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Chiasson was a part-time player for Detroit a season ago, although he was relatively effective when in the lineup, managing six goals and nine points in 20 games. The soon-to-be 33-year-old has posted a dozen goals four separate times in his NHL career, so there are worse options for a team seeking to add some offensive depth to their lineup. A Boston University alum, Chiasson signed a professional tryout agreement with the Bruins in August. He will be in tough to earn a full-time roster spot on one of the better teams in the NHL.
Chiasson arrived in Vancouver last season following three years with the rival Oilers. Playing on a one-year contract with a $750K cap hit, Chiasson posted 13 goals and 22 points in 67 games. He tallied 10 points with the man advantage, the third time in four years he reached that number, but his production on the power play highlights just how ineffective Chiasson was at even strength. Set to turn 32 right before the upcoming season begins, Chiasson remained unsigned into the latter stages of August, making him a clear fade in all fantasy formats.
Chiasson posted 22 goals for the Oilers as recently as the 2018-19 campaign, but his play has severely regressed over the past two years, as he's managed just 20 goals in 110 games over that stretch. Chiasson has always been a low-volume shooter with high shooting percentages, simply because a hefty chunk of his offensive production comes with the man advantage. The fact Chiasson remains unsigned late in the summer is a bad sign. It's difficult to believe a guy that couldn't find a job is going to suddenly join a new team and immediately earn power-play time. Chiasson is off the fantasy radar until further notice.
Chiasson didn't find much success in 2019-20, producing 11 goals and 24 points in 65 appearances, down from 38 points in 73 games from the year before. He saw his shooting percentage drop from 17.9 to 11.3, while his ice time plummeted from 16:58 to 13:07 per game. While Chiasson plays with a bit of an edge, bottom-six usage will suppress his offense significantly. He did contribute 13 power-play points, but it's unclear if he'll be able to stay on the top unit with Kailer Yamamoto expected to challenge him for the role. Chiasson should rebound to a 30-point pace with 70 hits and 100 shots on goal in 2020-21, but an uncertain role makes him a risky depth pick even in deeper formats.
Following a career year in 2018-19, one that saw Chiasson eclipse 20 goals for the first time in his career and finish with 38 points, the 28-year-old winger re-signed with Edmonton on the first day of free agency. If he's able to hold onto a top-six spot in the Oilers lineup, Chiasson could be a solid depth option in most fantasy formats, but with so many changes forthcoming in Edmonton, it remains to be seen where the veteran will fit into a rebuilding roster. If Chiasson winds up playing on a line with either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, his fantasy value will increase exponentially.
Signed to a professional tryout offer during training camp, Chiasson proved to be a capable depth forward for Washington, garnering nine goals and 18 points in 61 games — not including two points in 16 contests during the Capitals' Stanley Cup run. The Quebec native never emerged as a consistent top-six winger, but he possesses enough skill to warrant a look as a depth forward and should latch onto a team as the season draws closer. That said, the 27-year-old's fantasy value would remain limited to deeper formats unless he commands more consistent ice time with another contender.
Yes, he recorded 10 more points in 2016-17 than he had the previous season, but that only adds up to 24 points for Chiasson, who once upon a time was widely considered a potential breakout star. The Montreal native’s modest scoring just didn't cut it in the majority of fantasy circles, and the Flames declined to tender him a qualifying offer, leaving him an unrestricted free agent who’s still searching for a team ahead of the coming campaign. Perhaps the only bright side is that the 26-year-old’s possession game is strong with a 52.05 Corsi For percentage, but unless he can find a team where he fits in just perfectly alongside a star center, Chiasson is unlikely to be on the fantasy radar in the majority of formats.
Just two years ago, Chiasson was the centerpiece of a trade for Jason Spezza after putting up a 35-point rookie season, but after suffering through two progressively more disappointing seasons in Ottawa, he was moved westward cheaply to the Flames in June, and they signed him to a one-year deal. Now he’ll go to work as their third-line right winger, looking to put the past behind him and get back to the glory days. There’s most likely no big breakout coming here, but Chiasson could be helpful to owners in deep leagues if he can mesh well with third-line center (and potential star) Sam Bennett. Watch his shot rate early in the year – when he’s putting pucks on net consistently, he can be dangerous.
Life in Ottawa last season turned out to be less friendly to Chiasson than life in Dallas the year before, as he experienced a significant drop in ice time and especially power-play time. Unsurprisingly, that resulted in a decline in offensive output, as he fell from 35 points in his first full NHL season to 26 last year. A big body at 6-foot-4, Chiasson hasn't quite learned to play a power forward's game yet, and it's again going to be tough for him to find his way into a more featured role this year, as Mark Stone and Bobby Ryan are locked in as the Sens' top two right wings.
Chiasson was acquired from the Stars in exchange for Jason Spezza, and while the youngster is by no means as valuable to fantasy owners as Spezza, it doesn't mean he's not a good player. The winger is expected to get top-six minutes from the start playing alongside David Legwand and Milan Michalek, and skating along two seasoned veterans might be just what the 23-year-old Chiasson needs to take the next step in his game. He racked up 13 goals and 22 assists in 79 games for the Stars last season, and could have an even bigger impact in his sophomore campaign.
Chiasson enjoyed a fine start in the AHL (32 points in 53 games) in his first season as a pro and hit the ground running with six goals in seven games when called up to the NHL. Unfortunately, that promise was cut short when he suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. He showed a nose for the net in his brief NHL stint and figures to compete for a spot on the top two lines when training camp opens. His size will help him get to the front of the net and there's 20-goal potential there if he can get regular time among the top six.
Chiasson may be the most NHL-ready of Dallas' forward prospects after completing a collegiate career at Boston University. He racked up 46 points in 38 games there last year and saw some brief time in the AHL late in the season. Dallas' activity in the free agent market should keep Chiasson in the AHL to begin the year, but he projects as a top-six forward as he matures.
Chiasson had a standout sophomore season at BU, leading the team in scoring and was 2nd overall in underclassmen scoring in Hockey East. He projects as a solid power forward in the NHL, something the Stars have been good in developing in recent years (James Neal, Jamie Benn, Steve Ott and Brenden Morrow)
Chiasson will begin his career at Boston University this season after being selected 38th overall by Dallas in the 2009 draft. He has plenty of size and strength to project to a solid NHLer, though there have been questions about his work ethic at times.