#and now the nhl has changed so much that the d are expected to join AND lead rushes now

[ratatatastic]

everytime paul brings up how much mikksys playstyle is perfect for how they want the team to play and encompasses what pantrs hockey is and uses him as an example

i remember the only reason he played d was because he wanted the puck more and basically how he played as a kid is exactly how he plays with us and thats why hes good at it 😭😭😭

[junker-town]

2017 NHL mock draft: The trade deadline shakes things up in our 2nd simulation

New needs and no consensus make this draft interesting.

It’s nice to have a NHL entry draft with no clear “best prospect.”

The 2017 NHL draft doesn’t have a Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, or Aaron Ekblad. It doesn’t even have a consensus best 30 players. The top of the draft is as arguable as the late first-round picks following it.

So no wonder our second mock NHL draft looks different from the first. This time, we didn’t use lottery simulators. We just went down the list, but kept the trade deadline movements in mind. Needs have changed!

1. Colorado Avalanche - Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle (Sweden)

I’m starting to come around to Mile High Hockey’s argument that the Avalanche can’t afford to pass up the best defenseman in the draft. The consensus Best Three™ in the 2017 draft are Nolan Patrick, Nico Hischier, and Liljegren. Two centers and a defenseman. When Tyson Jost joins Nathan MacKinnon in Colorado next season, they’ll be set down the middle for years.

Might as well stock the defense with a prime puck-mover like Liljegren.

2. Arizona Coyotes - Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images

Coyotes fans would hate being left with Patrick or Hischier. Not that they’re not good, but the Coyotes need young defensemen as much as the Avalanche.

In this scenario, though, I tend to think GM John Chayka takes Nolan Patrick. Arizona is blessed with forward talent, but few of them have the skill and size Patrick brings.

3. Vegas Golden Knights - Nico Hischier, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Best player available. Hischier is skilled, flashy and as good at setting up teammates as he is putting the biscuit in the basket. Vegas would be thrilled to take him.

4. New Jersey Devils - Casey Mittelstadt, C, Eden Prairie High School (Minnesota)

It sure seems like the Devils might stick with Pavel Zacha on the wing. In that case, expect them to go for a center here if Liljegren isn’t available (he won’t be).

Scouts rave about Mittelstadt’s compete level all over the ice, something that the Devils will no doubt covet. He’s also supremely gifted offensively, making him a talent the Devils can’t pass up. He’ll play for the University of Minnesota next season.

5. Vancouver Canucks - Gabriel Vilardi, C, Windsor (OHL)

Vilardi has all the tools to become a No. 1 center someday: size (6’3), skill (scouts love his effortlessness while making plays), and finishing ability (about to eclipse 30 goals with Windsor this year). By drafting Olli Juolevi and trading for Jonathan Dahlen, the Canucks have added high-end talent on the wings and blue line in the last year.

Taking Vilardi fifth overall would help round out their system.

6. Dallas Stars - Eeli Tolvanen, LW/RW, Sioux City (USHL)

If there’s one thing the Stars are guilty of in recent drafts, it’s not taking forwards with high-end skills. Size and hockey I.Q. are great, but you also need players with game-breaking abilities.

Tolvanen fits that mold. A pure scorer, the USHL star can score at will in so many ways: off the rush with his heavy shot, off a deke, with a slap-shot ... you name it. He’ll play with Boston College next season and could reach the NHL sooner than a lot of the players in this draft.

7. Detroit Red Wings - Cale Makar, D, Brooks (AJHL)

We still like the idea of Makar joining the Red Wings. The crafty right-handed defenseman is rising quickly up draft boards after a 24-goal, 75-point season with the Bandits. Detroit can start their rebuild with the draft’s best power play quarterback.

Makar will head to UMass-Amherst next season.

8. Buffalo Sabres - Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga (OHL)

With Liljegren and Makar off the board and no defensemen worth reaching for at this spot, Buffalo is left in “best player available” mode.

That’s Tippett, the best scoring winger in the draft not named Eeli Tolvanen. A pure sniper, Tippett is fifth in the OHL with 44 goals this year. With Sam Reinhart, Alexander Nylander, Cliff Pu, and Tippett in the system, the Sabres’ wings will be the envy of the Eastern Conference.

9. Winnipeg Jets - Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound (OHL)

Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images

Suzuki is a rare gem: an uber-talented penalty killer who can score in bunches. His defensive prowess was well-known before this season, but he erupted into one of the OHL’s best scoring threats with 45 goals and 96 points in 65 games. Winnipeg’s leaky penalty kill would love to have Suzuki join them.

10. Florida Panthers - Klim Kostin, W, Balashikha (KHL)

Two things are going against Kostin right now. First, a shoulder injury ended his season early. Second, he reminds people of Stars winger Valeri Nichushkin: a big, Russian winger with obvious skill but a tendency to pass instead of shoot. And since Nichushkin bolted for Russia last offseason, you’d imagine that might affect his draft status.

