Jake Bean

As expected, Bean's role increased significantly in his first season with the Blue Jackets. He posted a career-high seven goals and 25 points in 67 games, while averaging 20:34 of ice time per game, up from the 14:32 he averaged in his final season in Carolina. Bean has youth on his side given the fact he will play the entire upcoming year at age 24, but nothing we saw a season ago suggests there is a substantial offensive breakout forthcoming in 2022-23. You can do better on draft day.

Bean was never able to breakthrough on a loaded Carolina team, but an offseason trade to the rebuilding Blue Jackets should provide him ample opportunity to showcase his abilities in 2021-22. Bean has been NHL ready for several seasons, and Columbus clearly agrees considering they handed Bean a new three-year, $7 million contract in July despite the 23-year-old having just 44 NHL games (two goals, 23 points) under his belt. Bean is expected to battle fellow newcomer Adam Boqvist for power-play time alongside Zach Werenski, making him worthy of a late-round dart throw in fantasy leagues this fall.

Bean was steady again for AHL Charlotte in 2019-20, managing 10 goals and 48 points in 59 appearances. That's likely enough for the Hurricanes to give him a long look for an NHL job in training camp, where his main competition will be Haydn Fleury. A first-round draft pick in 2016, Bean will eventually get his turn to make an impact in the NHL, although it's unlikely he'll do much even if he makes the roster this season. Dynasty managers will want to hang on to the top prospect with the hope that he'll be worth the investment in a couple years.

Bean appeared in only two games for the Hurricanes last season, and the 2016 first-rounder will be fighting an uphill battle to make the roster out of camp. He showed some serious offensive prowess from the blue line with 13 goals, 44 points and a plus-17 rating in 70 appearances for AHL Charlotte last season, so it's worth monitoring how Bean does in preseason. He'd have some upside if he sticks with the big club, but Bean remains more of a long-term fantasy play at this stage given the numerous capable veterans currently residing on Carolina's blue line.

For a blueliner, the 20-year-old Bean has been an offensive standout the past four seasons in the WHL, racking up a combined 196 points in 219 games. Bean will likely require a season or two at the AHL level before he is considered NHL-ready, but don't worry – his time is coming. He remains one of the Hurricanes' top prospects and will look awfully good quarterbacking the team's power play in another season or two. Keeper-league players should take note.

Bean, selected 13th overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, is arguably the top prospect in the Hurricanes' organization. He has been a high-impact offensive contributor for the past three seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, registering a total of 148 points in 162 games. This season, the 19-year-old Bean has set his sights on bypassing the AHL and landing a roster spot with the Hurricanes straight out of training camp. However, the Canes' defense corps is already filled with young defenders such as Noah Hanifin (20), Brett Pesce (22) and Jaccob Slavin (23), so the team may decide they are better off allowing Bean at least one season of AHL conditioning before promoting him to the big club. That said, it's just a matter of when Bean becomes an everyday NHL'er – not if – so those of you in keeper formats would be wise to grab him now, while he's still available.

Bean is one of the top prospects to emerge from the WHL in recent years. His main strengths are his on-ice vision and ability to locate his teammates with precision passing in all three zones. With the Calgary Hitmen last season, he recorded 64 points in 68 games, including 24 goals. The Canes already have a number of young defensemen on the roster, including Noah Hanifin, Brett Pesce and Haydn Fleury, so they are not likely to rush Bean along before he's ready. As such, he will probably open the season with AHL Charlotte, but don't be afraid to snap him up in your keeper leagues if he's still available.