Corey Perry – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – The aftermath of the trade deadline, including deals for John Carlson, Brayden Schenn, Conor Garland, Bobby Brink, and so much more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:44:59 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, the aftermath of the trade deadline, including deals for John Carlson, Brayden Schenn, Conor Garland, Bobby Brink, and so much more!

#1 After playing more than 1,100 regular-season games for the Washington Capitals, defenceman John Carlson was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. The 36-year-old blueliner remains highly productive, ranking 11th among defencemen with 46 points (10 G, 36 A) in 55 games this season. He’s been a prolific force on the power play throughout his career but has been doing more damage at even strength this season, with just nine assists on the power play and 37 points at even strength, which ranks fifth among NHL defencemen. In Anaheim, Carlson should get power play time ahead of Jacob Trouba but maybe not ahead of Jackson LaCombe.

#2 The New York Islanders made a big commitment to acquire St. Louis Blues captain Brayden Schenn, who has a relatively modest 28 points (12 G, 16A) in 61 games. He may do a little better with an Islanders team that is having more success, but the value for the Islanders could come from Schenn’s ability to play centre which could help to free up Mathew Barzal, who can move to right wing. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Schenn’s departure could open up ice time down the middle of the ice, so rookie Dalibor Dvorsky might be worth keeping tabs on in deeper leagues.

#3 Ever since the Columbus Blue Jackets hired Rick Bowness as head coach, they have been making a concerted push for the playoffs, going 13-2-1 in 16 games under Bowness. Because of that surge, the Blue Jackets were buyers at the deadline and acquired right winger Conor Garland from the Vancouver Canucks. Garland has been a reliable secondary scorer throughout his career and has been a solid defensive contributor, too, though he had been struggling in the midst of the Canucks’ awful season, managing 26 points (7 G, 19 A) in 50 games. He should be a second-line winger in Columbus and with Garland moving on, the Canucks can give ice time to players in need of the experience, including Nils Hoglander, Liam Ohgren, and Linus Karlsson. Karlsson is probably the most appealing of those three.

#4 Veteran winger Michael Bunting was traded from the Nashville Predators to the Dallas Stars, and it should be a good opportunity for him to fill a middle six role on a strong Stars squad. Bunting has scored at least 19 goals in each of the past four seasons and had 31 points (13 G, 18 A) in 61 games for Nashville this season. With Bunting gone, perhaps look to Joakim Kemell in Nashville. The 2022 first-round pick had 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 46 AHL games though he has failed to record a point in five career NHL games.

#5 The Minnesota Wild brought Minnesota native Bobby Brink home via a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers. Brink, 24, had 26 points (13 G, 13 A) in 55 games for the Flyers this season and should fit into Minnesota’s middle six with some second unit power play time. If he lands on Minnesota’s second line, with Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek, that would be an outstanding opportunity for Brink to elevate his production.

#6 Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been in fine form since returning from the Olympics, putting up six points (2 G, 4 A) and 15 shots on goal in five games. With Artturi Lehkonen considered week-to-week with an upper-body injury, Landeskog is even more important for the Avs and is skating on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.

#7 It took some time for Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene to get back up to speed after he missed more than six weeks with an upper-body injury, but he has been cooking lately. In his past 10 games, Duchene has accumulated 17 points (8 G, 9 A) with 19 shots on goal. He is skating with Jamie Benn and Sam Steel on the Stars’ second line but is also getting first unit power play time, which gives him a better shot at sustaining this offensive surge. Steel has elevated his play, too, putting up 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 18 shots on goal in his past nine games. He is up to a career-high 29 points (10 G, 19 A) in 61 games.

#8 Columbus Blue Jackets centre Charlie Coyle has been on a tear ever since the Blue Jackets hired Bowness. In 16 games under the new bench boss, Coyle has delivered 21 points (9 G, 12 A) with 48 shots on goal. He’s been dominating at even strength, scoring 17 of those 21 points at evens. While he is getting first unit power play time, Coyle’s current linemates are Cole Sillinger and enforcer Mathieu Olivier.

#9 It has not been an easy season in Winnipeg, so the Jets need to take the good news where they can get it. Winger Cole Perfetti is starting to heat up as he takes on a bigger role. In his past eight games, Perfetti has seven points (3 G, 4 A) with 29 shots on goal while averaging 18:32 of ice time per game. That shot rate is very encouraging and he’s not only playing first unit power play time, but Perfetti is skating on a line with Adam Lowry and Gabriel Vilardi at even strength.

#10 Carolina Hurricanes left winger Taylor Hall has been a solid secondary scorer for the ‘Canes this season and he has six points (2 G, 4 A) in his past four games, but he is also consistently generating shots. In his past seven games, Hall has 19 shots on goal and seems to have a good thing going on a line with younger players Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake.

#11 New York Islanders captain Anders Lee plays more of a supporting role for the team than he did in his prime years, but he can still be a force in front of the net. In his past five games, Lee has scored four goals with 16 shots on goal. He is skating on a line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Simon Holmstrom at even strength and he’s a second unit power play guy, with only six of his 35 points this season coming via the man advantage.

#12 The Winnipeg Jets have activated defenceman Josh Morrissey so he should be available for Saturday’s game against Vancouver. It isn’t a moment too soon, either, after the Jets traded Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn to Buffalo, the Jets were looking rather lean on the blueline. Morrissey has 42 points (10 G, 32 A) in 56 games this season, despite being held off the scoresheet in seven straight games prior to the Olympic break.

#13 The San Jose Sharks have been very prudent in their deployment of rookie centre Michael Misa this season, perhaps even conservative, but it’s starting to look like the freshman pivot is ready to play a bigger role down the stretch as the Sharks push for a playoff spot. In four games since the Olympic break, Misa has contributed five points (2 G, 3 A) with seven shots on goal. He is in a good situation with the Sharks now, skating on a line between William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli, so it should come as no surprise if Misa, the second pick in last summer’s draft, continues to ascend late in the season.

#14 It is practically impossible to trust that Buffalo Sabres centre Josh Norris will stay healthy – he has played more than 56 games in a season once in his career – but when he’s in the lineup, he can make a difference. Norris has five points (3 G, 2 A) and 10 shots on goal in five games since the Olympic break and has 22 points (9 G, 13 A) in 24 games this season. On a strong Sabres team, Norris is getting first unit power play time and skating between Noah Ostlund and Josh Doan at even strength.

#15 It is probably too soon to give out a recommendation for St. Louis Blues rookie defenceman Logan Mailloux, but he’s worth keeping an eye on, especially after Justin Faulk was traded to the Detroit Red wings. Mailloux only has five points (3 G, 2 A) in 46 games this season, but he has goals in back-to-back games and has 13 shots on goal. He has gone over 20 minutes of ice time in each of the past three games, the first times that he has crossed that threshold with the Blues. Faulk figures to be a solid addition in Detroit. The veteran blueliner had nine assists and 20 shots on goal in his last 10 games for St. Louis. In Detroit, he should continue to play 20+ minutes per game and have a role on the second power play.

#16 It shouldn’t move the needle that much when a 40-year-old right winger is traded, but Corey Perry had been having a strong season when the Los Angeles Kings traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Perry had zero points and 12 shots on goal in his last eight games for the Kings, but he still has 28 points (11 G, 17 A) in 50 games. If he can continue at that rate, it would be his best points per game since 2017-2018. Perry is likely to have a fourth line role in Tampa Bay, with some second unit power play time sprinkled in for good measure.

#17 This year’s trade deadline was decidedly underwhelming, with few big names moving, there were a bunch of veteran forwards on the move. Nick Foligno joining his brother in Minnesota, David Perron back to Detroit, Warren Foegele to Ottawa, Nicolas Roy to Colorado, Nic Dowd to Vegas, Andrew Mangiapane to Chicago with Colton Dach and Jason Dickinson going to Edmonton. It’s entirely possible that none of those players will have fantasy value for the rest of this season.

#18 It has been a difficult season for defenceman Mackenzie Weegar, who had been one of the league’s most reliable blueliners over the previous five years. The Utah Mammoth acquired Weegar from the Calgary Flames, where he had 21 points (3 g, 18 A) in 60 games, but he had 99 points (28 G, 71 A) in 163 games across the previous two seasons, so he does have more offensive potential than he has shown this year. He’s not a sure thing for power play time in Utah, especially if Mikhail Sergachev and Sean Durzi are healthy, but it will be worth monitoring Weegar in his new home.

#19 One of the more surprising stories of the season is that of Calgary Flames goaltender Devin Cooley. The 28-year-old netminder had played a total of six NHL games prior to this season and it was a couple of years ago when he had a .870 save percentage for the San Jose Sharks, so expectations for Cooley were not high coming into the season. In 22 games, however, Cooley has a sparkling .923 save percentage, and he’s earning more action in the Flames crease. There may not be a lot of wins for Flames goalies over the rest of this season, but Cooley is changing the trajectory of his career and could have some value late in the season, at least when the Flames have more favorable matchups.

#20 As the New York Rangers’ season circles the drain, captain J.T. Miller has landed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. With Vincent Trocheck also out, the Rangers have Mika Zibanejad followed by journeyman Jonny Brodzinski, rookie Noah Laba, and Juuso Parssinen, who was just called up from the AHL. That’s an uphill fight down the middle of the ice every night so the Blueshirts might be in full tank mode. Just something to keep in mind for a rebuilding team that may not be offering a whole lot of support to its best players down the stretch.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Major injuries at the Olympics, including Sidney Crosby, Mikko Rantanen, and Kevin Fiala, plus young players like Matt Savoie and Jimmy Snuggerud getting bigger opportunities and so much more!

Scott Cullen — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 14:27:31 +0000

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, some major injuries at the Olympics, including Sidney Crosby, Mikko Rantanen, and Kevin Fiala, plus young players like Matt Savoie and Jimmy Snuggerud getting bigger opportunities and so much more!

#1 Not only did Canada lose in overtime of the Gold Medal Game at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, but they lost captain Sidney Crosby to a lower-body injury against Czechia in the quarterfinals. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain suffered an apparent knee injury after getting hit by Radko Gudas and it is expected to keep him out of the lineup for another four weeks. The Penguins have responded to the loss of their captain by shifting veteran Rickard Rakell to centre, with rookie Avery Hayes taking left wing, on Pittsburgh’s top line. Hayes, 23, had 30 points (19 G, 11 A) in 36 AHL games and scored a pair of goals in his NHL debut at Buffalo on February 5.

#2 The Dallas Stars lost their leading scorer Mikko Rantanen to a lower-body injury suffered at the Olympics. Rantanen is considered week-to-week, with head coach Glen Gulutzan saying that he will be back before the end of the season, which is not the most encouraging timeline for fantasy managers! With Rantanen out, consider Mavrik Bourque, who has been getting more ice time in Dallas and has produced seven points (4 G, 3 A) and 20 shots on goal in his past nine games. He’s on the Stars’ top line with Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson, so this is a prime opportunity for Bourque to break out as an offensive performer in the NHL.

#3 One of the more devastating injuries at the Olympics was suffered by Swiss winger Kevin Fiala, who broke his leg after a hit from Tom Wilson. Fiala is second on the Kings with 40 points and with the trade to acquire Artemi Panarin, the Kings had reason to hope that they could be poised to make a push for the playoffs after the Olympics. They have since lost their first two games out of the break and, with Fiala out, Corey Perry is playing in the Kings’ top six as well as on PP1. Perry has zero points in his past five games, but did have 13 points (4 G, 9 A) in the 12 previous games.

#4 An upper-body injury suffered in the opening game at the Olympics has landed Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey on the injured list. With Neal Pionk and Colin Miller also out, the Jets are missing some puck movers on the back end, so Logan Stanley is getting first crack at quarterbacking the power play, though the Jets also have Ville Heinola available. He had 21 points (3 G, 18 A) in 40 AHL games and while he has struggled to earn a regular NHL role, he has the mobility and puck skills to play an offensive role on the blueline.

#5 Staying in Winnipeg, Jets winger Nino Niederreiter is out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury that he suffered at the Olympics. The veteran winger’s production is down this season, as he has 19 points (8 G, 11 A) in 55 games, and the tough thing for the Jets is that they don’t have great options to bolster the third line in his absence. Gustav Nyquist has zero goals and nine assists in 36 games. Vladislav Namestnikov has 13 points (7 G, 6 A) in 56 games, and Jonathan Toews has 19 points (7 G, 12 A) in 57 games, so there is not a lot of reason for optimism beyond their top scorers.

#6 With Jiri Kulich and Jordan Greenway already out of the lineup, the Buffalo Sabres are also missing winger Zach Benson, who suffered an upper-body injury before the Olympic break. Benson had nine points (3 G, 6 A) and 19 shots on goal in his last 13 games before getting hurt and the 20-year-old has been a solid complementary winger with 26 points (7 G, 19 A) in 42 games. If looking for potentially undervalued players in Buffalo, consider Peyton Krebs, who has moved to left wing on the top line and has contributed 11 points (5 G, 6 A) in his past 12 games, though he has a total of 11 shots on goal in those 12 games, which is rather low when it comes to offensive sustainability.

#7 The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenceman Sam Girard from the Colorado Avalanche in a trade for veteran Brett Kulak. Girard is undersized but is a quality puck mover and should be a good addition for a Penguins team that has elder statesmen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang leading their blueline. The deal does look like a downgrade for Colorado, even if Kulak was better for the Penguins than he was in Edmonton to start the season. From the Avalanche’s perspective, Kulak can fill a third-pair role at a lower cost, giving Colorado more flexibility when it comes to possible moves at next week’s trade deadline.

#8 Edmonton Oilers rookie winger Matt Savoie came out of the Olympic break skating on left wing with Leon Draisaitl at centre and Jack Roslovic on the right side, and Savoie put up five points (1 G, 4 A) with four shots on goal in the first two games. Savoie may not be a driver of results at this stage of his career, so when he does get a prime opportunity like this, it bears watching.

#9 St. Louis Blues rookie winger Jimmy Snuggerud went into the Olympic break on a high, with nine points (3 G, 6 A) and 13 shots on goal in six games, and while he was held off the scoresheet in his first game back, Snuggerud is likely to get plenty of reps down the stretch for a Blues team that is a long way from playoff contention. With Robert Thomas out of the lineup, Snuggerud has been on a line with Dalibor Dvorsky, the rookie who was thriving in a bigger role with Slovakia in the Olympics, scoring six points (3 G, 3 A) in six games. Dvorsky has one assist with four shots on goal in his past five NHL games, but he should have ample opportunity to play late in the season. Maybe he’s not offering great value now but could very well handle a bigger role as the season winds down.

