#and Marian's pedigree might not be as high as it could be

[mydaylight]

I understand why people speculate about Bertha's reaction to Larian, because Bertha has been the one who has proved herself to be meddlesome when it comes to her children's love lives so far, but honestly the one who could end being an real obstacle to them is Agnes. I was rewatching s2ep1 today and Agnes is so snobbish towards the Russells that she doesn't even condescend to wish them a happy Easter when she comes across them in church. I am not saying it's certain that Bertha isn't going to disapprove of the match as well, but I think we can expect Agnes to have an equally, if not more, adverse reaction to Larry/Marian.

[mamadarama]

same anon here to elaborate on some of the cats (and other pets) in the story:

every member of knights has a descendant of little john/nyaitsu. (only one i have details on atm: izuleo have a big fat cat named king richard who's dumb as rocks[though they both insist otherwise] and spoiled rotten. they didn't know it was a girl until after she was named that. later on they got another cat who they named maid marian before finding out that was a boy. their names have not been changed regardless)

shu adopted a Fancy Pedigree Sphinx (he makes it little sweaters/outfits to keep it warm). mika has a skrunkly black cat he found in a dumpster (alternatively, also thought it could be cool to give him one of those patchwork cats, where the pigmentation on their face is like. split down the middle yanno). anywho these cats are Bonded for Life

tetohina have a Stupid Male Orange Tabby. tetora thinks the cat is a Fierce Warrior while hinata calls it a stinky dum dum (affectionately)

kohiiai actually have three pets. first was the bunny, then the tarantula hiiro brought home a day later, then a while after that, kohaku found a stray kitten in an alleyway and brought it home (by this point hiiro has adjusted to the idea of domesticated pets, and it helps that the kitten was also on the streets [just like him ;;]) kohaku and the cat are both found regularly napping in weird locations (open to suggestions on cat breeds!! i keep going back and forth on what it should be,, i liked the idea of bingus, but also like the idea of fluffy,, currently tentatively thinking oriental long hair maybe? idk. kitten with ear too big for he gotdam head)

subaru (+the rest of trickstar by extension) has a direct descendant of daikichi

similarly, koga has at least one or two corgis, if not a direct descendant of leon. also probably like a bajillion foster dogs. hes using the rockstar money to care for as many dogs as possible

souma still has kamegorou. turtles live a long time,, (also maybe one or two horses as well)

given your Cat Knowledge, i'd love to hear your thoughts on these, or any other characters who you think should have cats! :3

Aaahh thats so cute . i can totally imagine leo having a cat named king richard thats just like that, if someone told me him and izumi have that exact cat back in italy i wouldnt even question it id just take it as fact

you could give kohaku a purebred, but it wouldnt be that realistic to do that. finding a purebred stray/feral at all, much less finding one alive, is so unlikely that the only thing keeping me from saying its impossible is my personal adversity to making absolute claims like that on the possibility of some bizarre freak situation. all strays and ferals are moggies/randombreds, any purebreds you see in shelters are animals surrendered by their owners (its rare, ive been rehabbing cats for 6-7 years now and its only happened 3 times)

however that doesnt mean you cant give him a unique cat !! mutations and weird patterns happen all the time in stray and feral populations . the bobtail gene is pretty common in japanese colonies (at least more common than it is in america) so you could give him a bobtail cat? i think a little high white calico bobtail would suit him :^)

but of course realism doesnt really matter too much, hell i have purebreds in catstars au and theyre all ferals

also hiiro would have either a tarantula or a stick bug or both. idk i can imagine him absolutely adoring stick and leaf bugs for how they look like sticks and leaves , he thinks its charming

depending on how far in the future were talking souma might still have saigoudon. souma grew up with him so its safe to assume theyre around the same age, meaning saigoudon is around 20 years old. horses can live up to 30 and occasionally even longer so theyve still got plenty time left together. if he moves out of his parents house maybe hed get his own horse though

the twins definitely have their own cats and tetora definitely tells young children that meet their cat that its part tiger.

SHU HAVING A HAIRLESS BREED IS SO REAL he would love having a pet he can make clothes for its too perfect . the split face marking youre talking about is most common in tortoiseshell cats , that would be perfect for mika :D

with daikichi and leon im almost certain theyre both fixed because koga and subaru are responsible dog owners but subaru would definitely stick with shibas . i can picture koga either with another corgi or adopting a shepard mix of some kind ..... when he retires hed probably start fostering dogs but until then hed probably be busy with life and stick with only one dog so he can devote all his attention to that one . fostering more than one or two dogs at a time is kind of a full time thing (believe me my step grandmother fosters dogs and owns 11) he definitely volunteers at some sort of animal place, either domestic or exotics or whatever he just loves animals in general (thinking abt the guinea pig card..... )

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Saturday 5 May 1838: SH:7/ML/E/21/0090

