Jeff Petry

Few players in the league were as big of a disappointment from a fantasy perspective a season ago than Petry. After a breakout 2020-21 campaign in which he posted 12 goals and 42 points in 55 games, Petry managed just six goals and 27 points in 68 games last season. The decline in production was the direct result of Petry's struggles with the man advantage. He had just three power-play points all season. Montreal finally decided they had seen enough, dealing Petry to Pittsburgh in July for a package headlined by fellow defender Mike Matheson. Petry could push for 10 goals and 30-plus points with his new team, but the presence of Kris Letang ensures the Michigan native will again struggle to produce a man up.

Petry continued his late-career breakout as an offensive dynamo, averaging a career-best 0.76 points per game in 2020-21. He produced a fourth straight 40-point campaign despite the abbreviated schedule, and his 12 goals were topped only by Arizona's Jakob Chychrun (18) and Edmonton's Darnell Nurse (16) among NHL defensemen. While he certainly contributes on the power play (four goals, 11 assists), it's Petry's effectiveness at even strength (90 points over the last three years combined) that makes him such a consistently productive fantasy blueliner.

Petry has emerged as one of the most reliable, under-the-radar fantasy options at defense over the past three campaigns. The 31-year-old American had another strong season in 2019-20, posting 11 goals, 29 assists, 12 power-play points and 158 shots on goal while averaging 23:39 of ice time in 71 appearances. He wasn't afraid to throw his weight around, either, racking up 177 hits while occupying a top-four role with the Canadiens. Petry hasn't missed a single contest over the past three campaigns, and a double-digit goal, 40-plus point pace with over two shots per game has become the norm for the 10-year-vet, making him a fantastic option as a third defenseman in virtually all fantasy formats. He'll be worth a mid-round pick during this year's drafts.

Petry set new career highs in all of the major offensive categories last season, notching 13 goals, 33 assists and 46 points in 82 games. The 6-foot-3 American was able to maintain the scoring touch he discovered in 2017-18 when he logged heavy minutes on the Canadiens' top pairing while Shea Weber (foot) was sidelined for all but 26 games. Petry once again filled in for Montreal's top blueliner early on in 2018-19, serving as the team's defensive leader while Weber was sidelined for the first 24 games of the season. He averaged more than two minutes on the man advantage per contest for a second straight campaign last year, but finished with 12 fewer power-play points, which had more to do with the Canadiens' ineptitude on special teams than a personal decline. The 31-year-old will anchor Montreal's second pairing in 2019-20, and should be able to threaten the double-digit goal and 30-point marks for a third straight season.

Petry enjoyed his best offensive season in 2017-18, as he posted career highs in goals (12), assists (30), points (42) and shots (178). He got the chance for a larger role after Montreal lost Shea Weber to a foot injury midseason and finished with 23:30 of average ice time -- another personal best. The larger role led to an increase of more than a minute per game on the power play and 23 points as the quarterback of said unit. The downside was his minus-30 rating. That metric has its flaws, but the numbers jump out. In fairness to the player, the Canadiens weren't a very good team and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. Nonetheless, there should be a similar role for Petry, at least at the start of the season, as Weber will be out until December at the earliest due to a knee injury. If he's paired with a mobile puck mover, such as Victor Mete, Petry has noticeable fantasy upside.

Petry returned from a sports hernia that prematurely ended his 2015-16 season to average a career-high 22:07 of ice time per game this past season. Petry, who works seamlessly in cross-zone transition, posted a career-high 28 points and eight goals last season, and he added a marker in the playoffs. He's been a much better defenseman compared to his four-plus years in Edmonton, where he posted an egregious minus-65 rating over 295 contests. He doesn't possess the offensive attributes of the slick-passing Andrei Markov (now in the KHL), nor can he replicate Shea Weber's howitzer slap shot (who can?) but he's the most well-balanced blueliner wearing a "CH" sweater. With the departure of Markov, Alexei Emelin and Nathan Beaulieu, he should be a fixture on the second pairing with newcomer David Schlemko.

Plucked from the Oilers at the tail end of 2014-15, Petry was signed to a six-year, $33 million deal last summer to provide the Canadiens with a quality defender. He more or less met expectations, but rarely delivered offensively, and a sports hernia ended his 2015-16 season early. Petry’s minus-6 was his best since the strike-shortened 2012-13 season – a rare good year for his old team, the Oilers – and it surely would have been better had Carey Price been stopping pucks all season. Petry worked well on the second pairing, seeing time with Alexei Emelin and Nathan Beaulieu, and he posted a career-best Corsi For of 54.4 percent, which also led Montreal’s defensemen. He’s far from an elite scorer, having notched just 16 points in 51 games, but his .31 points per game pace represented the second-best rate of his career. Petry will return to a spot on the second pairing to bear a defensive burden again for the Habs in 2016-17.

The Habs acquired Petry from Edmonton at the trade deadline and locked him up to a long-term extension in June, so he's expected to be a steady presence on the Montreal blue line for years to come. However, it's questionable what sort of upside he can offer fantasy owners -- even the uptick in scoring Petry saw after the trade (seven points in 19 games) would only translate to 30 points over a full season. He'll remain an asset in leagues that count hits and blocks, and his plus/minus is likely to improve, but the fantasy appeal is otherwise limited.

Petry's claim to fame for fantasy owners won't be in his offensive abilities (17 points), but may be in his ability to stop frozen vulcanized rubber with his body (132 last season) and lay hits (181). In other words, he's not afraid to throw his body around for the benefit of the team, something he will have to continue to do in order to remain in the lineup.

Petry is slated to be paired with Phillip Larsen as the Oilers third defensive pair, but that is hardly written in stone. He will be in a battle with three or four other players for what may be the final spot on defense. Petry is a solid d-man, but hardly spectacular. And certainly not the type to offer much help to fantasy owners.

Petry is a solid defenseman who played on the Oilers' top pairing last season. He scored two goals and added 23 assists, but his future is more of a top four d-man. He's good in his own zone, but lacks true offensive upside to be given big power play minutes. Expect about 30 points and 100 each of hits and blocked shots.

Petry had his first go around with the Oilers last season, scoring a single goal and adding four assists in 35 games. He is a smart defenseman who has a mean streak, and sees the ice well in front of him. He can be an effective d-man at the NHL level, but may not start the season with Edmonton, though injuries and roster moves could have him back with the big club before long.

Petry made his professional debut late last season with Springfield, playing eight games, and will start the season with Springfield this season. In dynasty leagues he is a player to keep an eye on as he possesses the skills to eventually be a top flight offensive defenseman. He can pass, shoot, and plays with an edge. He is unlikely to make his Oilers debut this season however.

Petry was the Oilers second round draft pick in 2006. In 80 college games he has five goals and 38 points. He is still a few years away from being able to compete on the pro level.

Legit top two defenseman who will return to Michigan State for his sophomore season. If he were to leave college and turn pro he could very well be on the Oilers blue line next season.

Petry has the talent to be a solid, two-way defender for the Oilers. He needs time to develop, which should start this year as he'll attend Michigan State for his freshman year in the Fall.

Edmonton's first round pick in the 2006 draft is expected to return to the USHL in the fall.

Petry carries the dreaded "projectable frame" tag which means he's eons away from the NHL. He has the potential to contribute a little offense, but it's unlikely he'll be anything but a thrid pairing guy.