#10 With Anthony Cirelli and Nick Paul injured, the Tampa Bay Lightning have made some adjustments to their forward lines. Jake Guentzel has shifted to centre and Gage Goncalves has been lifted to play left wing on the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Goncalves contributed three points (1 G, 2 A) against Toronto on Wednesday, and anyone playing on that line would have fantasy appeal, but Goncalves is probably a short-term fix who will lose his prime spot when Cirelli and Paul return to action.

#11 After missing time in December with a lower-body injury, Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann returned to action and has been in fine form ever since, producing 23 points (11 G, 12 A) and 56 shots on goal in his past 23 games. He didn’t record a point in the first two games coming out of the break, but McCann is as dangerous offensively as anyone on the Kraken roster, skating on the top line with Matty Beniers and Jordan Eberle in addition to getting first unit power play time.

#12 One of the players who gives the Penguins hope to survive Crosby’s absence is that rookie Ben Kindel continues to get better and in his past seven games, he has seven points (6 G, 1 A) and 18 shots on goal. He is centering the third line right now but has towering wingers Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau on his flanks and those guys have been productive, ranking second and fourth, respectively, in goals for the Penguins this season.

#13 Over the course of his career, Vegas Golden Knights winger Ivan Barbashev has had some ups and downs in his career, but when he heats up, he can be a serious contributor. In his past nine games, he has nine points (5 G, 4 A) and 17 shots on goal while playing nearly 18 minutes per game. His strength is playing a solid physical game, but he can do it alongside skilled linemates and that’s what is happening in Vegas, where he is skating on the top line with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, and when Barbashev is scoring like this, he is much more appealing for fantasy managers.

#14 As the Buffalo Sabres have been climbing the standings across the past few months, it’s not only the top guys getting the job done. Consider right winger Jack Quinn, who has 15 points (5 G, 10 A) and 42 shots on goal in his past 16 games. He may not have the highest ceiling, but his line with Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker is outscoring opponents 17-11 during five-on-five play.

#15 Veteran St. Louis Blues defenceman Justin Faulk continues to deliver strong fantasy results even on a Blues squad that is having a tough season. Faulk has nine assists with 16 shots on goal in his past seven games. It’s noteworthy that Faulk isn’t hitting as much as he had in previous seasons, with 44 hits in 58 games, but the points and shot rate for a guy who is quarterbacking the top power play are both valuable for fantasy managers.

#16 At the Winter Olympics, plenty of top players delivered expected production, but some players also stepped up in bigger roles for their home nations. One example is New Jersey Devils winger Timo Meier, who has managed a meagre four points (3 G, 1 A) despite recording 65 shots on goal in his past 18 games for the Devils. Playing for Switzerland in the Olympics, though, Meier had seven points (3 G, 4 A) in five games and played the physically punishing style that he does when he’s at his best. On the Devils, Meier is skating on a line with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer

#17 Nashville Predators centre Erik Haula may be on the trade block as the deadline approaches and he’s not hurting his value with his recent play. Haula is riding a five-game point streak in the NHL, scoring a goal and four assists in those games and had six points (3 G, 3 A) in six games for Finland at the Olympics. Another Finland forward, who had strong showing on the way to the bronze medal, was Kaapo Kakko, who had five points (3 G, 2 A) in six games and he has been playing well, when healthy, for Seattle. In his past 27 games, Kakko has 19 points (6 G, 13 A) and 38 shots on goal.

#18 It’s a difficult time for fantasy hockey managers if they still need a goaltending answer, but there are a few who are likely to see significant playing time down the stretch and are still available in a good percentage of leagues. The Vancouver Canucks are not likely to win games, because they haven’t been winning this season anyway, but rookie goalie Nikita Tolopilo is showing that he is ready for this league. He has a .908 save percentage in 10 games for the Canucks and with Thatcher Demko out for the rest of the season, Tolopilo should see lots of time in the Canucks’ crease. Former Canucks – and current Penguins – goaltender Arturs Silovs is sharing time with Stuart Skinner, but in his past eight starts, Silovs has a .928 save percentage, which is the level of play that will force his way into more playing time.

#19 This season has been difficult for the Florida Panthers, and the playoffs may not be in the cards for them, but there could be some players that have surprising value late in the season. Evan Rodrigues is centering the Panthers’ top line, between Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart, and in his past seven games, he has six points (2 G, 4 A) and 28 shots on goal while averaging 19:48 of ice time per game. If he keeps playing that much, with high quality linemates, Rodrigues could deliver fantasy value.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

NHL: 20 FANTASY POINTS – A big opportunity in Edmonton, Corey Perry keeps getting it done, Pierre-Luc Dubois is out, Troy Terry is surging, and much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 21:57:33 +0000

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 21: Jack Roslovic #28 of the Edmonton Oilers prepares for a face-off against the Ottawa Senators on October 21, 2025, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dig into the stats to find information that can help you make better fantasy hockey decisions. This week, a big opportunity in Edmonton, Corey Perry keeps getting it done, Pierre-Luc Dubois is out, Troy Terry is surging, and much more!

#1 When the free agency carousel stopped spinning this summer, Jack Roslovic was still looking for a spot and ultimately ended up signing with the Edmonton Oilers. Roslovic tied his career high with 22 goals last season, finishing with 39 points, but there may be more upside awaiting him in Edmonton, where there is room for him to play in a scoring role. After a slow start to the season, Roslovic has hit his stride, with seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 17 shots on goal in the past six games. He is skating on a line with Vasily Podkolzin and Leon Draisaitl at even strength and is on the first power play unit, averaging more than 19 minutes of ice time per game in the past six games.

#2 Part of the reason that the Oilers had an opening on right wing is that they did not bring back Corey Perry, The 40-year-old right winger has enjoyed a brilliant start to his time with the Los Angeles Kings, putting up nine points (6 G, 3 A) and 24 shots on goal in his first nine games. Perry has tended to play fourth line minutes in the latter stages of his career, but he can move up the depth chart, and he is getting first-unit power play time with the Kings right now.

#3 The Anaheim Ducks are starting to make noise, averaging a league-leading 4.15 goals per game, and veteran right winger Troy Terry is one of the Ducks players off to an excellent start. Through 13 games, he has 17 points (5 G, 12 A) and 32 shots on goal. He’s skating on a line with emerging star centre Leo Carlsson and veteran winger Chris Kreider and all three are on the Ducks’ top power play unit.

#4 Washington Capitals centre Pierre-Luc Dubois will be out for an extended period of time after suffering a lower-body injury. Dubois had a career-high 66 points (20 G, 46 A) last season but failed to record a point in six games this season. His absence will thrust Connor McMichael into the second-line centre role for Washington, skating between Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson. McMichael is off to a slow start this season, too, but this could be a big opportunity for him to get going.

#5 Second year San Jose Sharks right winger Will Smith is continuing to make progress, riding shotgun with Macklin Celebrini on the Sharks’ top line. In his past eight games, Smith has nine points (5 G, 4 A) and 15 shots on goal. That shot rate is a touch low to sustain his production, but Smith’s deployment is plenty of reason to be optimistic, as he skates on San Jose’s first line and has a spot on the Sharks’ top power play unit.

#6 After a relatively slow start in Vancouver, it’s looking like Evander Kane is starting to find his footing with the Canucks. In his past six games, Kane has five points (3 G, 2 A) with 21 shots on goal, including 10 shots on goal in Wednesday’s loss to Chicago. It was his most shots on goal since a game in Vegas on March 28, 2023. Kane is skating on the Canucks’ top line with Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland, who recently returned to the lineup.

#7 The Chicago Blackhawks have rotated through a variety of wingers, trying to find the right fit for Connor Bedard on the top line. It looks like veteran winger Andre Burakovsky is a good fit. He has six points (3 G, 3 A) in his past five games, though with only eight shots on goal, so the goal-scoring may not sustain itself, but if Burakovsky can maintain his position on Bedard’s line, that’s as good an opportunity that he has had in years, probably since 2021-2022 when he tallied a career-high 61 points (22 G, 39 A) for the Colorado Avalanche.

#8 Although he doesn’t get the same kind of ice time that he did earlier in his career, Avalanche winger Victor Olofsson has found a niche as a power-play specialist and he’s making the most of his time in Colorado early in this season. In his past five games, Olofsson has eight points (5 G, 3 A) with 18 shots on goal. Five of his 12 points this season have come via the power play, and he is averaging 3.0 shots on goal per game, which is quite encouraging. In addition to his role on the No. 1 power play unit, Olofsson skates on a line with Jack Drury and Gabriel Landeskog at even strength.

#9 In a constant battle to secure regular playing time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nicholas Robertson has five points (2 G, 3 A) and nine shots on goal in his past four games, and that kind of production has helped him to find a spot alongside John Tavares on the Leafs’ second line. If history is any kind of indicator, Robertson’s place in that spot is precarious, but it is worth noting that he is among the most productive Maple Leafs forwards. Since the start of the 2023-2024 season, Robertson has scored 1.18 goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play. On the Maple Leafs, that ranks second in that time, behind Auston Matthews (1.42) and ahead of William Nylander (1.17).

#10 After some decline in the past few seasons, Anaheim Ducks defenceman Jacob Trouba is once again a significant contributor for fantasy managers. The key for Trouba is point production because he accumulated hits and blocked shots like few others. After managing just 14 points (1 G, 13 A) in 77 games last season, Trouba also has eight points (3 G, 5 A) with 21 shots on goal in 13 games this season. The Ducks are also outscoring opponents 18-6 at evens with Trouba on the ice. That’s fueled by percentages, as he has 109.5 PDO, but these Ducks are a much more competitive squad than they have been in recent seasons and Trouba is still playing nearly 22 minutes a game, giving him ample opportunity to contribute.

#11 New York Islanders veteran Kyle Palmieri is a classic guy who gets overlooked because he’s been around for a while but he’s steady. In his past eight games, he has seven points (3 G, 4 A) and 24 shots on goal. In addition to first unit power play time, he is skating on a line with Jonathan Drouin on the left side and rookie Calum Ritchie down the middle. Ritchie, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche as part of the Brock Nelson trade, had three points (1 G, 2 A) in three AHL games to start the season but has zero points and one shot on goal in three games for the Islanders.

#12 In 2023-2024, Philipp Kurashev busted out with 54 points (19 G, 35 A) for the Chicago Blackhawks, a career high while playing more than 19 minutes per game for the lowly Chicago squad. Last season, his ice time plummeted to 13:43 per game and he put up a paltry 14 points (7 G, 7 A) in 51 games. He signed a one-year deal with San Jose in the offseason, a chance to make good, and he’s starting to fit in with the Sharks. In his past six games, Kurashev has eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 18 shots on goal, while averaging 19:24 of ice time per game.

#13 When the Buffalo Sabres traded J.J. Peterka to the Utah Mammoth in the offseason, it seemed that defenceman Michael Kesselring as the priority for the Sabres, and right winger Josh Doan was maybe more than a throw-in, but not necessarily a focal point. Doan has quickly shown that he can be a contributor for the Sabres and in the past 11 games he has nine points (4 G, 5 A) with 32 shots on goal. With injuries to Josh Norris, Zach Benson, Jason Zucker, and Jiri Kulich, the Sabres need forwards to step up and Doan is making the most of his opportunity, even getting first unit power play time.

#14 In 2023-2024, Minnesota Wild defenceman Brock Faber was runner-up for the Calder Trophy after producing 47 points (8 G, 39 A) while playing 24:58 per game. His production dropped to 29 points last season, his power play points dipping from 16 to 10, but his ice time went up to 25:32 per game. This season, Faber is playing less – 23:36 per game – but has been effective on the power play with half of his eight points coming with the man advantage. What’s intriguing is that Faber has recorded 36 shots on goal in 15 games, his average of 2.4 shots on goal per game is well above his previous high of 1.7 shots on goal per game set during his rookie campaign.

#15 When the rebuilding Sharks brought in veteran blueliner Dmitry Orlov in the summer, he was considered an adult in the room, a proven professional defenceman who had played more than 800 NHL games. He has been that and is playing 22:33 per game, which includes power play time and four of his 10 assists this season have come via the man advantage. For a player who has never had more than eight power play points in a season, this is opening doors for offensive production if he can merely remain in a regular role with the Sharks. If John Klingberg continues to struggle at five-on-five, there might be more power play opportunities awaiting Orlov, too.

#16 Although he managed just 27 points (15 G, 12 A) in 67 games for the Edmonton Oilers last season, Viktor Arvidsson is starting to hit his stride with the Boston Bruins. In his past nine games, he has contributed six points (4 G, 2 A) with 25 shots on goal and he’s playing nearly 16 minutes per game in that span, up from 13:30 per game before that. Arvidsson is a five-time 20-goal scorer and, currently skating on a line with Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt, he could his that mark again.

#17 Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe isn’t necessarily known for his offensive output, in part because he doesn’t get regular power play time. Nevertheless, he does have six points (1 G, 5 A) in his past six games, and for a player who records more than two blocked shots per game that might be enough to warrant the interest of fantasy managers in deeper leagues.

#18 After suffering an injury in the preseason, Calgary Flames left winger Jonathan Huberdeau wasn’t ready to start the season and then managed one point in his first four games. Since then, though, he has put up seven points (3 G, 4 A) during a six-game point streak. He’s skating on a line with Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato, in addition to first-unit power play time, so Huberdeau remains a useful performer for fantasy managers, even if he is a long way from his peak production seasons in Florida.

#19 The Pittsburgh Penguins have been an early season surprise, but they are starting to get hit by injuries and it will be interesting to see how they can overcome the losses. Forwards Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau, Filip Hallander, and Noel Acciari are all out of the lineup right now and goaltender Tristan Jarry is out for at least three weeks with a lower-body injury. Jarry has been excellent, with a .911 save percentage in seven starts, but now Arturs Silovs is likely to see more action in the Penguins net. Silovs has a .912 save percentage, so he has been strong, too, but this will be a good test to see if Silovs can handle the workload of a starting goaltender, even over a short period of time. The Penguins called up 21-year-old goaltender Sergei Murashov from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, where he had a .931 save percentage in seven games, so he could get a taste of NHL action in Jarry’s absence.

#20 With winger Jake Neighbours out for at least five weeks with a leg injury, the St. Louis Blues have moved captain Brayden Schenn to right wing on their second line, with Pius Suter and Dylan Holloway, while rookie Dalibor Dvorsky has stepped into the third-line centre role. Schenn has six points (2 G, 4 A) in 15 games this season and had failed to record a shot on goal in three straight games before generating three shots in his last game. Consider him a buy-low candidate given this modest productivity.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – EDMONTON OILERS – Team Preview

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 16:00:38 +0000

_{EDMONTON, AB - MAY 01: Edmonton Oilers Defenceman Evan Bouchard (2) boxes out a player in the second period of game five of the Western Conference First Round Edmonton Oilers game versus the Los Angeles Kings on May 01, 2024 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire)}

From a 5-12-1 start to one win away from a Stanley Cup championship, Edmonton’s 2023-24 campaign was certainly remarkable. Powered by the elite duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, a surprising 54-goal campaign from Zach Hyman, a breakout showing from defenceman Evan Bouchard, and some capable goaltending out of Stuart Skinner despite his slow start, the Oilers endured, bouncing back after each misstep. Even in the end, Edmonton showed its resilience by fighting back from a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Finals, though the Oilers narrowly lost in Game 7 to the Panthers.