But Florida might go against the grain here and take him anyway. With Jaromir Jagr and Jussi Jokinen on the decline, the Panthers could use a bullishly skilled winger in their prospect pool, even if Kostin stays in the KHL to develop for a few years.

11. Philadelphia Flyers - Cody Glass, C/RW, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Another late-bloomer like Makar who rocketed up draft rankings this year. Glass is a talented, all-around forward: capable of dishing the puck, finishing plays and responsible up and down the ice. Philadelphia could use him in a number of ways.

12. Carolina Hurricanes - Elias Pettersson, C, Timra IK (Sweden)

At this point of the draft, it’s hard to nail down which player teams would covet more. But Carolina’s so stacked defensively that we know they’ll aim for a forward in the first round.

Pettersson might be the pick. He’s a pure playmaker, with arguably the best vision in the draft. You could see him becoming a true power play threat for the Hurricanes down the road, making him worth a pick here even though he’ll have a longer development than most.

13. Los Angeles Kings - Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City (WHL)

Size and skill are a rare combo for centers these days, but Rasmussen fits that mold. His 6’5 frame makes him seem Kings-worthy already, and his poise around the net makes him a valuable offensive presence on the power play.

14. Tampa Bay Lightning - Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City (WHL)

Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images

Valimaki is a well-rounded two-way defenseman with leadership qualities already apparent at such a young age. Valimaki’s 55 points lead all teenage WHL defensemen this year, indicating he could make a rapid ascent to the NHL.

15. New York Islanders - Callan Foote, D, Kelowna (WHL)

The Isles drafted five forwards in the first round over the last three drafts. All of them (Josh Ho-Sang, Anthony Beauvillier, Mathew Barzal, Michael Dal Colle, and Kieffer Bellows) are already close to NHL-ready.

So New York should spring for a defenseman this year. Foote, son of Adam Foote, will round out their defensive core nicely. At 6’3, Foote is imposing in his own end with a safe, but smart, game.

16. Toronto Maple Leafs - Nicolas Hague, D, Mississauga (OHL)

And so the run on defensemen begins!

With Nikita Zaitsev and Morgan Rielly in the fold, the Maple Leafs aren’t short of puck-movers on the blue line. They are missing a big body, though. Hague is huge, but mobile: a 6’6 defenseman who captains Mississauga’s power play and isn’t afraid to mix things up in his own end. He could be a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Or he could be a master of everything. Toronto will gladly take that risk.

17. St. Louis Blues - Ryan Poehling, C/LW, St. Cloud State (NCAA)

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

With a year of college hockey under his belt, Poehling could reach the NHL quicker than most of his draft peers. That makes him appealing to a lot of teams, particularly contenders.

So will his two-way ability. Poehling is blessed with the skills of a top center and the smarts of a third-line, shut-down winger. Sounds like a Blue, doesn’t he?

18. Nashville Predators - Martin Necas, C, HC Kometa Brno (Czech Republic)

David Poile will do cartwheels if Necas falls this far.

The only knock on the 5��11 center is that he holds onto the puck too long. But that pass-first mentality is born out of strong vision and speed to burn. The Predators lack a true, high-skill center behind Ryan Johansen. Necas can slot into that role.

19. Boston Bruins - Lias Andersson, C, HV71 (Sweden)

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Andersson’s draft stock fell after a quiet World Juniors. The 5’11 center drew attention with a 24-goal season as a 16-year old, but his offensive upside is now in question after a nine-goal season in the Swedish pro league.

His competitiveness isn’t, though. Players with energy, work ethic, and hockey I.Q. are valuable, and the Bruins would make a good fit while Andersson develops his game. And if he re-finds that scoring touch, all the better.

20. Edmonton Oilers - Miro Heiskanen, D, Helsinki HIFK (Finland)

The only knock on Heiskanen? He’s small. That didn’t stop Torey Krug from thriving. It didn’t stop the Stars from drafting Julius Honka. It won’t stop teams from drafting Makar. And it won’t keep the Oilers from jumping at Heiskanen if he falls this far.

Heiskanen disappointed at the World Juniors, but what Finland player didn’t? The Finnish defenseman makes up for his size with an active stick in his own end and can make plays offensively.

21. Calgary Flames - Kristian Vesalainen, LW, Frolunda (SHL)

Calgary should be pleased if Vesalainen is available here. It’s hard to figure why he’s falling in scouts’ eyes. He was such an important player in Finland’s gold medal run in the 2016 World Juniors. Vesalainen has struggled immensely this season, bouncing around Finnish junior and pro hockey with just six goals.

But the talent (skill and a good shot) is there.

