Florida Lands Keith Yandle
Dobber
2016-06-20
Fantasy Impact: The Florida Panthers have acquired defenseman Keith Yandle from the New York Rangers for a sixth-round draft pick. If the Panthers are able to sign Yandle, they will also give the Rangers a fourth rounder.
The Rangers get: a little something for their asset. It was pretty clear to them that Yandle would be out of their price range.
The Panthers get: one of the top puck-moving defensemen in the league. Yandle's numbers with New York may have been down slightly, but he did manage 24 points in his last 37 games, which indicates that he was finally adapting to the new system and coaching style. If Yandle signs with the Panthers (see below), he joins a team that is primed to breakout. There are a handful of young potential stars and superstars among the forwards who would just love to receive some of Yandle's sweet passes.
Fantasy Players Impacted: This is a good fit for Yandle. I do have Yandle in two of my three keeper leagues and I have to say that I would be pretty happy if that's where he decides to settle. Two thumbs up! And the forwards for Florida also benefit. The first PP unit alone would see a slight bump in their numbers. Last season the top PP forwards were (in order): Aleksander Barkov, Jaromir Jagr, Jonathan Huberdeau, Vincent Trocheck and to a lesser extent Jussi Jokinen, Nick Bjugstad and Reilly Smith.
The big question is – how will this impact Aaron Ekblad and Michael Matheson. I think it will help Ekblad. He'll be the 'Alex Pietrangelo' to Yandle's 'Kevin Shattenkirk'. The 'Brent Seabrook' to Yandle's 'Duncan Keith'. So far, Ekblad has been hovering in that 35- to 40-point range during his first two years. This move should help him cross the 40 barrier and top 45 points. Meanwhile, Matheson is coming off of a tremendous World Championship tournament in which he was Team Canada's top scoring defenseman (six points in 10 games). Unfortunately for Matheson owners, his PP time for 2016-17 will take a hit. He is going to make this team, but his PP time will take a bit of a back seat now. Yandle is used to logging a ton of PP minutes – practically all of them.
I will concede – and warn you – that there is a small chance that Matheson is just so good that he'll have a "Parayko" effect. Remember that Colton Parayko proved to be so capable as a rookie that he shouldered Pietrangelo out of the power-play picture and indirectly hurt Pietrangelo's production. If Matheson shows the same ability, then Ekblad will suffer the same fate. Not because Pietrangelo or Ekblad are weaker offensively. But because they're so strong defensively that they can be focused in that regard while the rookie gets the safer minutes. But for now I consider Ekblad in the 'it helps' category and Matheson the 'it hinders' category.
Dobber's Prediction: Yandle signs with the team. And why wouldn't he? Gorgeous weather, pretty good tax arrangement, a team that's not only on the rise but one that has finished rebuilding so there won't be a wait.
Fantasy Players This Helps, In Order:
1. Yandle (see profile, defense pairings, game logs here)
2. Ekblad (see profile, defense pairings, game logs here)
3. All of Florida's power-play forwards
Fantasy Players This Hurts, In Order:
1. Matheson (see profile and scouting report here)
More – My thoughts on the Frederik Andersen to Toronto trade, and my two cents on Jimmy Vesey and Buffalo.
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Bringing in a high end veteran really helps their blue line. I agree that it will help Ekblad because some of the burden will be off him. I definitely see Matheson making the team and taking some pp time from Ekblad. Don’t forget that they just signed McCoshen too, so there could be some effect there as well. McCoshen is more a stay-at-home type of d-man, so pp time is not much of a factor, but this pushes him down the depth chart a little further and gives him more time to develop & learn NHL-level defense. Between Yandle, Matheson, McCoshen, you can clearly see why Gudbranson was expendable.
goodbye Keith it was a pleasure having him on the Rangers for 2 years, what a talent! Time to enter a retool era and I am looking forward to watching Skjei grow as a player.
Shouldn’t Ryan McDonagh be on the Fantasy Players This Helps list? Unless the NYR sign a cheaper offensive defenseman to replace Yandle, McDonagh will see a bump in PP icetime. Both seasons with Yandle on the team his overall and PP icetime dropped.
Yandle on the 1st unit with 4 forwards and Ekblad with Matheson on the 2nd unit could be pretty scary if you’re taking too many penalties against them.