WHAT’S CHANGED? Edmonton bought out the final three seasons of Jack Campbell’s five-year, $25 million contract. Although it gives the Oilers dead cap space through 2029-30, it saved the team a much needed $3.9 million for the upcoming campaign. Edmonton also traded bottom-six forward Ryan McLeod to Buffalo, saving a further $2.1 million. With those savings the Oilers signed unrestricted free agents Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner while retaining trade deadline acquisition Adam Henrique to bolster their middle six. Calvin Pickard was inked to a two-year deal to be Skinner’s understudy.

WHAT WOULD SUCCESS LOOK LIKE? Edmonton is in Cup-or-bust mode. Even assuming Draisaitl (UFA in 2025), McDavid (UFA in 2026) and Bouchard (RFA in 2025) can all be locked up, each of those three will be due for raises that will strain Edmonton’s already tricky cap situation, so 2024-25 might be the best chance the Oilers get at a championship. Fortunately, they’re ready for it. Skinner and Arvidsson will bolster Edmonton’s wings while Henrique should be an ideal third-line center in his first full season with the club. This is as deep an offence as Edmonton has enjoyed in the McDavid/Draisaitl era.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG? But what of the goaltending? Credit where it’s due, Skinner proved that he was capable of thriving under pressure during the 2024 playoffs and his ability to rebound from a disastrous start to 2023-24 is commendable. Still, his extreme highs and lows last season make him somewhat risky. There are also some potential health concerns, most notably with Evander Kane, who is questionable going into 2024-25 due to a hip injury. Certainly, there’s a lot to like about this roster, but the bar is set high and so much has to go right for Edmonton’s championship dreams to become a reality.

TOP BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Edmonton is going all-in on the 2024-25 campaign and consequently feature an almost exclusively veteran roster. Philip Broberg would have been a notable exception to that, but he was taken by St. Louis via an offer sheet. However, the Blues’ move coincided with Edmonton trading with San Jose for 24-year-old defenseman Ty Emberson, who might get solid minutes with the Oilers now that Broberg as well as Cody Ceci are gone. Although Emberson isn’t a high-end prospect, he did alright with the rebuilding Sharks across 30 games last year, and it helps that he’s a right-hand shot. Under ideal circumstances, he could get 20-30 points this season. Keep in mind, though, that Edmonton will likely be in the market for defensemen in the lead-up to the trade deadline, which might result in Emberson dropping in the depth charts.

Forwards

Connor McDavid

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	42	95	137	1.73

Last year was the closest McDavid has gotten to lifting Lord Stanley, and it hopefully won’t be his last chance. It’s easy to forget that he is only 27 years old, even though this will be his 10th year in the NHL, so there is plenty of time for him to reach the mountain top. It feels silly to say that about a player who has accomplished so much already, multiple MVP trophies and a rare Conn Smythe in a losing effort. He has produced during some down seasons for the Oilers and the difference now is he can drag the rest of the team into the fight. It didn’t feel that way last November with the team in last place, but a coaching change, and McDavid going on a torrid pace of 65 points in his last 33 games to close the year, skyrocketed the Oilers out of the basement and into the post-season. Just missing back-to-back Hart Trophies, this was one of McDavid’s stranger seasons from a statistical standpoint. His goal total was the lowest it’s been in a full-82 game season and it was also one of his worst from a shooting percentage standpoint (12.2 vs a career 15.2 percent). His shot rate dropped from 4.3 in 2022-23 to 3.5 last year. He made up for it by recording a career high 100 assists, setting up linemate Zach Hyman for most of his points, including 54 goals, while seeing his left wing be a bit of a revolving door throughout the year. He also played through most of the first half of the season with an upper-body injury, so he managed to do this while not playing at 100%. Greatness always finds a way and the Oilers are finally starting to see some tangible results in addition to their star player setting individual records.

Leon Draisaitl

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	50	64	114	1.43

Leon Draisaitl has to answer a lot of questions for a player with five 100+ point seasons in his last six. It always seems like he has so much to prove even though he’s also considered among the league’s elite. Although the shine has started to wear off, as he might be the first player in history to not receive any Hart votes with his gaudy stat line. He’s also a complicated player when breaking down the details. His skillset is incredibly unique, he’s a choppy skater with a massive upper body and is usually in some awkward, hunched over position with his back turned to the play. Yet, he makes magic happen on a regular basis. He is maybe the best player in the league at threading the puck through traffic and making blind passes from the wall. He also might be the only player in the league who scores a good chunk of his goals from the coffin corner of the rink from zero angle. He has mastered so many complicated skills that the basics can get away with him at times, and it’s why he usually finds himself back on McDavid’s wing instead of centering his own line. Draisaitl also regularly scores at least 40% of his goals on the power play and his five-on-five production is a sore topic whenever it’s brought up. Edmonton is happy to have him regardless but has a tough decision with this being the final year of his contract and due for a major raise.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	20	52	72	0.88

The former first overall pick has been through it all with the Oilers and last year he might have had the lowest expectations for someone coming off a 104-point season. If only because everyone knew it was heavily buoyed by a historically efficient Oilers power play and the 55-65-point territory is where his average usually lies. Points are usually a secondary feature with him anyway, especially with him under such a team-friendly contract for the next few years. RNH’s time has been split between being McDavid’s left winger and centering the Oilers third line in more of a checking role. He logs a lot of minutes for a forward and plays more of an off-puck role. You aren’t going to get a lot of puck touches with McDavid on your line and Hyman as the primary shooter, so his willingness to check and strength in the defensive zone makes him a great complement to the Oilers star. The power play is where he really shines, acting as the quarterback from the left circle and shifting to the netfront where he’s sneaky at getting deflections. The potential to have a major point-producing season is always there for that reason, but his five-on-five production will always be somewhat limited. Draft for no more than 15 goals and 60 – 65 points and any upside will be a bonus.

Jeff Skinner

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
79	22	25	47	0.59

Always looking for pure shooters, Edmonton added one of the best on the open market in Jeff Skinner. He’s on the wrong side of 30, but he’s somewhat rejuvenated his career in Buffalo, scoring 92 goals over the past three seasons after only tallying 21 over 112 games in the first two years of his deal. He fits like a glove whether he is playing with McDavid or Draisaitl because all he has to do is get himself open and they will probably find him. Skinner’s never been the type who needs an elite setup man to produce, but it’s never hurt him and it’s something he’s rarely had in his career, always playing on lower, sheltered lines to cover his defensive weaknesses. The one perplexing thing about him is that he’s never had great results on the power play, only scoring more than 10 goals with the man advantage in one season, which was all the way back in 2013 with the Hurricanes. This has the potential to be a great investment for the Oilers with how much of an issue wing depth has been for them in the McDavid era. Skinner gives them the most potential from a boom-or-bust standpoint. Much will depend on his deployment on the top two lines. He might yet be sheltered on the third line with Adam Henrique to add depth scoring. He will not be featured on the first power play unless there is an injury, so proceed with some caution. Last years result of 20 – 25 goals and a similar number of assists is as likely a scenario as an offensive burst.

Viktor Arvidsson

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
72	21	34	55	0.76

While Skinner is the guy who gives you all offence, all the time, Arvidsson is someone who can score and calm the waters at even strength. At least when he is healthy, which was the problem last year. Missing over 50 games with a back injury, there’s some risk in adding the undersized winger because that is the type of injury that lingers and shortens careers. When healthy, he solves a lot of problems for the Oilers. He can work higher in the lineup as a quick, water bug type of player who will pitch in some goals here and there or he can be excellent on a shutdown line. He’s not the most effective defensive player, but he’s very annoying to play against and could be a great complement to Nugent-Hopkins if they want to use that line in a shutdown role. Arvidsson also emerged as a power play threat in LA, but he has a lot of names to outplay to crack the Oilers top unit. Still, he can fill a couple different holes for the Oilers if his back is healthy and there’s no long-term effects. Also like Skinner, his deployment on the top two lines will be key to any offensive breakthrough. If you target him for 25 goals and 55 – 60 points that should be a safe bet, health allowing.

Zach Hyman

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
81	46	30	76	0.94

Hyman is easily one of the best unrestricted free agent signings of the modern era. Since joining the Oilers, he has scored at a 40-goal pace over three seasons, which is unprecedented territory for a winger in his early 30’s, especially one that plays the tough, net front game that he does. He is the master at “catching” pucks right by the side of the crease, making his whole body a target at the post so he can easily corral the puck and tap it in before the defenders can react. The ice time bump has served him well in Edmonton, spending most of his minutes attached at the hip to McDavid but that alone doesn’t explain his jump to becoming a 50+ goal-scorer last year. It’s actually a case of someone making their game one-dimensional and predictable in a good way. Hyman’s a good passer, but he embraced being the shooter for McDavid, seeing his shot rate go up to over 10 attempts per 60 minutes since moving to his line. He saw his shooting percentage jump to 18.6 percent from a career average of 13.7. He doesn’t look to pass that much anymore, and he knows where his bread is buttered, especially on the power play where he scored 15 goals in each of the last two seasons. His presence on the forecheck and complementary skillset to McDavid make him an invaluable part of the Oilers lineup.

Evander Kane

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	14	10	24	0.46

The Oilers gamble with Evander Kane and his subsequent contract has yielded mixed results. In some ways they’ve gotten what they’ve asked for. He’s given them at least a 20-goal pace in each of the three seasons he’s been there and that’s without power play time. His “get anything and everything at the net” approach is welcomed at times and frustrating at others, as he will take a lot of low percentage opportunities for every decent chance he creates and is not really pay attention to where his linemates are. It’s made him an inconsistent player when it comes to keeping play in the offensive zone and his play in the neutral and defensive zone can be an adventure at times. He also hasn’t been available or healthy the past two seasons, missing a lot of 2022-23 with a broken hand and playing most of last season with a sports hernia. He struggled to find a home on any line despite producing at a decent rate and was even scratched in the Stanley Cup Final because the injury limited him so much. With the Oilers investing in some new wingers, Kane might have to fight for his ice time more next season, particularly for power play time. His physical play and the fact that he ends up with 20 goals regardless of what’s going on around him might be what gives him an edge if push comes to shove, but not a given by any means. Proceed with caution.

Adam Henrique

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	17	27	44	0.55

A true Swiss Army Knife, Henrique’s versatility and decent scoring upside was much needed in the Oilers lineup down the stretch. He’s a guy who can calm the waters at even strength and he is low-key one of the better finishers in the league. Edmonton saw that firsthand last year when he shot over 20% during their run to the Finals. The downside is that Henrique himself doesn’t produce much offence himself, so his game is about making the most of the limited chances he gets. He’s always been more about letting the speedy puck-carriers do their thing while he looks for the open space. With Arvidsson and Skinner in the fold now, there’s a potential for Edmonton to run a nice third line around him. Henrique’s posted solid defensive numbers on some bottom-feeding Anaheim teams, so he should be able to slot into a lower line role with the Oilers without much issue. He is 34 years old, so we will see how long he can sustain this pace. A return to similar point totals to what he achieved in Anaheim is unlikely given his role here.

Corey Perry

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
70	11	12	23	0.33

Four out of the last five Stanley Cup Finals have featured a team with Corey Perry, unfortunately for him they were all on the losing side. It feels weird to say that a former Cup and Hart Trophy winner could ever be on a run of bad luck, but it is reaching unprecedented territory for the long-time Anaheim Duck. He has defied Father Time to a point, posting decent numbers in Tampa Bay in his late 30’s and having his moments in the playoffs with both Montreal and Dallas. You can tell the speed of the game has gone by him in some aspects, as he’s easily the most noticeable player on the ice for the wrong reasons when the pace picks up. His strengths, however, are timeless. He was one of the NHL’s premier pests in his prime years and still has no problem being a nuisance in front of the goaltender. He also has decent hands around the net, which adds a wrinkle to his game. Playing in more of specialist role now, Perry can’t keep up with top line minutes anymore and is only used on the top power play unit as a spark. It’s uncertain if he still has the legs to keep up with a full-time checking role at the age of 39. Although the Oilers certainly have faith in him, giving him a second chance after the Blackhawks terminated his contract due to unprofessional conduct and adding another year onto his contract.

DEFENCE

Darnell Nurse

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	8	24	32	0.40

Having a career season during the summer when every team was locking up their top defencemen for big money has been more of a burden for Darnell Nurse than anything. For years, he was expected to carry the workload of an elite, number one defenceman and while he has the cardio to do it, his erratic defensive play and decision making turned most Oilers games into a track meet. Last year was the first time some of that was lifted. With Evan Bouchard and Mattias Ekholm emerging as the top pair, Nurse could move down to the second pair in a shutdown role where he is more properly slotted. Still, the expectations of that contract are tough to swallow, and Nurse had his struggles during the playoffs where he was on the ice for a goal-against every single game. The reality is he is somewhere in the middle ground between the high-end offensive defenceman we saw in 2021, and the defensive liability fans make him out to be because of his tendency to get caught on the wrong side of the highlight reel. He is no longer expected to produce offence as was once hoped but should still be good for 10 goals and 30 points with loads of peripheral fantasy stats.

Evan Bouchard

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	17	62	79	0.96

Bouchard was the most obvious breakout pick last year, solely for the fact that he has an atom bomb of a shot and was getting placed on the Oilers historically great power play. Blocked by Tyson Barrie his first two years, Bouchard was unleashed last year and also earned his way onto the Oilers lethal five-man unit at even strength. His shot, passing and brilliant offensive instincts made him a natural fit there and it made the Oilers offence impossible to stop once they got rolling. A shooter who can score from distance is hard to come by in today’s NHL. Bouchard brings the lethal combo of velocity, accuracy and deception at time when he’s shooting for the deflection or winding up the big slapshot. His puck-moving is also a plus skill, although sometimes he tries to make too much happen and turnovers remain an issue with him. It’s something you can live with because the positives he brings outweigh them and are impossible to replace. His defensive game is also a work in progress, particularly with finding the right route on outlets and who to cover, but that’s why Ekholm is paired with him. Look for him to have another big season.

