T.J. Oshie

Oshie recently completed his fourteenth NHL season, which also happened to be by far his least productive to date. He played in just 44 games due to injury, posting a measly 11 goals and 25 points. Oshie had scored 20-plus goals in each of the prior three seasons, so his poor performance last year may have been nothing more than a fluke, but Oshie will turn 36 in December and he's extremely reliant on producing with the man advantage to be successful. As such, his floor feels pretty shaky from a fantasy perspective despite his past success.

Oshie registered 22 goals and 43 points in 53 games in 2020-21, with a career-high 13 of his tallies coming with the man advantage, the most on the Capitals. The 34-year-old has never topped 60 points in his 13 NHL seasons, but he is a safe floor play as a virtual lock to provide 25 goals and 50 points while serving as an impactful contributor in power-play categories. Oshie isn't going to carry managers to a fantasy championship, but he's a plug-and-play option who is consistently productive.

Oshie scored 26 goals and 49 points last season, the fourth time in five years he's scored at least 20 goals with the Capitals. At 33 years old, he remains a top-six stalwart, delivering consistent results season after season. His durability may have taken a hit, but he's been remarkably consistent wherever he's played, and a new coach behind the bench in Washington is unlikely to impact his offensive production barring a significant change to his role in 2020-21. Oshie has maintained a very good career shooting percentage, so another 20-goal season should be easily attainable. However, his lack of volume caps his offensive upside and his fantasy value to an extent, so don't invest anything more than a mid-round pick to acquire the American forward on draft day.

In his fourth season with the Capitals, the Minnesotan posted 25 goals and 54 points in 69 games. A fractured clavicle brought his season to a premature end, but the 32-year-old is fully recovered and is expected to be ready for training camp. It's fair to wonder how long Oshie will be able to maintain his dependable 50-60 point production, especially after having suffered multiple concussions over his career. However, with a top-six role and top power-play minutes firmly in his grasp, he remains a valuable fantasy commodity, when healthy, in all formats.

After commanding an eight-year, $46 million contract extension, Oshie continued to perform as a valuable top-six winger in his third year with the Capitals. Despite being hobbled by an upper-body injury that cost him six games and seemed to hinder his play during the first half of the season, the crafty winger still managed 18 goals and 47 points — including a career-high 18 power-play points — in 74 games. The first-round pick from the 2005 NHL Entry Draft had a banner postseason with eight goals and 21 points in 24 games for the Stanley Cup champions, looking more like his old self as the playoffs wore on. Still in his prime and fully immersed on the top power-play unit, Oshie should return to the 50-60 point range provided he stays healthy.

Signed to a fresh, new contract extension that'll average $5.75 million a year through his age-38 season, Oshie is apparently planning to spend the rest of his NHL days with Washington, which probably sounds pretty nice to him and his fantasy owners, considering he's put up his two highest goal totals in the two seasons he’s spent in the nation’s capital. If that seems like a questionable amount of money to give to a 30-year-old winger who's only hit 60 points one time in his career, it is at least worth noting that he was on pace for 67 last year. More importantly, he’s become a key cog of the Capitals’ first-line trio, providing a combination of playmaking and finishing ability that plays well alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Oshie doesn't seem like the sort of player who'll have a post-contract letdown -- not on a Capitals team that has championship ambitions again -- so it wouldn't be surprising to see him notch that second 60-point season.

Oshie’s first season in Washington was unusual by his standards – although he set a new career mark with 26 goals and posted his fourth straight full season of 50-plus points, the American winger saw his scoring rate drop after arriving on a Capitals team with no shortage of offense. He played eight more games (80) than the year before and totaled four fewer points (51) despite spending practically the whole season playing top-line minutes alongside Alex Ovechkin (71 points) and Nicklas Backstrom (70 points). He was, however, one of relatively few Caps who produced in the playoffs, notching 10 points in 12 games. That slight regular-season dip may be to your benefit if you’re able to snag the 29-year-old at a discount – his floor is as reliable as they come, he’s still got those same elite linemates, and he’s playing for a new contract this year.

Oshie must think he died and went to heaven. It’s not that he didn’t love playing in St. Louis, but his move to D.C. means he’s got a new best friend – Alexander Ovechkin – and a spot beside him on the top line. Hot dang. Oshie has the speed, skill and strut to succeed alongside Alexander the Great. And it wouldn’t be a stretch to believe Oshie will set new career marks in goals (21) and points (60). Most of all, he’ll become a fan favorite the first time he lays out an opponent with one of his patented open-ice hits. He’ll be the best winger on the Caps -- other than Ovie himself, of course. And he’ll be a solid fantasy citizen on your squad.