8

3 25

fine morning Mr. Faulken the hairdresser came about 9 – dressed A- and then me during which time A- had Miss Lloyd the dressmaker – A- and I adjusted the Imperials for going with the carriage to be embarked – Mr. Harrison Bluemantle came at 11 and waited ten minutes or more – then staid ½ hour – took away with him A-‘s sketch of pedigree which she had done very neatly and took my pedigree to enter the deaths (vid. 166) – the coronation to be on the 28th June – to cost about £40,000 as did the coronation of William IV. – no procession – no place to arrange it in – would be 6000 who would have a right to join it, and no house of Lords – no place to marshal it in – the queen would not sleep in the cloisters of Westminster abbey as George the 4th did – to be ready for the next day – could not undergo the fatigue of a bouquet – about 12000 peers – the length of peeresses robes in proportion of their rank – a duchesses’ train 6ft. long on the ground – Every peerage bought by interest of one sort or other – Lord Ashburton (Baring) bought up the Times newspaper such which it is conservative, and has made £10,000 a year and more – realizes after paying all expense, £60,000 a year – the whigs did not know the [consi.] of their own reform bill – 3 parties now – whigs, tories, and radicals – any 2 of which joining must turn out the other – the present ministers will never resign – Bluemantle evidently a whig, and soon saw we were on the other side – breakfast after he went i.e. about 11 ½ and at 12 40 left A- to write to her sister and I drove off to Eastcombe – turned to the left just after passing over Blackheath – fine drive – the long line of Greenwich railroad arches had something of the look of an ancient aqueduct – at Eastcombe in 1 ¼ hour at 1 55 Lady S- much surprised but very glad to see me – Lady Buckinghamshire had been saying only yesterday she wondered if she should ever see Miss Lister – Lady S- looking much better than when I saw her last – no deafer – nor more bent as far as applied to me – gave her my address r. Saint Victor n°27 – promised to write – Lady B- a tall very ladylike elegant looking person I declined taking luncheon and also declined going upstairs – glad I went – the room we were in looked upon the distant Thames – a fine view – and had one window down to the ground on the other side opposite to the fireplace, and opening into a pretty flower garden – the room book shelved all round about 6ft. high – the shelves thrown back and that the well above (papered) was flush with the books on the shelves – all forming one line – no projection – the effect of this good and very comfortable – the drawing room at Shibden might be done in this way? past an hour with Lady S- and returned in 1 ¼ hour and home at 4 10 having stopt a moment en passant at Hammersleys’ and brought my passport signed by the French ambassador – sent away the horses for an hour and George dined and then about 5 ¼ A- drove off to Endsleigh street n°5 to see Mrs. Plowes – near an hour there – very glad to see her – pressed her but not disagreeably to know her plans but quite satisfied when A- said she really did not mean to tell them – Miss Edwards of Pynest there – while A- was away I sat writing up my journal from the beginning of Tuesday (1st instant) when about 6 ¼ Lady Stuart de R- and Louisa were announced – very glad to see her – said it was very good of her to come – she brought me the direction to the hotel Lady Rundlesham liked so much, Hotel Voltaire r. de Lille who also mentioned should this be full Hotel Mirabeau r. de la Paix – to write to them undercover to Lord Stuart de R- thro’ the embassy – to send the packet to the embassy porter or to Mr. Oakey the Law agent next door – we cozing very comfortably when A- returned and came in taken by surprise to find the de R-s here – introduced her – all very well – they did not stay more than a minute or 2 afterwards – then dinner about 7 ½ - a person from Mr. Pearce brought the bill paid it = £16.3.6 for what has been done to the carriage 11.2.6 and the rest expense of carriage and horses and embarking the carriage 12/. – Hutton brought home George’s clothes and Miss Lloyd sent A-‘s gown and petticoat (waist trimmed with Valenciennes edging) very neat – sent George to pay her bill –

SH:7/ML/E/21/0091

A- and I respectively finished our Madeira and claret – had given them into charge of the waiter last night, and none of the wine seemed to have been taken – sat talking some while – then at our writing – then tea between 10 and 11 and writing again – had just finished my journal up so far at 11 40 – a heavyish shower or as I went to Eastcombe this morning otherwise fine day – then till 1 40 (sent Oddy to bed at 12) sat writing to M-, Marian, Mrs. Briggs and Mrs. Bagnold to be left in the letter box here tomorrow – morning – fine day – expect the rain going to Eastcombe this morning – A- wrote to her aunt while I was writing – directed and sealed my letters – we did not go upstairs till 2 or after –

[yahoo-roto-arcade-blog]

Fantasy Hockey pickups: Navigating NHL holiday schedule

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore, a popular preseason breakout candidate, is starting to perform. (AP Photo/John Locher)

By Neil Parker, RotoWire Hockey Writer Special to Yahoo Sports

Take notice of the NHL schedule around the holidays and plan roster decisions accordingly. The World Junior Championship also begins next week, and nothing can skyrocket or tank a prospect’s value as quickly as a two-week, high-stakes tournament featuring the best teenagers in the world. Dynasty owners will want to watch for potential sell-high, buy-low opportunities.

Here’s the schedule for the next scoring period from Dec. 25-31:

Two games: Sabres, Panthers, Kings, Rangers, Flyers, Sharks, Canucks

All other teams play three games next week.

Ensure to keep tabs on who is cut in your leagues, and also remember to check the handful of the previously covered players listed below.

Yahoo ownership rates as of Dec. 21.

FORWARD

Kevin Fiala, NAS (40 percent): Fuelled by an active eight-game point streak (seven goals, four assists and 29 shots), Fiala is up to a high-end 3.24 points per 60 minutes for the campaign. He should be universally owned considering his pedigree, career trajectory, top-six role and current form.

Tyler Johnson, TB (44 percent): The flu bug cost the American pivot Tuesday’s game, but he still sports a seven-game point streak with four tallies and eight helpers. The return to a top-six role has been a huge boon to his fantasy value, and Johnson’s track record of offensive success shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Mikko Rantanen, COL (48 percent): Deemed an NHL-ready prospect coming out of the 2015 draft, Rantanen has quietly put together an excellent start to the campaign. He’s up to 10 goals, 29 points and 77 shots through 33 contests, and skating with Nathan MacKinnon has been an excellent fit. The duo has combined for an impressive 4.67 goals per 60 minutes, after all.

Danton Heinen, BOS (25 percent): With six goals and 15 points through his past 16 games, Heinen is quickly establishing himself as a reliable scorer at the highest level. The British Columbia native was a solid scorer for the University of Denver and has the skill set to be a respectable contributor. Just note that his current stretch is likely a bit of a mirage.

Alexander Wennberg, CLM (29 percent): At this point of the campaign last season, the Swede had 28 points through 31 games, so his start to 2017-18 has been a major disappointment. The tides appear to be turning, though. He sports a four-game point streak, and with Brandon Dubinsky (eye) out long term, Wennberg’s role should expand.

David Perron, VGK (41 percent): Scoring at a point-per-game pace for the season, Perron hasn’t skipped a beat since returning from an upper-body injury. He’s skating in a top-line gig with power-play time and has a goal, seven assists and eight PIM through six games.

Jake DeBrusk, BOS (4 percent): Dating back to the beginning of November, the rookie has collected six goals, 14 points, 44 shots, 19 PIM and a plus-8 rating. Those numbers move the fantasy needle in most settings. While the jury is definitely still out on just how much offensive potential the second-generation NHLer owns, he’s currently proving to be a serviceable asset.

