Fantasy defensemen: Sharks' Vlasic underrated

If you were asked to identify the top six scorers among defensemen during the past month, who would be on the list? It's certain there will be least one name that would be omitted and that is why that player is the topic of this week's column.

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang leads defensemen with 16 points in 10 games between Dec. 20 and Jan. 20. The Chicago Blackhawks' Duncan Keith is second with 14 points, and the San Jose Sharks' Brent Burns, the Arizona Coyotes' Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the Calgary Flames' Mark Giordano are tied for third with 13 points apiece.

That list shouldn't be shocking as all of them were highly coveted assets in fantasy drafts. What might surprise is that the player who is sixth with 12 points was selected in three percent of Yahoo standard drafts, and when he was selected it didn't happen until on average the 14th round with the 165th pick.

That player is the Sharks' Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

Vlasic, 28, had 12 points through his first 29 games this season. No one was complaining since Vlasic has long been a player who would chip in from time to time for fantasy teams, but his value largely was based in being a solid defender on actual sheets of ice.

That reputation is why it was shocking to see him with three goals and 12 points in his past 12 games. He's also had three power-play points, five penalty minutes, 22 shots on goal and a plus-3 rating during that span.

That surge has him with seven goals and 24 points in 41 games, and puts him on pace for new NHL career bests of 13 goals and 45 points.

His average ice time of 23:23 per game is second on the Sharks to Burns' 26:15, and he's second to Burns among Sharks defensemen with an average of 2:07 per game on the power play.

It also is worth noting that Vlasic, 37 percent owned in Yahoo leagues, is getting the second most even-strength ice time on the Sharks at 18:58 per game. He's on the ice a ton and that's time that he can be helping your team.

Vlasic is not going to offer a ton of category coverage beyond goals, assists and points, but he does have six power-play points for the season, which could be on the rise. That doesn't mean he can't help a bit in other areas. In 41 games he has 15 penalty minutes, 31 hits, 74 shots on goal and 81 blocked shots.

It is rare to find a consistent, productive asset this late in the season on the waiver wire, but that is exactly where you might find Vlasic. His reputation as a solid defender probably is what has him flying under the radar, which is good for you. If you're reading this snag him now so that you can reap the benefits of someone who is providing top-10 defensive production at a bargain price.

TRENDING UP

Nick Holden, Colorado Avalanche

Two weeks ago we talked about the resurgence of Tyson Barrie and today we'll put some focus on Holden, his defense partner. Holden has a three goals and 18 points in 47 games this season but has produced at a higher level recently, with six assists and 11 shots on goal in his past seven games. For the season he has 12 penalty minutes, 70 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating. But what makes him even more intriguing is that he has 134 hits. That's a great number from a productive player if your league counts them. He has been close to climbing into our top 60 but hasn't jumped in yet. You may want to take a chance on getting in ahead of the masses because his ownership is sure to leap from its current level of eight percent once he makes the list.

TRENDING DOWN

Cody Franson, Buffalo Sabres

Franson has been falling in our rankings for quite a while and he slipped three more spots this week. He isn't getting the opportunities that he needs to be a regular play in standard fantasy leagues. That is a good thing for Rasmus Ristolainen owners but not for those hoping Franson would produce the way he did as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is averaging 17:26 of ice time per game and has four goals and 14 points in 46 games this season. Those numbers look worse when you consider that he has one goal in his past 12 games and three points in his past 20. If there is a silver lining it is that he has been an ever or better player in 13 of 16 games and that he is averaging 2:22 per game on the power play.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Derrick Pouliot, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey league Pouliot on Monday ahead of their 5-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues, but he did not suit up because Kris Letang was able to play. Pouliot, who is owned in two percent of Yahoo leagues, was supposed to be a breakout player for the Penguins this season but was sent to the AHL after a poor training camp. The 6-foot, 208-pound defender is gifted offensively; he was tied for seventh in the AHL at the time of his recall with 23 points in 37 games. He also led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with a plus-16 rating. He has the skills to produce if he gets in the lineup.

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