Nashville Predators: Fantasy Hockey Favorites Part 2

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Nashville Predators goalie Pekka Rinne (35) Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Pekka Rinne – Yahoo Rank 34th

2016 Stats: 34 Wins, 2.48 GAA, .908 SV %, 4 Shutouts

Perhaps no other player in Nashville is due for a bounce back season more than Pekka Rinne. After a dominant 2015 performance, it looked like Rinne was back to being one of the league’s elite goalies after missing most of the 2013 and 2014 seasons due to injury. However, Rinne struggled for most of the regular season and didn’t find his groove until well after the All-Star game as the Predators surged towards the playoffs.

Eager to put an uncharacteristiclly bad season behind him, Rinne could be primed for another stellar year in net for the Predators. With a scarcity of elite starting goalies available, let alone those who are backstopping contending teams, Pekka could be your best fantasy option in the earlier rounds of the draft if you find yourself on the tail end of the goalie rush.

Next: EASports Predicts Preds Win Stanley Cup

Goalies are in for a heavier workload this season thanks to a condensed schedule and more back to back games being played than in seasons past, which may actually help Rinne out as he gets some extra rest while Marek Mazanec works the crease. Even with a few less starts it’s safe to expect Rinne to have a very strong bounce back year and finish in the Top 10 or higher among fantasy goalies.

2017 Prediction: 35+ wins, 2.35 GAA, .920 SV%, 5 Shutouts.

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