DEFENSE

Shea Theodore, VGK (17 percent): A popular preseason breakout candidate, Theodore toiled needlessly in the minors for the majority of October. He’s fresh off a four-point showing against the Lightning on Tuesday and has carved out the quarterback gig on the No. 1 power-play unit. The offense might be a little inconsistent moving forward, but Theodore should be able to post solid numbers in the majority of settings.

Colin Miller, VGK (37 percent): There’s a lot to like about Miller’s game, and recently, it’s translated into excellent fantasy results. He’s collected two goals, six assists, 30 shots, 12 PIM, 13 hits and a plus-5 rating through his past nine games. The 25-year-old defender also ranks seventh in points per 60 minutes (1.87) among all defensemen with at least 600 minutes this season.

Anton Stralman, TB (20 percent): Owning good players on good teams usually pays off over the course of the season, and Stralman is particularly helpful in the plus-minus column with a plus-24 mark through 33 contests. He’s not receiving power-play time and has just 11 points for the campaign, but there’s enough cross-category coverage to tilt the scales in deeper settings.

GOALIE

Aaron Dell, SAN (34 percent): At some point, Dell’s going to be handed a larger timeshare of starts for the Sharks. He sports a career .934 save percentage and 1.91 GAA, and this season’s .939 and 1.75 marks are the best in the league. Martin Jones has allowed at least four goals in each of his past six starts for a 1-3-2 record, .868 save percentage and 4.08 GAA, too.

Alex Stalock, MIN (37 percent): With Devan Dubnyk nursing a lower-body injury, Stalock could see a few extra starts over the coming weeks. He’s struggled of late with at least three goals allowed in each of his past three outings, but had won his three previous starts with a .949 save percentage, so the potential is there. At worst, he’s a matchup-based option and/or Dubnyk handcuff.

David Rittich, CGY (2 percent): The Czech rookie has won all three of his starts and sports a respectable .919 save percentage and 2.10 GAA through four appearances. Mike Smith is locked into a huge workload, but Rittich could prove to be a nice streaming option or handcuff in cavernous settings. His value would obviously skyrocket if Smith ever sustained an injury.

Players to consider from past columns: Josh Anderson, Kyle Connor, Alex DeBrincat, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jesse Puljujarvi, Marian Gaborik, Sam Bennett, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Galchenyuk, Jesper Bratt, Reilly Smith, Tomas Hertl, Micheal Ferland, Craig Smith, Phillip Danault, Tyler Myers, Mathew Dumba, Erik Johnson, Matt Niskanen, Brady Skjei, Darnell Nurse, Esa Lindell, Antti Raanta, James Reimer, Jacob Markstrom, Steve Mason, Anton Khudobin, Philipp Grubauer, Darcy Kuemper, Malcolm Subban.

[yahoo-puck-daddy-blog]

What if … Minnesota Wild hired Pierre McGuire as GM? (NHL Alternate History)

  (Ed. Note: It’s the NHL Alternate History project! We’ve asked fans and bloggers from 31 teams to pick one turning point in their franchise’s history and ask ‘what if things had gone differently?’ Trades, hirings, firings, wins, losses, injuries … all of it. How would one different outcome change the course of history for an NHL team? Today: Podcasters Giles Ferrell and Ben Remington on the Minnesota Wild. Enjoy!)

By Giles Ferrell and Ben Remington

The Minnesota Wild have had a definitively mediocre history since their inaugural season — without many high points, but also, limited low points.

We set out to contemplate what could have changed the course of history for this team one way or another. Due to the unexciting nature of this franchise, we could only muster a few franchise-altering events.

Recent bias might knee-jerk some into wanting to reverse the Brent Burns trade, which sent the superstar to San Jose, where he would thrive, far from the squandering grip of Mike Yeo. However, Charlie Coyle, while no Brent Burns, is a solid player to have, so the net positive wouldn’t exactly change this team forever. Being able to re-sign Marian Gaborik may have had similarly slim positive results, given the fact that he’s actually a Faberge egg that learned how to shoot a hockey puck.

However, there was something a few years back. The Wild signed Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to matching 13-year, $98-million contracts that will definitely never be regrettable and will undoubtedly bring a Stanley Cup to St. Paul … if only Mikko Koivu made less money. The Parise and Suter contracts shifted the Wild franchise from an inevitable rebuild to a perennial playoff team, albeit one that can’t overcome seemingly any other team in the Central Division that doesn’t rhyme with ‘The Hottest Golden Girl was Blanche’.

But we’re not going to change the Parise and Suter signings … well, at least not exactly. Besides, Ben already wrote an article about that.

We’re going back to the hiring of Chuck Fletcher. The much-ostracized and in some cases, outwardly hated Chuck Fletcher. Famous for his pedigree and penchant for No Movement Clauses, the Chuck Fletcher hiring undoubtedly has shaped the Wild franchise, for better or for worse, over the past 8 seasons. While the Wild have made the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, their lack of success in those playoffs have put Fletcher a bit on the hot seat, as his team made the otherwise average Jake Allen look like the second coming of Georges Vezina this past spring.

Instead of hiring Chuck Fletcher, we’re going to hire the man who just missed out on the job.

Yes, him.

That guy you yell at every time you turn on a hockey game on the NBC family of networks.

Believe it or not, Wild owner Craig Leipold who played High School basketball for the Neenah Rockets was very seriously considering hiring the bald one himself to run the Minnesota Wild, but chose Chuck Fletcher from Harvard University instead, probably because he’s actually been in a successful front office before.

So what would Pierre McGuire a standout defenseman from Hobart College do in the State of Hockey™ if he were given the reigns in 2009?

Lets gaze into the crystal ball and imagine the alternate reality in which we get:

Pierre McGuire, Minnesota Wild General Manager.

At the time of making this change in general managers, the Wild had a team that was very much on the downswing and had an absolutely bare cupboard of prospects. The latter was very much an issue of outgoing general manager Doug Risebrough, who played with the Kitchener Rangers, and could not hit on a first round draft pick past 2003 to save his life.

