Analysis of 2015-16 NHL.com fantasy mock draft

The NHL preseason is underway and fans around the world are putting together their fantasy leagues, so we've created a simulation to help you be as prepared as possible for draft day.

NHL.com's fantasy staff of Matt Cubeta, Pete Jensen, Brian Metzer, David Satriano, Eric Goodman and Sean McCullen joined LNH.com's Sebastien Deschambault, Yahoo's Scott Pianowski and NHL.com's Brian Compton, Mike Morreale, Darryl Haberman and Thomas Imperato to participate in this 12-team mock draft. The league has 192 draftees and standard Yahoo scoring.

Below are the results of the simulation with commentary pertaining to the first eight rounds and observations for later rounds. Fantasy owners shouldn't expect every trend of this mock draft to translate to your league format, but we recommend using NHL.com's top 250 ranks, analysis stories, Yahoo average draft positions and this exercise to shape your draft-day decisions.

Top 250 ranks | Hits guide | Draft bargains | Positional ranks: Forwards | Defensemen | Goalies

Sleepers: Jensen | Cubeta | Breakouts: PJ | MC | Bounce-backs | Point pairs | Team previews

Best pick: Seguin -- Seguin missed 11 games in 2014-15 but was seventh in points and tied for fifth in goals, tied for sixth in power-play goals and tied for fifth in shots on goal. His sidekick, Jamie Benn, is the reigning scoring champion. A gift at No. 6.

Worst pick: Toews -- Usually posts 60-plus points with a strong plus/minus in the regular season, but there are concerns surrounding Chicago's top six. He has a category weakness (power-play points), and hasn't had 200-plus SOG since 2010-11. More valuable in reality than fantasy.

My pick: Tavares -- It remains to be seen who will play alongside Tavares, but he has a chance at 40-plus goals, 90-plus points, 35 PPP and 250-plus SOG in the Islanders' first season in Brooklyn. He's No. 3 in my rankings and I'll take him there every day of the week.

Observations: Metzer passed on Ovechkin for Crosby, the active points-per-game leader, who is centering Phil Kessel in training camp. ... Six picks had right wing eligibility. ... No defensemen in Round 1.

Best pick: Kessel -- The most surprising first-round omission, Kessel has a chance to score 40 goals with 35 PPP and 250 SOG alongside Crosby or Malkin. Expect him to go earlier than he did here.

Worst pick: Holtby -- I wouldn't take a goalie this high based on the fluctuation in ranks each season. Holtby didn't have more than 23 wins in a season prior to his 41-win breakout in 2014-15, so he could regress. He would have been a better pick one round later.

My pick: P. Kane -- Kane's career points-per-game average is 10th among active players with at least 100 games played, and he should score more than 30 goals for the first time in a single season. Kane is the subject of a police investigation and a grand jury in Hamburg, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo, but is taking part in training camp.

Observations: Karlsson was the first defenseman drafted. ... Pavelski, the most valuable points-rating-PPP-SOG coverage asset during the past two seasons, is an excellent choice at No. 20. ... Seventeen of the first 24 picks were forwards.

Best pick: Pacioretty -- The Canadiens captain is progressing well after an offseason knee injury. He remains uncertain for the start of the season, but he tied for the League's best plus/minus last season and was the only player with 30-plus goals, 30-plus assists and 300-plus SOG.

Worst pick: Rask -- Rask finished outside the top 10 in goals-against average and shutouts last season among goalies to play at least 20 games, and the Bruins' defense is a shell of its former self without Dougie Hamilton. Zdeno Chara has injury concerns and Torey Krug is not a shutdown defender. Rask can keep the Bruins in contention but I wouldn't trust him inside the fantasy top 40.

My pick: Johansen -- Johansen had at least a point in 52 of 82 games (fourth-most in NHL) last season. If his plus/minus improves alongside even-strength standout Brandon Saad, Johansen can finish among the NHL top 10 with 80 points, 30 PPP and 220 SOG.

Observations: McDavid was the first rookie taken in mock draft. ... Shattenkirk was the most valuable defenseman before he was injured and is a power-play specialist, but tough to trust him 10 spots above his ADP. ... Quick had strong peripherals despite the Los Angeles Kings missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Obtained full round after ADP.

