Derick Brassard – McKeen's Hockey

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Red Wing Injuries create opportunities – Michael Bunting, Mikael Backlund, Filip Chytil, Daniil Miromanov and more

Scott Cullen — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 21:25:04 +0000

20 FANTASY POINTS

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week was a tough one for the Detroit Red Wings, but injuries can create opportunities. Also, look to Michael Bunting, Mikael Backlund, Filip Chytil, Daniil Miromanov and more for recent upticks in production.

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 21: Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Copp (18) looks on during warm-ups before a game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks on October 21, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

#1 It was a tough week for the Detroit Red Wings as they lost two of their top three scorers to injuries. No. 1 center Dylan Larkin suffered a hand injury while blocking a shot and defenseman Filip Hronek suffered a concussion after getting steamrolled by Minnesota Wild winger Ryan Reaves. With Larkin out, the Wings really need Andrew Copp, their big free agent signing, to step up. Copp has 17 points (3 G, 14 A) in 29 games, but the Wings could use some of the finishing ability that Copp showed last season, especially when he scored eight goals in 16 games down the stretch for the New York Rangers. While Hronek is out, that should give Moritz Seider more of a role on the power play. Hronek has scored 10 of his 24 points on the power play, while Seider has tallied four of his 12 points on the PP.

#2 Scoring Toronto’s only goal in Thursday’s 3-1 loss at the New York Rangers, left winger Michael Bunting extended his point streak to 10 games, during which he has accumulated 12 points (3 G, 9 A) with 18 shots on goal. While he obviously has great appeal so long as he is skating on Auston Matthews’ wing, one area to watch for Bunting, in terms of his offensive sustainability, is his shot rate. He was generating 2.22 shots per game last season and is down to 1.74 per game this season.

#3 Calgary Flames veteran center Mikael Backlund has had just one 50-point season in his career, but he is an ace two-way performer who does contribute from time to time at the offensive end of the rink. In his past eight games, for example, Backlund has eight points (1 G, 7 A) and 27 shots on goal. That shot rate suggests that there could be even more goals, but Backlund also does not benefit from a big role on the power play as only two of his 18 points this season have come with the man advantage.

#4 New York Rangers center Filip Chytil is starting to generate more offense, putting up four points (3 G, 1 A) with 12 shots on goal in the past four games. His goal against Toronto on Thursday was his first power play point of the season and his 14 even-strength points ranks fourth on the Rangers, one behind Chris Kreider. Chytil is still just 23 years old, in his fifth season with the Rangers, so there is some untapped offensive potential, but the question is how he might achieve that on a team that already has Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck at center.

#5 Vegas’ blueline is beset by injuries to Shea Theodore and Zach Whitecloud, in addition to the ongoing absence of Alex Pietrangelo. While Nicolas Hague is likely to get a bigger role as a result, Daniil Miromanov is getting first crack at quarterbacking the Golden Knights power play. Miromanov is a 25-year-old right-shot defenseman who had 13 points (6 G, 7 A) in 17 AHL games and has contributed four points (1 G, 3 A) in seven games with the Golden Knights. Miromanov is a Russian who has moved around quite a bit, playing in the QMJHL, KHL, and Czech League before spending time in the ECHL and AHL.

#6 Pittsburgh Penguins left winger Jason Zucker has been having a productive season, putting up 20 points (6 G, 14 A) in 27 games, but he will likely be out for a few weeks with a lower-body injury. While that could open up an opportunity for someone like Kasperi Kapanen, who has been in and out of the doghouse this season. Kapanen has seven points (4 G, 3 A) in his past seven games. However, Danton Heinen is the one who moved onto Pittsburgh’s second line with Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust in the wake of Zucker’s injury. Not sure that is enough reason to reach for Heinen in most leagues.

#7 He probably does not play enough to have value beyond the deepest of leagues, but ageless Tampa Bay Lightning right winger Corey Perry still knows what to do with the puck around the opposing team’s net. The 37-year-old agitator plays about 12 minutes per game but has seven points (2 G, 5 A) in the past seven games, giving him 13 points in 29 games for the season.

#8 With the Colorado Avalanche lineup depleted by injuries, J.T. Compher has stepped into a bigger role. In the past 11 games, he has 10 points (3 G, 7 A) and 25 shots on goal, while playing more than 22 minutes per game. As the Avs get healthier, Compher will start to lose that ice time, but he also could earn his way into a better role than he had at the start of the season. Compher had a career high 33 points last season and, with 16 points in 28 games this season, he is on pace to surpass that total.

BOSTON, MA - MAY 21: Washington Capitals left wing Anthony Mantha (39) gains the blue line on the power play during Game 4 of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round between the Boston Bruins and the Washington Capitals on May 21, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire)

#9 Washington Capitals winger Anthony Mantha has always had lots of talent, but his production never seems to live up to his promise. He is a two-time 20-goal scorer who has seen his ice time dwindle with the Capitals this year, despite the team being relatively under-staffed at forward. Mantha is averaging 14:35 of ice time, his lowest time on ice since he was first called up to the Detroit Red Wings for 10 games in 2015-2016. On the plus side, Mantha is playing on a line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Aliaksei Protas and has eight points (3 G, 5 A) and 18 shots on goal in the past nine games. He is a high-risk, high-reward type of player, which is why he can still be found on the fantasy waiver wire.

