Denis Gurianov

Those hoping for a breakout from Gurianov following his dozen-goal, 30-point (in 55 games) 2020-21 pandemic-shortened campaign ended up getting burned. Not only did Gurianov not take a step forward, he actually regressed, posting 11 goals and 31 points in 73 games a season ago. Gurianov's overall ice time per game was down 1:40 to 14:11, but the rest of his numbers were pretty much in line with the year prior. Gurianov is still just 25 years of age, but the struggles of a season ago make it difficult to get behind him from a fantasy perspective heading into the 2022-23 campaign.

Gurianov put up his first 30-point campaign with 12 goals and 18 assists last year, with eight of his points coming on the power play. The speedy Russian winger has settled in as a middle-six option for the Stars, although he'll probably need to be on the second line to limit some of his streaky tendencies. Entering his first truly full NHL campaign, the 24-year-old should be expected to take another step forward to the 40-50 point range. He's also likely to help out in the hits department, as he's averaged about one per game despite being known more for his scoring touch. A first-round pick from 2015, Gurianov could be ready for a breakout season -- he'll likely need one to prove himself as a viable fantasy option instead of just a solid NHLer.

Gurianov proved he was ready to stay in the NHL with 20 goals and nine assists over 64 games last season. He added another 17 points in 27 playoff games as the Stars made a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. He'll likely see a more consistent top-six role as well as ample power-play time duri ng the upcoming campaign. He still needs to improve his set-up work, but he has the pedigree to be an above-average scorer. Expect the Russian to play near a 40-point pace with strong totals in shots on goal and hits.

Although he made his NHL debut a few years ago by playing one game as a 19-year-old, Gurianov saw his first real action for Dallas down the stretch last season, scoring one goal and four points in 21 contests. The 12th overall pick in the 2015 draft, he put together a strong campaign in the AHL, scoring 20 goals and 48 points in 57 games thanks mainly to his powerful, swift skating. His overall offensive skills still need some refinement, but Gurianov has the upside to be a future top-six sniper. The Stars' don't have much room on their top two lines for a young talent right now, so his breakout might be a season or two away, but another big AHL campaign could force the issue.