Fantasy Spin: Isles' Grabovski takes Okposo's spot

Wednesday, 01.28.2015 / 4:30 PM

By Pete Jensen - NHL.com Fantasy Insider / Fantasy Spin Blog

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Fantasy Spin: Isles' Grabovski takes Okposo's spot

With Kyle Okposo sidelined for the next 6-8 weeks, fantasy owners would be wise to jump on the Mikhail Grabovski train.

Tri-eligible in Yahoo leagues (LW/C/RW), Grabovski (13 percent owned in Yahoo leagues) passed his first test Tuesday in his return from injury with a goal against the New York Rangers. He tied his season-high with four shots on goal in the game and filled in nicely for Okposo on the right side of New York's top line with top-15 fantasy forward John Tavares and Josh Bailey (eight percent owned).

Though Grabovski, 30, is not seeing anywhere near the degree of power-play minutes he logged with the Toronto Maple Leafs in years past, he has been elevated into a prime spot at even strength for a team that is currently tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference. If he sticks there for much of the second half, Grabovski has a chance to provide fantasy owners with point production, with his rare position flexibility being a bonus.

He dealt with injury for much of last season with the Washington Capitals and has missed eight games in 2014-15, but generates chances often when in the lineup and is one of the better possession players in the League in terms of Corsi-for (56.2 percent, T-29th in NHL among skaters with minimum 450:00 of ice time, according to puckalytics.com). His point total (15 in 39 games) is far from impressive, but he's been stuck in mostly a third-line role when healthy prior to Okposo's injury.

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