The 21-year-old defender was a rookie in the AHL last season, and finished seventh on the Firebirds in points from the blue line. The players above him were more established and received more of the workload, preventing him from earning the type of deployment he enjoyed in his Junior career. Given the type of offensive game that Dragicevic played prior to making the AHL, his rookie numbers aren’t great news for fantasy investors. He shot less than once per game and factored in minimally on the power play. The grain of salt is that Ty Nelson and Tyson Jugnauth have helped to shelter him as he learns the pro game, and will soon graduate to the NHL roster, opening up a lane for him.

The question that Dragicevic will have to answer is: can he take a step forward next year, and will he be able to wrest a meaningful offensive role at the NHL level with Chase Reid now an heir apparent to PP1?

Dragicevic returned to form in what could be his final OHL season, scoring 18 goals and adding 52 assists for 70 points in 66 games. This year begins the first year of his entry level contract and one would expect him to earn a role with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 2025-2026. Dragicevic is likely to run a powerplay, and start his audition for the same role at the NHL level. He is under-owned in fantasy, and though he is not a top-tier offensive defenseman the likes of Denton Mateychuk and Olen Zellweger, his performance to this point has not been leagues behind. He’s worth stashing if unowned in your leagues.

In 2023-2024, Dragicevic took a step back from his previous year’s output. He dropped to a line of 14-36-50 in 66 games. He still sat 15th overall in points by a defenseman in the WHL for the year, but will need to regroup and continue his development. What that performance does do, especially with another draft of new rookies for managers to fawn over, is open up a potential buy low window on him. Keep an eye on his progress this year.

Dragicevic was selected 57th overall by the Kraken.