So the incoming McGuire would need to retool the prospect pipeline to make Minnesota a winner for the long haul. In the first four drafts, here is how the former Whalers coach would draft in the first round:

2009 Draft – Wild select D David Rundblad instead of Nick Leddy who played defense for the Eden Prairie Eagles

2010 Draft – Wild select Windsor Spitfires D Cam Fowler instead of Mikael Granlund

2011 Draft – Wild select LW Sven Baertschi who once scored 94 points for the Portland Winterhawks instead of D Jonas Brodin

2012 Draft – Wild select D Derrick Pouliot, a former Moose Jaw Warrior instead of Red Deer D Matt Dumba

Like Fletcher did in reality, Pierre goes heavy on defense in his first four drafts. Cam Fowler works out, but Rundblad and Pouliot do not pan out the way he hoped and the Wild have a blue line that is lacking young serviceable defenseman. He also whiffs on selecting a forward in 2011 with Sven Baertschi, as his tenure with the Wild is short lived as the former Saskatoon Blade Colton Gillies era was.

McGuire does try to improve the team through free agency and trades, however few players want to sign with him, citing feeling “creeped out” during visits to St. Paul, and his constant trade offers for Sidney Crosby finally get him blocked from St. Lawrence Skating Saints alum and Pittsburgh General Manager Ray Shero’s phone.

The team spirals into a dismal slump, finishing out of the playoffs every season during his tenure.

Because of the lack of NHL talent and his love for junior league hockey, Pierre decides to completely rebuild the Wild. He wants to tear it all down and start over since the team has absolutely nothing going for them. The three most tradeable assets, goaltender Niklas Backstrom, center Mikko Koivu, and former Couchiching Terriers defenseman Brent Burns, are all prime candidates for McGuire to move so he can continue his rebuild. So he trades them as follows:

2010 trade deadline – Niklas Backstrom traded to St Louis for a 2nd and 3rd round pick.

Prior to 2010-11 – Mikko Koivu traded to Montreal for a 1st round pick, David Desharnais (Chicoutimi Sagueneens), and Josh Gorges (Kelowna Rockets)

2011 trade deadline – Brent Burns traded to San Jose for Devin Setoguchi (Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves) and a 2nd round pick

The McGuire trades for the best players get butchered, leaving the Wild further crippled. As a result, the Wild do not have the players and prospects necessary to entice Zach Parise, who starred for the Shattuck St. Mary Sabres, and Madison Capitals legend Ryan Suter to sign on in the summer of 2012. Instead of contending for the playoffs, the Wild are now contending for the lottery pick alongside the Edmonton Oilers, leading to a television series called ‘Wild Times’ that runs concurrently with the ‘Oil Change’ series. I

n the spirit of the curse that is Minnesota sports, and much unlike the Oilers, the Wild continuously lose out on securing the first pick in the lottery.

In the end, Leipold’s patience is ultimately tested, but before he can fire McGuire, Pierre resigns in 2013 out of embarrassment and tries to get a job a with NBCSN again, only to be turned away by them and Root Sports Pittsburgh, and settling for a position with Fox Sports Arizona.

With Chuck Fletcher already being hired as the GM by the St. Louis Blues in 2010, the Wild name McGuire’s replacement in Jim Nill, who played for the Medicine Hat Tigers. However, given the mess he was left with, Nill needs to restock the cupboard even more than McGuire did, and a lengthy rebuild ensues.

The Wild bottom out in the 2014-15 season, finished 28th in the NHL, but the lottery finally favors them, in the same year that the Minnesota Timberwolves land the first overall pick and Karl Anthony Towns.

With only the Oilers and Wild left on the board, the first overall pick is awarded to Minnesota, and they select Erie Otters center Connor McDavid.

The rest, as they say, is alternative history.

—

Giles Ferrell and Ben Remington write about the Wild for Zone Coverage. Their podcast, Giles And The Goalie, can be found on iTunes.

PREVIOUSLY ON NHL ALTERNATE HISTORY

What if … the Islanders never hired Mike Milbury?

What if … Dallas drafted the other Lundqvist brother?

MORE FROM YAHOO SPORTS

[yahoo-roto-arcade-blog]

Fantasy Hockey pickups: Who should you add on the waiver wire?

Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi is skating with Connor McDavid, which is reason enough to add him in your fantasy league. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

By Neil Parker, RotoWire Hockey Writer Special to Yahoo Sports

A noticeable trend in this space through two months is the lasting availability of young players who have pedigree and are scoring. The waiver-wire “last-calls” for Mathew Barzal and Brock Boeser, for example, lasted far longer than they should have.

Perhaps there are a lot of shallow leagues. Still, make no mistake, the salary-cap era and refocus on speed and talent across the NHL has tilted the ice in favor of young scorers.

Kevin Fiala has been a lock in this column all year, and Jesse Puljujarvi could be on the verge of exploding. These are high-end talents playing in top-six roles, so don’t be afraid to take a chance on them.

Here’s the schedule for the next scoring period from Dec. 18-24:

Two games: Flames, Blackhawks, Golden Knights

Four games: Ducks, Bruins, Blue Jackets, Flyers

All other teams play three games next week

Ensure to keep tabs on who is cut in your leagues, and also remember to check the handful of the previously covered players listed below.

Yahoo ownership rates as of Dec. 14.

FORWARD

Tyler Johnson, TB (35 percent): A return to a top-six role has led to an uptick in offense for Johnson. He’s a proven scorer and has now recorded three goals, six assists and four multi-point showings during an active five-game point streak. He has the potential to score at a point-per-game pace moving forward.

Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM (9 percent): A holdover from last week, the Finn is still skating with No. 1 center and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, so Puljujarvi is a worth a roster spot in most settings for that reason alone. The fourth overall selection from the 2016 draft has also chipped in while skating atop the depth chart with three goals and five points through his past five contests.

Kevin Fiala, NSH (17 percent): For whatever reason, Fiala remains available in oodles of leagues. He’s currently riding a five-game point streak with four goals, three assists and 21 shots, and his 2.97 points per 60 minutes is a rock-solid mark. Scoop him up, folks. The Swiss native is a legit talent.

Mathieu Perreault, WPG (20 percent): There’s nothing to like about Perreault’s fourth-line assignment at even strength. Yet, he’s still marked the scoresheet in nine of his past 14 games for eight goals, seven assists and six power-play points. The 29-year-old veteran can also help in the PIM category. Additionally, he’s posted four consecutive 40-point campaigns despite missing at least 11 games in each of those seasons.