Mattias Ekholm

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
80	10	30	40	0.50

The bedrock of the Edmonton defence, Ekholm fits the model of the modern shutdown defenceman. He skates well, takes away space without chasing hits, has one of the best defensive sticks in the league and can skate his way out of problems, which makes life easier for everyone else. The changing of the guard from Nurse and Ceci to him and Bouchard changed the entire makeup of the Oilers, allowing their top five-man unit to be more creative in the offensive zone with two blue liners who can move and cover their own tracks if things go off-script. Ekholm’s always had the skills to be a solid offensive contributor, even if that’s not his strength, and we saw that last year as he set a career high in points with 45. Part of that comes with the territory when you’re on the ice with elite talent. But taking advantage of the open space and reading the play is part of what makes you someone who helps keep the engine going instead of just being a passenger. Ekholm definitely fits into the former category, both as a shutdown defenceman and a contributor on offence. The only concern is how long he can keep it up as he enters his mid-30’s.

Brett Kulak

Predicted Stats
GP	G	A	PTS	PPG
82	4	19	23	0.28

The number four spot on the Oilers defence was a bit of an open competition. The long holdover, Cody Ceci, had a tough end to his playoffs and was dealt prior to the season. The Oilers chose not to match the offer sheet for Philip Broberg, who would have been pressing for promotion, but is now out of the picture. They lost Vincent Desharnais to free agency. A stable option to fill that spot is veteran Brett Kulak, who gives them most steady presence among the potential candidates. He skates well and his specialty of killing plays at the blue line would be a great complement to Nurse. Not a burner, but reliable enough with the puck to contribute, he has a lot of skills that translate well when you move up in the lineup, as he’s never been one to rely on his partner or have his skills inflated by playing against weaker competition. The only question is if he can handle the increase in minutes workload, as he’s been in the league a long time and has been locked into a third pair role with heavy penalty killing duty for most of it.

GOAL

Stuart Skinner

Predicted Stats
GP	W	L	OT	SO	SV%	GAA
62	39	17	6	3	0.909	2.58

It's now or never for the Edmonton Oilers, and Stuart Skinner has to be feeling the pressure. You'd never know it from looking at his performances in his first two full NHL seasons, though; where some goaltenders might flounder in the face of mounting pressure, Skinner seems to take on each additional added responsibility the Oilers put at his feet with increasing enthusiasm. He improved his stat lines last season in almost every measurable area despite a higher workload, and it paid off when he took Edmonton so deep into the postseason, they could almost feel the Stanley Cup in their grasp.

Of course, that means that Skinner - and tandem partner Calvin Pickard, who will return for another year of Alberta hockey - have yet more pressure they'll face this year. Just one game shy of winning it all, Edmonton fans are ravenous to taste victory for the first time in 35 years. And although the Oilers have been recipients of stellar singular seasons from goaltenders in recent years, they have yet to find a starter with any kind of staying power; from Ben Scrivens to Jack Campbell and a couple dozen in-between, every goaltender the Oilers seem to put their faith in has faltered a few years into their tenure. Skinner will have to prove he isn't destined for Edmonton's growing goalie graveyard - and now that he's put up a 100-plus game sample size for teams to pore over, that will become more difficult. He'll need to clean up his game in the low slot and his ability to box out opponents looking for dirty scoring areas to keep his numbers up where they currently sit - and Edmonton will need to get another good year of backup performances from Pickard to avoid overworking him in the process.

STANLEY CUP FINAL PREVIEW : Florida Panthers vs. Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Dadoun — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 12:11:27 +0000

Connor McDavid (97) (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire)

By the end of the month, the Panthers will raise the Cup for the first time in franchise history or the Oilers will become the first Canadian team to win it all since 1993. Edmonton’s Kris Knoblauch will either start his NHL head coaching career with a championship or Florida’s Paul Maurice will finally get his title after first becoming a bench boss with the Hartford Whalers in 1995-96 and falling short of the ultimate prize in his other two trips to the finals.

Like their coach, this is also the Panthers’ third attempt to win the Cup after losing in the finals to Colorado in 1996 and Vegas in 2023. The core of forwards Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Reinhart, Sam Bennett, defensemen Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad as well as starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky were all part of that squad that lost to the Golden Knights last year. This is a group that knows better than almost any other what to expect in the playoffs, and they’re doubtlessly hungry after coming up short in their previous attempt.

They’re also deserving of their back-to-back journeys to the Stanley Cup Final. While there have been years where Bobrovsky’s seven-year, $70 million contract has looked excessive, the 35-year-old netminder has come through in the clutch in key moments of the last two playoff runs. He hasn’t been infallible, but his 12-5 record, 2.20 GAA and .908 save percentage through 17 playoff contests this year has gotten the job done and comes on the heels of a strong regular season in which he posted a 36-17-4 record, 2.37 GAA and .915 save percentage across 58 starts.

Bobrovsky would be the key element of a lesser team, but the Panthers haven’t asked him to do it all. They were tied for fourth in the regular season with an xGA/60 of 2.78 and have the best xGA/60 in the playoffs (2.47), which suggests that the defense in front of Bobrovsky has been making the netminder’s job easier.

He’s also been getting solid goal support. Florida ranked 11th in the regular season with 3.23 goals per game and that’s remained steady in the playoffs at 3.24. The attack has been led in the postseason by Tkachuk, Verhaeghe and Barkov, who each have provided at least five goals and 17 points through 17 outings. Reinhart hasn’t been able to extend his incredible 57-goal performance from the regular season, but with eight goals and 12 points across 17 playoff appearances, he’s yet another threat the Oilers can’t ignore. That just scratches the surface too -- 10 Panthers players are entering this series with at least three goals to their name in the 2024 playoffs.

It's a lot for Edmonton to have to deal with, especially because goaltender Stuart Skinner isn’t always reliable. He’s had his rough patches in this playoff run, which has left him with a mediocre .897 save percentage. At the same time, he’s not always bad either, and much like the Oilers as a whole, he’s managed to prove those who doubt him wrong more often than not.

Few would have bet on Edmonton reaching the Stanley Cup Final after getting off to a 2-9-1 start and even less would have predicted Skinner would be the goaltender to carry them there after going 1-5-1 with a 3.87 GAA and an .854 save percentage in eight appearances across that season-opening stretch. And yet, here we are -- not only are the Oilers in the finals, but it was Skinner who punched their ticket after saving 33 of 34 shots en route to a series-clinching Game 6 victory over Dallas.

If the Oilers get games like that out of Skinner against Florida, that would be an incredible boost for Edmonton, but it’s not necessarily what the Oilers need to win this series. While Florida is more than just Bobrovsky, that sentiment works even better when speaking of Edmonton and its top goaltender.

Like the Panthers, Edmonton makes life as easy on its netminder as possible on most nights. You’ll recall that the Panthers were tied for fourth in xGA/60 in the regular season, and the team that matched them was Edmonton. The Oilers have continued to excel defensively in the playoffs with an xGA/60 of 2.65, so while the goaltending isn’t always going to be perfect, this year’s finals include two teams that play responsible hockey.

Getting Edmonton to play sound defensively was a multiyear project and the rewards of those efforts have led to this championship, but when you think of the Oilers, the first thing to come to mind is understanding not their play in their zone.

You don’t think of the supporting cast either, though it’s gotten impressive over the years thanks to the addition of Zach Hyman, Evander Kane and defenseman Mattias Ekholm along with the growth of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Even blueliner Evan Bouchard isn’t what makes the headlines despite him recording six goals and 27 points through 18 playoff contests this year, making it the fifth most ever recorded by a defenseman (just two behind Cale Makar’s 29-point showing en route to the Conn Smythe Trophy) in a single postseason run -- and that’s before the finals have even begun.

Instead, all eyes are on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. How could they not be? McDavid has five goals and 31 points through 18 playoff appearances this year while Draisaitl has 10 goals and 28 points. To put that into context, no Panthers forward has reached the 20-point milestone yet.

Here’s another way to look at it: Imagine that Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were on the same team at some point in their career. Does that sound like an absurd comparison? It might not be as big of a leap as you think. The top two playoff performers of all time (min. 10 games) in terms of points per game are Gretzky (1.84) and Lemieux (1.61), but the next two after that are McDavid and Draisaitl at 1.58 and 1.57. Of course, the Edmonton superstars haven’t played the back half of their careers yet, which might drag down those averages, but still, it underscores just how special the Oilers duo has been, not just when it comes to collecting regular season accomplishments, but in their ability to step up in the playoffs.

Draisaitl’s contract runs through 2025 while McDavid’s will end in the summer of 2026. Perhaps they will end up as Oilers for life, but at a minimum, both of them, especially Draisaitl with his current cap hit of $8.5 million, will be due for a raise. This might be this duo's best chance to win a Cup together. Of course, the Panthers will be telling themselves a similar story. Making the finals once is a rarity that doesn’t happen in every career, but to get there twice in a row? They can’t afford to let this golden opportunity slip from their clutches a second time, no matter who their opponent is.

KEY MATCHUPS

Sergei Bobrovsky vs. Stuart Skinner

This series is a chance at redemption for Bobrovsky. He was critical to the Panthers’ run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, posting a 2.21 GAA and a .935 save percentage in 14 playoff games that year, but he couldn’t handle Vegas, posting a 4.70 GAA and an .844 save percentage in the five-game series. The Golden Knights scored at least five goals in three contests over that series, winning 5-2 in Game 1, 7-2 in Game 2 and 9-3 in Game 5. The Golden Knights had an amazing offense, but Bobrovsky’s assignment against Edmonton will arguably be even tougher, so the pressure is on.

It feels like the distant past now, but Bobrovsky was 2-0 while saving 64 of 68 shots against Edmonton during the 2023-24 regular season, so that bodes well.

Skinner didn’t draw an assignment against Florida during the 2023-24 campaign, though he was 2-0 while saving 65 of 70 shots versus the very similar 2023-24 Panthers. Of course, as noted above, it’s hard to know what you’re going to get from Skinner.

All things being equal, Bobrovsky and the Panthers should have the edge in this category. However, there’s also an argument to be made that this category represents an X-Factor for this series given the Panthers goaltender’s struggles during last year’s finals and Skinner’s overall unpredictability.

Sam Reinhart vs. Zach Hyman

Reinhart and Hyman finished second and third in the goal-scoring race with 57 and 54, respectively. They weren’t players many would have picked to be in the top three going into the campaign. After all, Hyman set a career high in 2022-23 with 36 markers and Reinhart’s previous best was 33.

I discussed above how Reinhart has slowed in the playoffs, but eight goals through 17 playoff contests is nothing to complain about, though it does pale in comparison to Hyman’s 14 markers through 18 postseason outings.

At this point, Hyman has an outside chance of matching the record of 19 goals in a single playoff run, which is a record shared by Reggie Leach (1975-76) and Jari Kurri (1984-85), but both Hyman and Reinhart have the ability to carry their team on any given night.

Kyle Okposo vs. Corey Perry

The elder statesmen in this series. Neither is expected to have a significant impact on the ice, but both of them could have influence in the locker room. Perry especially should bring a wealth of experience to the Oilers. He’s played in 209 career postseason contests, has won the Stanley Cup and is gearing up for his fifth career Stanley Cup Final, so a strong argument could be made that he’s the most knowledgeable active player when it comes to the finals.

Okposo is in some ways the polar opposite. He’s only participated in 35 career playoff outings given how much of his tenure has been spent on rebuilding teams between his stints with the Islanders and the Sabres. Still, the 36-year-old is a veteran presence and can be yet another source of motivation for the Panthers, who have an opportunity to win it for Okposo before his career potentially draws to a close.

Vladimir Tarasenko vs. Adam Henrique

Like Perry and Okposo, Tarasenko and Henrique were added by Florida and Edmonton, respectively, during the 2023-24 campaign, but rather being mostly cheerleaders, Tarasenko and Henrique are important secondary scorers.

Henrique figures to start the finals centering Edmonton’s third line and might chip in a bit in that role after collecting two goals and four points through 10 postseason contests this year. Having a responsible third-line center was a big need for the Oilers before acquiring Henrique. In theory, that’s a role Nugent-Hopkins can fill, but in practice, Edmonton prefers to have Nugent-Hopkins on the top unit alongside Hyman and McDavid.

Tarasenko is also likely to start the series on the third line. Like Henrique, he hasn’t been a major offensive force in the 2024 playoffs, but he has contributed an okay six points (three goals) across 17 appearances during Florida’s postseason run. Tarasenko won the Cup with St. Louis in 2019 and made a mark in that series with three goals and four points over seven games. The 32-year-old’s body has considerably more wear now, and he’s playing in a reduced role, but he still has the potential to come up clutch.

Matthew Tkachuk/Aleksander Barkov vs. Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl

This is a matchup Edmonton should win cleanly. The only question is how big the gap will be. As noted above, McDavid has surpassed the 30-point milestone in this year’s playoffs while no Florida player has reached the 20-point mark. Leon Draisaitl isn’t far behind with 10 goals and 28 points across 18 outings.

Florida will naturally attempt to limit McDavid and Draisaitl’s contributions, but many high-end defenses have tried and failed at that task. Having said that, Draisaitl’s a bit more of a question mark. He was somewhat of a mixed bag in the Western Conference Final, finishing with two goals and four points across six contests, so maybe he’s not quite at his best right now.

Either way, Tkachuk and Barkov don’t necessarily have to match Edmonton’s top two on offense for Florida to win this series, but the Panthers’ top forwards will still need to make major contributions. That’s especially true for Tkachuk. While Florida’s loss to Vegas in the 2023 Stanley Cup Final doesn’t rest solely on Tkachuk suffering a broken sternum in Game 3 of that series, it certainly had an impact. Provided he stays healthy, Tkachuk should be a major factor for the Panthers after recording five goals and 19 points through 17 playoff appearances this year.

X-FACTOR

Florida Panthers: One major weakness of the Panthers during the 2023 playoffs was their penalty kill, which finished at 70.4 percent. Florida has done far better in the 2024 postseason, successfully killing 88.2 percent of its penalties. However, the Panthers are in for their biggest test yet in Edmonton, which has a 37.3 power-play success rate in this playoff run. Four of Edmonton’s five goals over their final two wins in the Western Conference Finals were scored with the man advantage, so that’s something the Panthers will need to shut down in this series.

Edmonton Oilers: The biggest X-Factor for Edmonton is Skinner, but we’ve already discussed him at length, so instead I’ll highlight the Oilers’ need to finish strong. Edmonton has been outscored in the third period of playoff games 19-12, which is in contrast to the regular season when the Oilers’ best period was the third with them outscoring the competition 105-74. Finishing strong is something Florida has excelled at in the 2024 playoffs, with a 24-11 goal differential in their favor in that frame, so if those trends continue, we might end up seeing Edmonton coughing up leads late in this series.

