Andrew Desjardins

Desjardins will play much the same role this year he did in the 2013 season as the Sharks fourth line center, although you may want to keep an eye out for a battle for the third and fourth line center spots. There's no knowing what will happen there, but the odds of Desjardins moving up the ladder seem slim with both newcomer Tyler Kennedy and prospect Tomas Hertl being better fits on a line looking for speed and skill, as opposed to grit. Desjardins is a great role player. He's high energy and physical, but his offensive game has failed to develop the way the Sharks hoped. In 2012-13, he only managed to eek out three points in 42 games, but his PIM per game shot up. Still, it's hard to know if that uptick in physically will make up for the lack of offense, at least in most fantasy formats. There are just too many question marks surrounding Desjardins to make him a worthwhile fantasy pick-up.

Desjardins shot out of the blocks last year with a two-goal effort in his first game. Unfortunately for him, it was his best game of the year. He finished the year with just two more snipes and stood with 17 points total by season's end. But was his season as bad as his numbers looked? Not at all. He was solid in his role as the fourth-line center and he will reprise that role this year. And at some point, he could overtake the aging Michal Handzus and slide up to the third line. His offensive ceiling is ultimately limited. but he could give you 25 points this year. However, it's his energy and physicality that set Desjardins apart -- he'll be a 50/100 (PIM/hits) man this year and will deliver even more in years to come.

A door has opened for Desjardins to assume a larger role in the NHL. Gone are the likes of Scott Nichol, Jamal Mayers and Ben Eager, which clears some real estate for the 25-year-old on one the bottom two lines. It's apparent that the Sharks at least have short-term plans for Desjardins, as he and the Sharks agreed to a one-year deal in the offseason, but he's a mere depth option for the time being.