A liver-attacking virus plagued Green in 2018-19, causing him to miss significant time at the start, middle and end of his 14th NHL campaign. Nonetheless, the right-shot rearguard maintained a 0.60 points-per-game average through 43 contests -- a stat accentuated by his robust high-danger-goals-for percentage of 61.54 -- despite bearing the additional responsibility of working in tandem with then-rookie Dennis Cholowski nearly 75 percent of the time. Green is a highly skilled power-play quarterback in a contract year, but his health remains a question mark despite early speculation that the liver issue won't threaten the 33-year-old's career. A reasonable streaming option in DFS from time-to-time? Sure. Just don't reach too high for him in season-long formats.
Shocking hockey pundits abound, Detroit kept Green through last year's trade deadline, the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and a busy free-agency signing period. The veteran defenseman ultimately agreed to a two-year, $10.75 million contract extension to reprise his role as the team's only true power-play quarterback on the heels of recording 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) -- including one goal and 12 helpers on the man advantage -- in 66 games. One-third of Green's offensive output was accounted for in the first month of the season, and he was shut down for the final nine games in preparation for neck surgery. While there's been positive reports on his neck, news broke during training camp that Green is now dealing with a liver-attacking virus and will be out indefinitely.
Systematic issues got the best of Green in the 2016-17 campaign. Sure, he doubled up on tallies compared to the prior year -- finishing with 14 of those to go along with 22 helpers -- but a career-worst rating of minus-20 coupled with a 50 percent cut in power-play points (10) wasn't exactly a welcome tradeoff for fantasy owners. GM Ken Holland failed to deploy a complementary power-play defenseman to alleviate pressure on Green, though he ended up courting cerebral lefty-shooter Trevor Daley this offseason. This almost assuredly will be Green's last run in Motown, as he has just one year left on a contract valued at $6 million annually; he's a pricey filler, albeit one who logs heavy minutes and possesses a dynamic offensive skill set that's bound to keep him fantasy relevant as long as his body holds up.
After spending a decade with the Capitals, Green was driven to the Motor City by a three-year, $18 million deal in July of 2015. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland needed to employ a veteran who could work the point on the power play and mentor younger defensemen like Alexey Marchenko and Danny DeKeyser. Green, who had consecutive 70-plus-point seasons with the Caps (2008-10), seemed like the perfect fit. After all, Holland is a hockey mastermind who’s run the team since 1983 and has the trust of the Wings faithful. Holland should get the benefit of the doubt for Green’s down season in 2015-16. He skated to a minus-6 rating and produced seven goals and 28 assists, representing a 10-point drop from his last year with Washington. The silver lining behind Green’s performance is that 20 of his points came on the man advantage. By now, he should be used to Brendan Smith as a potential defensive partner, and barring injury, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the puck mover enjoy a bounce-back year in 2016-17.
Green signed a three-year contract with the Red Wings this summer after spending the first 10 years of his NHL career with the Capitals. While he failed to produce for the Caps in the postseason, Green was able to churn out a productive 2014-15 regular season, notching 10 goals, 45 points, and a plus-15 rating. A two-time 70-point scorer, Green no longer possesses the ability to deliver top-10 fantasy defenseman production, but he still brings supreme offensive skills from the blue line and terrorizes opponents with his punishing shot. In his new location, Green is expected to man the point on the Red Wings’ deadly top power-play unit, which includes aging, but effective stars in Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. The health issues that have typically dogged Green since 2009-10 figure to reduce his draft price, but the 29-year-old has been able to stave off catastrophic injury the last two seasons, suiting up in 70 and 72 games, respectively. With a similarly potent offense in front of him in Detroit, it’s very possible the puck-moving blueliner submits a repeat of the 10 goals and 40-plus points he delivered last season.
Heading into the final year of his contract, 2014-2015 marks a pivotal campaign for Green. Over the past several seasons, injuries and inconsistency have stripped Green of his once-elite stature. With the emergence of John Carlson, the arrival of Matt Niskanen, and the development of Dmitry Orlov, Green’s stranglehold as the offensive catalyst for the Caps’ blue line is a distant memory. Despite his woes, Green still led all Caps defensemen with nine goals and 38 points in 70 games, along with kicking in 15 power-play points despite losing his job on the top unit to Carlson. Although he may not reclaim his spot atop the power play, the new arrivals on defense should ease the minutes load on Green. Furthermore, he should benefit from playing against weaker opposition once projected partner Dmitry Orlov returns. Heading into a contract year, Green has all the incentive he needs to have a monster campaign. If he can stay healthy, he should be a solid contributor for the Caps in 2014-2015, even if he falls short of reclaiming his reputation as a Norris-worthy defenseman.