Evgenii Dadonov, FLA (24 percent): After missing eight games with a shoulder injury, Dadonov is back on the waiver wire in plenty of leagues. He returned to the lineup Tuesday and has recorded seven goals, 18 points and 58 shots through 23 games for the season, so he projects to pick up where he left off and provide serviceable offense in the majority of settings moving forward.

Phillip Danault, MON (8 percent): The 24-year-old center is currently centering Max Pacioretty and Paul Byron and has collected three goals and three assists through his past six contests. Danault certainly isn’t a universal asset, but he’s provided respectable offensive numbers dating back to the midway point of last season. There’s potential here in deep leagues.

Evan Rodrigues, BUF (0 percent): The Boston University standout is still finding his way at the highest level, but the results have been noticeable of late. Rodrigues has been skating on the No. 1 power-play unit and picked up two goals and an assist through his past three games. His ceiling is low and expectations should remain in check, but there’s appeal in cavernous settings.

Michael Raffl, PHI (2 percent): At this stage of Raffl’s career, you know what you’re getting from the 29-year-old winger. He’s a streaky scorer who shouldn’t be counted on as a year-long contributor in most settings. Raffl is currently receiving top-six minutes on a line with Jakub Voracek and Valtteri Filppula and has notched five goals and three helpers through his past nine contests, so the Austrian is worth a look until the offense dries up.

DEFENSE

Tyler Myers, WPG (43 percent): A mainstay in this space over the past month, Myers’ fantasy value might receive an added boost with Dustin Byfuglien and Toby Enstrom both nursing lower-body injuries. Considering the Texas native has three goals, 10 points, 27 shots and 12 PIM through his past 15 games, he projects to continue posting solid numbers with the uptick in ice time.

Matt Niskanen, WAS (43 percent): Good players on good teams usually provide good fantasy numbers, and Niskanen has done just that since returning from an upper-body injury. His offense doesn’t jump off the page, but with two goals, seven points, 34 shots, 23 hits, 18 blocked shots and a plus-10 rating through his past 14 contests, there’s a lot of cross-category appeal here.

Sami Vatanen, ANA (13 percent): Without a point through his first five games with New Jersey, this could prove to be a buy-low spot for Vatanen. While Taylor Hall’s knee injury could hurt the Devils’ attack, this is still one of the better offenses in the league, albeit somewhat surprisingly. Expect Vatanen’s role and talent will lead to offensive production sooner than later.

Vince Dunn, STL (0 percent): With Alex Pietrangelo (foot) on injured reserve, Dunn has skated with the No. 1 power-play unit the past two games. It’s been a quiet debut for the rookie with just two goals and assists through 30 games. He had 50 shots on goal and 45 points in his first AHL season last year, so there is some upside in cavernous settings for the 2015 second-round selection.

GOALIE

Antti Raanta, ARI (23 percent): With just a single start since Nov. 22, there’s a reason Raanta is so wildly available. However, his .919 save percentage and 2.68 GAA are solid marks, and he’s going to see the bulk of starts moving forward. Injuries have hurt his value to this point, but there’s a slim chance Arizona will turn things around enough for the Finnish netminder to post respectable numbers moving forward.

James Reimer, FLA (24 percent): The veteran has allowed three goals or more in seven of his past eight games for a 3-2-3 record, .897 save percentage and 3.34 GAA. Those are underwhelming numbers, but with Roberto Luongo (lower body) out of action, Reimer should be owned and can be turned to with modest confidence in favorable matchups.

Philipp Grubauer, WAS (5 percent): There have been some disappointing starts from the German this season, but at this stage of his career, his track record outweighs any blip on the radar. Grubauer’s stopped 66 of 68 shots (.971 save percentage) through his past three appearances and owns a career .920 mark with a 2.36 GAA through 77 games. At worst, he’s a goalie to monitor and stream when he gets the starting nod.

Players to consider from past columns: Josh Anderson, Kyle Connor, Alex DeBrincat, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Pavel Buchnevich, Marian Gaborik, Sam Bennett, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Galchenyuk, Nick Bjugstad, Adam Henrique, Nick Schmaltz, Derek Stepan, Jesper Bratt, Artem Anisimov, Tom Wilson, Mikko Rantanen, Jakub Vrana, Reilly Smith, Tomas Hertl, Micheal Ferland, Craig Smith, Mathew Dumba, Erik Johnson, Johnny Boychuk, Shea Theodore, Brady Skjei, Darnell Nurse, Noah Hanifin, Alexander Edler, Esa Lindell, Jakob Chychrun, Jacob Markstrom, Thomas Greiss, Aaron Dell, Steve Mason, Darcy Kuemper, Malcolm Subban.

[yahoo-roto-arcade-blog]

Adam Henrique among intriguing Fantasy Hockey waiver wire adds

Anaheim Ducks center Adam Henrique has started fast with his new team and should see plenty of offensive looks. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

By Neil Parker, RotoWire Hockey Writer Special to Yahoo Sports

The fantasy season is quickly closing in on the halfway point, so as always, be active and swing for the fences with your transactions. Catching the bulk of a mini hot streak can provide a huge boost of support alongside your go-to scorers’ numbers.

Here’s the schedule for the next scoring period, Dec. 11-17:

Two games: Coyotes, Canadiens, Sharks

Four games: Flames, Hurricanes, Avalanche, Stars, Panthers, Wild, Islanders, Rangers, Blues, Canucks, Capitals, Jets

All other teams play three games next week.

Make sure to keep tabs on who gets cut in your leagues, and note the handful of the previously covered players listed below since they might still be hanging around on your waiver wire.

(Yahoo ownership rates as of Dec. 7.)

FORWARD

Alex Galchenyuk, MON (40 percent): While Galchenyuk is still toiling down too far down the depth chart on the third line, his production is trending up. He’s collected two goals, eight points and 18 shots through his past six outings, and Galchenyuk’s 8.1 shooting percentage is well below the 13.5 mark he entered the campaign with.

