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The Washington Capitals have become a powerhouse in the NHL in recent years and it can mostly be attributed to the play of RW Alexander Ovechkin. The Russian was third in the league last season with 56 points and he has made everyone that plays with him a viable fantasy hockey option.
The most underrated player on the team in terms of fantasy production, though, is C/LW Marcus Johansson.
Johansson will be featured on the left side of the first line, with Ovechkin on the right and Nicklas Backstrom in the middle. The star-studded duo combined to rack up 104 points last season in 48 games and Johansson could flourish being featured on this All-Star quality line. Johansson had six goals and 16 assists in 21 games on this line last year and showed just a glimpse of what he is capable of.
The youngster is currently listed as a center in most fantasy formats, but he will be playing left wing in Washington this season. The extra positional flexibility only adds to his skyrocketing fantasy value and he should be eligible for the wing (if he isn’t already) in just a couple weeks.
Johansson is one of the best sleepers to grab of the entire fantasy season. He has true 70-point potential if he can stay on the top line in Washington, which would make him one of the most valuable flex forwards in hockey. If you can get ahold of the 22-year-old now before he becomes a daily contributor, I would highly recommend doing so.
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Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