#10 Ottawa Senators center Tim Stutzle had really been rounding into form, with 21 points (9 G, 12 A) and 55 shots on goal in his last 19 games before landing on the injured list with an upper-body injury. While Stutzle is out, veteran Derick Brassard moves up the depth chart, but he has eight points (4 G, 4 A) in 21 games, so it is hard to put too many expectations on him, even with an increased role. Maybe rookie Shane Pinto can step up. He does have three points (1 G, 2 A) in the past three games, but that follows a stretch during which he had two points (1 G, 1 A) in 13 games.

#11 Acquired from the Ottawa Senators in the offseason trade for Cam Talbot, goaltender Filip Gustavsson has been a great find for the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old has a .921 save percentage and 2.69 Goals Saved Above Expected in 11 games. If he keeps playing like this, Gustavsson will make it easier for the Wild to give him more starts and ease the workload on No. 1 goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

#12 Washington Capitals goaltender Darcy Kuemper is out with an upper-body injury, so the Capitals have turned to backup Charlie Lindgren. While Lindgren had some AHL success prior to this season, he is also a 28-year-old who had played 29 NHL games in his career. In his past six starts, though, Lindgren has won five while posting a .936 save percentage.

#13 The Anaheim Ducks are dealing with injuries to goaltenders John Gibson and Anthony Stolarz, so they have called up top prospect Lukas Dostal from the AHL. Dostal, 22, was a third-round pick in 2018 and has been producing consistent results in the AHL, with a .916 save percentage over 84 starts in the past three seasons. He only has a .872 save percentage in three appearances for the Ducks this season, but Dostal is on his way to earning a regular spot in the league.

#14 Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev has been having a breakthrough season offensively, producing 27 points (5 G, 22 A) in 28 games, but is out with an undisclosed injury. While he does not offer the same kind of production that comes from Sergachev, Lighting blueliner Erik Cernak can have some deep or banger league value. In the past seven games, Cernak has contributed four points (1 G, 3 A) and 29 hits, which is enough to provide fantasy value.

#15 Over the past month, among players to play at least 50 minutes, these are the leaders in all-situations expected goals per 60 minutes: Brady Tkachuk (2.90), Alex Ovechkin (2.18), Anders Lee (2.09), Zach Hyman (1.98), and Anthony Cirelli (1.90). Cirelli has played six games after recovering from shoulder surgery and while he has not scored a goal yet, he does have six assists and 20 shots on goal.

#16 Boston Bruins left winger Taylor Hall has had some ups and downs in recent seasons but when things are going right, he still looks like a difference maker. He has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) and 31 shots on goal during an eight-game point streak. For a player that has seen his shot rate dip in recent seasons, the recent uptick is an encouraging sign for Hall’s long-term production.

#17 Buffalo Sabres rookie right winger Jack Quinn took some time to get going this season, scoring five points (1 G, 4 A) in his first 12 games, but he is delivering consistent production now. In his past 13 games, he has scored 12 points (5 G, 7 A) with 23 shots on goal. Skating on a line with Dylan Cozens and JJ Peterka, Quinn is giving the high-scoring Sabres the secondary offense that they need.

#18 A note of caution, though, as Quinn and Peterka are among the forwards with the highest five-on-five on-ice shooting percentage over the past month. Extremes in on-ice shooting percentage tend to regress over time so Auston Matthews, Michael Bunting, Matias Maccelli, Lawson Crouse, and Jordan Eberle are among the others that have on-ice shooting percentages higher than 15.5% over the past month.

#19 Notables with an on-ice shooting percentage under 4% in the past month include Gabriel Vilardi, Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, Phillip Danault, Trevor Moore, Travis Konecny, and Claude Giroux. These players might be expected to have some better puck luck moving forward because it is unsustainably low for skilled forwards to have such a low on-ice shooting percentage.

#20 The Tampa Bay Lightning have found something unexpected with left winger Brandon Hagel, who was a supporting piece last season, but has emerged as a complementary scorer, too. With two goals and an assist in Thursday’s win over Columbus, Hagel has 10 points (5 G, 5 A) in the past 10 games, giving him 23 points in 29 games this season. He has gone through some slumps, but he has also secured a spot on the top line alongside Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, which is obviously a great place for putting up points.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

CULLEN: 20 Fantasy Points – Veterans Re-establishing Value, Significant Injuries Shake Up Lines

Scott Cullen — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 18:46:19 +0000

20 FANTASY POINTS

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, Anders Lee, Dominik Kubalik, and Sean Monahan are veteran forwards re-establishing their value and there are significant injuries starting to shake up lines around the National Hockey League.

#1 New York Islanders captain Anders Lee is a six-time 20-goal scorer who is off to a strong start this season, with seven points (4 G, 3 A) in seven games. What is particularly encouraging about Lee is that he is averaging an even three shots on goal per game, a massive jump from the 2.09 shots per game that he averaged last season. In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Lee adds a physical element. He has surpassed 100 hits six times in his career and has 14 hits in seven games to start this season.

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 01: Detroit Red Wings left wing Dominik Kubalik (81) looks on during a time out during a game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks on October 1, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire)

#2 Intent on beginning a full-scale rebuilding plan in the offseason, the Chicago Blackhawks did not give winger Dominik Kubalik a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. That left Kubalik free to sign with any team and he joined the Detroit Red Wings. Early returns in Detroit have been outstanding as Kubalik has 10 points (4 G, 6 A) during a five-game point streak which started in the second game of the season. While he will not continue scoring on 25.0% of his shots, but with Tyler Bertuzzi injured and Jakub Vrana in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, Kubalik moves to the top of the Red Wings depth chart on the left side, so he should play a prominent role for Detroit for a while.