Best pick: Fleury -- Since 2006-07, only Henrik Lundqvist has more regular-season wins than Fleury, and the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie has played 43 fewer games. He should be good for 35-40 wins with a sub-2.40 GAA behind a stacked offense.

Worst pick: N. Foligno -- Expect the category coverage to continue, but I don't see another top-50 fantasy finish. The addition of Saad pushes Foligno down in the lineup and power-play equation, and shooting percentage should dip. Don't take him ahead of Daniel Sedin or Henrik Zetterberg.

My pick: S. Weber -- Weber is first in goals and PPG, fourth in points and third in SOG among defensemen since 2010-11. If you're in a league that counts blocks and hits, he's the best.

Observations: Cubeta took Wheeler higher than ADP, but it's justified. ... Johnson dropped to 39 because wrist isn't 100 percent. ... Eberle has upside if he flanks McDavid and Hall, but he's expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury.

Best pick: Letang -- Most usually wait until the fourth or fifth rounds for defensemen, but Letang should go earlier. He's the power-play quarterback in Pittsburgh and was among the top 11 defensemen in points, PPP, PIMs and SOG despite last season despite missing 13 games.

Worst pick: Pietrangelo -- Pietrangelo is a borderline top-15 defender who was taken 10th at his position in this draft. Shattenkirk missed time last season and Pietrangelo still finished 159th in Yahoo. He had strong point and SOG totals among defensemen, but also a minus rating. Not worth reaching for before ADP.

My pick: Hedman -- From puck-possession prowess to a heightened playoff SOG-per-game average to strong regular-season point production and plus/minus, Hedman is the next big thing among defensemen. Still has room for elevated power-play role.

Observations: Can't blame Pianowski for taking Monahan so early because of sky-high potential. ... This round was all about goalies (four) and defensemen (five).

Best pick: Forsberg -- Even with a late-season slump that cost him Calder Trophy consideration, Forsberg was a five-category asset and only the third rookie in the expansion era (Tony Granato in 1988-89, MacKinnon in 2013-14) with 60-plus points, a plus-15 or better and 230-plus SOG.

Worst pick: van Riemsdyk -- van Riemsdyk clearly is the Toronto Maple Leafs' best offensive player, with 30-goal, 30-assist, 250-SOG capability. But it's tough to invest in a team that can be a plus/minus liability. Much hinges on a breakout season from Nazem Kadri and a quick turnaround under new coach Mike Babcock.

My pick: Luongo -- Luongo had 28 wins despite little goal support last season. With a full season of Jaromir Jagr and the Panthers' young core, Luongo should be back in his usual realm of 35-40 wins. His even-strength save percentage (.932) was too good to pass up in Round 6.

Observations: Goodman landed an elite point pair (Sedins). ... Zetterberg can score 70 points and was taken 20 picks after ADP.

Best pick: Josi -- Weber will be taken over Josi in all formats because of pedigree, but don't forget Josi finished tied for fifth in scoring among defensemen last season and was one of 10 at his position with 200-plus SOG. You can justify taking Josi over Pietrangelo, who went two rounds earlier.

Worst pick: Lehtonen -- Even if you're high on Lehtonen's chances to emerge from the timeshare with Antti Niemi, this is way too high. Dallas can be elite, but Lehtonen likely won't see his usual 60-65 games. He could benefit from quality over quantity, but don't draft Lehtonen earlier than Round 9. Even if you're prioritizing the timeshare, you can wait another round for Lehtonen.

My pick: Sharp -- Sharp was the sixth-most valuable fantasy player in 2013-14 and is coming off an unlucky season of 7.0-percent shooting on 230 SOG. A return to 30 goals, 65-70 points and 300 SOG would be glorious at this price.

Observations: Datsyuk faces an injury concern but still is worth taking around the top 75. ... Andersen, with Anton Khudobin likely challenging John Gibson for backup job, can lock down the No. 1 spot and finish among the top 15 goalies. ... Oshie, a low-risk/high-reward selection, could have a career year with the Washington Capitals.

Best pick: Simmonds -- Simmonds is one of the best value picks of this draft. He's a proven finisher for a top-tier power-play unit, as evidenced by his PPG track record (third since 2011-12). Lean on him for 60-100 PIMs, 200 SOG and a top-40 fantasy finish in any given season.

