's just 24 years old, plays for what should be one of the league's most improved teams, and sees a significant amount of playing time both at even strength and on the power play. Don't let Batherson slip past the middle rounds of your draft this year.

Taking full advantage of the additional ice time he received while playing for a rebuilding Senators team, Batherson came out of nowhere to post 17 goals and 34 points in 56 games. What was most impressive was his power-play production. Nearly half of Batherson's points (15) came with the man advantage. To give you an idea of how good he was up a man, Batherson had more power-play points than Mika Zibanejad, David Pastrnak and Mitch Marner, to name a few. Batherson's 15.3 shooting percentage was high and his minus-17 rating was ugly, but he was able to negate some of that by racking up 102 hits. Batherson should again slot in as a mid-to-late round fantasy option in 2021-22, but keep in mind his plus-minus rating figures to be an issue once again, if your pool counts that category.

Batherson was fairly productive in limited time with the Senators last year, recording 10 points and 51 hits in 23 contests. While he carried a minus-12 rating, that was likely a product of the Senators' all-around poor team play. The 22-year-old winger is a physical presence in the lineup and could be ready to take on a regular role after his solid showing on the scoresheet in the AHL -- he had 54 points in just 44 games with Belleville. Look for Batherson to skate in the middle six with a good chance of receiving power-play time, as his 6-foot-3 frame could make for a good net-front presence. He should push for 25 points in the 56-game, 2020-21 campaign if he earns a spot as an everyday player.

Batherson received a small taste of the NHL last season, posting three goals and nine points in 20 games, but he will retain his rookie status for the upcoming campaign. He last played for the Senators in February and then finished the season in the AHL, where he had a very productive year, racking up 22 goals and 62 points in 59 games. Batherson will not only likely make the NHL roster out of training camp, but could receive top-six minutes from the get go. That makes him a player to keep an eye on during this year's fantasy drafts, as he could be a real scoring threat if he gets the opportunity to play with fellow youngsters Colin White and Brady Tkachuk.