22. Anaheim Ducks - Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane (WHL)

The Ducks play a heavy style of hockey, so maybe this is just wishful thinking on our part. Yamamoto is 5’7 but oozes skill. Teams passed on Johnny Gaudreau and Alex DeBrincat because of their size. They all regret it. Anaheim would do well to take Yamamoto here.

23. Ottawa Senators - Maxime Comtois, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL)

Comtois isn’t the most skilled winger in the draft. He doesn’t have the best shot. But he does have elite speed and a high-energy style that puts opponents back on their heels. He could end up as a top-line winger. He could end up as a bottom-six penalty killer. Whatever role he slides into, Comtois will play it well and make a noticeable impression.

24. Montreal Canadiens - Nikita Popugaev, W, Prince George (WHL)

Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images

Just look at the kinds of players Montreal targeted at the trade deadline. Big. Strong. Hard to play against.

Popugaev, a 6’5 winger, is all of those things with skill mixed in. He’s struggled since a trade to the Cougars, a more well-rounded team that spreads the offensive love around.

25. New York Rangers - Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown (QMJHL)

Joseph is garnering first-round consideration because he’s developed confidence with the puck all over the ice. Once he trusted himself to become more involved offensively, his skill and smarts have impressed scouts. The defense-starved Rangers could take a flier on him here.

26. San Jose Sharks - Conor Timmins, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Another defenseman playing his way into first-round status. Timmins boasts one of the hardest shots in the draft and leads the OHL in even-strength points. San Jose’s younger forwards are coming along nicely this season, so the Sharks could shore up their blue line with a prospect like Timmins.

27. Arizona Coyotes (from Wild) - Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (Finland)

Vaakanainen has the tools to become a strong puck-moving defenseman. Right now, he feels like a “safe” player destined to at least become a quality top-six talent. Arizona might bet on the former.

28. Chicago Blackhawks - Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo (USHL)

Bowers seems like a Jonathan Toews clone: great two-way play with a great shot and great hockey senses. The only question is how high his ceiling is. That question didn’t exist with Toews, and it doesn’t exist with the other centers taken ahead of Bowers.

29. Columbus Blue Jackets - Lukas Elvenes, RW, Rogle (Sweden)

A smart, crafty winger, but one-dimensional right now. Columbus’ Stanley Cup window is just opening, so they have time to let a player like Elvenes work on developing his all-around game. The tools are there, though.

30. Pittsburgh Penguins - Matthew Strome, LW, Hamilton (OHL)

Here’s a risk: a player with the Strome family pedigree and a physical brand of play, but poor foot-speed keeping his ceiling low.

31. St. Louis Blues (from Capitals) - Kole Lind, RW, Kelowna (WHL)

If St. Louis goes all-around with their first pick, they can afford to go all-skill with Lind at 31. Lind might be one of the better goal-scorers in the first round as far as instinct goes. It’s just a matter of whether he can get stronger.

[michellelewis7162]

esports network podcast - esports information

esports network podcast - esports information

 The Xbox 360 has made very competitive pc gaming considerably even more popular in current years with the pro-gaming console league Major League Gaming, or MLG for brief, and also has actually begun to be identified as a sporting activity by several players. Even esports system podcast protection, such as ESPN, have purchased in to this brand-new craze phoned esportz system (electronic sporting activities) and also currently deals with MLG activities on their web site as well as even occasionally mentions it on Sportscenter. Are actually E-Sports actually sports? Esports News

 Lack of vast innate skill-set gap

I assumed I would begin along with this factor to ensure that any players that think this is actually the only cause for this short article could be resolved right off. I am actually not stating that I might defeat a Halo 3 player including Tsquared. He is actually better than me. A shortage of intrinsic skill-set space means that, along with devotion, practically any kind of player can easily come to be a pro at the activity they desire to contend in. This is actually not correct for everybody and here is actually an instance. When I utilized to play SOCOM II, a pal of mine had over 2,000 hours logged onto the game online. I had a lot less than 50 hours, yet I was actually by far a better player than him. I presume that regardless of just how much he participated in, I would certainly possess consistently been much better. On the other hand, there are actually numerous gamers such as myself that are only normally excellent at online video activities. I have a 2.5 K/D ratio on Halo 3, yet I hardly ever participate in the video game as well as perform certainly not take it truly. I do not also like it. I sense, however, that if I participated in 8 hrs a day or more with the intent to take it really seriously, I can probably contend at the MLG amount. I possess an experiencing a bulk of the gamers on Halo 3 that are actually dedicated to it, can contend at the MLG degree.

