The near point-per-game pace Yamamoto showed in 2019-20 is a distant memory. The Oilers decided to cut their losses by trading him to the Red Wings in late-June, and Detroit proceeded to buy him out. The Wings' loss is the Kraken's gain, as Yamamoto signed a one-year deal with the team in hopes of rebuilding his value this year. Going from Edmonton to Seattle is a big change. The former is a top-heavy offense, and one where Yamamoto barely held onto a top-six role, while the latter is built on more of a full-team approach that takes the pressure off of any one player or line. The best-case scenario likely still has Yamamoto around 40 points in 2023-24, but there's also the risk of him getting stuck in a fourth-line role. His tenacity should help him stick in the lineup, but Yamamoto probably doesn't need to be selected on fantasy draft day.
Yamamoto posted 20 goals in 2021-22; marking the first time he's reached that plateau in his young career. He also finished with a career-best 41 points, 114 shots on goal and 114 hits. Yamamoto looked like a potential breakout star after averaging nearly a point-per-game (26 points in 27 games) in 2019-20, but he hasn't produced at that level since, posting 62 points in 133 games over the last two seasons combined. Yamamoto will turn 24 years old prior to the start of the upcoming campaign, so time is still on his side, but it's best to project him in a depth-supporting role as opposed to a top-line featured role from a fantasy perspective.
A surprise star for the Oilers in 2019-20 (11 goals, 26 points in 27 games), Yamamoto's production (8 goals, 21 points in 52 games) fell off in a major way in 2020-21. It was by no means a surprise given the fact Yamamoto's breakout was entirely fueled by an unsustainable 25 percent shooting percentage. That number reverted to a far more reasonable 11.6 percent in 2020-21 and we all saw the end result. Yamamoto gets virtually no time with the man advantage (0:37 per game last season) and offers nothing in terms of secondary category production, making the Washington native a risky pick in standard fantasy leagues heading into the 2021-22 season.
Yamamoto took a huge step forward last year, producing 11 goals and 26 points in 27 contests. The first-round pick from 2017 was called up from AHL Bakersfield just before New Year's and slotted onto the second line with Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. That trio displayed remarkable chemistry. In addition to his strong scoring, Yamamoto also played with an edge, racking up 45 hits. The 22-year-old is a virtual lock for a top-six role, although no one should expect him to play at a point-per-game pace. His success last year was fueled by shooting at a 25 percent clip, which is unsustainably high. Look for the Spokane, Washington native to reach a 60-point pace with moderate physicality and more power-play time in his upcoming first full NHL campaign.
Yamamoto has only appeared in 26 NHL games since Edmonton drafted him 22nd overall in 2017. Over those contests, he has a goal and three assists. Last season, with AHL Bakersfield, Yamamoto spent a good chunk of his time recovering from injuries but managed to put up 18 points. Expected back healthy for training camp following wrist surgery in May, the 2019-20 season figures to be Yamamoto's first full NHL campaign and, if all goes according to plan, he could wind up being one of several lucky players lining up alongside Connor McDavid and/or Leon Draisaitl. Despite his small stature, Yamamoto can use training camp to carve out a role alongside one of Edmonton's superstars, which could lead to big things for the 20-year-old.
Yamamoto dominated the WHL for the second consecutive season by registering 64 points (21 goals, 43 assists) in 40 games. The diminutive winger had dropped 42 goals and 99 points through 65 contests with Spokane the year before. While the 2017 first-round (22nd overall) draft pick failed to score a goal in the nine games he saw at the top level in 2017-18, he did collect three helpers. Turning 20 years old in September, he's expected to get a serious shot at earning a role with the big club during training camp. Yamamoto carries obvious dynasty league potential despite his pint-sized physical presence.
Yamamoto is dramatically undersized at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds, but his talent level is so high that Edmonton spent the No. 22 pick in the 2017 draft on him anyway. Small though he may be, the American winger has been hugely productive in juniors -- 99 points in 65 games last year -- and he made the hockey world sit up and take notice at the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase by displaying his elite speed, shot and hockey IQ. He’s a gritty player, too, unafraid of going into the tough areas of the ice against much bigger skaters. The size earns him inevitable Martin St. Louis comparisons, and he’s among the little guys who actually have the raw ability to live up to that, though it wouldn't hurt to see him put a little more muscle on before he graduates to the NHL level.
