Alex Kerfoot

Kerfoot is a standard middle-six forward. He had 13 goals and 45 points in 82 contests with the Coyotes in 2023-24 and has finished in the range of 0.41-0.62 points per game - roughly 34-51 points per 82 games in six of his seven NHL campaigns. He's not a great goal scorer with his 19 markers in 2017-18 still standing as his career high in tallies. He also doesn't play with much of an edge -- Kerfoot recorded 26 PIM and 73 hits last season, which is about as good as it gets for him in those categories. On the plus side, he's been the picture of health and boasts the fourth-highest active iron-man streak at 345 games, so while Kerfoot isn't a great fantasy option, at least you draft him with a fair degree of confidence in what you're going to get.

Kerfoot agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with the Coyotes in the summer after spending the past four seasons with the Maple Leafs. He contributed just 10 goals and 32 points in 82 games last season despite seeing most of his playing time with 80-point producers John Tavares and William Nylander. The 29-year-old Kerfoot is a durable and versatile forward, who will likely slot into a middle-six role with Arizona. He should be penciled for 30-plus points in 2023-24, though it's unclear if he'll see any power-play time with his new team.

A useful depth player who can move up in the lineup in a pinch, Kerfoot played in all 82 regular season games for the Leafs a season ago, posting a career-best 51 points, 75 hits, 65 blocks, 117 shots on goal, and plus-19 rating. Kerfoot saw a ton of power-play time early in his career, but that has evaporated since his arrival in Toronto three years ago. Kerfoot is going to have a regular spot in the lineup on a nightly basis, but his role isn't secure enough to project him as anything other than a deep-league option in fantasy circles. You can do better on draft day.

Kerfoot has something to prove this season. The pivot was exposed, but not selected in the Seattle Kracken expansion draft after two consecutive sub-par offensive seasons. Back in blue-and-white, Kerfoot has the skill to seize a job in the Maple Leafs' top six this year as the team juggles left wingers. His competition? The perennially underperforming Nick Ritchie and the prove-it Michael Bunting over from Arizona. Kerfoot put up his best offensive numbers in a scoring role in the Mile High City from 2017-19 and could replicate that success beside either Auston Matthews or John Tavares this year. Don't count on power-play production, but a career mark in points will be on tap if Kerfoot is able to score one of those gigs. Major sleeper alert.

Kerfoot struggled in his first year with the Maple Leafs, producing just 28 points in 65 contests. His nine goals were a career low, and it was also the first time he's missed the 40-point threshold since entering the NHL in 2017. The chances for a bounce-back campaign aren't great, either -- Nick Robertson is ready to make the leap, and that could come at the expense of Kerfoot's playing time. Mired in a bottom-six role, Kerfoot has limited upside despite his successful track record. He'll be worth a look in deeper formats, but managers in standard leagues can likely pass on the 26-year-old forward.

Toronto's 33-year-old GM Kyle Dubas continues to make shrewd moves. This summer, he acquired the signing rights to Kerfoot and courted puck-moving defenseman Tyson Barrie -- with Colorado agreeing to retain half of his salary -- in a blockbuster deal for Nazem Kadri, Calle Rosen and a 2020 third-round draft pick. Kerfoot has made an immediate splash in the NHL, with the third-line pivot looking to build upon the 34 goals, 51 assists and 33 power-play points that he's produced since his top-level debut to open the 2017-18 campaign. The B.C. native has moved from one offensive powerhouse to another, so it's only a matter of how quickly he can adjust to his new team and the Eastern Conference itself. Best of all, there will be no monetary distractions for Kerfoot since the ink is still drying on his four-year, $14 million deal contract with the Leafs.

Kerfoot weighed his options prior to the season as a valued incoming rookie free agent, ultimately signing a two-year deal with the Avalanche in August. He landed an Opening Night roster spot with the Avalanche after a strong preseason and didn't waste the opportunity. The 23-year-old pivot proceeded to rattle off 19 goals and 24 assists in his rookie season, lighting the lamp on an astounding 23.5 percent -- a league-best mark among players with 25-plus games -- of his 81 shots on goal. Considering he averaged just 13:27 of ice time as a rookie, an improvement in this department, combined with Kerfoot's presence on a young and improving power play could also bump up his counting stats in 2018-19.