Steve Downie has certainly made a name for himself in the hockey world. He's won not one, but two Gold medals for Team Canada at the Under-18 World Junior Championships, has had a prolific junior career, and was a 1st-round draft pick (29th overall) of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2005. He was also on the wrong end of a 5-game suspension in the OHL for an on-ice incident during practice with his teammate and fellow NHL draft pick Akim Aliu and followed that with a 20-game suspension for cross-checking Dean McAmmond during a NHL preseason game in 2007. The Flyers eventually traded Downie to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for defenseman Matt Carle. Downie is now flourishing, playing on the top line in Tampa Bay with Steve Stamkos and Martin St. Louis and has scored 15 goals and 36 points in 59 games in what is his first full NHL season.
So, what should fantasy hockey owners make of this diminutive bulldog who sizes up at 5-10, 190 lbs? Is Downie merely a thug who is benefiting from gratuitous icetime on a poor team or his he an offensively skilled player who has proven he can win and has matured into someone who plays with heart instead of reckless abandon?
I'll go on record for stating I believe it is the former rather than the latter that will characterize Steve Downie. A heart and soul guy, Downie is proving he has the ability to find the back of the net at the pro level. Already a solid NHL skater, the fact that he plays with as much determination as he does should ensure that at the very least, barring injury, Downie can have a long NHL career.
Heading into the Olympic break, Downie is riding a seven-game point streak in which he has scored 4 goals and 6 assists for ten points. Aside from earning top-line icetime, Downie is also shooting the puck more, averaging three shots on goal per game during his point streak. The penalty minutes continue to come as well as Downie has 163 of them this season, 2nd most in the entire NHL.
It is becoming more and more evident that the 22-year old Steve Downie is starting to mature into a solid fantasy producer. In leagues that count penalty minutes, he already holds significant value. It's quite possible that he will also hold significant value in leagues that don't count the stat, as Downie has more offensive skill than comparible players like Sean Avery.
So fantasy hockey owners, if you haven't bought into Steve Downie yet, it's time to take notice. While he will likely always play on the line of what is acceptable and what is not, he has the ability and heart to be a solid producer in years to come. Downie has 60-70 point upside and combined with his PIM's could be fantasy hockey gold.
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