Vinnie Hinostroza

Hinostroza will play for his fifth team since the start of the 2019-20 season after landing a one-year deal with the Penguins this offseason. He was a frequent healthy scratch with the Sabres last season, tallying just two goals and 11 points in 26 games. The 29-year-old winger has scored double-digit goals twice in his NHL career, including a 13-goal performance during the 2021-22 season. Hinostroza will compete for a bottom-six role with the Penguins in training camp but could be a regular healthy scratch again. Even with some more playing time, his ceiling will be limited in a small role with no power-play time.

Hinostroza arrived in Buffalo a season ago, his fourth organization in the past three years. He missed the better part of two months in the middle of the year due to a lower-body injury, ultimately finishing with 13 goals and 25 points in 62 games. Hinostroza also posted a career-worst minus-11 rating and just a single point with the man advantage. When you combine his mediocre point totals with the fact he offers nothing in terms of hits, Hinostroza is a clear fade in all fantasy formats this coming season.

After an impressive second stint with the Blackhawks (12 points in 17 games), Hinostroza's stock was high enough to earn him a one-year deal with the Sabres this offseason. The 27-year-old winger has become a journeyman -- this will be his fourth team as he enters his seventh NHL campaign. At his best, Hinostroza had a 39-point campaign in 72 games with the Coyotes in 2018-19, but dropped off to 22 points in 68 outings a year later. The Illinois native didn't register a point in nine games on a deep Panthers team last season, but the Sabres should provide him a shot at middle-six usage and power-play time. He could be a threat for 25-30 points and modest physicality, but Hinostroza's team situation should still give fantasy managers some concern. A wait-and-see approach with the winger could pay off if he starts the year hot.

Hinostroza regressed significantly in 2019-20, posting five goals and 22 points in 68 contests just one year after notching 16 goals and 39 points in 72 outings. The good news is Hinostroza shot a career-low 3.8 percent last year, which should positively regress toward roughly 9.0 percent in 2020-21. The 26-year-old projects to see third-line minutes with the Panthers, which is about the same as he saw in Arizona over the last two years. Hinostroza will likely challenge for 20 points and 50 hits, but his ceiling will remain low due to his marginal power-play usage. His fantasy value will be limited to deep leagues.

Hinostroza compiled 16 goals and 23 helpers in 72 contests in his first year with the Coyotes. He skated a career-high 15:16 per game during the campaign, evolving into a solid middle-six option. Hinostroza finished the year especially strong, as he recorded 21 points over the final 32 games of the season. Entering 2019-20, the 25-year-old isn't likely to fly under the radar as much. He's got 40-point potential that makes him an attractive depth option to fantasy owners despite his lack of physicality -- he only had 69 hits and 14 PIM last season. He probably won't shoot 10.5 percent again this year, but any regression will likely be minor.

Hinostroza logged his best season yet as a pro in 2017-18, setting career highs in goals (seven), assists (18), and shots on goal (86) while averaging just 13:49 of ice time in 50 contests with Chicago. In July, the Blackhawks traded the 24-year-old forward to the Coyotes in a package deal that allowed them to offload Marian Hossa's contract, and Hinostroza could be a candidate for increased ice time with his new club. If that comes to fruition and Hinostroza is able to remain in Arizona's lineup for most of the campaign, he could push for 40-plus points in 2018-19, making him a decent bench option in deeper fantasy formats.

Hinostroza was somewhat productive while skating in a limited role with the Blackhawks last season, notching 14 points (six goals, eight assists) and 76 shots on goal while averaging just 11:59 of ice time per game over 49 contests. The speedy forward’s role for the 2017-18 campaign has yet to be determined, but he'll likely battle with the likes of Tanner Kero, John Hayden, Kyle Baun and Lance Bouma for a steady spot in Chicago’s lineup. Furthermore, he'll likely be skating in a bottom-six role when he’s on the ice, severely limiting his offensive potential. Hinostroza will likely have an expanded role with the Blackhawks in 2017-18, but it almost certainly won't be significant enough to propel him into fantasy relevance.