#3 When the Montreal Canadiens acquired Sean Monahan from the Calgary Flames in the offseason, there was some uncertainty about how much Monahan could contribute. He had a career low 23 points in 65 games and was headed for hip surgery. It turns out that Monahan is healthy, and the veteran forward has quickly moved up the Habs’ depth chart. After averaging 14:04 of ice time per game last season, Monahan has played at least 15:45 per game in every game this season, including more than 22 minutes against Pittsburgh.

#4 After busting out with 37 goals and 67 points last season, Anaheim Ducks right winger Troy Terry has continued his career ascent this season. Terry has nine points (4 G, 5 A) in seven games this season and his 2.86 shots on goal per game is a career high. Early viewings of Terry this season reveal a player brimming with confidence and his playmaking ability has contributed to point production and Terry’s positive play-driving results, whether playing with centers Trevor Zegras or Ryan Strome, the results have been positive with both.

#5 The fifth pick in the 2021 Draft, Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kent Johnson is highly skilled and seems to be finding his range in the National Hockey League. After scoring 37 points in 32 games as a sophomore at the University of Michigan last season, Johnson had no goals and three assists in nine games at the end of last season for Columbus. Johnson played just 12:27 per game last season and his average ice time has only moved to 12:37 early in the 2022-2023 season, but he also has goals in three straight games, and that production could force Johnson into a bigger role soon.

#6 Drafted fourth overall in 2019, Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram has battled injuries early in his career, but he flashed great potential during Colorado’s run to the Stanley Cup. Byram’s ice time has jumped to more than 21 minutes per game, and he has contributed five points (2 G, 3 A) in seven games. He is not going to get the role of power play quarterback on the top unit in Colorado, because Cale Makar is still great, but Byram is showing that he can nevertheless be productive enough to draw fantasy interest.

#7 Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris is out long-term, potentially for the entire season, with a shoulder injury and the Sens have had to shuffle lines to make up for losing their No. 1 center. Tim Stutzle has been bumped up to the top line between Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson, while veteran Derick Brassard has been inserted into the lineup between Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux. Brassard went from not playing to averaging 16 minutes of ice time per game, and if he sticks with DeBrincat and Giroux, there should be points available in that spot.

#8 Philadelphia Flyers veteran left winger James van Riemsdyk is going to miss a month with a broken finger. He had five points (2 G, 3 A) in six games to start the season and his presence in front of the net will be missed. Scott Laughton is getting net front work on the Flyers power play with van Riemsdyk out. Laughton has three goals and 16 shots on goal in seven games, and he played a career-high 23:24 last game. Laughton also brings a physical presence and has 19 hits in seven games.

#9 With Sean Couturier out of the Philadelphia Flyers lineup indefinitely, Kevin Hayes has been tasked with handling the No. 1 center role. He has thrived in the role of playmaker, putting up 10 points (1 G, 9 A) through seven games. While Hayes has played mostly with Travis Konecny and they have led the Flyers in scoring, the duo has also managed a miserable 30.5% of expected goals during 5-on-5 play.

#10 Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek has established his credentials as a defensive center, finishing in the top seven in Selke Trophy voting in the past two seasons. However, he also scored 45 goals in 133 games over the past two seasons. He has started this season with six points (4 G, 2 A) and 27 shots on goal in seven games. His 3.86 shots on goal per game is a career high and Eriksson Ek has shown that he can produce without depending on having an elite scoring winger like Kirill Kaprizov on his line.

#11 Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson tallied a career-high 50 points (4 G, 46 A) last season and has not slowed down this season, putting up seven points (1 G, 6 A) in six games. He is averaging a career-high 23:54 of ice time per game and is running the point on the Flames’ top power play unit.

#12 St. Louis’ forward ranks have been depleted by injuries, including to wingers Pavel Buchnevich and Brandon Saad. That has created an opportunity for rookie right winger Jake Neighbours to skate with Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn, a good chance to contribute offensively. Neighbours has one goal in six games this season but played a career-high 15:27 in Thursday’s loss at Nashville.

#13 While Detroit Red Wings sophomore defenseman Moritz Seider is off to a slow start, with one point through seven games, Filip Hronek is picking up the slack on the Detroit blueline. Hronek has five assists in seven games, including three assists on the power play. His expected goals percentage of 49.0% during 5-on-5 play is tops among Red Wings blueliners.

VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 21: Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) skates up ice during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on January 21, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire)

#14 Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov is still looking for his first goal of the season, despite putting 26 shots on goal in eight games. His 3.25 shots on goal per game is slightly up from last season, when Barkov produced 39 goals in 67 games. Barkov is not the only forward getting lots of shots but not so many goals. Forwards with most shots on goal with 0 or one goal: Timo Meier (48 shots, one goal), Oliver Bjorkstrand (36 shots, one goal), Trevor Moore (29 shots, one goal), Reilly Smith (27 shots, one goal), Alexis Lafreniere (26 shots, one goal), Boone Jenner (25 shots, one goal), and Sam Bennett (25 shots, one goal).

#15 Players exceeding all-situations expected goals by the most: Andrei Svechnikov (5.02 goals above expected), Valeri Nichushkin (4.47), Connor McDavid (3.87), Shane Pinto (3.78), Jared McCann (3.32), Max Domi (3.08), and Mark Scheifele (3.02). This might be a decent indication that these players will not maintain their current goal-scoring pace but that should also be evident in their production. McDavid, for example, has eight goals in eight games. As great as he is, it would be asking a lot for him to maintain his current pace and score 80-plus goals this season.

