Fantasy Hockey Trade Deadline: Keeper and Dynasty Targets | Matvei Michkov, Lane Hutson, Thomas Harley and Dustin Wolf

As we quickly close in on the trade deadline, we'll discuss a few players who may not be top players in the league now, but are definitely going to benefit you in years to come. A final reminder that the trade deadline is on March 7, but likely your fantasy trade deadline is February 28.

Before you go and start sending offers for these players, be sure to check out FantasySP's Trade Value Chart, and try to strike a bargain that will benefit your team's future in years to come.

One last note before we start, I am omitting the last two number one draft picks in Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks. I feel like these are obvious targets, but also owners are unlikely to let go of them.

With that out of the way, let's dive in, shall we?

Forward of the Future

Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers.

He does either need to get away from or gain the trust of head coach John Tortorella who, although everyone confirms is a really nice guy in real life, and despite his constant spats with the media, seems to lean on his veteran players over giving younger talent a chance to learn and grow. Without that type of freedom, Michkov is in a hindered environment for production, ice time, and growth.

Luckily, players almost always outlast the coaching staff and Michkov is the cornerstone of this franchise's future. He will eventually get opportunities under Torts, or whomever replaces him. Time is on Michkov's side.

Michkov is a great playmaker who can finish, is quick to defend plays, and is a well-rounded 200-foot player.

He has 17 goals, 24 assists, and 14 powerplay points in 57 games played. He also has 126 shots on goal, 20 hits, and 19 blocks.

Michkov has had this production with limited ice time, and has been benched twice in January by Torts, resulting in less than 10 minutes in each of those games. As he ages, he will continue to see an uptick in production, ice time, and trust from his coach. In a dynasty or keeper league, Michkov is going to grow up to be an absolute weapon.

Blueliners of the Future

Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars is just plain impressive. I know, I get it; I can't stop talking about this player. He doesn't only get my engine going, because since the Four Nations Face-Off all eyes have been on Harley.

Last year, he had a great year with the Stars, totalling 47 points in 79 games played. This year, he has solidified him as the defensemen of the Stars' future. What did it for me is how effortlessly he fit in whilst playing for Team Canada. He did not look out of place at all, and this was best-on-best hockey after all.

Harley was drafted on average in the mid rounds of redraft leagues, but if you got him any later then take, that lotto ticket all the way to the bank. Miro Heiskanen is out due to injury, and this is exactly the opportunity that Harley has been waiting for, and the timing could not be better for him coming off such strong play at the Four Nations Face-Off.

On the season, Harley has 10 goals, 21 assists, and six powerplay points in 56 games played. He also has 118 shots on goal, 25 hits, and 79 blocks. Also of note, he has an impressive team leading +/- or +29. That is insane, especially for the Stars!

Get this guy on your team if you have a keeper spot and need a defensemen who is poised to keep getting better before someone else capitalizes next year.

Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens is quietly becoming the playmaker the Habs need on the blueline. Yes, things can be quietly done in Montreal, and yes Hutson is putting up elite numbers.

He is second on the team in assists, only two apples behind captain Nick Suzuki. That's a really impressive feat for a rookie defensemen. Hutson is also not afraid to put his body on the line and block shots - something the Habs are in desperate need of.

Underrated and overshadowed by others touted to be immediate superstars, Hutson is sneaky good and is going to be a pillar of this extensive Habs rebuild. Or retool. Or whatever you want to call this painful wait for a deep playoff berth.

Hutson has four goals, 39 assists, and 19 powerplay points in 58 games played. He also has 67 shots on goal, 31 hits, and 83 blocked shots.

Tendy of the Future

Let's be honest, Dustin Wolf of the Calgary Flames has emerged as a potential franchise goaltender. Like the Hamburglar spotting a plate of hamburgers at a McDonalds birthday party, Wolf has absolutely stolen the starting job in the Saddledome right from under Dan Vladar's nose.

And that isn't a slight to Vladar either, considering the team in front of him, he has put up decent numbers and is on pace to have an average year based on his career stats.

Together they were poised at the start of the season to be a tandem, and the Flames were hoping for the best. It was quickly evident that Wolf was their guy, and they were riding the (pun intended) hot hand. So far, that hand has not cooled off and does not show any signs that it will.

Typically goaltenders take much longer to develop, however Wolf has not only rocketed himself into the Calder Trophy conversation, but also into a cornerstone of the Flames' future, and their hunt to get back into contender status.

Over the past few years, the Flames have also bolstered their locker room with three Stanley Cup Champions, including centre Nazem Kadri (who happens to be my faviourite player, and I miss him dearly as a Maple Leaf), and two defensemen in Blake Coleman and Brayden Pachal. It would be four players if you counted Tyson Barrie, but he was recently put on waivers and sent to the AHL.

The Flames are going in the right direction, and bringing in some veteran and depth pieces with Stanley Cup pedigree, especially on the blueline. That is obviously going to help give Wolf (and Vladar) the confidence they need to win, as well as the right mindset of what it actually takes to win.

These things take time obviously, but this year's production from Wolf is a huge leap forward that seems to be unexpected, yet will propel the Flames forward in their plans by several steps.

Wolf has a whopping 20 wins in 34 starts with an impressive .913 save percentage, 2.62 goals against average, and two shutouts. Keep in mind he started the year as a tandem goalie, or he would have a lot more starts.

I know goalies are a bit of a wildcard in fantasy, however in a dynasty league, Wolf is worth the gamble, and all signs point to a winning bet. If some poor Flames' fan doesn't already own him in your league, target him now before it's too late!

Closing Thoughts

Keeper and dynasty leagues are a different beast. You are more strategizing like a real general manager in looking to the future, and sometimes taking a short-term loss in production for a long-term gain. That's exactly what you are doing with the elite talent we talked about today.

Redraft leagues are fun, but everything is short term and it's much less strategic. They lack the long-term planning, and every player is live or die by their current season. It's not as important to keep an eye on year-over-year trends, and players of the future are often overlooked as they enter the league and struggle next to their already established counterparts. In my opinion, it's more fun to play the long game, project and watch development.

Knowing you had an inkling or inside scoop about a player before anyone else, taking a hit in points for a season, then watching your young talent turn into a monster is satisfying.

If you haven't tried out one of these leagues, then I would suggest giving it a go next season and draft some (or all) of the players on today's list. If you are already in one, then these will be the guys you want to try to grab this season before trade deadline, then watch them grow - you will be glad you did!