PREDICTION

Making the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back years is an impressive, though not unheard of, accomplishment. But what about making it this far in consecutive years only to lose both times? The last team that suffered that fate were the Boston Bruins, who lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Montreal Canadiens in 1977 and 1978. Before that, it was the St. Louis Blues, who fell short of the title despite reaching the finals in three straight years from 1968-70.

The NHL was far smaller in the 60s and 70s, making such an occurrence at least more probable, but I think we might see it happen again, all the same.

I wouldn’t have picked Edmonton to win the Cup going into the year nor were the Oilers my choice to claim the title when the postseason began. In particular, I didn’t have faith in Skinner, and I questioned their depth, at least relative to a seemingly more rounded team like Dallas. However, Edmonton is here all the same. Skinner has sometimes bent under pressure, but not broken. Most importantly, the Oilers’ star players continue to deliver in the clutch, undeterred by hot goaltenders like Vancouver’s Arturs Silovs or elite netminders like Dallas’ Jake Oettinger.

Florida deserves a lot of credit too. The Panthers were able to comfortably best Tampa Bay, Boston and the Rangers. None of those were pushovers, and they show that Florida can tall against anyone, Edmonton included. Certainly, I wouldn’t be shocked by a Panthers championship.

Even still, I think the Oilers have the edge here. McDavid should shine, his supporting cast should do their job and if Skinner can at least stay serviceable, then I believe Edmonton will win the Cup in seven.

2024 NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW – WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL: Dallas Stars vs. Edmonton Oilers

Ryan Dadoun — Wed, 22 May 2024 12:27:02 +0000

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 03: Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) catches the puck with his glove hand as Edmonton Oilers left wing Zach Hyman (18) looks on during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers on April 3, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

If there’s a common thread between Dallas and Edmonton, it’s that these are two teams that have looked strong for years, and had some strong playoff runs, but haven’t been quite able to convert. Neither squad has cemented their legacy with a championship, but at least one of them will be reaching the Stanley Cup Final this year.

If it’s Dallas, it will mark the third and potentially final trip for Joe Pavelski. He’ll turn 40 in July and is set to become an unrestricted free agent, so it’s reasonable to wonder if this is his last hurrah. Not that the Stars need added motivation to fight for a championship but allowing Pavelski to cap his storied career with the Cup after Pavelski’s first two trips to the finals ended in disappointment, would doubtlessly be something his teammates would love to provide him.

This also might be Dallas’ only run with Matt Duchene on their side. After being bought out by Nashville in the summer of 2023, Duchene signed a one-year, $3 million contract with Dallas that has proven to be a steal. He had 25 goals and 65 points in 80 regular-season contests, and he delivered in dramatic fashion when Duchene scored in double overtime in Game 6 against one of his former teams, the Colorado Avalanche, to punch Dallas’ ticket for the Western Conference Final. Duchene’s success might have priced him out of the Stars beyond this campaign, but for now, Dallas is happy to have him.

Pavelski and Duchene didn’t perform like superstars this year, but they speak to Dallas’ strength: Its depth. The Stars had nine players breach the 50-point mark in the regular season and eight finish with more than 20 goals. To put that into context, the average team had 4.2 players finish with above 50 points and 3.8 exceed 20 goals. Dallas’ incredible depth allowed the team to finish with 3.59 goals per game -- slightly ahead of Edmonton’s star-studded offense’s average of 3.56 -- despite lacking a single player in the top 25 of scoring or the top 30 in goals. The advantage is that Dallas is somewhat slump proof -- if a couple of their key players are cold, that’s fine because they have others who can step up.

It also means that Dallas will almost always have legitimate scoring threats on the ice to challenge goaltender Stuart Skinner, who has already looked mortal in the playoffs with his .890 save percentage across eight contests. He faced fierce competition in the first and second rounds between LA and Vancouver, respectively, but Dallas will be his greatest challenge yet.

Not that Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger is in for an easy time. Far from it. Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid aren’t just two of the best forwards of this era, they’re also some of the best playoff performers of all time. That’s not hyperbole. If you look at the all-time greatest postseason players by points per game (min. 10 playoff contests), the rankings from first to fourth go Wayne Gretzky (1.84 PPG), Draisaitl (1.66), Mario Lemieux (1.61) and McDavid (1.57). Sure, Draisaitl and McDavid might see their average diminish later in their career, but the fact that Edmonton has not just one, but two players who can rise to that level is insane.

That Edmonton hasn’t won the Cup yet -- or even reached the finals -- with McDavid and Draisaitl speaks to the shortcomings of the Oilers’ front office for much of their tenure. Despite featuring of the most dominant duos of all time, Edmonton struggled to put a worthy team around them for years, and now, with Draisaitl’s contract set to expire in the summer of 2025 and McDavid’s in 2026, time might be running out.

The silver lining is that Edmonton has made real strides in recent years to build out its group. The Oilers have enjoyed the rise of Evan Bouchard, who ranked fourth among defensemen with 82 points (18 goals) in 81 regular-season games this season and has done even better in the playoffs with five goals and 20 points across 12 outings. Meanwhile, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane and Zach Hyman provide the Oilers with some real scoring depth.

The Oilers even have some secondary scoring beyond that. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm, who has three goals and six points through 12 playoff outings, can be the hero every now and then. Warren Foegele has just two points in the 2024 postseason, but he finished the campaign with 20 goals, so opponents need to be wary of him. Similarly, Adam Henrique might have just a goal and an assist in six playoff appearances this year, but the veteran forward is a capable middle-six forward. Then there’s Corey Perry, who is more of an enforcer at the age of 39, but he has 206 career playoff contests under his belt and can chip in occasionally, so it’s entirely feasible that he makes his presence felt during this series.

Even Edmonton’s defense is arguably underrated. Edmonton’s xGA/60 in the playoffs ranks fourth at 2.64, and it tied for fourth in the regular season at 2.78. It often doesn’t feel that way because to start Skinner isn’t a safe bet in net, but the situation would be far worse for the Oilers if their defense didn’t pick up some of the slack.

It’s hard to make the argument that the Oilers are a complete team when they still have such a question mark between the pipes, but they’re far closer than they have been in years and have the benefit of growing from all their prior hardship, including the 2-9-1 start to 2023-24 that they managed to overcome.

Perhaps they’re finally ready to take the step to the Stanley Cup Final. The only trouble is that the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche were also teams worthy of the finals, not to mention recent Stanley Cup winners. They were both dispatched by Dallas. Can the Oilers succeed where those giants failed?

KEY MATCHUPS

Dallas vs. Connor McDavid/Leon Draisaitl

These are supposed to be player vs. player matchups, but while the Stars possess high-end forwards, they simply have no equivalent to McDavid and Draisaitl. Then again, they had no equivalent to the Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, and Dallas still won that series.

The goal for Dallas isn’t to completely silence Edmonton’s top duo -- that's simply unrealistic -- but rather to minimize the damage. In the second round, MacKinnon and Rantanen each recorded two goals and five points in six contests. Those are solid offensive numbers, but it’s manageable to win a series when your opponent’s best forwards are limited to that level of output. Dallas will be aiming for a similar result in the Western Conference Final, though controlling McDavid and Draisaitl is arguably an even taller task.

Miro Heiskanen vs. Evan Bouchard

How impressive is Bouchard’s 20 points in 12 playoff contests? Even if he doesn’t score one more point in this run, he would still finish in a seven-way tie for the 22nd highest-scoring single postseason for a defenseman. In other words, his performance has bordered on historic even after just two rounds. That said, Heiskanen can also provide strong offensive numbers from the blue line. The Stars defenseman finished the regular season with nine goals and 54 points across 71 outings and has excelled in the playoffs with five markers and 13 points through 13 games.

This matchup seems to be in Edmonton’s favor, but Heiskanen is good enough that it wouldn’t be a shocking turn of events if he had the most points among blueliners in this series.

Zach Hyman vs. Wyatt Johnston

Hyman set a career high during the regular season with 54 goals, he blazed out of the gate in the playoffs, providing an unreal nine markers through six contests. He went through a four-game goal drought from May 10-16 but wrapped up the second round with markers in consecutive games, so he’s regained his rhythm going into the Western Conference Final.

Dallas doesn’t employ a 2023-24 50-goal scorer, but the Stars do feature a rising star in Johnston, who led the team with 32 markers in the regular season. The 21-year-old has been somewhat hit-and-miss in the playoffs, though. He was great in the first round, supplying four goals and seven points in seven outings. Against Colorado, he finished with a respectable three goals and four points in six games, but notably, he was held off the scoresheet in four of those outings. As I discussed before, Dallas’ key scoring strength lies in its depth and ability to weather cold spells, so a drought from Johnston is less likely to sink Dallas than a slump from one of Edmonton’s superstars.

That said, when he’s at his best, Johnston is a forward who can carry a game, and while Hyman isn’t someone who has been traditionally thought of in those terms, after the campaign he’s had, it’s clear that he’s also emerged as a major factor.

X-FACTOR

Dallas Stars: Not that the Oilers wanted to win this way, but they were helped a little in the second round due to injuries. Vancouver didn’t have goaltender Thatcher Demko (knee) for its second-round series against the Oilers (though Arturs Silovs did an admirable job filling in), and Vancouver was without leading goal-scorer Brock Boeser for Game 7 due to a blood-clotting issue. Dallas might also be unable to play against Edmonton at full strength. Roope Hintz hasn’t played since May 13 due to an upper-body injury and his status for the series opener is in question. Jani Hakanpaa (lower body) might also be unavailable for the start of the Western Conference Final.

It's also worth noting that Dallas’ penalty kill has struggled in the playoffs at 69.2 percent. That’s dangerously low going into a series against Edmonton, which has converted on a league-best 37.5 percent of its power plays in the postseason. The Oilers were similarly effective in the regular season, finishing fourth with a 26.3 conversion rate.

Edmonton Oilers: It’s got to be the goaltending. I’ve already spoken about Skinner’s playoff woes. It got to the point where Edmonton turned to Calvin Pickard for Games 4 and 5 of the second round with mixed results -- Pickard went 1-1 while stopping 51 of 56 shots over that stretch. Edmonton also has Jack Campbell as a possible Plan C. Campbell was dreadful in the NHL this season, posting a 1-4-0 record, 4.49 GAA and .873 save percentage in five contests, but he did stabilize in the minors, recording a 2.63 GAA and a .918 save percentage in 33 AHL outings. It would be a fun story if Campbell saw time in this series because it would be both a chance at redemption and revenge as he was originally selected by Dallas with the No. 11 overall pick in 2010, but only ever played one game with the Stars before eventually being dealt to LA in 2016. Still, if Edmonton ends up turning to Campbell, that’s a sign that something has already gone terribly wrong for the Oilers.

It's worth noting that all hope isn’t lost for Skinner. At times he’s brilliant, such as his 12-game stretch from Dec. 28-Feb. 9 in which he posted a 1.33 GAA and a .952 save percentage. If he starts to heat up now, the Oilers will possess the last piece they need to win the Cup.

PREDICTION

I’ll admit some personal bias here because I’d like to see Edmonton win. Part of that is just to see a Canadian team claim the Cup for the first time since 1993, and part of that is because I’m a fan of McDavid, and I’d like to see him receive the ultimate reward for all he’s done. However, while I’ll personally root for the Oilers to win this series, do expect them to get past Dallas? No.

It’s not that I can’t envision a path. The sheer number of offensive weapons Edmonton has certainly make it feasible, and there’s always the chance that Skinner gets hot at just the right time, but the reality is that Dallas’ offense, while not as flashy, is just as good. On top of that, the Stars have the more reliable goaltender in Oettinger.

Dallas was battle-tested against a deep, experienced team in Vegas and a star-studded squad in Colorado. In both instances, the Stars proved they could endure. Each series is a fresh start, and I am very interested to see how this one plays out, but when you ask me today which way this series will tilt, my answer is that it’ll go the Stars' way and that things will probably be wrapped up in six contests.

2024 NHL Playoff Preview: Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

Robert Howard — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 19:23:41 +0000

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 28: Edmonton Oilers Right Wing Zach Hyman (18) battlesLos Angeles Kings Defenceman Matt Roy (3) and Los Angeles Kings Right Wing Adrian Kempe (9) for the puck in the first period of the Edmonton Oilers game versus the Los Angeles Kings on March 28 2024, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire)

Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

Is it better to face the devil you know? The Oilers and Kings will find out when they meet for the third consecutive season in the playoffs. The Oilers prevailed in the first two meetings, producing a come from behind victory in a seven-game series in 2022, while requiring six-games to eliminate them in 2023. The Oilers won their head-to-head matchup in the season, winning three of four games with a relatively low scoring goal differential of 11 to 9. The Kings held the powerful Oilers to only 2.75 goals per game, and will carry anything they feel unresolved in two closely fought series, into this one with them. The Oilers are confident. The Kings will want revenge.

While the core players are deeply familiar with each other, both teams will have new leadership behind the bench. The Oilers made an early coaching change after stumbling out of the gate under Jay Woodcroft and replacing him with Kris Noblauch in November. The Kings hired Jim Hillier to replace Todd McLellan in February. Since the change, the Oilers produced the best record in the league (69GP-46W-18L-5OT) as McDavid returned to health and the offense surged. The Kings were ninth (35GP-21W-12L-1OT) under Hillier from February on and improved enough to secure a playoff spot. The biggest change he brought was in implementing a 1-3-1 defensive system, which tightened up a unit that seemed to struggle with consistency early, after a good start.

It is a classic battle between a potent offense and a stifling defense. Edmonton is one of the top offensive teams in the league, both at even strength (ranked 1^st with 3.2 xGF/60 at 5v5) and the powerplay (ranked 3^rd with 10.08 xGF/60 – 4^th at 26.3% overall). Los Angeles is one of the top defensive teams in the league and ranked fourth at both 5-on-5 (2.29 xGA/60) and the power play (2.29 xGA/60). It will feature two gifted scorers in centremen Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl against two elite shutdown pivots in Anze Kopitar and Philip Danault.

Knoblauch had success separating Draisaitl and McDavid for much of the season allowing them to drive their own lines, something that has been a challenge for past coaches. Uniting on a devastating power play, they represent the best one-two punch in the league. The supporting cast up front was bolstered by late season additions in Adam Henrique, Corey Perry and Sam Carrick. They have provided depth, and Henrique was enjoying a good season with Anaheim, bringing with him versatility as an excellent faceoff man and complementary winger in the top six of in a shutdown role on the third line.

Hillier has spread out the scoring across all four lines, deploying Kevin Fiala and Pierre Luc Dubois in the bottom six. Dubois has had a disappointing season, perhaps earning his spot on the fourth line, but did show signs of turning it around later in the season. Quinton Byfield enjoyed a breakout season at 21 years old but faded down the stretch. They are both improved but may be asking a lot for them to be difference makers in the playoffs.