Marian Gaborik, LA (15 percent): With two more goals Tuesday, the veteran now has four tallies, six points and 16 shots while averaging 2:43 of power-play time through seven games since returning from a knee injury. Gaborik underwhelmed the previous two seasons, and injuries have always hindered his fantasy stock. However, he’s clicking right now and could provide a fleeting scoring boost in plenty of settings.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, CLM (16 percent): An outing removed from a four-game point streak that consisted of a goal and five helpers, Dubois is centering an intriguing line with Artemi Panarin and Josh Anderson on his flanks. The trio has connected for a respectable 3.86 goals per 60 minutes for the campaign. Pedigree is also on the side of the 2016 third overall draft selection.

Kevin Fiala, NAS (8 percent): The young winger is up to five goals and six assists through 13 games since Kyle Turris arrived in Nashville. Fiala and Craig Smith joined the new Predator on a solid second line, which has combined for 3.41 goals per 60 minutes. There aren’t many settings where the 21-year-old Swiss native can’t move the fantasy needle.

Adam Henrique, ANA (19 percent): At least for the time being, the recently acquired Duck will see plenty of offensive looks atop the lineup. He skated between Rickard Rakell and Corey Perry on Wednesday, so it’s a cushy fantasy setup for the 27-year-old center so far. Additionally, Henrique has two goals and three assists though four games since landing in Orange County.

Jesse Puljujarvi, EDM (8 percent): While the 19-year-old Finn missed the scoresheet Wednesday, he still spent the bulk of his ice time with Connor McDavid. Puljujarvi recorded two goals and 11 shots through his previous two contests and owns tremendous – and to this point, largely untapped – offensive upside. If he continues to skate with No. 97, the scoring results will continue.

Sam Bennett, CGY (7 percent): An outing removed from a four-game point streak with two goals, four assists and 16 shots, Bennett has finally found an offensive groove after registering just three points through the first 23 games of the campaign. The No. 4 selection from the 2014 draft has flashed plenty of upside in the past and has owns the potential to be a solid contributor.

Nick Bjugstad, FLA (4 percent): The former 20-goal scorer has played with Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau on the No. 1 line the past two games and scored a goal in each. Bjugstad is a high-volume shooter (2.85 per game) who is also receiving consistent power-play time. The 25-year-old forward is in the heart of his offensive prime, too.

DEFENSE

Mathew Dumba, MIN (37 percent): The 23-year-old defenseman has shown statistical improvement each season, and 2017-18 could prove to continue the upward trajectory. In the short term, Dumba projects to see an uptick in opportunities with Jared Spurgeon out with a groin injury. The results are promising, as Dumba’s averaged 25:58 of ice time (2:50 with the man advantage) and marked the scoresheet three times through the past three games.

Alexander Edler, VAN (8 percent): It’s been a nice cross-category run for the veteran lately. Edler has collected a goal, five points, 18 shots, eight PIM, 15 hits and 21 blocked shots with a plus-5 rating through his past eight contests. His track record would suggest the majority of those numbers are sustainable moving forward, too.

Jakob Chychrun, ARI (3 percent): The 19-year-old defenseman logged 22:40 of ice time and recorded a goal, three shots and three blocked shots in Sunday’s season debut. Additionally, as a rookie, Chychrun’s 1.09 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five ranked 14th in the entire league among defenseman with a least 750 minutes. There’s upside here in deeper settings.

GOALIE

Jacob Markstrom, VAN (42 percent): While he probably won’t ascend to being a go-to asset in most fantasy settings this season, Markstrom still offers value as a depth option. He’s allowed just a single goal through his past two starts and sports a respectable 8-8-3 record with a .917 save percentage and 2.41 GAA for the campaign.

Darcy Kuemper, LA (10 percent): With a .944 save percentage and 1.72 GAA through his eight appearances, Kuemper offers more than just handcuff insurance. He should continue to see semi-regular starts, and Los Angeles has a back-to-back set next weekend. At worst, he’s a streaming option to keep tabs on and could be worth a roster spot in deep leagues.

Steve Mason, WPG (8 percent): Back with the team and nearing a return to practice following a concussion, Mason should begin to work his way back into the crease sooner than later. The Jets are playing extremely well this season, and after a rough start, Mason posted a .952 save percentage and 1.62 GAA over five appearances before the injury.

Players to consider from past columns: Josh Anderson, Kyle Connor, Alex DeBrincat, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Pavel Buchnevich, Bo Horvat, Nick Schmaltz, Derek Stepan, Artem Anisimov, Tom Wilson, Mikko Rantanen, Jakub Vrana, Boone Jenner, Reilly Smith, Tomas Hertl, Micheal Ferland, Alexander Kerfoot, Craig Smith, Erik Johnson, Johnny Boychuk, Shea Theodore, Brady Skjei, Darnell Nurse, Noah Hanifin, Esa Lindell, Thomas Greiss, Aaron Dell, Carter Hutton, Malcolm Subban.

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Pittsburgh columnist wants Ovechkin banned, calls Trotz a loser

Alex Ovechkin should thank Matt Niskanen. If it wasn’t for the Washington Capitals defenseman’s stick to the head of Sidney Crosby – a hideously unfortunate play – then more attention might have been paid to Ovechkin’s role in that sequence, when he viciously slashed Crosby near the Capitals’ net and knocked him off balance.

But according to Pittsburgh columnist Rob Rossi of Upgruv, Ovechkin should thank Niskanen for carrying out the nefarious plot to injure Crosby that was cooked up in their Game 2 players-only meeting and supported by their coach and possibly the NHL.

Let’s take a gander as one of the all-time hottest takes in playoff hockey from Rossi, a longstanding Professional Hockey Writers Association member who covered the Pittsburgh Penguins for years with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

A reading from Rob Rossi’s “NHL should stick it to Alex Ovechkin”, with apologies to Fire Joe Morgan.

Alex Ovechkin shouldn’t play another game in these Stanley Cup playoffs.

ANNNNND we’re off!

He will. And that is why very few people of reason take the NHL seriously.

The “people of reason” would likely note that a playoffs-long ban for players involved in injurious plays is Haley’s Comet rare, the last one being Raffi Torres, who was a repeat-times-10 offender that delivered the kind of open-ice head shot to Marian Hossa he had been warned not to deliver. Hossa was stretchered off the ice. Torres was suspended 25 games.