 This is actually not therefore with esports like hockey, baseball, baseball, even golf or even ping pong. I made use of to play hockey as a youngster yet no matter the amount of I participated in, there is a 99.999% opportunity I would certainly never produce it in to the NHL. I presume the very same could be claimed for thousands, perhaps even numerous athletes in significant sporting activities. Certainly not pc gaming. You have an incredibly good possibility of managing to compete in the area of gaming just through instruction and keeping devoted to it.

 Probably I can never trump TSquared however considering that video gaming carries out certainly not involve physicality, the distinction between our team would be just commitment. The specialist games participates in video games as his lifestyle.

 There is no looking blend

In many significant sporting activities games like the NBA, NHL, NFL, as well as MLB, there are actually slight circles or college level play. I can not inform you the amount of opportunities I have viewed a sporting activities game on TELEVISION to listen to a commentator point out something along the pipes of 'You're in the Majors, you ought to be able to make that play' or something similar. There is actually an explanation when significant rank players in MLB are sent out down to the smalls on a rehab project or even something that they control or even that a gamer who could control at three-way An or even the AHL for hockey might suck in the NHL or even MLB, it is actually a completely various level of stage show.

 E-Sports don't possess amounts of play like this (sure there's the CAL and CPL yet it doesn't work the exact same means). I presume to be actually thought about a sport, MLG must treat this by combining a slight league where gamers are actually cultivated coming from to competing in the majors.

 A shortage of oneness or association

Sure there are actually different sporting activities organizations, yet I don't assume anyone is going to point out that in America there is a football game more legitimate or preferred than the NFL or a hockey league more valid as well as popular than the NHL. If it was a true sport, it should possess an uniformity of company. That recognizes, they are actually different leagues with different games.

 Staffs don't possess the exact same number of games participated in. You can challenge various other groups at your whim so you never possess to participate in a staff that you know could pound you unless you get to the Playoffs. Genuine sports aren't like this.

 Making it extra sports-like

On the whole, E-Sports organizations seem to be to be actually trying to create video gaming seem a sport without really making it right into one. Like the enhancement of coaches in MLG activities like Gears of War as well as Halo. That seems like an entirely crazy enhancement to specialist gaming as well as one that doesn't also create it more like a sporting activity. Why carries out a gamer need a coach?

 To create gaming into a sport, they need to help make business changes. Let's proceed to make use of MLG as an instance. A Halo 3 group in MLG should possess to be actually sponsored through an organization or even individual. A supporter does not simply pay out for excursions to Meadowlands and also provide you great games gears. That person ought to own the team and also they make the lineup adjustments. If Ogre 1 and also Ogre 2 don't like Walshy any longer, regrettable. They do not possess a say, the sponsor carries out. Teams shouldn't be simply a team of pals that obtained all together someday and have participated in together since. They ought to be actually solid bases that will certainly exist years from right now, along with our without it's existing gamer roster.

 They ought to apply a frequent season. As opposed to heading to a handful of tournament events or even completing in some on the web step ladder, the crews entailed in the season are specified at the beginning of the time. As soon as the season is actually underway, no extra can groups leave or sign up with. Therefore, schedules are actually set for every staff. You go to that location and play all of them if you are actually booked to participate in a staff. Actual sports groups and players take a trip a property. It seems to be players sit in your home instruction for the following event. You train throughout the off-season in a sporting activity, and participate in during the time. Why would affordable play be secured online when you have system concerns, potential dishonesty, and lag? It doesn't make good sense. Therefore there's no reason they should not be circumnavigating the nation to play their next scheduled challenger.

 Each staff would certainly possess the same amount of video games participated in. After the period ends, playoffs would certainly be actually seeded and also played in the tournament-style tournaments like Meadowlands. That ought to be how playoffs are carried out. Today it seems they possess no importance at all various other than gaining you loan and providing you factors.

 There need to also be actually a scouting integrate. You can not just up and also join an MLG competition 1 day. You will certainly must become part of a separate league and compete certainly there up until you are actually welcomed by a team owner to sign up with an MLG group. That will offer validity to the game as well as also probably pot out a bunch of want to-be's and posers due to the fact that they aren't heading to would like to compete and journey a great deal.

 Yet another suggestion I possessed for American specialist video gaming would be to store condition competitions which would certainly acknowledge the absolute best gamers that reside in each state. I presume something like this would be actually a lot more possible than a slight games for games.

 Physicality doesn't matter

A bunch of folks mention pc gaming isn't a sport because it's certainly not physical. I am actually not claiming this because it is actually debatable whether sporting activities require exercise. NASCAR is actually taken into consideration a sport through some and the vehicle driver only sits there. Bowling is actually additionally considered a sporting activity and also involves really little physicality. It's additionally debatable whether or certainly not pc gaming possesses no physicality in the 1st spot. Gaming demands reaction opportunity and motor capabilities in addition to essential and rational reasoning, simply like actual sporting activities. Given that of the ones detailed over, I assume the real explanations that people claim games is certainly not a sport is actually. It only seems even more like an activity and does not conduct itself in a sports-like or professional way.

