Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Markus Granlund
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From a production standpoint, the 2018-19 season was not Grandlund's best, but the Finnish winger spent the majority of it healthy. Appearing in 77 games, the 26-year-old finished with 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) and fired a career-high 123 shots on goal. Now with the Oilers, it remains to be seen where Granlund will best fit with his new club, but the right situation in Edmonton could see Granlund threaten his career high of 32 points. Keep a close eye on where and how head coach Dave Tippett deploys him in training camp.
Granlund was limited to 53 games last year and saw his goal totals dip from 19 to eight and his point total drop from 32 to 12. In retrospect, his 19-goal season was probably the outlier, as the versatile forward enters his seventh NHL campaign having never played in more than a checking-line role; he's a 20-30-point player who can kill penalties. With an abundance of bodies at training camp, Granlund will have to work his way back into the lineup after a disappointing season. He's on a one-year contract to show what he can do, but the ceiling is low, making him a low-value asset in standard fantasy leagues.
The Canucks struggled to find the back of the net last season, but that didn't stop Granlund from breaking out for a career-high 19 goals in his second year with Vancouver. A wrist injury forced the former Flame to miss the final 11 games of the season, but when he was healthy, Granlund was a consistent (if far from spectacular) performer who averaged over 17 minutes of ice time, including almost two minutes on the power play. The 24-year-old will likely never be an elite point producer, but Granlund has a lethal shot and should post another decent goal total in 2017-18. After all, the Finnish forward is eager to show what he’s capable of, and he fits in well on a youthful Vancouver team that’s clearly in a transition phase.
A handful of injuries thrusted Granlund into the Calgary lineup in 2014-15, with the Finnish forward recording 18 points in 48 games. The 22-year-old also added 17 points in 21 games in AHL Adirondack, and now has a decent shot at joining the Flames full-time in the fall. The youngster did have his ups and downs as a scorer and struggled on faceoffs, but he should have a bright future in the NHL even if it's not in 2015-16.
Granlund led the AHL Abbotsford Heat in scoring with 46 points in 52 games prior to his call-up to the Flames and tallied another three points in seven games with Calgary. The Flames liked Granlund's play over those seven games and he should be in contention for a roster spot in the fall. A role doesn't mean he'll be fantasy worthy, though -- that value remains to be determined over the next couple years.
Granlund is currently playing in Finland.
Granlund was selected 45th overall in this past June's draft and played two professional games last season for Helsinki in the Finnish League. He's a talented prospect but has yet to sign with Calgary.