J.T. Compher

Compher signed a five-year, $25.5 million contract with the Red Wings after posting a career-high 52 points (17 goals, 35 assists) in 82 games with the Avalanche during the 2022-23 season. He benefited tremendously from his time on Colorado's top power-play unit, compiling five goals and 14 points with the man advantage. Compher is projected to center Detroit's second line, but his role on special teams could be reduced and he won't have someone matching the caliber of Mikko Rantanen as a linemate during his first season as a Red Wing. As a result, a return to the 50-point mark will likely be a difficult task. Still, Compher will provide the Red Wings with some much-needed depth down the middle, and he could surpass the 40-point plateau.

Compher again served as a solid middle-six option for the Stanley Cup-champion Avalanche, playing 70 games and finishing with a career-high 18 goals and 33 points. Compher's six points with the man advantage were his most since the 2018-19 campaign. He added eight points in 22 postseason games. Compher can move up the lineup if injuries strike, but Colorado has so many talented players that it's difficult to believe Compher would be able to snag a top-line role for an extended period of time. He's best served as a depth option, making him a fade in virtually all fantasy formats.

Yes, Compher posted double-digit goals (10) for a fourth straight campaign last year, but he was extremely fortunate to reach that number given the fact he stopped shooting the puck all together for some odd reason. He averaged less than one shot per game (47 in 48 games) after finishing with 106 shots in 67 games in 2020-21. It might be nothing more than a fluke, but it's a concerning number for a depth player who gets limited power-play time. The 26-year-old Illinois native likely won't be worth the trouble for most fantasy players in 2021-22.

Compher turned in another 30-point campaign with 11 goals, 20 helpers and 106 shots on goal in 2019-20. He's become an all-situations player -- five of his points came on the power play, while another three were shorthanded assists. Compher is once again poised to feature on the third line and second power-play unit in 2020-21. Even with a shortened season ahead, there's a chance Compher can reach the 30-point mark for a third straight year, making him worth a look in deeper fantasy formats.

The Sabres dished Compher -- a second-round (35th overall) pick from the 2013 NHL Entry Draft -- to the Avalanche in a blockbuster deal involving Ryan O'Reilly back in 2015. Fast forward four years, and O'Reilly is a newly minted Conn Smythe Trophy winner (for the Blues), while Compher lags behind as a promising forward, albeit one who could stand to refine his defensive chops. Unfortunately, the fourth-year American has a minus-37 rating working against his progressive output of 60 points (32 goals, 28 assists) through 156 career games. Compher typically lines up on the left wing, but he's versatile and takes the occasional draw as a supplement to his established power-play role. There's hope that Compher will break out offensively after signing a four-year, $14 million contract extension in July, and riding shotgun with captain Gabriel Landeskog and offensive wunderkind Nathan Mackinnon presents a dream assignment for him.

Following a promising 21-game stint with the Avalanche in 2016-17, Compher predictably bypassed those five points by a wide margin in his first full season by racking up 13 goals and 10 assists. His presence on the power play further solidified him as a fantasy candidate in deep leagues, though a minus-29 rating resulted in major drawbacks to those who invested. Another offseason under his belt and the addition of Philipp Grubauer should assist in the improvement of that statistic, but it's difficult to see him improving too much when he already averaged 16:00 of ice time in his sophomore season.

Compher fits in with Colorado's youth movement, given that he's just 22 years old. The 35th pick in the 2013 NHL draft can play either center or wing, but he didn't flash much offense in a limited sample as a rookie last season, netting just three goals and two assists over 21 games. That said, he was a stud scorer in his final college season (63 points in 38 games) and a solid performer in the AHL last year (30 in 41), so there's notable upside here. Compher is expected to reprise a bottom-six role, though a move into the more desirable second-line center spot isn't out of the question if 19-year-old Tyson Jost can't hold down the role.

Compher, the 35th selection in June’s NHL Draft, spent last season with the U.S. National Development Team, posting 24 points in 21 games. He’s a versatile forward who has seen high praise for his leadership and intensity levels. The long-term potential is there for Compher, but for now he’s committed to the University of Michigan, where he will begin his collegiate career this fall.