While Green was once again hampered by injuries last season, he did manage to play in 35 of 48 games, notching 26 points on 12 goals and 14 assists. Green hasn’t played a full season in three years but remains a fine offensive defenseman. Keeping him healthy is a major priority for Washington and one way of accomplishing this might be to reduce his ice time. Green did finish the 2012-2013 regular season strong, grabbing a point in seven of his last eight games. This was a reminder of what a healthy Green is capable of and you can draft him with confidence, just remember to have a solid backup plan in place if you decide to roll with him.
Green signed a 3-year, $18.25 million extension with the Capitals in July on the heels of the worst offensive season in recent memory, finishing with seven points in 32 games. Whether that new deal will affect his performance is not yet known but what we do know is Green missed substantial time last year with a groin strain. In fact, Green has not played more than 50 games in either of the last two seasons. Green insists, however, that he will be in good shape as practices start for the 2012-2013 season. The injury concerns are there, but there is definite regression in his statistics; he failed to score a goal after October 22 last year and had little offensive output. If Green stays healthy, the potential is there for a 20 goal, 40 assist season based on previous production.
Green went through a very frustrating season last campaign as he battled through multiple injuries, including a head injury. Considered one of the top defensemen in fantasy leagues, he did not live up to expectations last year. With the emergence of John Carlson, Green may not put up the daunting numbers he did when posting over 70 points, but even with the slight downgrade should still be valued as a top pick on defense.
To the Capitals, Green stands as a vital member of the team�s power play. To fantasy owners, he�s easily the top fantasy defenseman in the NHL, and for good reason. The Canadian blueliner completed the 2009-10 regular season with an unprecedented 76 points in 75 games � totals that would be acceptable for a star skater, let alone a rearguard. Further, he's averaged 36.5 points on the power play over the last two seasons and the Caps should remain an elite club with the man advantage.
This kid just continues to amaze at the young age of 23. After leading all defenseman in 2007-08 with 18 goals, Green just went on to post 31 goals the first to put up over 30 goals by a defenseman since Kevin Hatcher in 1992-93. He also etched his name in the record books after eight consecutive games with a goal by a defenseman. He was not greedy either adding 42 assists during the year. He earned himself a bid as one of the Norris Trophy finalists after his spectacular season and has solidified himself as one of the league’s top offensive defenseman. He has become a power-play machine, finishing last season with 38 points on the man advantage, 18 off his stick. His talent can only increase and he will man the point again on the top-power play unit. He should continue to get about 26 or so minutes of ice time if not more in some situations. He was somewhat quiet in the postseason adding a goal and eight assists, but the best is yet to be seen from this dynamic blueliner.
After leading all defenseman last season with 18 goals, Green has solidified himself as one of the league’s top offensive defenseman. At the youthful age of 22, his upside remains colossal and this past season he showed just how much talent he has. He finished with 56 points, eight goals via the power play and had a plus six rating. The kid is a dangler with end to end skating ability that can only be described as, “did that really just happen.” Green will play one of the points on the top-power play unit and could possibly pull double shifts. The dynamic blue liner has the potential to reach 70 points this season.
Green, an offensive defenseman handed a golden opportunity to skate major minutes with the big club in 2006-07, fizzled a bit with only 12 points in 70 games to go along with a minus-10 rating. At only 22, the swift-skating defensman's future is still bright, and he does have 85 points in 108 career games at AHL Hershey on his resume. But with the Capitals bringing in Milan Jurcina, Tom Poti and John Erskine, he'll have to fight for one of the last spots on the Caps' blue line, and if he has an unimpressive camp, he could wind up at Hershey for a large part of the 2007-08 season. Still, he's a name to consider in keeper leagues.
The Capitals are really high on Green, as evidenced by their allowing the 20-year-old blueliner to play in 22 games with the club in 2005-06. The smooth-skating, puck-moving Green showed flashes of potential, but mostly looked overmatched in only tallying three points, picking up 18 penalty minutes and accruing a minus-8 rating. Green shone in the minors, however, finishing second among AHL Hershey defensemen with 43 points in only 56 games in the regular season and finishing 11th among skaters in the entire league with 18 points in 21 playoff games. While adept in the offensive third, Green has to work on his defense, and will likely split time between Washington and Hershey again this season.
Green, an offensive defenseman, impressed during the 2005-06 training camp and could be a big part of the Caps' future. He'll only turn 20 during the season, however, so Green will have to impress for a year or two in the minors before being given an opportunity to make it up to the big club.