 Naturally, the majority of games that are entailed in these competitions include a multiplier element as the entire factor of eSports is actually to communicate with other gamers. There are therefore several options now available that gamers can easily play in several competitions and competitions. The key is to play the activity type that you appreciate most or are most ideal at.

 Just about all game types are actually satisfied in eSports and we found that the most popular styles were first individual shooting (FPS), sport as well as MMORPGs. Our experts count on far more to be actually contributed to this checklist in the near future.

 Presently, eSports are typically consumed and also appreciated by males with 85% of males bring in up involvement of celebrations. Field leaders are proactively attempting to promote female involvement and also we think our team are going to observe some development on this as our company develop into 2017. Additionally, the eSports market created ₤ 258 million in 2015 as well as our company expect this to become around ₤ 391 for 2016 which is quite insane!

 Where Can I View eSports?

Everything audios rather stimulating, does not it? The business is predicted to continue its own dramatic growth in 2017 as well as interaction goes to an everlasting high as a result of the media systems accessible. You can easily check out eSports on thus many different platforms and web sites. Jerk and also YouTube are the best noticeable ones with ESPN and Yahoo additionally having their very own devoted eSports sections. Additional internet sites that you may certainly not have actually become aware of resemble Twitch as well as give some wonderful web content. These are actually Azubu and MLG therefore inspect them out for some top quality eSports streams.

 Such is actually the development of eSports that traditional sporting activities web sites (we use ESPN over as an example) are actually beginning to provide their content to eSports fans. This is quite trendy as well as truly stresses to us how truly sports broadcasters are actually taking the eSports market.

 As a whole, buyers will consume the eSports item in a way that they fit along with. This can be actually practically spectating or even if you possess a game that you are especially experienced at then you might desire to get involved in competitors! Look into the sites our team provided above and also these are going to give you a far better concept of exactly how you may receive entailed.

 Kind 1958 Tennis for pair of to nowadays League of Legends as well as DOTA2, our experts have to admit that Esports is expanding rapidly. It has impacted every elements of our life subconsciously and created a group of Esports superstars.

 1. Modern technology

Esports is a sporting activities game performed through Internet and also lan, based on pc and also video games. The growth of information and also technology and also renovation of system infrastructure all lay the material structure of Esports. Basic promise given to Esports due to the progression of high-end computer treatment system. An increasing number of well-liked Internet creates it possible for significant, intricate and also continual on the web activities. Circumstances for multitude of gamers online simultaneously are actually mature adequate to assist such a big activity. Details innovation, network base and also computer system function system have actually made excellent chances for the competitors as well as rebroadcast of the Esports.

 2. Business

In-game promotion is actually very prominent amongst gaming sector for its updating rate, unfamiliar layout as well as high pertinence. Esports is a dreaming platform for game manufacturing facilities to elevate recognition of their label. For this main reason, game producers additional no initiatives to support it.

 3. Esports itself

In latest years, along with the development of Internet insurance coverage area and also the diversity of use platform, participating in on-line video games has no stipulation coming from the place or time. At existing, digital video games often tend to pay a lot focus to the blend of virtuality and truth, which is actually in order to implement the communication of digital video games. It brings in thus several individuals since gamers can address on their own as the parts in the game and look into that digital planet and journey on their own.

[thrashermaxey]

21 Fantasy Hockey Rambles

Every Sunday, we'll share 21 Fantasy Rambles — formerly 20 Fantasy Thoughts — from our writers at DobberHockey. These thoughts are curated from the past week's ‘Daily Ramblings’.

Writers: Michael Clifford, Ian Gooding, Cam Robinson, and Dobber

  1. As you probably already know, perceptions of John Tavares to Islanders’ fans completely changed when he decided to fulfill his childhood dream and play for the Maple Leafs. Even though the jersey that Tavares wears has changed, his fantasy value hasn’t changed much.

For example, if you adjust the scoring inflation that many skaters are experiencing, Tavares’ place in the scoring race (in the top 25) is comparable to his place last season (in the top 20). JT is on pace for more goals and shots and better plus/minus, so the gains to his fantasy value are there. However, his power-play point total is down, which may be the result of a power-play unit that has struggled at times. Tavares has been a PPTOI leader for both the Islanders and Leafs, but he has averaged about 30 fewer seconds of power-play time this season. (mar1)

  2. As consistent a goal scorer as Mike Hoffman has been, this campaign is the first time he has reached 30 goals in spite of scoring at least 20 in his previous four seasons. I’m sure glad I didn’t trade him in my keeper league when the you-know-what hit the fan in Ottawa last season. I don’t make a habit out of trading players for pennies on the dollar, though. Even when my fellow owners like to tease me with those kinds of offers. (mar1)

  3. It’s pretty amazing Alex DeBrincat fell to the second round in his Draft year — he’s now up to 36 goals on the year. The shooting percentage is high (just under 20 percent) but he’s landing nearly three shots per game and looks every bit the productive forward he was expected to be. Maybe teams will stop drafting based on size. (feb28)

  4. At the risk of being overly simplistic, much of Mikael Granlund’s improvements in the fantasy game over the last three seasons can be attributed to three things: shooting more, power-play production, and playing with Mikko Koivu.