Both teams have improved but there is still a sizable offensive advantage for the Oilers up front.

However, on defense, the Kings own the advantage, but it is mitigated by an improved Oilers group. Mattias Ekholm has had an outstanding season and provided the stability they were looking for when acquired at the trade deadline last year. He has allowed Evan Bouchard to blossom into a premier offensive defenseman, while contributing 45 points of his own, including 26 points in his last 30 games. The Oilers defense has been a question mark in the past. The Kings may not match that offensive firepower, but their top two pairings of Mikey Anderson and Drew Doughty along with Vladislav Gavrikov and Matt Roy are very effective defensively. As a foursome they are one of the more effective in the league at shutting the door when called upon. They will face tremendous pressure game in, game out in a long series against a hungry, lethal Oilers machine.

KEY MATCHUPS

McDavid and Draisaitl Vs. Danault and Kopitar – As discussed above, containing the dynamic duo, along with 50-goal scorer Zach Hyman will be critical to any hopes the Kings have. They have two of the best for the job.

The bottom six – LA has balanced their four lines with some scoring ability on each. Will the late season additions by the Oilers be enough to counter? Has Pierre Luc Dubois improved in the late season enough to be a factor in depth scoring? It could be a critical factor for the unsung crew to rise up on occasion if the Kings have success minimizing the damage up on the top two lines.

Cam Talbot Vs. Stuart Skinner – The sophomore versus the resurgent veteran. Cam Talbot has been a nice surprise in the net for the Kings. He is well supported by their strong system so only needs to be solid to be effective. Skinner and the Oilers goalies struggled early in the season, but he seemed to settle down after the coaching change and has been consistent, and reminiscent of his strong rookie season. Neither is expected to be the savior of their respective squad, but exceeding expectations for either of them would be a valuable boost.

X-FACTOR

Los Angeles - The ability of the Kings defensive system to slow the Oilers down in transition, clog up the neutral zone, and create turnovers. If they can frustrate the Oilers early and steal a game in Edmonton, the momentum along with experienced leadership with Stanley Cup rings in the room provide a path for the Kings.

Edmonton – How hungry is Connor McDavid for his first Stanley Cup ring? Now firmly settled in his prime and joined by the strongest supporting cast he has had yet; can he lead them home? He should answer affirmatively and, if possible, raise his game yet again, as the great ones do.

FANTASY PLAYERS TO TARGET

Edmonton – Outside of the big names, Warren Foegele has proven to be a staple on Leon Draisaitl right side and playing for a contract. He has shown consistent improvement and could be a surprise. Adam Henrique has not lit up the scoreboard in Edmonton like he did in Anaheim but is currently starting the series on Connor McDavid’s left wing. We have already mentioned Mattias Ekholm’s finish. It does not appear to be a fluke. He is playing that well.

Los Angeles – Looking at production since the coaching change Feb 2, Adriam Kempe has led the scoring with 32 points in 29 games followed by Kevin Fiala with 30 in 34 games, and Anze Kopitar finding his point a game ways again with 29 in 33 games. Quinton Byfield finished very quietly with nine points in 23 games. It might be asking a lot for a 21-year-old to be a difference maker with the stakes this high. Since March 1, Trevor Moore has 17 points in 23 games.

PREDICTION

This will be a hard-fought battle with familiarity likely to provide plenty of contempt. Edmonton’s offence will prove too much over the course of the series and should take it in six games.

All Stats courtesy of www.naturalstattrick.com

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD (February 26th to March 3rd) – Matthews at the center of Maple Leafs run – Favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 15:00:03 +0000

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 26: Toronto Maple Leafs Center Auston Matthews (34) chases the play during the regular season NHL game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on April 26, 2022 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON.(Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

The Maple Leafs haven’t just won their last six games, they’ve outscored their competition an incredible 33-14 over that span. At the center of that run has been Auston Matthews, who’s provided 10 goals and 13 points over his past five contests. That gives him 52 goals and 76 points through 55 outings in 2023-24.

There was a time when Sam Reinhart was challenging Matthews for the goal-scoring lead, but Matthews’ edge in that battle has jumped to 13 goals. Not only did Matthews reach the 50-goal milestone before any other player hit 40, but there are still just 10 other skaters with at least 30 tallies this year.

Even after factoring in the Toronto game Matthews was unavailable for, the star forward is on pace for 76 markers. If he could actually do that, it would leave him in a four-way tie for fifth in the all-time single-season goal-scoring list. Along the way, he would also become the first player to reach the 70-goal mark since Teemu Selanne and Alexander Mogilny in 1992-93.

Of course, his pace has been skewed by his recent hot streak, but part of what makes Matthews impressive is how consistent he is. Dating back to Dec. 2, Matthews hasn’t had a goal drought last longer than two games (Dec. 30-Jan. 2, Jan. 13-14), and he’s provided at least one marker in 12 of his last 15 appearances.

It'll be exciting to see what he can do over the final weeks of the campaign and his pursuit of the 70-goal milestone adds an interesting wrinkle to a Hart Trophy conversation that’s been largely dominated by Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon, who are leading the Art Trophy race with 95 points (36 goals) and 93 points (34), respectively.

Arizona Coyotes - TUE @ MTL, THU @ TOR, FRI @ OTT (BTB), SUN @ WSH

The Coyotes are on the road next week and are set to play in Montreal on Tuesday, Toronto on Thursday, Ottawa on Friday and Washington on Sunday. Although an extended road trip is far from ideal, three of those four adversaries are well outside a playoff spot.

Arizona has lost 11 straight games, so it shouldn’t be surprising to hear that there aren’t many Coyotes players who have looked great recently. That said, it’s worth keeping an eye on Dylan Guenther. With the team focused on the future, the 20-year-old is serving on the first line and top power-play unit, leading to him averaging 18:17 of ice time, including 4:39 with the man advantage, over his past four contests. He hasn’t been good, but not great so far, providing six goals and 11 points across 19 outings this season, but given his high-end offensive upside, and the choice minutes he’s been receiving, Guenther has the potential to finish the campaign on a high note.

At the other end of the spectrum, veteran forward Jason Zucker has seen his role fade, to the point where he’s logged just 10:47 per game over his last three appearances, compared to his season average of 14:06. Although the Coyotes are likely to shop him ahead of the deadline, his $5.3 million cap hit might scare off contenders, and even if he does get moved, his new team likely wouldn’t use him as more than a third liner. Zucker has had periods this campaign where he’s performed well enough to be worth utilizing in fantasy, but only managers in particularly deep leagues should be using him at this time.

On the goaltending front, Connor Ingram has been dealing with an undisclosed injury, but based on his original 7-10 day timetable from Feb. 14, he should be about ready to return. The 26-year-old goaltender has been one of the bright spots for Arizona this campaign with a 17-13-2 record, 2.76 GAA and .912 save percentage across 35 outings. He’d be worth starting in fantasy on any night next week except for Thursday versus Toronto.

Dallas Stars - MON VS NYI, TUE @ COL (BTB), THU VS WPG, SAT VS SJS

The Stars will play in Colorado on Tuesday, but outside of that, they’ll be at home, hosting matches against the Islanders on Monday, the Jets on Thursday and the Sharks on Saturday. It’s one of the tougher schedules I’m highlighting, but Stars players will at least get plenty of opportunities to make an impact next week with four games ahead of them.

This hasn’t been a great campaign for Jake Oettinger, who has a 20-10-4 record, 2.98 GAA and .902 save percentage through 35 contests and he’s been particularly rough recently, allowing 10 goals on 65 shots (.846 save percentage) over his past three games. Scott Wedgewood, who has a 13-6-4 record, 2.97 GAA and .899 save percentage in 13 outings, isn’t an ideal alternative, but perhaps the backup goaltender will get some additional work next week so Oettinger can rest and regroup. If nothing else, Wedgewood should start either Monday or Tuesday. If he gets the Avalanche assignment, then it would be best to avoid him, but the Islanders are in a three-way tie for 21st offensively with 2.93 goals per game, so that would be a favorable adversary for the backup goaltender.

Goaltending hasn’t been Dallas’ only problem. The Stars have also been held to just two goals over their last two contests. Joe Pavelski has done alright in that span, providing a goal and an assist. He went through a slump from Jan. 23-Feb. 19 in which he was limited to four assists across 10 games, but the veteran forward seems to be heating up again. Even at the age of 39, he’s one of Dallas’ top performers with 20 goals and 48 points in 58 appearances.

Jamie Benn has also managed to stand out during the Stars’ recent struggles, supplying an assist in each of his last three games. He has just nine goals and 33 points through 58 outings this season, which is a major step down from his 78-point 2022-23 campaign. However, he’s been playing alongside Pavelski at even strength and serves on the top power-play unit, so Benn is in a position to be productive down the stretch.

Edmonton Oilers - MON VS LAK, WED VS STL, SAT @ SEA, SUN @ PIT (BTB)

Edmonton will host the Kings and the Blues on Monday and Wednesday, respectively. After that, the Oilers will travel to Seattle on Saturday and Pittsburgh on Sunday. LA and St. Louis are having decent, but not amazing campaigns while Seattle and Pittsburgh are behind in the battle for a wild-card spot.

The good times for Stuart Skinner appear to be behind him. He’s posted a 2-2-1 record, 4.20 GAA and .863 save percentage over his past five games, making this his worst stretch since his early season struggles. While Skinner still might shake this off and get hot again, this might create an opening for Jack Campbell, who has been paying his dues with AHL Bakersfield, to get a fresh opportunity. The veteran netminder has a .919 save percentage over his last 12 AHL appearances, so he’s settled down and would be worth keeping a close eye on if Edmonton calls him up.

While goaltending is something of a question mark for the Oilers, their offense is as strong as ever. Connor McDavid has been leading the charge as usual, providing an unreal 14 assists over his last five games alone. Meanwhile, Corey Perry seems to be fitting in with the Oilers, supplying three goals and four points over his past four contests. He hasn’t seen much power-play ice time, but he has shared the ice with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at even strength.

Perry should be a good pickup for as long as he’s seeing time on either of the top two lines, but you’ll want to continue to monitor that situation. Edmonton might still add another skilled forward before the March 8 deadline, and if they do, then Perry might shift to serving primarily on the third unit, which would significantly hurt his fantasy value.

Florida Panthers - TUE VS BUF, THU VS MTL, SAT @ DET

The Panthers are one of the rare teams I’m covering with just three scheduled games, but they’re well-positioned to win all three contests. They’ll host the Sabres and the Canadiens on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, before heading to Detroit for a match on Saturday. Of those adversaries, the Red Wings are the only ones still with playoff aspirations.

Florida has won 10 of its last 12 games, but the Panthers were dealt a potentially massive blow Thursday when Gustav Forsling and Matthew Tkachuk were forced to exit the match due to undisclosed injuries. At the time of writing, it’s not clear how significant those injuries are, but those are two key players for the Panthers.

If Tkachuk, who has 20 goals and 65 points through 57 games, is forced to miss time then William Lockwood will likely draw into the lineup for the first time since Jan. 19 and play regularly. The 25-year-old would serve primarily on the fourth line, so he wouldn’t at all be directly replacing Tkachuk, but Lockwood is a good source of hits when he is in the lineup, so he’s worthy of note in very specific fantasy circumstances.

We might also see Evan Rodrigues shift into a top-six role and move up to the first power-play unit if Tkachuk is unavailable. That would be a meaningful boost for Rodrigues, who has eight goals and 33 points through 57 appearances in 2023-24.

Forsling has eight goals and 27 points in 56 contests this season, but he’s only used sparingly with the man advantage, so his absence wouldn’t meaningfully impact the Panthers in that regard. In terms of even-strength minutes, though, we might see Oliver Ekman-Larsson asked to do significantly more. Josh Mahura would also likely start playing regularly after spending Florida’s past two contests as a healthy scratch.

Minnesota Wild - TUE VS CAR, THU @ NSH, SAT @ STL, SUN VS SJS (BTB)

Minnesota will host the Hurricanes on Tuesday, and then the Wild will have a two-game road trip with games in Nashville on Thursday and St. Louis on Saturday. They’ll conclude the week with a home contest versus the Sharks. Carolina is a tough opponent, but the Predators and the Blues are middle-of-the-road squads while San Jose is near the bottom of the pack.

With a 26-24-6 record, the Wild are running out of time to prove to management that they shouldn’t be sellers at the deadline. If they’re able to convince the front office of that, it will be thanks in large part to the efforts of their top line.

Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy are three of the hottest forwards in the league. Kaprizov is on a six-game scoring streak in which he’s provided five goals and 14 points. Over the same span, Eriksson Ek has supplied seven goals and 13 points while Boldy has contributed four goals and 11 points. Minnesota has gone from 17-20-5 on Jan. 13 to 26-24-6 at the time of writing, which is a significant climb, but the Wild are still on the outside looking in on the wild-card race. The Wild have little margin for error, which might serve to further motivate that star trio.

If Minnesota does start selling, though, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury will likely be among those moved. The 39-year-old is having a rough campaign with an 11-10-3 record, 2.96 GAA and .897 save percentage across 27 contests, but contenders will appreciate the added goaltending depth he can provide coupled with the wealth of playoff experience he brings to the table. It’s worth monitoring the situation because, with a strong team playing in front of him, Fleury might have some use down the stretch, although his playing time will likely be limited.

Should the Wild deal Fleury and write off this campaign, it will be interesting to see if they give Jesper Wallstedt another shot. He had a disastrous introduction to the NHL, allowing seven goals on 34 shots to Dallas on Jan. 10, but that’s obviously a small sample size and the 21-year-old is a highly regarded goaltending prospect, so it might be worth it to give him some starts down the stretch to provide him with more NHL experience. Alternatively, if the Wild believe his development is better served remaining with AHL Iowa, then veteran journeyman Zane McIntyre might finish the campaign with Minnesota. In that scenario, Filip Gustavsson would likely be leaned on massively down the stretch, as would McIntyre in Iowa.

New Jersey Devils - TUE @ SJS, FRI @ ARI, SUN @ LAK

The Devils will spend the week on the road, playing against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Coyotes on Friday and the Kings on Sunday. Although they’re playing in just three games, Anaheim and San Jose rank 30th and 31st, respectively, in the standings, which makes Devils players especially appealing next week.

Nico Daws has allowed 11 goals over his past two games, bringing him down to 6-8-0 with a 3.32 GAA and .895 save percentage through 14 appearances this season. Vitek Vanecek (lower body) might return soon, but he has a 17-9-3 record, 3.18 GAA and .890 save percentage in 32 contests, so he’s hardly an ideal alternative.