#16 On the other hand, players with the largest deficit when it comes to all-situations expected goals are Timo Meier (-3.91), Erik Haula (-3.13), Boone Jenner (-2.96), Sam Reinhart (-2.93), Chris Kreider (-2.62), and Auston Matthews (-2.55). These are players that are getting quality chances but not converting. Matthews’ struggles are well publicized, but most of the options on this list are worth considering as buy-low targets because pucks have to start going into the net at some point. It’s notable that three Panthers – Barkov, Reinhart, and Bennett – are among the forwards that have yet to find their goal-scoring groove despite generating shots and/or scoring chances.

#17 Chicago Blackhawks forward Tyler Johnson got off to a quick start with six points (2 G, 4 A) in six games before suffering a sprained ankle that could keep him out for 4-6 weeks. With Johnson out, the top scoring options on the wing for the Blackhawks are Patrick Kane (naturally), Taylor Raddysh, Andreas Athanasiou, and Philipp Kurashev. Aside from Kane, none of those players have underlying numbers that suggest sustainable offensive production. Raddysh is worth considering in deep or banger leagues because he does have 15 points (8 G, 7 A), 54 shots on goal, and 54 hits in 28 games since joining the Blackhawks last season.

#18 Goaltending injuries have opened the door to some unexpected starts. Martin Jones is getting starts for the Seattle Kraken with Philipp Grubauer on the injured list due to a lower-body injury. Jones has a .858 save percentage in seven games, though, so if Grubauer is going to be out for a while, maybe Joey Daccord will see some action.

#19 A groin injury has put Petr Mrazek on the shelf, so Alex Stalock seeing regular action for for the Chicago Blackhawks. Stalock, 35, had appeared in one NHL game over the previous two seasons, but has played well early for Chicago. Even after surrendering six goals on 38 shots against Edmonton on Thursday, Stalock has a .913 save percentage in five starts this season. 23-year-old prospect Arvid Soderblom, who had a .919 save percentage in 38 AHL games last season, is also available for Chicago while Mrazek is out.

#20 This is really for the deepest of deep leagues – and that still might be a stretch – but keep an eye on Stefan Noesen in Carolina. The 29-year-old journeyman has four points in five games this season, giving him 58 points in 212 career NHL games spread across six teams. Noesen is crushing it on Carolina’s fourth line with long-time NHLers Paul Stastny and Derek Stepan. In five games, the Hurricanes are controlling 68.6% of 5v5 shot attempts and 65.6% of expected goals with Noesen on the ice. Noesen also had a monster 2021-2022 season in the AHL, scoring 48 goals in 70 regular-season games before putting up 25 points (9 G, 16 A) in 18 playoff games, so the Hurricanes are giving him time on the power play, too.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

Dis-Pens-Ed – Pittsburgh Penguins 2018-19 Season Preview

Robert Howard — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 17:43:00 +0000

REVIEW-STATE OF PLAY - After two straight Stanley Cup championships, the Penguins followed up with their third straight 100-point season but bowed out in the second round. They remain a perennial threat with two of the best centerman in hockey in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who finished fourth and tenth in scoring. They were joined by Phil Kessel tying for seventh giving the Penguins three top ten scorers. The Penguins topped 100 points with a torrid final half of the season for the third straight season under Mike Sullivan. They were 28-11-3, fourth in the league and the best offense with 161 goals in the final 41 games. Helped by a franchise record setting power play, converting on 27.6% of opportunities, second only to Toronto, eclipsing mark from 1995-96, on a team featuring Lemieux and Jagr.

DEFENSIVE EXPOSURE - The playoffs exposed some concerns on defense and Matt Murray returned to earth last season, his first as the undisputed starter, in a difficult season punctuated by personal tragedy (the death of his father) and injury (concussion). His spot was covered by two rookie goaltenders in his absence in 23-year-old Tristan Jarry, (23-14-16, 2.77 GAA, 0.908 SV%) who could probably use more time in the AHL. 26-year-old Casey DeSmith may be more likely to enter the season as backup appearing solid in 14 games (14-11-6-4, 2.40 GAA, 0.921 SV%) and two seasons in the AHL. A battle to watch in training camp.

Their defense was exposed against both Philadelphia and in their loss to eventual cup winners Washington. The allowed more than four goals in six of the 12 contests, losing five of those games. Their only off-season move of any significance was to sign Jack Johnson to a five-year contract at $3.25 million AAV. 31-year-old Johnson is looking to revive his career which stalled in Columbus, seeing time as a healthy scratch down the stretch last season. They also moved out salary cap in shipping out Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick in a trade but still have precious little room for more moves. Do not count out crafty GM Rutherford from doing something more, since his only other significant signing was veteran and Penguin alumni Matt Cullen for a depth role.

Sidney Crosby

BIG GUNS SPREAD OUT - Upfront they keep their big guns on separate lines with net front beast Patric Hornqvist and speedy Carl Hagelin lining up with Malkin. Crosby and Jake Guentzel work largely as a tandem, with Bryan Rust or departed Sheary last season, but look for 21-year-old Daniel Sprong to get a good look on the wing there.

