Nashville Predators: 2021-22 Fantasy Hockey Projections-Part 1
By Max Ritz
ROCCO GRIMALDI (RW)
2020/2021 Totals: 10 Goals, 3 Assists, 13 Points in 40 Games Played
The curious case of everyone’s favorite diminutive forward took a strange turn last season. After boasting career highs across the board in 2018-2019 (10 Goals, 21 Assists, 31 Points in 66 Games Played) and earning a two-year $4 million extension with the Predators, Rocco Grimaldi struggled to replicate that success in 2020-21.
Whether it was misutilization by Head Coach John Hynes, as many will agree with, or just unable to get in a rhythm in a strange season where a lot of young, physical forwards made their way into the lineup, Grimaldi was often times the odd man out,
Grimaldi was still able to flash his abilities in a four-goal, one-man wrecking crew onslaught of the Detroit Red Wings in late March and show he still has the capabilities of the talent level needed to contribute to the Predators.
If you’re looking for sleeper options outside of the top 125 on your draft boards, then Grimaldi could be your guy. He could even be an in-season waiver pick up if Hynes elects to use him in more situations we saw him grow accustomed to in the days of Peter Laviolette.
A resurgence from Grimaldi would be a welcoming sight by Predators fans everywhere as he has certainly earned a place in most, if not all of our hearts. Can he earn a spot on your fantasy team is the question?
There are a lot of factors that aren’t entirely in Grimaldi’s control that will affect his fantasy value:
- Ice time under Hynes
- Consistent linemates
- Ability to stay in the lineup with a team that is getting younger by the day
- More of those previously alluded to “Super Rocco” games
Should the positive variables pan out and the negative ones don’t appear we could be in for a resurging Rocco!
(I am starting to notice a theme of resurgence needed…)
2021/2022 Projection: 12 Goals, 22 Assists, 34 Points in 70 Games Played