It’s easy to forget that just a few years ago, Granlund was the guy who wasn’t living up to expectations. He had just 31 goals through his first 240 career games, playing at a 45-point/82-game pace from 2013-2016, through his age-23 season. Following that season, he saw a move from center to the wing and his production has since grown significantly: 62 goals and 185 points in 221 games. He doubled his goal output in fewer games while raising his 82-game point pace to 69. It has been a huge turnaround for the top-10 pick from 2010. (feb28)

  5. Ryan Donato’s fantasy value has immediately improved with a move to Minnesota. Donato now has at least a point in all five games he has played for the Wild, with seven points over that span. Donato had averaged just 12:30 of ice time this season in Boston, which is a number that has jumped to over 15 minutes with the Wild.

To compare, Charlie Coyle, who was traded in exchange for Donato, has been held without a point in his four games as a Bruin. Dating back to his time with the Wild, Coyle has now been held without a point in his last 11 games. (mar3)

  6. Kevin Hayes isn’t really a goal scorer. It’s not to say he can’t score, but he’s never averaged 2.5 shots per game, has cracked 20 goals once, and he may not get there this year. Winnipeg doesn’t need him to score, though. They have a plethora of goal scorers. They need players who can generate conditions conducive to scoring, and players to find their goal scorers. Hayes can do exactly that. (feb26)

  7. So, Erik Gustafsson appears to be the real deal, eh? The 26-year-old has 17 points in his last 14 games and has been cruising at an unbelievable pace since late-November. His 39 points in 39 games stretching back to November 24th are the third most by a blueliner in the league. He trails only Brent Burns (47), and Mark Giordano (40).

Incredibly, his metrics aren’t that far off. Sure, it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to convert on 11 percent of his shots as he has this season – certainly not the 15.4 percent he’s clicked on during the last three months, but his IPP and even-strength shooting percentage are right where they should be.

He’s feasting on the power play with Hart candidate, Patty Kane, soon-to-be 40-goal man, Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Strome and Jonathan Toews. There aren’t too many better spots for an offensive defenseman to make hay. Additionally, the 26-year-old has been accruing his points in a manner that predicts continued success. Of his 45 points, 32 have been primary.

That leaves two questions: How do we value him moving forward, and what does this mean for the high-end blueline prospects that Chicago boasts in the pipeline? Follow the link for more … (feb27)

  8. In his Flyers’ debut on Friday, Cam Talbot stopped 30 of 33 shots he faced in earning a 6-3 win. That’s eight goalies that the Flyers have used this season, which is now an NHL record. Talbot was also playing his first game since February 9. Since his acquisition, it’s been a steady diet of Carter Hart and Brian Elliott. Talbot isn’t an ideal own, as Hart is expected to return shortly from day-to-day ankle injury. (mar2)

  9. Damon Severson is on pace for his first 40-point season. That 40-point season would come in the magical ‘fifth’ year, so there’s a bit of post-hype sleeper here. One note, if you’re in a league that counts plus-minus: Severson has never been a plus player, and his career total is minus-78 over those five seasons. (mar2)

  10. With two goals on Thursday, Travis Sanheim now has nine points over his last nine games. He’s also skating on the team’s top blue line pair with Ivan Provorov.

Scott Gordon is clearly showing confidence in the second-year D-man. Under Dave Hakstol, Sanheim averaged just over 16 minutes per game but he is up to an average of more than 21:00 per game since Gordon took over as head coach. Sanheim is owned in just 8 percent of Yahoo leagues, in case you’re wondering. Don’t assume that Sanheim will supplant Shayne Gostisbehere on the first-unit power play, yet Sanheim seems to be arriving as a bonafide NHL defenseman. (mar1)

  If you're still catching up on this past week's NHL Trade Deadline deals and their fantasy hockey implications, be sure to visit our tracker for a clear and comprehensive breakdown of each — links to the trades themselves, to player profiles, as well as to our discussion forums.

  11. Since arriving for his second tour of duty in Edmonton, Sam Gagner has scored three goals in eight games, with these three goals all within his last six games. If you’re Edmonton, what have you got to lose by sticking him on the first-unit power play, similar to the way he was used in Columbus two seasons ago?

