Blake Coleman

The 2023-24 campaign was a banner year for Coleman, as he racked up 30 goals and 24 assists in 78 games, both of which represent career highs for the veteran winger. Being able to maintain that level of production is questionable heading into the upcoming campaign when you consider the gritty winger's hold on a top-six role is in doubt following the acquisition of Anthony Mantha and the emergence of Connor Zary and Andrei Kuzmenko. Given Coleman had never even managed 40 points in a single campaign prior to last year, fantasy managers may want to expect a regression to the mean for the Texas native.

Durability and grit are Coleman's best attributes, but he never really scores like a forward with a cap hit just shy of $5 million. He also lacks the power-play time necessary to take his offense to the next level, though he can chip in some shorthanded production. Coleman enjoyed a career year with 38 points in 82 contests in 2022-23, though he also had just 107 hits, a career low in a full campaign. He's shown the ability to consistently get to the 30-point mark, but it's unlikely he sees anything more than a middle-six role. His primarily defensive usage will keep his fantasy value limited to deeper formats this year.

The Flames handed Coleman a massive six-year, $29.4 million contract last summer. Coleman finished his first campaign with Calgary with 16 goals and 33 points through 81 games, right in line with what we had seen from him over the previous four seasons. Coleman registered a career-low 7.5 shooting percentage last year, so there could be some positive regression with his goal total on the horizon, but Coleman still doesn't project as a desirable fantasy option considering he averaged just 18 seconds worth of power-play time per game last season and has tallied only one point with the man advantage over the past two campaigns combined.

One of the big fishes of free agency, Coleman was caught by Calgary on a six-year deal. A late-blooming power forward, Coleman exceeded 30 points for the third straight season as a member of the Lightning's stellar third line last year. The 29-year-old often played more of a middle-six role, and it's versatility that gives him some added appeal in fantasy. He can play center or wing, although he's mostly been a winger in the NHL, and he can play throughout the lineup effectively. While he won't set any scoring records, the Texas native will bring some heaviness to the Flames' core, and he's likely good for close to 200 hits in a full season. He's shown 30 points to be his floor, but he could challenge for 40-plus points if he sees regular top-six usage and more power-play time than the 21 seconds per game he got last year.

Coleman enjoyed a solid year between the Devils and the Lightning in 2019-20, racking up 32 points and 191 hits in 66 contests. His production in the playoffs was even better, with 13 points in 25 games to help the Lightning lift Lord Stanley's chalice. Coleman's floor in 2020-21 will be third-line duties, but there should be a bit of competition between him and Tyler Johnson for a job on Anthony Cirelli's right flank. Whichever of those two players gets the second-line assignment will be the fantasy player to own -- Johnson has the edge in training camp, but the 29-year-old Coleman seems like the better option long term. Coleman will have a major advantage with his physicality, which makes him worth rostering in standard formats.

Coleman took another step forward with 22 goals and 36 points in 2018-19 after recording 13 goals and 25 points during his first full season in 2017-18. His shot total also climbed from 146 to 213, suggesting Coleman's enhanced production wasn't simply due to luck. Coleman also plays a physical brand of hockey, as evidenced by his 71 PIM last season. While neither his scoring nor his physicality stand out on their own, combine them and you get a useful deep-league asset with room for growth given his career trajectory thus far.

Coleman was a fantastic grinder in his first full NHL season, posting 25 points and 13 goals, including three shorthanded. He should hold down an important role in the bottom six and on the penalty kill, but it's hard to see the Texas native turning into the kind of scorer that really moves the needle in the fantasy realm. Coleman turns 27 in November, so he's probably past the point when you can expect major growth in his game. For what it's worth, he did lead the Devils with 216 hits last season.

Coleman was a third-round selection by the Devils in 2011 after playing his junior hockey with the USHL's Indiana Ice. Coleman played collegiately at Miami University last year, putting up 23 points in 39 games. Turning 21 in November, Coleman likely won't see NHL ice for a few seasons.

Coleman posted 92 points (34 G, 58 A) a year ago for the USHL's Indiana Ice to go along with 72 penalty minutes. As the Devils' third-round selection in this year's draft, Coleman isn't likely to show up in the NHL this season.