The “people of reason” would also likely note that suspending to the injury can be a specious and slippery tact, but that’s a debate for another day on which we dare talk about Matt Cooke and Marc Savard again.

The hockey world was damaged Monday night when the only hockey player most Americans know (Sidney Crosby) was driven from hockey’s grandest stage by a crosscheck from Matt Niskanen. That the Capitals wound up winning Game 3 in overtime, snuffing the Penguins’ rally from a 2-0 deficit in the third period, only added insult to Crosby’s injury.

What, not a word about the Redemption of Kevin Shattenkirk, the really big story from Game 3?

With no due respect intended to people who saw it differently,

Noted.

Niskanen’s action was deserving of its punishment. He received a major penalty and a game misconduct. It was a small price to pay considering Crosby also didn’t finish a fairly significant hockey match.

The penalty itself was, frankly, a gray area. Penguins fans and Capitals fans saw it their respective ways. The majority of the punditry, including “those who played the game,” saw it as a reactionary move form Niskanen that unfortunately leveled Crosby in the head as he was tumbling into a prone position.

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That it was a penalty was inarguable. That it was a major penalty was very much arguable, although that argument ended when the officials saw it was Sidney Crosby on the ice. That’s a major and a game. And, given Crosby’s history with this League and its protection of him, it was actually refreshing to see that level of overcompensation.

Niskanen should receive an excused absence (autographed by the league’s Player Safety department) for the remainder of the Capitals’ best-of-seven series against the Penguins.

Even if he didn’t mean it.

Here’s Niskanen:

  I think “people of reason” would agree with most of that.

Though, based only by his previous behavior towards Crosby — in Games 1 and 2 of this series, but also Games 1 through 6 of Round 2 a year ago, and dating to his pre-Penguins tenure with the Dallas Stars — Niskanen cannot be rationally considered to have lacked intent to injure.

Unless you watch the play at any speed and see a player bracing for impact rather than trying to ‘Tonya Harding’ Sidney Crosby out of this series.

While playing with the Penguins, Niskanen was a sneaky, borderline dirty player. These days, he has opted to skate across that border. For Player Safety not to look at Niskanen’s history against Crosby would be the height of credulity.

That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

Alas, the NHL being the NHL, credulity’s peak is limitless.

An aside: “Credulity’s Peak” would be an amazing gothic horror movie where a town is convinced they’re being attacked by monsters but it’s really just, like, humidity thunder.

Which is exactly why the NHL could — and should — throw the book at Ovechkin, who skated freely despite playing a big role in Crosby’s injury.

Do what now?

Ovechkin was the reason Crosby only lasted three shifts in Game 3. He was the Capital most responsible for Crosby’s injury.

Doesn’t this absolve the player that Rossi just argued should be suspended for intentionally hitting Crosby?

He carelessly lifted his stick into Crosby’s head, forcing the NHL’s sturdiest skater to stagger into Niskanen. If Ovechkin hadn’t gone that route, Crosby wouldn’t have gone headfirst into a check.

Ovechkin, who never met a leap he wouldn’t take, who holds high the stick he often swings at opponents, was the dirty-deed doer at PPG Paints Arena in Game 3.

OK, maybe it’s time to revisit the play:

  Change the uniforms and the nameplates, and this is a strong but totally illegal slash up high against a player about to take a high-danger shot against the goalie. Very much in the moment, very much not premeditated.

Ovechkin, who can’t beat Crosby on the ice, decided to remove him from it.

Oh.

“Decided” is a hell of a term to use on a split-second decision. It’s almost like Rossi is inferring that the Capitals issued a fatwa on Sidney Crosby in a closed-doors players’ only meeting after Game 2’s blowout loss, which would be insane to suggest without any evidence.

Makes you wonder what that closed-door meeting called by Capitals players was really about after their blowout defeat in Game 2, huh? Not really.

Oh [expletive].

If they say it wasn’t about eliminating Crosby, the Capitals are liars. And if that sounds like an unfair accusation to make of the Capitals, then please consider my decade of experience covering a sport I love and a league I really, really, really want to give the benefit of the doubt.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Capitals all stood in that room and listened to mild Swede Nicklas Backstrom deliver a Reg Dunlop “LET’EM KNOW WE’RE THERE!” speech that led to the increase in physical play in Game 3. This is something “people of reason” could see happening.

But claiming the edict was “eliminating Crosby” without any evidence, and then claiming anyone in the room that suggests otherwise is a “liar” because you love hockey and have been blessed with a lengthy career covering it, is the height of irresponsibility.

Here’s Mike Wise, who has decades of experience, too:

If you're @Real_RobRossi or @upgruv, you better damn well have the goods when you write taking out Crosby was a focus of a Caps team meeting

— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) May 2, 2017

This isn't clickbait from @Real_RobRossi; it's clumsy and dangerous — unless you have a source in that room: https://t.co/Ur3rIms9u5

— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) May 2, 2017

Again, this is akin to putting a bounty on Crosby’s head. Ask Todd Bertuzzi how serious that accusation is.

(Or maybe consider their coach publicly saying his players must go places they hadn’t gone before?)

Here’s the full quote from Barry Trotz after Game 2:

“They have a great pedigree. They’ve won a Cup. They’ve gone to places in their room that you go when you win a championship. We’re going to have to go to places that we haven’t gone before to beat this team,”

So, actually, their coach said his players have to go places where the Penguins have gone before. So either the Penguins are injurious thugs bent on taking out other team’s star players, or maybe he’s talking about – and I know this is going to sound crazy – confidence and fortitude.

Sorry, but I cannot give the Capitals, or the NHL, any benefit. And I doubt very much there wasn’t an intent to injure Crosby when this series shifted to Pittsburgh.

Is this an implication that the NHL is part of this conspiracy? Was Gary Bettman standing in the corner like Darth Sideous as the Capitals laid out their plans, muttering “good … good … let the hate flow through you?”

If you need to know why, go ahead and watch what has happened the past couple of postseasons when Crosby played for the Penguins against the Capitals.

The Capitals lost. And Crosby, as he usually has been, was one of the biggest reasons.