  12. Canucks’ fans were happy to get something back – anything at all, even a bag of pucks – for Erik Gudbranson. So maybe it was a bonus that Tanner Pearson scored his first goal as a Canuck on Thursday, or at least it was one of the few bright spots for the Canucks. Pearson is getting his chance to play on the top line with Pettersson, so you could add him in a deeper league in the hopes that a new team will provide a short-term spark. I have to at least say that he’s looked okay so far. You can also check out the Pearson trade fantasy impact. (mar1)

  13. As is currently the case with Jake Gardiner (back), one injury to one of the Leafs’ Big Four of Gardiner/Morgan Rielly / Jake Muzzin / Travis Dermott on the blue line leads to the Leafs trotting out Ron Hainsey/ Nikita Zaitsev / Igor Ozhiganov on the right side of their defense. It shows the fragility of the blue line. If a center gets hurt, they can move William Nylander to the middle. If a winger gets hurt, they’re so deep they had Andreas Johnsson on the fourth line for big chunks of the year. If one of their left-shooting defensemen get hurt, well, you see the result. (feb28)

  14. Sami Vatanen was activated off IR and back in the lineup this week, though I’m not sure how much fantasy value there will be. Given that he’s a guy without high levels of peripheral stats, he’s reliant on point production. I don’t think there’ll be much of that for the next little while as the Devils struggle with numerous injuries. (feb28)

  15. Jimmy Vesey has six points in his last four games since joining the top line following Mats Zuccarello’s trade. I thought it would be Pavel Buchnevich being given the chance but it’s been Vesey on the top line, averaging over 20 minutes a night. I worry about lineups being shuffled eventually but Vesey is pretty close to a must-own right now. (feb28)

  16. Jeff Carter recorded two assists on Saturday. This isn’t usually big news, but Carter had been held without a point in his previous nine games and is still without a goal in his previous 12 games.

I was hoping that Carter would have been traded out of LA at the deadline to a better situation but rumor was that he was threatening to retire if he was traded. It’s still possible that Carter could rebound to some degree next season, but there are a ton of other better options at center if you are pushing to win this season.

When I talk about “a better situation”, I mean that only the Ducks have a lower goals-for total than the Kings this season. Also, the Kings’ win on Saturday was their first win in 11 games, so these are lean times in LA. (mar3)

  17. Since James Reimer is out of the lineup due to injury, Sam Montembeault made his NHL debut on Saturday. The rookie made 22 saves in an eventual 4-3 overtime loss to the Hurricanes. His AHL numbers (3.16 GAA, .901 SV%) aren’t serving as proof that he’s NHL ready yet, so keeper leaguers should exercise patience.

If the Panthers shop for another starting goalie in the offseason, then Montembeault will be in the AHL another season or two anyway. Having said that, I wouldn’t be surprised if the worn-down Roberto Luongo ‘retires’ on LTIR before his contract expires. (mar3)

  8. When David Pastrnak went down with the injury two weeks ago, many fantasy owners were concerned about Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron continuing their torrid paces. Marchand has 11 points in the nine games without his opposite winger. Bergeron has just eight. (feb27)

  19. Sasha Barkov is clicking right along this season at an 86-point pace and creates magic on a nightly basis. He’s another player who has started to shake the moniker of being injury prone. He’s hasn’t missed a game this year and only sat out three games last season. (no jinx). (feb27)

  20. There was a lot of hubbub on social media following the trade of Brandon Montour from Anaheim to Buffalo. The hubbub was largely around whether Montour’s poor 2018-19 season is a reflection of him, his team, his coach, or some combination of the three.

To be sure, Anaheim’s injuries have negatively affected almost everyone on that roster. All the same, Randy Carlyle was the coach for Montour’s entire NHL career to date. Laying this year at Carlyle’s feet while disregarding the previous two seasons is disingenuous at best.

Though he’ll have time to develop his defensive game, at this point, Montour is a much better offensive defenseman than a defensive one. His blue line defense has been subpar for his career and he doesn’t do a good job limiting shots from the dangerous areas

There’s a very real possibility that Montour performs similarly to new teammate Rasmus Ristolainen: passable offensively but poor defensively, and the offense doesn’t make up for the lack of defense. It’s a question, then, of whether Montour can flourish under a new coach on a new team. (feb26)

The gamble for Buffalo was sending prospect defenseman Brendan Guhle and the first-rounder for Montour. I’ve always liked Guhle’s ability at both ends and was seemingly coming into his own in the AHL the last year or so. He’ll get an immediate shot in the NHL with Anaheim, though that’s obviously a very poor situation. (feb26)

  21. Gustav Nyquist ’s fantasy fortunes hinge on his placement, and as far as the move to San Jose goes, this is likely a downgrade for him.