Phil Kessel was tried with Malkin often early in the season but was lined up most frequently with Derick Brassard, acquired at the trade deadline, and an assortment of wingers by the end of the year. Brassard struggled with injury according to GM Rutherford and will be interesting what a full season can bring for the tandem. His ice time dropped by over three minutes a game going from Ottawa to Pittsburgh and will not see a lot of power play time. Kessel has been mentioned in trade rumours again this summer and would bring a nice package and perhaps the answer they are looking for on the back end.

Not a lot of change upfront, but they remain one of the most impressive forward groups in the NHL. While the lines are defined coach will put the superstars out together in key situations. They benefitted from a healthy season from Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, both of whom had more than their share of health issues over the years.

Crosby is still in the argument as the best player in the game. His monster playoff last year (12-9-12-21) spoke volumes about what he is still capable of. While he is your captain your goal is always the cup.

The defense is the area of concern, assuming Matt Murray returns to form after an off season, but is fairly set heading into the season. They have five defenders signed up for the next three seasons, and four for the next four seasons. Letang, Jamie Oleksiak, Brian Dumoulin, Olli Maatta, and Johnson with Justin Schultz signed for two more. The Penguins have always been one of the best teams in the league for developing prospect who play as regulars on the NHL club, which is remarkable given how few high draft picks, or indeed draft picks, they have had over the years. The establishment of Dumoulin and Maatta as NHL regulars and reliable contributors was an important development for the organization and allowing them to stay competitive. Maatta was finally healthy last season after a few health scares in his career.

The defense is led by the inimitable Kris Letang, both an offensive force, and solid defender. When healthy one of the most dynamic defenseman in the league. An intuitive connection to Crosby and Malkin and always deadly when the three of them are on the ice. He has bravely fought serious injury and come back time and again.

OUTLOOK - Fourth in goals per game, 20^th in goals against, 23^rd in save percentage are all indicators of a team that is reliant on elite level offense to convert a loss to victory. The offense will remain, but can the young defense take another step forward and provide solid play? Will Rutherford make moves, if not in the pre-season then at the deadline? A good season from Matt Murray and they will be a threat for the championship regardless.

Training Camp Notes – October 3rd, 2017

Ryan Dadoun — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 22:25:53 +0000

Anaheim

Ryan Getzlaf – Sustained a lower-body injury last week and hasn’t resumed skating yet. A couple days back Ducks coach Randy Carlyle did say on Saturday that he expected Getzlaf to play in the opener, but that’s on Thursday so we’re cutting it pretty close now.

Patrick Eaves – Didn’t end up playing in any preseason games. His lower-body injury might keep him out of the season opener as well. He’s another player Carlyle projected to be available for the opener while speaking on Saturday though, so we’ll see.

Arizona

Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Good news on this front. His recovery from his knee injury has progressed to the point where he’s been practicing with the Coyotes. It looks like he’ll be ready for the season opener.

Antti Raanta –A lower-body injury kept him out of the Coyotes’ last preseason game. He practiced with Arizona on Sunday though, so he’ll probably be fine for the opener.

Boston

Torey Krug – The Bruins are hoping that his jaw injury only sidelines him for the first three-to-five regular season games. In the meantime, he has been skating. For what it’s worth, when he does return he’ll be wearing a protective mask.

Buffalo

Benoit Pouliot – Was on a line with Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo during Sunday’s practice. He had been practicing as a bottom-six forward previously, so it will be interesting to see if he ends up on that unit to start the campaign.

Zemgus Girgensons – It was bad news for Girgensons. He was previously on Ryan O'Reilly and Kyle Okposo’s line, but Girgensons was knocked down to the third unit with Sam Reinhart and Jason Pominville. The Sabres’ third line has potential though.

Rasmus Ristolainen – After averaging 26:28 minutes per game last season (up from 25:17 minutes in 2015-16), Sabres coach Phil Housley wants to cut Ristolainen down to 22-23 minutes per game. The hope is that will keep him fresher for the final stretch.

Calgary

Jaromir Jagr – Signed a one-year contract with Calgary that comes with a $1 million base salary. Not sure what line Jagr plays for, but here’s a fun aside: Jagr was drafted the same year as Matthew Tkachuk’s father Keith. Keith Tkachuk retired seven years ago.

Carolina

Lee Stempniak – His hip/back problems remain something of a mystery. On Monday Hurricanes coach Bill Peters remarked, "We've got to get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later." Stempniak is questionable for the season opener and how much time he might miss beyond that seems like anybody’s guess.

Chicago

Connor Murphy – Sustained a lower-body injury on Saturday and didn’t practice on Monday as a result. It’s not clear if he’ll be available for the opener.

Colorado

Jonathan Bernier – As mentioned before, he sustained a groin injury on Sept. 25. The good news is that he resumed practicing with the team on Monday.

Columbus

Brandon Dubinsky – Got into the preseason finale on Saturday after missing all the previous exhibition contests due to a wrist injury. He should be fine for the season opener.

Pierre-Luc Dubois – Although the Blue Jackets have experimented with using him as a center, it looks like he’ll be serving as a left winger to start the campaign. His projected linemates are Brandon Dubinsky and Matt Calvert.

Boone Jenner – His back injury will keep him out of the season opener. Beyond that there’s no timetable for his return. He hasn’t skated with the Blue Jackets yet.

Detroit

David Booth – Signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Red Wings. It sounds like he’ll be in the lineup for the season opener, probably alongside Riley Sheahan and Luke Glendening.