New Jersey will likely make a strong push to get a goaltender before the deadline. Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom seems like one possibility, provided he’s willing to waive his no-movement clause to facilitate a trade. If they get him or another netminder, then Daws will likely be sent to the minors while Vanecek, who is in the second season of his three-year, $10.2 million contract, would be relegated to the backup role.

At least the Devils have a strong forward corps. Tyler Toffoli isn’t the headliner of it, but he’s certainly a noteworthy component. The 31-year-old is on a four-game scoring streak (two goals, four points), which brings him up to 24 goals and 39 points in 55 contests this season. Jack Hughes is also dialled in with three goals and six points over his past six appearances.

Ottawa Senators - MON @ WSH, TUE @ NSH (BTB), FRI VS ARI, SAT @ PHI (BTB)

Ottawa will open the week with road contests versus the Capitals on Monday and the Predators on Tuesday. The Senators will then host the Coyotes on Friday before playing in Philadelphia on Saturday. None of those opponents is high-end, though Nashville still has playoff aspirations while Philadelphia is currently in a reasonably secure position in the battle for a postseason berth.

The Senators won’t make the playoffs, but that won’t be for lack of trying on the part of Claude Giroux. The 36-year-old forward is on a seven-game scoring streak in which he’s collected three goals and nine points. That gives him 18 goals and 51 points through 54 outings in 2023-24. Giroux’s three-year, $19.5 million contract runs through 2024-25, and he has a no-movement clause, so he’s unlikely to be traded before the deadline, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s any temptation there for him to reevaluate his plans. He’s never won a Cup, and Ottawa might not be able to provide him with a great shot at a serious playoff run before his contract is up.

Still, that’s a decision Giroux is more likely to make next season. Instead, Vladimir Tarasenko, who is playing through a one-year, $5 million deal, is far more likely to be moved in the coming weeks. It is worth noting that he has a full no-trade clause, so Tarasenko will have a lot of sway over where he goes. The 32-year-old winger has 15 goals and 37 points over 52 contests this season and would be a great middle-six forward for most contenders.

As Ottawa sells and looks toward the future, Ridly Greig might also start playing an expanded role. The 21-year-old has nine goals and 21 points in 44 outings while averaging 14:27 of ice time, including a modest 0:43 with the man advantage. In particular, that power-play time might expand down the stretch, which could aid Greig in finishing the campaign on a positive note.

Washington Capitals - MON VS OTT, TUE @ DET (BTB), FRI VS PHI, SUN VS ARI

The Capitals will spend most of the week at home, hosting Ottawa on Monday, Philadelphia on Friday and Arizona on Sunday. The Capitals will also have a brief excursion to Detroit for a contest Tuesday. The Senators and the Coyotes are set to be sellers at the deadline, making them the more vulnerable of the Capitals’ upcoming adversaries.

Alex Ovechkin was limited to just six goals and 20 points across his first 33 games in 2023-24, but that rough stretch is well behind him. First, he provided an impressive two goals and seven points through six games from Dec. 30-Jan. 11, then the 38-year-old truly caught fire starting on Jan. 24, contributing eight goals and 14 points over his past 10 appearances.

Ovechkin’s resurgence isn’t shocking -- he always seems to find a way to bounce back when people start writing him off -- but Connor McMichael’s recent success is eyebrow-raising. The 23-year-old has supplied four tallies over his last two games and five goals in his past four appearances. That brings him up to 12 goals and 22 points through 53 contests this campaign. It helps that he’s been playing in a somewhat expanded role recently, averaging 16:11 of ice time over his past eight contests compared to 15:07 prior to that point. Keep an eye on him because while McMichael has been somewhat slow to establish himself in the NHL, he does have serious potential.

It's not all good news for Washington, though. T.J. Oshie sustained a lower-body injury Thursday. If he ends up missing time, then Sonny Milano might serve in an expanded role. Milano has five goals and 10 points in 26 contests, including two points over three games since returning from his own injury.

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Quinton Byfield is making his presence felt, a surprising source of offense for the Maple Leafs, Columbus’ All-Star is scoring, and much, much more!

Scott Cullen — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 16:42:21 +0000

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 30: Los Angeles Kings Center Quinton Byfield (55) looks on during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Los Angeles Kings on January 30, 2022, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire)

Each week, I dive into the numbers to help make decisions when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, Quinton Byfield is making his presence felt, a surprising source of offense for the Maple Leafs, Columbus’ All-Star is scoring, and much, much more!

#1 Drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Kings in 2020, Quinton Byfield took some time to get up to speed in the National Hockey League. Coming into this season, he had 8 goals and 33 points in 99 games, so he was not exactly busting down the door to stardom. He did start to show potential last season, though, and the Kings gave him a lot of ice time on the top line to start this season, skating on a line with Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. More recently, Byfield has moved down the depth chart to join Pierre-Luc Dubois and Byfield continues to produce. In his past 10 games, Byfield has tallied 12 points (6 G, 6 A) with 25 shots on goal.

#2 Throwing Byfield with Pierre-Luc Dubois offers a chance for Dubois to shake out of his season-long slump. Since the Kings replaced Todd McLellan with Jim Hiller as head coach, Dubois has six points (3 G, 3 A) and 14 shots on goal in seven games. That improved production comes on the heels of Dubois managing just one point (1 G, 0 A) in the previous eight games.

#3 A 27-year-old winger who had played all of 10 games in the NHL prior to this season, Bobby McMann has become an unlikely contributor for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his first 26 games for the Maple Leafs this season, McMann had just seven points (2 G, 5 A) but it was understandable, he played less than 10 minutes in 18 of those 26 games. McMann broke through on February 13, recording a hat trick in a 4-1 win against St. Louis and that earned him a bump up the depth chart. He has most recently found himself on a line with John Tavares and Nick Robertson and has 10 points (7 G, 3 A) and 17 shots on goal in the past six games. Suddenly, McMann is changing the perception of what he might be able to offer as an NHL player, from fringe NHLer to possible top-six winger.

#4 Getting Connor Bedard back in the lineup has helped Chicago Blackhawks forward Philipp Kurashev who has eight points (1 G, 7 A) in seven games since the All-Star break, which includes four points (1 G, 3 A) in four games since Bedard returned from his broken jaw. Prior to the break, Kurashev had just two points (1 G, 1 A) during a 14-game stretch, and yet he is still second on the Blackhawks in scoring with 32 points (9 G, 23 A) in 50 games.

#5 Columbus’ All-Star representative this season, centre Boone Jenner has emerged from the break on a five-game point streak, during which he has accrued eight points (5 G, 3 A) with 22 shots on goal. Jenner juices up his fantasy appeal with physical play, too, and has 17 hits in those five games. He is skating between Johnny Gaudreau and Jack Roslovic, both of whom are also picking up the pace offensively. Gaudreau is in full set-up mode lately, with 15 points (1 G, 14 A) and 33 shots on goal in his past 13 games. Roslovic has upped his production more recently, with five points (1 G, 4 A) and 14 shots on goal during a four-game point streak which started when he joined Jenner and Gaudreau on Columbus’ top line.

#6 Winnipeg Jets right winger Gabriel Vilardi got off to a strong start with his new club, contributing 20 points (11 G, 9 A) in 25 games, but he did miss some time due to injury and went through a six-game scoreless drought around the All-Star break. He’s making up for it, though, with eight points (4 G, 4 A) and 12 shots on goal during a three-game point streak. Vilardi is skating on the Jets’ top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, which is a pretty great opportunity for a young player looking to become a more consistent scoring threat.

#7 Although he was held off the scoresheet in Thursday’s 1-0 win against Florida, it was only the third time in the past 16 games that Carolina Hurricanes right winger Seth Jarvis did not record a point. He has 18 points (4 G, 14 A) and 34 shots on goal in that span, giving him a career-high 46 points in 56 games. Jarvis isn’t the only Hurricanes winger who has picked up his scoring pace. Martin Necas has 15 points (8 G, 7 A) and 50 shots on goal in his past 14 games.

#8 The third pick in the 2021 Draft, Anaheim Ducks centre Mason McTavish has had some ups and downs in his second NHL season, but his talent is undeniable, and he does have seven points in his past four games. While fantasy managers, especially those in banger leagues, might love that McTavish has 30 penalty minutes in his past 10 games, those frequent trips to the penalty box could start to cost him ice time.

#9 Florida Panthers centre Anton Lundell tallied 44 points as a rookie in 2021-2022 and has not been able to match that pace since, in part because his shooting percentage has fallen off, from 14.4 percent two seasons ago to 7.2 percent this season. Nevertheless, Lundell has shown some signs of life offensively, producing six points (4 G, 2 A) and nine shots on goal in his past five games. The Panthers have been excellent this season, and they have not received a huge contribution from Lundell, so if he can pick up the pace down the stretch, that would go a long way for a team that is a Stanley Cup contender.

#10 Minnesota Wild rookie centre Marco Rossi has moved into a tie with teammate Brock Faber as the second leading rookie scorer in the league behind Chicago’s Connor Bedard, who has 39 points (17 G, 22 A) in 43 games. Rossi has five points (4 G, 1 A) and 13 shots on goal in his past five games, which gets him to 33 points (17 G, 16 A) in 56 games. Rossi’s ice time is down, so tread carefully about adding him now. His improved scoring pace does offer hope that Rossi will have a bigger role both in the near and more distant future.

#11 New York Rangers right winger Kaapo Kakko missed nearly two months of action but is starting to get back into the groove. In his past six games, the 23-year-old forward has put up five points (2 G, 3 A) along with 12 shots on goal. It may be too soon to offer a full-throated recommendation for Kakko, but it’s worth keeping an eye on him. Progress has been gradual, and he is already in his fifth NHL season, but he has flashed potential.

#12 Consistent offensive production does not come easily for Buffalo Sabres winger Jordan Greenway, who scored a career high 32 points (9 G, 23 A) in 56 games for the Minnesota Wild during the 2020-2021 season. However, every now and then, he heats up and suddenly becomes an intriguing fantasy option, even if it is for short-term purposes. Over the past month, Greenway has eight points (5 G, 3 A) and 16 shots on goal in 10 games. Injuries have opened the door for Greenway to get more ice time in Buffalo and he has landed on the second line, alongside Casey Mittelstadt and Dylan Cozens, two skilled players who can help extend Greenway’s offensive good fortune.

#13 At this stage of his career, 38-year-old Corey Perry tends to not offer a lot of fantasy value during the regular season. He plays on the lower half of the depth chart and while he contributes some, it is usually only enough for consideration in the deepest of leagues. While all of that may be true, Perry does have four points (3 G, 1 A) with eight shots on goal and 16 penalty minutes in the past four games and that might warrant a little bit more attention. He is getting second unit power play time and is skating with Dylan Holloway and Mattias Janmark at evens.

#14 Goaltending has been a question mark for many teams this season and those questions have lingered in Carolina for much of the season. The answer may be found within the Hurricanes’ own dressing room, as Pyotr Kochetkov has hit a hot streak and that might be enough to solidify the play in Carolina’s crease, at least for the time being. After a sparkling 44-save shutout Thursday against Florida, Kochetkov has a .969 save percentage across his past four starts. Of course, in his previous four appearances, Kochetkov’s save percentage was a ghastly .851, so he has been offering quite the thrill ride with plenty of ups and downs.

#15 One of the primary challenges when seeking fantasy hockey answers in goal is finding goaltenders that play enough. St. Louis Blues backup goaltender Joel Hofer, for example, has been excellent lately with a .928 save percentage across his past nine starts, but that goes back to before Christmas, so Hofer still offers value in deeper leagues. If something were to happen that would give him a greater share of the starts in St. Louis, the 23-year-old could see his value soar.

#16 After lighting up the Vancouver Canucks for four points (1 G, 3 A) in Thursday’s victory, Seattle Kraken centre Jared McCann has a six-game point streak and has put up 22 points (11 G, 11 A) with 44 shots on goal in his past 15 games. McCann is coming off a career-best season in which he scored 40 goals and 70 points, but his recent production is getting him back into that stratosphere again.

#17 In his past seven games, Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar has zero points. This stretch is the first time – in his career! – that he has gone more than three consecutive games without recording a point. It’s not like this is no reason to trade Makar. He has 20 shots on goal in those seven games and has 60 points (13 G, 47 A) in 53 games this season, but an unprecedented slump from the most prolific scoring defenceman in the league at least bears watching.

#18 Since the All-Star break, the leaders in all situations expected goals: Nico Hischier (5.57), Nathan MacKinnon (5.54), Auston Matthews (5.21), Chris Kreider (4.91), J.T. Miller (4.88), Kirill Kaprizov (4.66), Zach Hyman (4.55), Jack Hughes (4.45), Brady Tkachuk (4.37), Joel Eriksson Ek (4.32), Boone Jenner (4.25), Kyle Palmieri (4.25), Evander Kane (4.23), Nazem Kadri (4.22), and Cole Caufield (4.18). While these are a lot of expected names, it’s interesting to see Hischier at the top of the list, and players like Jenner, Palmieri, and Kane are likely higher than their overall production might suggest.

#19 There are 36 players that have recorded at least seven power-play points since January 1. That list includes Juraj Slafkovsky (9), Jonathan Huberdeau (7), Frank Vatrano (7), Morgan Frost (7), and Jake Neighbours (7). Again, a lot of the names at the top of the list are to be expected – Matthew Tkachuk leads with 14 five-on-four points in 2024 – but some less established players are starting to make a difference with the man advantage, too.

#20 With Mark Stone injured, joining Jack Eichel on the shelf, the Vegas Golden Knights are getting rather thin up front, so maybe consider Michael Amadio as a short-term fix. The 27-year-old forward has scored a goal in four of the past five games, putting a dozen shots on goal while averaging more than 16 minutes of ice time per game. Amadio finished with a career-high 27 points (16 G, 11 A) in 67 games last season and has 21 points (11 G, 10 A) in 50 games this season, so he is not necessarily a long-term answer but, right now, he has an opportunity to play a more significant role.

NHL: DADOUN – THE FANTASY WEEK AHEAD (February 19th to 25th) – Guentzels injury complicates a tough situation for Penguins – Favourable schedules and players to target

Ryan Dadoun — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 14:27:49 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 13: Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) takes a face-off wearing his CCM helmet, gloves, and stick and left wing Jake Guentzel (59) on his wing during the Pittsburgh Penguins versus Washington Capitals National Hockey League game on October 13, 2023 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire)

Pittsburgh earned a 4-1 victory over Chicago on Thursday with Sidney Crosby scoring two goals, including his 30th of the campaign -- marking the 12th time he’s reached that milestone. However, with a 24-20-7 record, the Penguins are still five points behind the Detroit Red Wings and the second wild-card spot and would need to climb over the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils on their way to gaining that position.

