Sleepers and busts: Who to draft and who to avoid at current value

"Managers who successfully pad their rosters with underappreciated overachievers -- either in later rounds or via the free agent market post-draft, while avoiding those who fall flat -- are always in superior shape contending for a championship. Sniffing out such characters is the trick, of course, with skill, opportunity, health and career trajectory all playing factors in determining if a player is in position to fly unpredictably high."

"We're taking a slightly different tack this year in looking beyond a player's fantasy potential in respect to their preseason ranking. While still acknowledging that juxtaposition, approximated Average Draft Position (ADP), plus less tangible elements like reputation and name value are also being considered. We probably don't need to tell you that Mitch Marner is more treasured than his current No. 52 forward ranking suggests. Instead, this is a forum to discuss sleeper candidates who might not attract sufficient attention otherwise."

"With John Gibson taking over Detroit's crease, the 25-year-old emerges as the undisputed top dog for a Ducks team on the rise. Offseason additions Chris Kreider and Mikael Granlund make this club, including rising stars Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, better, as does having a successful coach like Joel Quenneville behind the bench. The addition of new assistant Ryan McGill isn't to be underappreciated either. With more than 25 years experience, McGill possesses a well-earned reputation for improving teams defensively. Music to any goaltender's ears."

Successful fantasy managers prioritize underappreciated overachievers acquired late or via post-draft free agency while avoiding busts to strengthen championship chances. Identifying such players requires evaluating skill, opportunity, health and career trajectory to predict sudden breakout production. Preseason rankings and approximated ADP matter but reputation and name value also influence draft attention. High-profile players may be undervalued relative to ranking, while lesser-known contenders can be overlooked. The Anaheim Ducks project defensive improvement through offseason additions and coaching staff changes, positioning 25-year-old goaltender Dostal to become the unquestioned starter and possibly produce career-best statistical results.

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