Florida

Owen Tippett – He’ll be part of the Panthers’ roster for the start of the 2017-18 campaign. The downside is that it might be as a fourth line forward, so he might not be a fantasy factor for a while still.

Los Angeles

Mike Cammalleri/Jonny Brodzinski – The two might find themselves on either side of Anze Kopitar to begin the season. Obviously that would be great news for both of them, but it’d be a particularly big opportunity for the rookie Brodzinski.

Minnesota

Zach Parise – Is now expected to miss the first two games of the regular season due to his back problem. He also missed the Wild’s whole preseason schedule.

Nashville

Viktor Arvidsson – There’s been talk of him not opening the season with Ryan Johansen and Filip Forsberg. Two potential candidates to replace him on the top line would be Kevin Fiala and Scott Hartnell. None of that’s been finalized yet though.

New Jersey

Jimmy Hayes – More of an FYI because he doesn’t have fantasy value, but he did earn a one-year, $700,000 contract with New Jersey after attending the Devils’ training camp on a PTO.

Pavel Zacha – He’s getting a big opportunity off the bat as he’s projected to open on a line with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri. It’s not set in stone, but Devils coach John Hynes called it a “strong possibility.

NY Rangers

Kevin Shattenkirk – It’s not surprising, but it looks like Shattenkirk will be paired with Ryan McDonagh to start the season.

NY Islanders

Jordan Eberle – Another bit of anticipated, but nice to be basically confirmed news is that Eberle will be starting the campaign alongside John Tavares. The third member of that unit should be Anders Lee. Islanders coach Doug Weight has been happy with that trio so far.

Ottawa

Derick Brassard – Has been cleared for contact, so he might be able to play in the season opener. He’s been recovering from a shoulder injury.

Erik Karlsson – Still dealing with a foot injury, it’s now very unlikely that he’ll play in the opener. Not sure when he’ll be back.

Philadelphia

December 5, 2015:Philadelphia Flyers Defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere (53) moves the puck out of the Flyers zone in the first period during the game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire)

Shayne Gostisbehere – Sustained an upper-body injury during Sunday’s game. There hasn’t been an update yet, but he did join the Flyers’ flight to San Jose (ahead of Wednesday’s opener), so you could take that as an encouraging sign.

Travis Sanheim/Sam Morin – They were battling for a spot on the roster, but if Gostisbehere isn’t available then they could both stay on the roster for now. Fellow rookie defenseman Robert Hagg did make the roster so he should remain with the squad regardless of Gostisbehere’s status.

San Jose

Joe Thornton – He made his preseason debut on Saturday, clearing the way for him to participate in the opener. He underwent knee surgery to repair a torn ACL/MCL.

St. Louis

Scottie Upshall – Not of much fantasy relevance, but he did sign a one-year contract with the Blues. He began on a PTO with Vancouver, but found an opportunity with the Blues instead due to their injuries. Upshall is likely to enter the season on the fourth line alongside Kyle Brodziak and Chris Thorburn.

Washington

Tom Wilson – He’ll have a hearing tomorrow (Tuesday) for boarding the Blues’ Sam Blais. He already served a two-game preseason suspension over interference, so maybe this will be a harsher punishment as a result.

Brooks Orpik – Capitals coach Barry Trotz is tentatively planning to pair Orpik up with John Carlson to open the season. Orpik usually played alongside Nate Schmidt last season, but he’s not with the team anymore. Similarly, Carlson’s most common 2016-17 partner, Karl Alzner, is also gone.

Jakub Vrana – Not set in stone, but there’s a chance that Vrana not only opens the season with the Capitals, but does so on a line with Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov.

Winnipeg

Matt Hendricks – Is on the injured reserve after sustaining an undisclosed injury during Wednesday’s preseason contest. He’s regarded as day-to-day.

Andrew Copp – Suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s preseason contest. Jets coach Paul Maurice hasn’t ruled out Copp for the season opener though.

McKeen’s 17-18 Yearbook Updates

Ryan Dadoun — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 21:20:54 +0000

It is early in the pre-season, but Ryan Dadoun brings a round up of the news so far. Nothing earth shattering, but lots to keep an eye on. McKeen's will do an update end of day Monday based on injuries, camp performance, etc.

In the meantime here is what you need to know.

Anaheim

Hampus Lindholm – Shoulder injury will probably keep him out until early November. That’s not surprising given the initial projections from when he had surgery in May, but it’s his absence is more probable now than it was over the summer.

Ryan Kesler – The hope is to have him back by Christmas after he underwent hip surgery in June. Over the summer it looked like he might be back in November, so the recent news here has been discouraging.

Antoine Vermette – Might end up being the one to fill the void left by Kesler. He’s been practicing on a line with Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg. If we’re talking about standard fantasy leagues though, Vermette’s value is still borderline at best.

Arizona

Jason Demers – The Coyotes acquired him from the Florida Panthers. Arizona views him as a top-four defenseman, but it’s not clear who his defensive partner will be. He got a decent, but not great, amount of power-play time in Florida last season while Keith Yandle/Aaron Ekblad served as the team’s primary defensive options with the man advantage and he’ll probably end up in a similar situation in Arizona behind Oliver Ekman-Larsson/Alex Goligoski when it comes to power-play ice time.

Boston

Torey Krug – He suffered a non-displaced jaw fracture on Tuesday and was projected to miss at least three weeks from that date. That will cost him most of training camp and at least three regular season games.