That’s not an insurmountable obstacle, but it’s one that got much harder when Jake Guentzel suffered an upper-body injury Wednesday that’s projected to cost him four weeks. The Penguins have already taken the step of moving him to the long-term injured reserve list.

That complicates an already tough situation. As I’ve talked about before, Pittsburgh went into this season trying to manufacture at least one more run out of the era of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang before time finally catches up to them. That would make them very reluctant sellers at the deadline as it would essentially be an admission that the era is over and the Penguins now need to rebuild.

As it happens, that brings us back to Guentzel. He’s playing out the final season of his six-year, $30 million contract and is in line for a big raise. It’s not clear if the Penguins will re-sign him, but if they feel they can’t or are otherwise willing to commit to rebuilding, then he could potentially command a huge return on the trade market. Obviously, his injury complicates that -- he might not even be healthy by the March 8 deadline -- but those interested in his services will naturally have an eye toward the playoffs and based on Guentzel’s timetable, he should be fine well before the postseason starts.

Pittsburgh still has 10 games before the deadline, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas waits until those contests are in the books before deciding what direction he wants to go. That makes those upcoming games of vital importance to the future of the franchise and, perhaps, whether Crosby spends his final campaigns in the NHL as part of a contender or as a mentor for a rebuilding squad.

Anaheim Ducks - MON @ BUF, WED VS CBJ, SAT @ LAK, SUN VS NSH (BTB)

The Ducks will begin the week with a game in Buffalo on Monday and then host the Blue Jackets on Wednesday. After a breather, the Ducks will visit LA on Saturday before playing at home against the Predators on Sunday. Anaheim isn’t a strong team, but the Blue Jackets are one of the few with a comparable record. The Sabres are also far outside of the playoff hunt, so that should be another competitive matchup for the Ducks.

Anaheim has an especially good chance of winning those contests if Frank Vatrano stays hot. The 29-year-old forward has two goals and seven points over his past five appearances. He’s having a strong campaign overall too with 23 goals and 41 points in 53 outings, which matches his career high in points, which was set in 2022-23. It helps that Vatrano is playing on the top power-play unit, which has accounted for 15 of his points, and he’s likely to remain in that role for the remainder of the campaign.

Trevor Zegras should join him on the first power-play unit once he’s recovered from a broken ankle, which he sustained Jan. 9. Based on his original six-to-eight week timetable, we’re getting to the point where you’ll want to keep an eye on the situation. Zegras has just four goals and seven points in 20 contests in what’s been an injury-riddled season, but he’s capable of far more. If nothing else, remember him for your 2024 fantasy drafts, because the 22-year-old should be an excellent rebound candidate.

Mason McTavish hasn’t had the same kind of rough campaign that Zegras has endured, but McTavish should also see improvement in 2024-25. You don’t have to wait, though. In fact, this might be a good week for the 21-year-old, especially after he scored three goals and six points over his last eight outings.

Columbus Blue Jackets - TUE @ LAK, WED @ ANA (BTB), FRI VS BUF, SUN VS NYR

Columbus will start on the road with games in Los Angeles and Anaheim on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The Blue Jackets will then return home to face the Sabres on Friday and the Rangers on Sunday.

Although Ivan Provorov was able to complete Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to Ottawa, he might have suffered an injury while blocking a shot and underwent X-rays as a result. At the time of writing, the results aren’t known, so it’s unclear if he’ll be available next week. Provorov has four goals, 23 points, 44 hits and 99 blocks in 52 contests while averaging 22:36 of ice time, so he’d leave a considerable hole in the lineup if he’s unavailable.

If Provorov is forced to miss time then we might see Jake Bean take on a bigger role at even strength and start regularly featuring on the second power-play unit. Bean has four goals and nine points in 49 contests, so he hasn’t been particularly productive this season, but he’s been averaging just 16:17 of ice time and has gotten almost no work with the man advantage. The 25-year-old recorded 25 points in 2021-22 while averaging 20:34, so Bean can chip in offensively when given the opportunity.

We might also see Andrew Peeke play regularly should Provorov miss time. Like Bean, Peeke can do a bit with the puck when the opportunity presents itself. The 25-year-old blueliner has six assists, 39 hits and 40 blocks in 20 contests while averaging 15:40 in 2023-24.

When it comes to hot players, Boone Jenner is an interesting pickup option after scoring three goals in his past two games. He has 16 markers and 21 points through 37 contests in 2023-24, so he’s not a great long-term option but can provide some help when he’s on a roll.

Detroit Red Wings - MON @ SEA, THU VS COL, SAT VS STL, SUN @ CHI (BTB)

The Red Wings will start next week in Seattle for a contest Monday, but they’ll get to return to Detroit afterward to host the Avalanche on Thursday and the Blues on Saturday before closing out the week with a game in Chicago on Sunday.

With four games on the schedule, including a back-to-back set during the weekend, it’s safe to assume that the Red Wings will need more than Alex Lyon in goal. With Ville Husso once again shelved due to a lower-body injury, though, James Reimer is instead projected to get at least one start next week.

If you’re still holding onto Husso, you might want to drop him. It’s unfortunate because he only recently recovered from a different lower-body injury, but the reality of the situation is he’s week-to-week and even if he does return before the end of the campaign, he’s unlikely to receive much work. Although Husso entered the season as the projected No. 1 goaltender, the 29-year-old has lost that role to Lyon due to Husso’s 3.55 GAA and .892 save percentage in 19 appearances. With Husso’s three-year, $14.25 million contract set to run through 2024-25, he’ll need to rebound next year if he wants the league to still see him as a legitimate starter candidate.

Patrick Kane is healthy, though, having returned last Saturday from a lower-body injury. He hit the ground running with a goal and four points in three contests since rejoining the lineup. Kane’s contributed eight goals and 20 points in 22 games this season, demonstrating that the 35-year-old is still a high-end scoring threat.

Christian Fischer certainly won’t match Kane in terms of offensive production, but the 26-year-old forward is on a three-game scoring streak in which he’s collected three assists. That might be enough to warrant consideration for a short-term pickup, but Fischer’s fantasy value is typically minimal, so don’t hold onto him if he cools down.

Edmonton Oilers- MON @ ARI, WED VS BOS, FRI VS MIN, SAT VS CGY (BTB)

The Oilers will play in Arizona on Monday to conclude a three-game road trip. Afterward, Edmonton will host the Bruins on Wednesday, the Wild on Friday and the Flames on Saturday. Boston is a difficult team, but the Oilers’ other three adversaries next week have been middling.

Whether you’re lucky enough to have Connor McDavid on your fantasy squad or not, you might want to watch him next week for the fun of it. He’s doing amazing even by his incredibly high standards, scoring four goals and 20 points in his past seven games. That’s barrelled him to the 80-point milestone (21 goals, 59 assists) by his 48th contest. Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon are the only players ahead of him in the scoring race, and it wouldn’t be shocking if all three of them finish with at least 120 points each. To put that into context, there have been seven occasions of a player reaching the 120-point milestone since the start of the salary cap era, so for three to achieve that feat all in the same campaign would be remarkable.

One of McDavid’s three assists Thursday came on a Corey Perry goal. It was Perry’s first goal and second point in six contests with Edmonton. Since signing a one-year, $775,000 contract with Edmonton on Jan. 22, Perry has seen time on the ice with McDavid and he’s also been utilized alongside Leon Draisaitl and Evander Kane. While those are choice assignments, Perry’s power-play work has been somewhat limited and he’s finished with more than 15 minutes in just two of his six games -- and even then, just barely. The 38-year-old should be seen as an okay secondary scorer, but not someone who is going to be a big enough threat with the Oilers to be worth having on a standard fantasy league team.

By contrast, Stuart Skinner was a great fantasy option for months, posting a 22-5-0 record, 2.02 GAA and .926 save percentage in 27 games from Nov. 11-Feb. 6. He’s hit a rough patch, though, allowing at least three goals in each of his past three contests. Skinner’s struggles haven’t gone on long enough to warrant panic, but meanwhile, Jack Campbell has been finding himself with AHL Bakersfield. He got off to a rough start after being sent to the minors but allowed just 20 goals over nine starts from Dec. 30-Feb. 14. Perhaps it’s time for Campbell to get another shot with the Oilers.

New York Rangers - TUE VS DAL, THU @ NJD, SAT @ PHI, SUN @ CBJ (BTB)

The Rangers will host Dallas on Tuesday, but after that they’ll take to the road, playing in New Jersey on Thursday, Philadelphia on Saturday and Columbus on Sunday. That opponent list is a mixed bag with Dallas doing well, the Flyers and Devils being decent, but not amazing, and the Blue Jackets ranking near the bottom of the NHL.

Meanwhile, the Rangers have built a firm lead in the Metropolitan Division race and their offense has been a key factor. Chris Kreider can take some credit for that. After scoring a hat trick Thursday, he’s up to 27 goals and 51 points through 54 contests this season, including seven tallies and 12 points over his past 10 games. Kreider’s goals tend to come in bunches, so be sure to take advantage of him while he’s hot if given the opportunity.

Will Cuylle hasn’t been making the same kind of headlines as Kreider. The 22-year-old is serving in a bottom-six capacity and has offered the kind of gritty play that role typically dictates, recording 38 PIM and a team-leading 173 hits in 54 appearances this season. However, Cuylle was an offensive force at lower levels, providing 80 points (43 goals, 37 assists) in 59 outings with OHL Windsor in 2021-22 as well as 45 points (25 goals, 20 assists) in 69 games with AHL Hartford last season. He’s up to 10 goals and 18 points in 54 contests with the Rangers in 2023-24 despite his limited playing time and is on a three-game scoring streak. Consider picking up Cuylle for the duration of his hot stretch, especially if your league uses hits as a category.

You also might want to consider giving Kaapo Kakko a chance. When healthy, he struggled mightily on offense during the first half of the campaign, scoring three goals and four points across 26 contests. However, he’s shown life recently, contributing three goals and five points over his last seven outings.

Tampa Bay Lightning - MON VS OTT, THU VS WAS, SAT @ NYI, SUN @ NJD (BTB)

The Lightning are set to play at home against the Senators on Monday and the Capitals on Thursday. They’ll follow that up with a road set over the weekend versus the Islanders and the Devils on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. None of Tampa Bay’s upcoming opponents are in a playoff position, though the Islanders and Devils still have a solid shot of reaching the postseason.

The Lightning is in a strong spot in the playoff race with a 30-20-5 record thanks to their run of 11 wins over their past 14 contests. The Lightning’s resurgence is thanks in no small part to Andrei Vasilevskiy, who has rebounded from a rough start to post a 10-2-0 record, 2.41 GAA and .915 save percentage in his last 12 starts.

Meanwhile, Jonas Johansson has been used sparingly, but he’ll probably get a start Saturday or Sunday. If it’s against the Islanders, who are tied for 22nd offensively with 2.91 goals per game, then he might be worth considering as a short-term pickup for a spot start. Johansson has a 3.46 GAA and an .889 save percentage in 23 outings, so he’s not having a great year, but with Tampa Bay rolling, he’s at least a decent candidate to collect a win.

In contrast to Johansson’s struggles, Anthony Cirelli had one of the best campaigns of his career with 12 goals and 30 points through 54 appearances. A lot of that production has come recently -- Cirelli has three four and 13 points over his last 11 outings. He’s unlikely to maintain that pace, but fantasy managers should take advantage of the 26-year-old forward while he’s hot.

Vegas Golden Knights - MON @ SJS, TUE VS NSH, THU VS TOR, SAT @ OTT

The Golden Knights will start the week with a road game against the lowly Sharks before hosting the Predators and the Maple Leafs on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively, and finishing with a visit to Ottawa on Saturday. Toronto is the only team on that list in a playoff position, though the Predators are also in the running.

Jack Eichel, who underwent lower-body surgery in mid-January, was originally given a four-to-six-week timetable, so we’re at the point where he might be getting close to returning. When Eichel is back, he’ll likely serve on the first line and top power-play unit. His return might cut into Nicolas Roy’s playing time, especially with William Karlsson having also recently rejoined the lineup from a lower-body injury. If that happens, Roy, who has 10 goals and 29 points in 44 outings, would likely see his production dip.

Shea Theodore (upper body) is also getting close to returning and when he does, Daniil Miromanov will likely see his power-play role vanish. However, the 26-year-old defenseman is an interesting pickup to hold onto until Theodore’s back. Miromanov missed most of the campaign because of an undisclosed injury, but after recovering he recorded a goal and six points in five outings during a conditioning stint with AHL Henderson, and he made his NHL season debut Feb. 8. Although he didn’t record a point in his first two contests with Vegas, he did average 2:38 with the man advantage (17:56 overall), so he’s getting a solid opportunity.

If Logan Thompson is available to be picked up, he’s also worthy of consideration given the likelihood that he’ll start versus San Jose on Monday or Nashville on Tuesday. Obviously, facing the Sharks is preferable for the goaltender, but Nashville ranks 19th offensively with 2.96 goals per game, so either opponent might yield a good result. Thompson has been alright this season with a 16-10-4 record, 2.77 GAA and .906 save percentage in 31 games, but he’s fallen into the No. 2 slot with Adin Hill recovered from his undisclosed injury.

Winnipeg Jets - MON @ CGY, TUE VS MIN, FRI @ CHI, SUN VS ARI

The Jets will face the Flames in Calgary on Monday, and then return to Winnipeg to play against Minnesota on Tuesday. After that back-to-back, Winnipeg will play in Chicago on Friday and host the Coyotes on Sunday.

Winnipeg’s offense has gone ice cold in February, scoring just four goals over its last four contests. That’s despite acquiring Sean Monahan from Montreal on Feb. 2 at the cost of the Jets’ 2024 first-round pick. Monahan hasn’t recorded a point with the Jets, but he’s fired nine shots while averaging 16:16 of ice time, including 2:13 with the man advantage, over his first four games with Winnipeg, so it should just be a matter of time before he breaks through.

Monahan’s addition has been bad news for Adam Lowry, though. Lowry has averaged just 14:55 since the Jets’ trade and has received almost no power-play ice time. He has eight goals and 23 points in 51 outings in 2023-24, so Lowry already wasn’t a significant factor in fantasy circles, and his offensive production is likely to slow further.

One player who conversely might start doing better is Cole Perfetti. The 22-year-old has been limited to an assist over his last 11 games, but it’s not unusual for younger forwards to be prone to big hot and cold streaks. In terms of strong stretches, he had eight goals and 17 points across 18 contests from Oct. 24-Dec. 2 as well as five markers and 10 points in 11 games from Dec. 18-Jan. 9, so be on the lookout for his next big run.