Jaden Schwartz

One of Seattle's few free-agent splurges prior to their expansion season, Schwartz's year was derailed by injuries. He missed more than two months early in the year due to hand surgery before an upper-body injury cost him the Kraken's final 18 games of the regular season. Schwartz appeared in just 37 games, all told, managing eight goals and 23 points. He's an obvious bounce-back candidate given Seattle's lack of offensive depth, but expecting roughly 30 goals and 60-plus points like we saw from Schwartz in his peak years with the Blues is likely unrealistic, especially given the injury risk.

Schwartz was a consistent performer throughout his nine years with the Blues, posting at least 20 goals on four separate occasions, while finishing with at least 50 points five different times. Eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer, the 29-year-old inked a five-year, $27.5 contract with the expansion Kraken. It's a move that should pay dividends for Schwartz's fantasy value, as the newcomer immediately projects to be one of Seattle's most important and relied upon offensive weapons. Schwartz is a solid mid-round pick in all fantasy formats.

Schwartz bounced back in a big way last season, totaling 22 goals, 35 assists, 20 power-play points and 162 shots in 71 games after posting just 11 goals and 25 helpers in 69 contests in 2018-19. The 28-year-old winger has notched at least 55 points in three of his last four campaigns, so his poor 2018-19 performance should be considered more of an anomaly than a cause for concern going forward. Schwartz doesn't have a ton of upside, and injuries are always something to take into consideration with the nine-year vet, but he'll nevertheless be a good pickup in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts this year as a player that should produce at a 20-plus goal, 55-plus point pace when in the lineup for the Blues.

Schwartz couldn't buy a goal to start the year, as he scored just three times over the first 41 games, including a 22-game goal drought. This awful stretch left Schwartz with his worst stat line in six years, as he compiled just 11 goals and 36 points on the season. However, Schwartz was able to kick it into gear when it mattered, as the 27-year-old winger racked up 12 goals and eight assists in 26 postseason games. The skill clearly hasn't gone anywhere, and Schwartz is still one of the most underrated talents in the league. He should be viewed as a prime bounce-back candidate, and one who should be able to easily surpass 50 points as long as he stays out of another funk.

Schwartz was possibly the Blues' top forward last season, and nothing proves that better than his own ankle injury. St. Louis came storming out of the gate to a 20-8-2 record and seemed destined for the playoffs. When Schwartz broke his ankle, however, a brutal 9-10-1 stretch ensued. Now 26 years old, he can control the zone, having posted a 57.1 Corsi For percentage with 24 goals and 35 assists in 62 games for a team-high 0.95 points per game. Schwartz also notched 11 points on the power play. However, this was the second time in three seasons that he missed 20-plus games due to injury, so it's fair to be concerned about his durability. With the additions the Blues made during the offseason, Schwartz's two-way game will solidify his spot with the top six and allow him to comfortably surpass 65 points if he stays off the injury list.

After missing a majority of the 2015-16 season with a broken ankle, Schwartz came back with a vengeance last season, scoring 19 goals and a career-high 36 assists, topped off by a plus-14 rating. When the playoffs rolled around, he turned it up another notch, racking up four goals -- including three game winners -- and five assists in 11 games. Of course, it certainly helps that Schwartz wasn't the only star on his line -- Vladimir Tarasenko and Paul Stastny occupied the ice with him, and things might get even better with Brayden Schenn in the fold now. Schwartz is one of the most talented and hard-working two-way forwards in the league, and we haven't yet seen all he has to offer. Another season of 25 goals and 60 points looks like it’s in the cards -- maybe even more if everything falls out right.

Schwartz's impressive career arc was derailed last October when he suffered a nasty broken ankle in a team practice. Surgeons inserted multiple pins and left him to recover, and he ended up missing 49 regular-season games. But all was not lost. Schwartz was one of the league's hottest scorers when he returned in February, putting up 17 points (seven goals) in his first 17 games back. And he delivered 14 points in 20 playoff games. Schwartz will be completely healthy come 2016-17 and he'll skate on the Blues' top line with Vladimir Tarasenko and Paul Stastny. That means he'll be right back on that rising career arc as soon as the puck drops in October. Career marks in every category await.

One of the most impressive up-and-coming stars of the league, Schwartz took another step forward last year, setting new personal marks for goals (28) and assists (35) while clearing 60 points for the first time. He may not be very big, but there are few two-way forwards who can match Schwartz's hands, speed, scoring ability and defensive commitment, and he's a major asset to the Blues on both the power play and the penalty kill. It seems likely that he'll occupy the top-line left wing spot opposite fellow rising star Vladimir Tarasenko, but it's unclear whether Jori Lehtera or Paul Stastny will be called upon to fill the role of the man in between. Either way, you can't go wrong investing in Schwartz this year.

Playing in his second NHL season as a 21-year-old, Schwartz took a dramatic leap forward for the Blues, placing fourth on the team in scoring (56 points) and first in plus/minus rating (plus-28) to firmly entrench himself as a top-six forward for the foreseeable future. At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Schwartz is far from a specimen, but his strong finishing skills, on-ice speed and passable defense on the back end help to negate some of his physical limitations. The Blues’ forward ranks look quite crowded again in 2014-15 with Paul Stastny and Jori Lehtera added to the fold, but it shouldn’t result in a diminished role for Schwartz on the left wing. While another jump in productivity on the level of last season’s breakout probably is out of the question for Schwartz, it wouldn’t be surprising if he notices a slight uptick in his scoring, especially if he sees top-line work in the event of an Alexander Steen injury.

Schwartz got off to a slow start in his first full season in St. Louis, posting only three points in his first 19 games. But the speedy playmaker showed why the Blues selected him 14th overall in 2010 as he picked things up and closed out the season by scoring 10 points in his last 26 games. If he can build on that finish, he could break out for 15 to 20 goals and 35 to 40 points overall. He is worth taking a flyer at the end of the draft now that he has that first season under his belt.

Schwartz, a first-round pick in 2010, made the move from Colorado College to St. Louis late in the regular season and got his first taste of the NHL, playing seven regular-season games though not suiting up for the nine playoff games. The Blues are crowded with young forwards, so we don't expect to see the offensively gifted Schwartz as a top-six player this coming season -- but eventually he will be. Schwartz could land a spot on the roster, but there's a very likely chance he'll start the season in Peoria. He'll get the opportunity in training camp to be one of the top 13 or 14 forwards, but the franchise is more concerned that he's playing good minutes nightly.

The Blues have a good one in Schwartz, the reigning WCHA Rookie of the Year for Colorado College, for whom he scored a team-high 47 points in 30 games. An ankle injury cost him six weeks of hockey, but he was able to pick up where he left off upon his return in February. He helped lead the Tigers in a first-round ouster of defending champion Boston College before bowing out of the NCAA tournament one win shy of the Frozen Four. He’s set to return for his sophomore season at CC. A gifted passer and scorer, the Blues are anxiously waiting for Schwartz to add some heft to his frame.

Schwartz, selected 14th overall by St. Louis in the 2010 Entry Draft, is committed to Colorado College for 2010-11. He's got tremendous offensive skill, with the ability snipe and pass. He'll score points. He's got nice hockey sense, and understands where to go and how to get to the puck. The con at this stage of his career is his size and speed. He'll need to get bigger or faster or both, but he's just 18 and still has some growth left in him. It's too early to project his arrival in St. Louis, but the Blues anticipate he'll be a top-6 forward.