Worst pick: Nugent-Hopkins -- Nugent-Hopkins has consecutive 56-point, minus-12 seasons with fewer than 200 SOG, and Hall likely is moving to McDavid's line. Nugent-Hopkins took a step back on the power-play front last season and doesn't provide many PIMs. With only center eligibility, I wouldn't reach this high.

My pick: E. Kane -- I see Kane scoring 30-plus goals with the best power-play numbers of his career and 300-plus SOG alongside Ryan O'Reilly. He has the second-most SOG per game since 2010-11 behind Ovechkin and is an injury bounce-back candidate that covers PIMs.

Observations: I wouldn't take Miller inside the top 100. ... Hossa is a value pick and annual top-50 fantasy asset. ... If Okposo plays on the second or third line in a contract year, his value will suffer.

Observations: Mason finished second behind Price in even-strength save percentage among starters and is a dark horse top-10 goalie. ... Thornton continues to be underestimated in fantasy. … Nyquist was the first C/LW/RW player taken. ... Klingberg could man a power-play unit with Seguin, Benn, Sharp and Jason Spezza. Worth targeting earlier than ADP.

Observations: Eichel, at No. 119, carries tempered expectations compared to McDavid (No. 31), but also less risk. ... Spezza dropped to No. 116 but could finish among the top 50. ... I picked up Elliott in Round 10 and followed with Allen to secure the elite tandem. ... Vatanen could challenge Karlsson for the most power-play points among defensemen if he plays a full season.

Observations: Kuznetsov's ADP is low so it’s appropriate to begin targeting him after Round 10. Consider him a top-75 forward with higher potential if he centers Ovechkin. ... Schwartz plays on Tarasenko's line and may be the best player that the average owner doesn't recognize. ... Galchenyuk is a question mark at center but could justify reaching. ... Way too late for Vrbata, a proven 30-goal scorer.

Observations: Questionable to reach this high for Phaneuf. ... O'Reilly has tri-eligibility, which Haberman targeted with a string of four straight picks of flexible forwards. ... Plekanec's production dips if Galchenyuk sticks at center, but he was a top-50 fantasy asset in 2014-15. ... Proven veterans Iginla, Staal and Gaborik obtained for cheap. ... Buy low on Kunitz hoping he'll bounce back alongside Crosby and Kessel. ... Brodie is week-to-week after sustaining a broken bone in his hand.

Observations: Brassard led the Rangers in assists and PPP last season. Save a center spot for him. ... Strome is a breakout candidate on Tavares' wing. … Leddy has highest upside among Islanders defensemen, but Boychuk covered five of six categories last season.

Observations: No goalies were taken between Allen (No. 123) and Jones (No. 162), proving how undervalued Niemi is. … Pastrnak is playing with David Krejci in training camp and could have a big season. Surprised to see Savard go higher than Jack Johnson, whom I scooped up.

Observations: Wilson was a PIMs specialist (fourth in NHL) last season, but offensive upside is limited with Ovechkin, Andre Burakovsky and Marcus Johansson on the Capitals' left side. ... Hard to believe how far Chara fell in one season (No. 67 in 2014 mock draft). ... Jagr has 60-point potential in Florida and is the ultimate bargain. ... Sleepers (Dano, Nichushkin, Mrazek) went off the board.

Observations: More sleepers (Teravainen, Brouwer, Dumba) rounded out rosters. … I would have picked Howard or Anderson rather than Raanta. ... Franson went from unsigned to fantasy-relevant because he'll see power-play time in Buffalo. ... Few take Killorn seriously despite a strong postseason next to Stamkos.

Notable undrafted players (with Yahoo ADP): Jimmy Howard (G, DET; 124.8), Andrej Sekera (D, EDM; 134.7), Craig Anderson (G, OTT; 148.7), Cam Talbot (G, EDM; 155.2), Mark Scheifele (C, WPG; 156.6), Aleksander Barkov (C, FLA; 164.7), Jakob Silfverberg (LW/RW, ANA; 168.2), David Krejci (C, BOS; 166.8), Sam Bennett (C, CGY; 170.8), Mike Ribeiro (C, NSH; 171.3), Carl Soderberg (C/LW, COL; 171.4), Brandon Pirri (C/LW/RW, FLA; 171.6), Max Domi (C, ARI; 172.0), Tyler Ennis (C/LW, BUF, 175.1), Mike Hoffman (C/LW, OTT; 177.3), Cam Atkinson (RW, CBJ; 178.8)

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