More than he is The Face of Hockey, Crosby is the Face of Fear for the Capitals.

Shout out to the Faces of Fear. More wrestling in a moment…

He’s haunted them as if ordered to by the hockey gods.

Sidney Crosby, Dementor for the Hockey Gods.

He was on the haunt again in this series, too.

Taking a moment away from this conspiracy theory, there’s no question that the Capitals played their most complete game and played without their usual cuckolded hesitation without Crosby in the lineup.

There is, without question, a benefit to not having him on the ice or in this series.

But that that isn’t evidentiary with regard to a bang-bang play in front of the Capitals net being part of a massive scheme to injure him. That is an “Evel Knievel jumping a moon crater” level leap.

Had the Capitals lost Game 3, they were going to be swept from a postseason they had ticketed as their ride toward glory. They had ticketed last postseason similarly, and the Capitals arrived in Pittsburgh knowing full well this one was going like that one.

Save for being confident that their starts have been great, Holtby would rebound after being pulled and this Penguins team still doesn’t have Kris Letang.

No Capital gripped that ticket tighter than Ovechkin, with understandable reason. He is arguably the greatest hockey player to never win the Cup.

Somewhere, Marcel Dionne weeps.

He also is indisputably as filthy as his right-handed shot is ferocious.

Kudos to Rossi for not dredging up “Ovechkin intentionally tried to injure Ron Hainsey with his shot,” which was the other grand conspiracy theory of this series. But we imagine that’s because a competitor wrote it.

And in a playoff game his reputation could not stand to lose, the dominant goal scorer of his generation resorted to raising his magic wand wildly in the direction of his historic rival’s famously previously concussed brain.

Shorter: He slashed the crap out of him on a prime scoring chance in a must-win game.

Could describe what Ovechkin did many ways. Would not call it a “hockey play.” Neither would Capitals coach Barry Trotz after Game 3.

Here’s where we get to Rossi’s confrontation with Trotz after Game 3. Jump to the 2:00 mark and watch:

#Caps head coach Barry Trotz talks to the media after a 3-2 OT/win in Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. #CapsPens #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/VtJWv0Ttoi

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) May 2, 2017

The blow-by-blow:

ROSSI: “Barry, is the play by Alex, that led to Sid sort of staggering into Niskanen where he appeared to get the stick up towards the face, is that a hockey play?”

TROTZ: “Was there a penalty? I don’t understand.”

ROSSI: “Does it have to be a penalty to be a hockey play? Is it a hockey play also?”

TROTZ: “No, I’m not going to defend anything. Is Kunitz’s predatory hit on Oshie okay? Or the one on Backstrom, is that okay? I’m not going to debate on all that stuff. So that’s a terrible question.”

ROSSI: “So, no, Barry?”

TROTZ: “Next. You got your answer.”

Well that was tense.

Obviously, after you’ve asked for multiple suspensions, claimed there was a closed-door conspiracy to injure Sidney Crosby and gave the head coach an inquisition about the veracity of penalties, there’s only one place to go:

WRESTLING PROMO!

Hey @Real_RobRossi how do you feel about Barry Trotz? pic.twitter.com/ZSDY8Fwb2a

— upgrūv (@upgruv) May 2, 2017

Like, he literally cut a promo on Barry Trotz’s coaching prowess, lack of postseason success and said basically called him “stupid.”

See it however you want, folks.

Oh, I think we’ve seen plenty now.

From here, the view was obvious. Ovechkin went after Crosby’s head. If the NHL keeps allowing him to play in its hallowed postseason for having done that, it really is the “garage league,” as Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux infamously once deemed.

Oh yes, we simply can’t get through this piece on the Capitals’ thuggery without evoking Saint Mario and his sanctimonious “garage league” rant.

Here’s the thing: Ovechkin, for all his “indisputably filthy” play, isn’t the guy Mario’s talking about when he’s calling the NHL a “garage league.” He was talking about the marginal players taking liberties with star players.

And point of fact: Mario has had no issue with good players that play dirty, whether it was staking with Darius Kasparitus and Ulf Samuelsson and Rick Tocchet or having Brooks Oprik and Matt Cooke on this payroll.

So please, don’t evoke the sacred words of Saint Mario if you can’t recall the context of the scriptures.

So please, good people of the Player Safety department, surprise me, shock mostly everybody else and do something significant in the name of your namesake and safety.

Yes, the Department of Players Safety can certainly be depended upon to do right by Sidney Crosby, as Dave Steckel and Victor Hedman will tell you.

Rise up and stick it to Alex Ovechkin… just as he did to Sidney Crosby.

Because he used his stick, you see.

I’ve known Rossi for years. We’re friends. I’ve seen him level up in anger and ire after games, preparing to write a column like this, and frequently targeting the Penguins’ foibles. There’s a certain amount of conviction here, and a lot of showmanship. It’s just what he does.

But taking out Sidney Crosby in front of Rob Rossi is like arguing the merits of DeflateGate to Gisele Bundchen. They aren’t going to stand for this [expletive] and someone has to pay.

Peel away the layers of vitriolic and hyperbolic nonsense, and there are some salient points here. Ovechkin’s slash wasn’t called, just as countless other infractions weren’t called in a game that got so far out of the referees’ hands that had to send a search party to find it again in overtime.

And Crosby, as we mentioned before, isn’t someone that the League has sought to protect from others, either through Department of Player Safety rulings or in series like the one against the New York Rangers a few years ago when Marc Staal did what Niskanen did on a nightly basis, only with intent.

(The League has protected Crosby from himself on occasion.)

Maybe this crackpot conspiracy theory actually gets proven correct. Maybe someone in the Capitals’ locker room (“ORRRRRRPIK!!!”) turns state’s evidence and reveals that, yes, they planned on injuring Crosby and just needed to wait until the right scoring play to do it for plausibly deniability. Maybe we have our own BountyGate on our hands.

At this point, I’d hope for Rossi that’s the case. Because otherwise, this rambling, aggressive, deluded, conspiratorial, bat-[expletive] multimedia takeout of Niskanen, Ovechkin, Trotz, the NHL and logic only benefits one party:

Upgruv, whatever that is.

—

Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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