Buffalo

Alexander Nylander – He suffered a lower-body injury on Sept. 8 and hasn’t skated at all in training camp as a result. Good news is that the Sabres think he’ll resume skating in near future, so maybe he’ll still return with enough time to spare to make his case for a roster spot.

Carolina

Lee Stempniak – More of a side note for now, but he’s been dealing with an undisclosed problem that might be more serious than initially believed. He has soreness in his hip/back and had an MRI on Thursday, so we’ll see what the results of that are.

Detroit

Andreas Athanasiou – Still hasn’t signed. There’s the threat of him heading to the KHL and even if he does re-sign in the not too distant future, he’ll be a young player that’s missed a good chunk of training camp/preseason play.

Edmonton

Ryan Strome – It’s a bit of a stretch to mention at this stage, but the Oilers seem to be going with a top line of Maroon, McDavid, and Strome so far. As a fun aside, McDavid also thinks Strome is a good sleeper pick in fantasy leagues. (https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-connor-mcdavid-sees-ryan-strome-as-fantasy-sleeper/c-290885390?tid=277729150)

Drake Caggiula – Similarly, it might be too early to read into it, but so far Drake Caggiula is being tested on the second line with Draisaitl and Lucic.

Los Angeles

Marian Gaborik – Is taking some contact as he recovers from a knee injury. Still unclear if he’ll play in the preseason, but it’s progress.

Nashville

Ryan Ellis – This happened a couple weeks before training camp, so you probably already have it in your projections, but just in case he’s out for four-to-six months with a knee injury. That has led to them mixing up their defensive pairings though. Ekholm and Subban were split up so that Ekholm is now with Josi (although Ekholm-Weber has also been experimented with) and Subban is with newcomer Emelin.

New Jersey

MONTREAL, QC - SEPTEMBER 21: New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13) waits for play to begin during the third period of the NHL preseason game between the New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens on September 21, 2017, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Nico Hischier – Another stretch, but for what it’s worth Nico Hischier has stood out in preseason games so far, upping what were already good odds of him making the team. Hynes suggested that Hischier has forced talks of him having a bigger role than previously projected. Hischier-Hall is an interesting combo, though of course it’s another preseason pairing so who knows.

NY Islanders

Alan Quine – Quine sustained an upper-body injury in mid-September that was projected to cost him four-to-six weeks. So he’s missing training camp and a couple weeks of the regular season in all likelihood.

Ottawa

Colin White – Suffered a broken left wrist on Monday and is projected to miss six-to-eight weeks. He had been seen as being in a good position to make the team, especially due to Derick Brassard being a question mark. Although…

Derick Brassard – His recovery from shoulder surgery is ahead of schedule, per what Guy Boucher said today. He still might not be ready for the start of the regular season.

Clarke MacArthur – Unfortunately even after his strong playoff showing, he ended up failing his physical. Sucks to say, but it may be that his playing career is over.

Erik Karlsson – As of Thursday he still wasn’t skating due to his foot injury. He’s unlikely to be ready for the start of the season and who knows if he’ll be begin the curve once he finally is given the green light to play.

Philadelphia

Travis Sanheim – It’s still tentative, but he’s off to a good start and seems to have improved his chances of making the team. Had 10 goals and 37 points in the AHL last season.

Sean Couturier – The Flyers are toying with using Claude Giroux as a left winger. Couturier could be the beneficiary if that happens as he could move up in the depth charts as a result, possibly even on a line with Giroux and Jakub Voracek (which they did test out in practice, but that doesn’t mean they’ll actually use it in games).

St. Louis

Zach Sanford – Suffered a dislocated left shoulder that will keep him sidelined for the next five-to-six months.

Jay Bouwmeester – Has a fractured left ankle that will be re-evaluated in three weeks. Along with Sanford, these ones are fringe just because they didn’t have much in the way of fantasy value even when healthy.

Alexander Steen – Suffered a hand injury in the Blues’ first preseason game on Tuesday that will cost him at least three weeks (at which point he’ll be re-evaluated). Certainly he’s the most noteworthy of the three fantasy wise.

Toronto

Patrick Marleau – It’s looking like Patrick Marleau won’t play alongside Matthews in even strength as Babcock’s preference appears to be a trio of Zach Hyman, Matthews, and William Nylander. Marleau and Matthews should share the ice in power play situations though.

Joffrey Lupul – Team’s says he failed his physical, but now it looks like the league wants to look into it after Lupul’s claim of cheating followed by his retraction(deletion)/apology. Probably doesn’t matter fantasy-wise either way. Even if Lupul is deemed fit to play he’ll probably end up in the AHL at most.

Vegas

James Neal – Has a broken hand that was projected to sideline him for two-to-four weeks. He’s one week into that timetable at this point so perhaps he’ll be okay for the season opener. Still sucks to miss training camp on a brand new team though.

Washington

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) makes a pass during an NHL game on March 16, 2017, at the Verizon Center, in Washington, D.C. between the Washington Capitals and the Nashville Predators. Nashville won 2-1 in overtime.
(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire)

Jakub Vrana – More grain of salt stuff, but the Capitals have been giving him top-six opportunities. He played alongside Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov in Wednesday’s preseason game and tonight it looks like he’ll be with Backstrom and Oshie (Kuznetsov/Ovechkin aren’t playing).

Winnipeg

Tyler Myers – Feels 100% after only playing in 11 games last season.

NHL Playoff Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. New York Rangers (3)

Daniel Friedman and Robert Howard — Sat, 16 Apr 2016 17:26:30 +0000

Summary: They're the hottest team in hockey, and have been a nearly unstoppable force over the past few months.

