Toronto Maple Leafs to Target for Your NHL Fantasy League

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to the best start in the NHL in 2021.

The NHL schedule has rolled into the month of February and now is a great time to take stock of the value of Toronto Maple Leafs players to target for your fantasy hockey team.

The obvious top end players – Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Tavares, Reilly etc. – will not be included as I will be looking at players who may be flying under the radar but are worth rostering. (All stats via nhl.com )

If you’ve got one of the Leafs best players, then congrats but if not, perhaps the information below will help you add someone from your favorite team to your roster.

Toronto Maple Leafs Worth Adding

Zach Hyman:

Hyman has been terrific from the beginning of the season. Hyman started the season on the third line of the Toronto Maple Leafs, but with injuries to some key forwards Hyman has been moved up to the top line.

Hyman is currently playing with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, two players who are currently in the top 20 in league scoring and do not show any signs of slowing down. In the five games Hyman has played on the top line he has been averaging 21 minutes per night on one of the most potent offensive teams in the NHL.

Hyman only has one power play goal to show for it so far but that will not last long. Hyman also has 14 shots on goal, six hits and a couple of blocked shots in that same span for those leagues that count more than goals and assists. He is currently only rostered in 43% of leagues, according to Yahoo Sports, so this is a low-priced stock that could return huge value.

Justin Holl:

Holl has been the most consistent, most improved, and flat-out best defenceman on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster this season. Despite getting almost no power play minutes, Holl only trails Reilly in points amongst d-men on the Leafs with five assists.

Holl also leads the team in hits (20) and has 15 blocked shots. Holl has shown improvements on defense but has taken his biggest leap offensively, jumping in on the rush occasionally and getting the pucks up the ice to his highly skilled forwards. Holl is only rostered in 9% of Yahoo Fantasy hockey leagues so he will likely be available for nothing in your league.

Wayne Simmonds:

Simmonds seems to be getting very comfortable with his role on the Maple Leafs and it is starting to show on the score sheet. Simmonds has three goals in his last four games, including two goals on power play, parked in front of the net on the Toronto Maple Leafs #1 PP unit.

Simmonds can chip in with a couple of shots and a couple of hits per game and in leagues that count PIMs we know Simmonds doesn’t shy away from the physical aspect of the game, leading the team with 17 PIMs. With Simmonds getting more and more comfortable with his skating and timing his totals will only continue to rise. He is currently rostered in only 5% of Yahoo sports leagues so there is great value there to add him to your team or just for daily fantasy leagues.

Ilya Mikheyev:

Mikheyev has easily been the best player on the Leafs without a goal this season. The stats sheet may not show it but if you watch the games you notice Mikheyev every time he is on the ice. Mikheyev has seen his average ice time creep up with every game and he is not playing consistently on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander.

Mikheyev is getting his opportunities and it seems like just a matter of time before his hard work translates into points on the board and, more importantly, points on your fantasy team. Mikheyev is owned in only 3% of all Yahoo Fantasy hockey teams and after the month of February I am willing to bet that number goes well over 50%.

The Toronto Maple Leafs seem primed to be a top team in NHL this season and will easily be top five in most, if not all, offensive categories. Get players from this top six and this top PP unit now while they are still available and give your team an edge over the rest of your league.