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Oleksiak enjoyed a career year with nine goals and 25 points over 75 contests with the Kraken in 2022-23. He also had 126 hits, 115 blocked shots and a plus-13 rating. He's been a fixture as a top-four blueliner for the Kraken since joining them on a five-year deal prior to their expansion draft. The 30-year-old is unlikely to replicate those scoring numbers, but his main appeal in fantasy has always come from his physical play. Oleksiak will continue to interest managers in formats that count blocked shots, but he'll be safe to leave on the draft board in most other pools.
One of the few long-term deals handed out by the Kraken prior to their maiden voyage, Oleksiak was his usually steady self in 2021-22. He tied a career high with 17 points in 72 games, adding a career-best 182 hits and 86 blocks. Oleksiak is never going to score enough to be a worthy fantasy pick in standard formats, but he has an outside shot at late-round value in leagues which value hits and blocks if he averages upwards of 20 minutes of ice time per game as he did a season ago.
The expansion Kraken did everything possible to avoid handing out long-term contracts upon their entry to the NHL this summer, but they made an exception for Oleksiak, who inked a five-year, $23 million deal in July. He's more than earned his big payday, as Oleksiak is coming fresh off a season in which he saw his average time on ice rise by nearly five minutes per game (up to 20:29) with the Stars. Oleksiak has never been a big scorer -- his career high is 17 points -- but he's a big body (6-foot-7), an excellent penalty killer and still just 28 years old. Oleksiak should flirt with 200 hits over the course of a full campaign in 2021-22, giving him late-round fantasy value in leagues which reward the rough stuff.
Oleksiak won't make waves on the scoresheet very often, as the hulking blueliner only put up 10 points in 69 contests last year. What he does provide is a healthy dose of physicality -- his 153 hits last year were second only to his total in 2017-18, when he had 174. The Ontario native isn't likely to be picked in most fantasy drafts, given his low-scoring tendencies and nonexistent power-play time. Expect Oleksiak to finish around a 10-point pace with hefty hit totals and a few extra PIM for good measure.
After being traded from Dallas to Pittsburgh in 2018-19, the blue-line behemoth was flipped back to the Stars in January, conveniently for exactly the same pick the Penguins had dealt to acquire him originally. Oleksiak doesn't offer much offense and had trouble even getting onto the ice in Dallas, averaging under 13 minutes through 21 games, and that may not change this season given all the young talent around him. The 26-year-old remains something of an enigma. Purely based on his 6-foot-7 frame and array of physical tools, you'd think he might be the next Zdeno Chara, but injuries continue to derail him, and the game may simply be too fast for him at the NHL level.
Brought in by the Penguins via trade in December of 2017, GM Jim Rutherford made re-signing Oleksiak one of his top priorities, and he parted with Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick in order to clear the necessary cap space to lock the towering blueliner into a long-term deal. After notching a mere three points in 21 games with Dallas, the shutdown defender saw an uptick in ice time that result in him setting career highs in assists (12) and points (17). Playing a full season within coach Mike Sullivan's system could see the Toronto native improve upon those career bests this season -- just don't expect him to rack up anything close to Erik Karlsson-type numbers.
The 14th overall pick in the 2011 draft once again failed to establish himself as a reliable member of the Stars’ blue line corps, dropping in and out of the lineup due to various nagging injuries and generally inconsistent play. Oleksiak has all the physical tools you could want in a No. 1 defenseman, including imposing size and foot speed, but he’s scored only six goals and 19 points with a minus-17 rating in 119 NHL games. He could still break through, but he’s now been leapfrogged in the system by the likes of Julius Honka and Esa Lindell, making it that much harder for Oleksiak to lock down a regular lineup spot.
Oleksiak scored five goals and collected 18 assists over 69 games with the Texas Stars of the AHL last season. He would receive a call-up to play seven games in Dallas, and previously suited up for 16 games with the big club in 2012-13. He's a rare combination of a huge frame -- he's 6-7 and 250 lbs -- and offensive upside. Oleksiak could very easily crack the Dallas lineup again this year, particularly if coach Lindy Ruff works to manage veteran Sergei Gonchar's ice time. But it's unclear if his offensive talent will translate to the NHL level (it hasn't yet). Stay away for now.
Big Rig made his pro debut last year, logging 16 games with Dallas and finishing with 33 points and a plus-19 rating in 59 AHL games. He will get a chance to win a roster spot with the big club come training camp, but will likely begin the year in the AHL again. There, he'll skate meaningful minutes instead of getting limited time as the Stars' sixth or seventh defender.
Oleksiak was Dallas' first-round pick (14th overall) back in 2011 and gets good marks for his skating despite his massive size (6-7, 240). His pro debut was solid (12 goals and 20 assists in 59 games in the OHL) and he projects as that dominating physical defenseman that Dallas has missed since the halcyon days of Derian Hatcher.
Oleksiak was Dallas' first round pick (14th overall) in the 2011 draft. His huge size (6'7", 240) gets most of the attention, but his agility and puck moving skills separate him from most other ice behemoths. He'll play junior hockey in 2011-12 after leaving Northeastern.