They're the Penguins, and they're going to lose this series.

Why? Their defense remains a question mark, and they're scoring at a rate that's just unsustainable. There are questions around the health of Evgeni Malkin and Marc Andre Fleury. Both are expected back soon, but it is a factor.

They're up against a battle-tested opponent in the Rangers that might not have been as good as them in the regular season, but we expect the veteran-laden Blueshirts to raise their game. In particular their defense needs to step up and neutralize Pittsburgh’s strong possession game - and will be challenged by speed. The Rangers have also been shooting at an unsustainable rate this season, but will benefit from a closer checking game - and the leveling of that playing field.

And as good as Pittsburgh's offense is, if there's a goalie that can repel it, it's Henrik Lundqvist.

It'll be an extremely close series, but it'll go to the Rangers.

PREDICTION: Rangers in 7

Game One Recap: Jeff Zatkoff started over game-time decision Marc Andre Fleury (concussion) and delivered a big performance, stopping 35 of 37 shots and keeping the Penguins in the game. He carried a shutout into the third, when the Rangers scored on a 5-on-3 power play. Henrik Lundqvist’s eye injury is the most chilling result of the game. We have picked the Rangers, but without Lundqvist, everything changes. His status is being kept under close wraps by the Rangers, similar to Pittsburgh’s silence on their starter for game one. Patric Hornqvist (2G, 1A) and Sidney Crosby (1G 2A) combined for six points. Derek Stepan scored both New York goals. New York won the Corsi battle 55 CF to 36, and delivered 46 hits to the Pens 29.

Key Injuries: Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin (both expected back soon), Matt Murray, Beau Bennett, NYR – Ryan McDonough

Critical Factors: Henrik Lundqvist is critical to New York’s hopes. They finished 15^th in the league in defence after finishing first last season, and 34-year old King Henrik has looked average at times, with moments of brilliance – he finished with a very middle of the road 14^th in save percentage (0.920) and 22^nd in GAA (2.48 – min 30 games). The window to win is closing, and he remains a very good bet to put the regular season behind him and rise to the occasion. Eric Staal was acquired at the trade deadline and Keith Yandle retained, both UFA’s this summer, so the team went all in for a run. The Penguins have been flying (pun intended) under new coach Mike Sullivan, appointed in December. Since he took the helm they posted the league’s second highest CF% (54.6), just behind LA, and a full two percentage points above third place – up from 20^th place (48.4%) under coach Johnston – a remarkable turnaround that can’t be ignored. Marc Andre Fleury was making a case for the Vezina at stretches, and finally looked ready for the big Spring performance everyone has been waiting for, before suffering a concussion. The Rangers boast an experienced defensive group that outmatches Pittsburgh’s and their poise in handling the Pens firepower, and interrupting their strong possession game could be a big point of differentiation in the series. It will mean a number of them raising their game - but they have been here before. Ryan McDonagh, their best defenceman, broke his hand, but is listed as day-to-day.

Potential Breakout Players: The Penguins stars have been playing at an elite level since the coaching change Sidney Crosby (50-27-36-63, 1.26 PPG), Kris Letang (45-13-37-50, 1.11 PPG), Evgeni Malkin (26-13-18-31, 1.19 PPG). Nick Bonino (13-5-11-16 together) filled in well for Malkin between Phil Kessel (13-6-7-13) and Carl Hagelin (37-10-17-27 with Pittsburgh, 13-6-7-13 with Bonino and Kessel). Crosby linemates Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz could flourish if he continues to raise the level of his play (see game one). Derek Stepan was blazing hot down the stretch with 17 points in his last 10 games (10-8-9-17) – adding two goals in the first game. He and Chris Kreider form an effective tandem (nine points in his last eight - 8-5-4-9). Rick Nash has only scored twice in the last 16 games (16-2-0-2) after suffering a bone bruise. Mats Zuccarello has been skating with Stepan on the top line over the last while, and is coming off a career year – largely combining well with Derick Brassard for much of the season. A big playoff could be in store.

Season Matchup: Pittsburgh 3-1

Key Stats

CF% 5v5 (war-on-ice.com): PIT 52.6% (2^nd) NYR 47.5% (25^th)

PDO (war-on-ice.com): PIT 100.6 (7^th) NYR 102.3 (1^st)

Power Play (NHL.com): PIT 18.4% (16^th) NYR 18.6% (14^th)

Penalty Kill (NHL.com): PIT 84.4% (5^th) NYR 78.2% (26^th)

Goals For per-game (NHL.com): PIT 2.94 (3^rd) NYR 2.84 (7^th)

Goals Against per-game (NHL.com): PIT 2.43 (6^th) NYR 2.62 (15^th)

Notes: New York enjoyed the most ‘puck luck’ of any NHL team – finishing first in both OSh% (8.9%) and OSv% (93.4%). The on-ice save percentage has been top four for the last four years (1^st, 4^th, 2^nd, 1^st) so Lundqvist looms large – on-ice shooting percentage is elevated based on previous years – 4^th last year, but 28^th and 18^th the previous two. Pittsburgh owns a large advantage in possession at 5v5 – and are middle of the road on OSh% with 7.5% - until you look at a their 9.1% OSh% since January – which jumps to 9.9% in the months of March and April – not likely sustainable despite their superstars. Both power plays are middle of the road, but the Rangers weakness penalty killing stands out.