Radek Faksa

Faksa's always been the kind of player that is more appreciated on the ice than in fantasy -- he's a defensive center who is capable of handling tough assignments. He's also now gone four straight seasons with no more than 20 points, though he did pick up two shorthanded points last season. The veteran can hit, block shots and even provide a bit of leadership, but he saw just 13:43 of ice time in 2022-23, his lowest average since his rookie year. Faksa still plays an important role, but head coach Pete DeBoer didn't give him as much leeway last year as previous coaches have. Keep Faksa in mind for deeper fantasy formats, but he shouldn't be on the radar in standard pools.

Faksa's usage took a major hit a season ago. His average ice time dropped from 17:26 per game to 15:46, while his power-play time plummeted from 1:33 to a measly six seconds per game. He had one point with the man advantage the entire year. Toss in the fact Faksa had five goals, 19 points and a career-worst minus-20 rating in 77 games and it's easy to see why a bounce-back effort appears highly unlikely for the 28-year-old Czech. Look elsewhere in the later rounds on draft day.

Faksa was asked to do a lot more defensively in 2020-21, which led to him putting up just 14 points and a minus-15 rating in 55 games with the Stars despite registering a career-high 17:26 of ice time per game. The Czech center remains locked in as Dallas' No. 3 option down the middle, a role he's filled for the last five years. The 27-year-old plays in all situations -- he had a shorthanded goal and two power-play points last campaign. Fantasy managers will like Faksa's physicality, but it remains to be seen if his scoring will bounce back to the 30-point mark he reached in three straight campaigns before missing it in both of the last two shortened seasons. Considering he converted his shots at just 6.4 percent last year, it's a good bet Faksa will enjoy some positive regression in 2021-22.

Faksa's role as a shutdown center for the Stars is well-defined, and he's embraced it to strong results. His offense took a hit last year with just 20 points in 66 games, but he'll continue to have a large role on the ice due to his defensive prowess alone. The Czech center has also scored at least 10 goals in each of the last four seasons. Fantasy managers in deeper formats can expect consistency from the 26-year-old, and he'll usually contribute 100-plus hits a year as a bonus. With Tyler Seguin expected to be sidelined to start 2020-21, Faksa may be given more ice time, possibly in a second-line role. As such, expect Faksa to return to a 30-point pace.

The 25-year-old turned in another solid campaign as a middle-six forward, scoring 15 goals and 30 points in 81 games while seeing a career high in average ice time. The Stars' top-heavy roster doesn't leave many prime opportunities for a player like Faksa -- his three power-play points last year were also a career high -- but he fits in well as a complementary forward, laying triple-digit hits in each of the last three seasons. He does have the hockey IQ and offensive skill set to blossom if he ever gets a chance, but the offseason additions of Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry will push Faksa firmly into a checking role, so a sudden breakout seems unlikely.

Faksa's second full season in the NHL was, for the most part, a success, as he scored a career-high 17 goals despite getting almost no power-play time while posting an impressive plus-21 rating. The 24-year-old plays a rock-solid two-way game, and his hockey IQ, soft hands and size give him some offensive upside, even if his merely adequate speed keeps him from being a truly dynamic weapon. The Stars would love it if the 13th overall pick in the 2012 draft took another leap forward in his development and was able to anchor a second line that can force opposition defenses to account for it, but even if Faksa doesn't become that sort of player, he should still be an asset as part of an effective and occasional dangerous checking unit.

The 13th overall pick in the 2012 draft, Faksa began to live up to his draft pedigree in 2016-17, playing a full season at the NHL level for the first time and providing 12 goals and 33 points. His lack of foot speed keeps him from profiling as a future top-line center, but otherwise the 23-year-old has a complete skill set, showing impressive hockey IQ, passing skills and effort in his own end of the rink to go along with NHL size and strength. The Martin Hanzal signing will allow Faksa to begin the season on the third line and without heavy expectations, but the youngster could quickly work his way into a role that gives him more offensive upside if he continues the development he showed last season.

Faksa had a busy 2013-14. He started the season with the OHL Kitchener Rangers, but was traded to the Sudbury Wolves midseason. He was then called up later on for a short stint in the AHL, playing in both regular-season and playoff games there. Most importantly, he didn't look out of place there, picking up three points in six regular-season games and four goals in 21 postseason contests. The 20-year-old forward has some developing to do, but the Stars have high hopes for him. He will start the upcoming season with AHL Texas. His impact may not be at hand, but Faksa will be relevant to your fantasy draft within the next couple years.

Faksa was Dallas' first-round pick in 2011, falling several spots before the Stars selected him with the 13th pick. He has good size, drawing comparisons to Jason Arnott, and should be NHL-ready after another year or two in junior/minor hockey.