Oshie will forever be remembered by casual hockey observers for his heroics in the United States’ shootout victory over the Russian hosts in the 2014 Winter Olympics, but it’d be foolish to overlook his contributions for a Blues squad that was the class of the Western Conference for a large portion of last season. The 27-year-old winger set career-highs in several meaningful categories, including goals (21), assists (39), and plus/minus rating (plus-19). Oshie was mostly a non-factor in the Blues’ first-round playoff exit, but with St. Louis returning a top-flight collection of forwards in 2014-15, scoring opportunities should remain plentiful. With Oshie entering the prime of his career, he could very well flirt with the 60-point mark again, if not surpass it.

Fantasy owners are still waiting for Oshie to have that breakout season worthy of a top-25 pick. He has all the tools, but unfortunately, 2012-13 turned out to be another injury-shortened season for the winger. The 26-year-old Oshie still has a lot of upside potential. But at this point in his five-year career, he has proven to be no more than a solid 20-goal, 30-assist player, which is worth a late mid third to fourth round pick in large leagues. And if he continues to plays with reckless abandon, his upside may never be realized. Draft him, but be sure to have a safety net for the inevitable injuries.

Oshie earned himself a five-year contract extension this past season after playing a career-high 80 games and posting highs in goals (19), assists (35) and points (54). More importantly, Oshie proved to overcome off-ice maturity issues that dogged him in 2010-11. He skated on a one-year deal last season as the franchise looked for some personal growth from the do-everything forward. The organization now believes he's a committed team member and regards him, David Perron, and Alex Pietrangelo as the core young players. Oshie has shown good chemistry with several other forwards, but did his best work on the first line with David Backes. He's not going to be the scorer that Perron is, but his versatility is valued and he brings relentless energy at both ends. A 60-70 point season is not out of the question for Oshie.

An early-season ankle injury limited Oshie to just 49 games last season, but a healthy Oshie may be the Blues’ most complete player. After his return, Oshie posted 23 points over his final 31 games while skating to a plus-10 for the season. The biggest thing jumping out from last year was a two-game team suspension late in the year for an unexcused absence from a practice. While no details ever emerged, Oshie admits to having made a mistake and both sides have moved on. He signed a one-year deal in the offseason, and it would seem he must show the organization that he’s dedicated to his career as a hockey player. He plays on both special teams units and is a gifted passer. A spot on the second line awaits Oshie, who is a sleeper candidate for a breakout year.

Oshie overcame an early-season appendectomy to play 76 games and finished tied for second on the team with 48 points (18 goals, 4th on team). Of the Blues' kid forwards, Oshie was the most consistent and more of a two-way player than either Patrik Berglund or David Perron. At some point we'd like to see him at center, but his versatility means he'll have another year playing the wing, most likely on the second line, centered by Berglund with David Backes on the other wing.

Oshie entered the season with high expectations, but was slowed early on by a high-ankle sprain that caused him to miss 24 games. Once he returned to the lineup, Oshie posted 35 points in 45 games and was second on the team at plus-16. His value may have been obscured by the ankle injury as well as playing on the low-scoring Blues, but the 22-year-old rookie was a trusted member of the forward rotation, averaging 23.4 shifts and 16:34 per game.

It would be a disappointment for Oshie and the Blues if he doesn’t make the team out of camp. After three stellar seasons at the University of North Dakota, Oshie is ready to bring the combination of skill and toughness that he showed there, to St. Louis. Playing center in college, Oshie averaged better than a point per game over those 3 seasons but he will most likely see time at left wing early in his career. Of all Blues newcomers, he has the highest expectations resting on his shoulders.

Oshie has demonstrated to many observers that after two seasons at UND, he is ready for the NHL. However, he reportedly wants to help the Fighting Sioux win an NCAA championship before moving on. Oshie doesn't figure to arrive in the NHL for at least one more year, but he's expected to have an immediate impact once he lands in the Blues' training camp. Keep an eye on him.

An undersized center, Oshie should fit in well in the "new" NHL. He will need to work on his strength, but Oshie is a wizard with the puck. Currently set to entire his sophomore season at the University of North Dakota, Oshie is expected to be at least two seasons away from the NHL.

Oshie was an all-state forward who was the top scorer in the state in 2004-2005 in leading his high school team to the Class A state championship. He was heavily recruited by the University of North Dakota and will play there in 2005-2006.