There are only two right-handed shots currently in the team’s top two lines, Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi. It’s possible they go with three lefties on the second line, pushing Donskoi to the third line, but I think it makes more sense for Nyquist to replace Marcus Sorensen on Thornton’s line. We’ll see how that shakes out. Nyquist has moved to a better team but it’s not necessarily a better situation fantasy-wise. (feb26)

  Have a good week, folks!!

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/21-fantasy-hockey-rambles/21-fantasy-hockey-rambles-7/

[yahoo-puck-daddy-blog]

Pekka Rinne's top-notch postseason is a team effort (Trending Topics)

NASHVILLE, TN – APRIL 20: Goalie Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators skates onto the ice as the first star of the game after a 4-1 victory in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bridgestone Arena on April 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Coming into the postseason it was easy to be a little skeptical of this remarkable Nashville Predators team.

They had a lot of talent in their top two lines. They had probably the best D corps of any club left standing, and were probably tops out of all 30 as well. But that bottom-six, and that goaltending? Ehhhhh.

That so many media members (one particularly handsome and intelligent Puck Daddy columnist included) picked Chicago to win that opening-round series is not surprising. Pekka Rinne in particular seemed to be the great leveler. He’d just wrapped up a .918 season, sure, but he was .908 the season before, and more importantly his past two playoff performances saw him go .909 and .906.

While Chicago had certainly thinned out in terms of quality, it wasn’t a stretch to say Corey Crawford (.921 the past two years) could narrow the gap between the teams. I had Chicago in a coinflip. Most in the media had Chicago in a rout.

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Rinne had other ideas.

He, of course, allowed just three goals in that opening series and was outstanding and so on. And while Rinne has allowed eight goals so far against the Blues — including having lost a game, if you can believe that — it’s important to keep in mind that as good as the team in front of him has been (we’ll get to the “how” of it in a second), this is some of the best hockey Rinne has delivered in quite a while.

It goes without saying, one supposes, that when a goaltender has a .953 save percentage across eight playoff games, all but one of which his team won, he is punching above his weight. Doesn’t matter if it’s Rinne, who has been “merely fine” a lot of the time in recent years, or in-his-prime Dominik Hasek. Going .950-something is both a marvel and unsustainable.

But the question that naturally follows the acknowledgement of this impossibility is a simple one: “Or is it?”

We obviously know that the Predators’ top two pairings would be a top pairing for literally any other team in the league, so deep is their top-four that Ryan Ellis was somehow No. 3 on the team in average time on ice this season. And the fact that they can throw Matt Irwin and Yannck Weber, two perfectly above-average bottom-pairing puck-movers, over the boards as a sort of release valve for that crucial top four when they need the occasional shift off? Well, it doesn’t seem fair.

That and the team’s overall defensive werewithal up front as well has certainly made Rinne’s job easier.

Yahoo

Yes, this all comes with the caveat of “small sample size” but you can see that while Chicago gave Rinne about as much work as he faced in the regular season, the team in front of him did a much better job of keeping shots to the outside against Chicago. A 20 percent drop in high-danger shots against is going to make a world of difference.

“Keeping shots to the perimeter” is a much-talked-about skill that few teams have the ability to pull off consistently over the course of the regular season or even a playoff series against other teams with high-end talent. You can make a reasonable case that the Predators, with this top-flight D corps, elite forwards of their own on the top two lines, and one of the stronger defense-only third lines in the league can do it a little more consistently than most.

Of course, things changed against the Blues, which has a slightly better D group in particular, and probably a little more depth up front even without that kind of high-end top-six Chicago has in theory, though I would argue that the Schwartz/Stastny/Tarasenko line is better than Patrick Kane and Co.

A slight uptick in high-danger shots against (that is, in comparison with the regular-season number; it’s obviously a huge jump from the first round) helps to explain the goals-against number increasing nearly 200 percent.

Nonetheless, Rinne is extremely dialed in, playing above his full season in almost all statistical categories, except to say the Blues have gotten a few past him from middle-distance. Not that it matters much.

Yahoo

The thing that happens a lot in the playoffs is a goalie sinks his team by giving up “bad” goals. Rinne hasn’t done that yet. Probably he hasn’t really come close. It’s hard to say he stole the series so far, because even though he’s been phenomenal, Nashville hasn’t really asked him to be anything but. Not with that defensive structure and quality.

What’s amazing is how well the Predators have locked things down in front of Rinne while still maintaining a similar profile in most other regards. We’re talking about a 3 percent increase in low-danger shots per 60, an 11 percent drop in medium SOG, and about 7 percent decline in high-danger. If you’re going to see any percentage change of your team’s shots against, medium- and high-danger ones are the kind you want to cut down on.

So yes, Rinne has been excellent, but so too has the team in front of him. They’re allowing the third-fewest attempts against per 60, and fewest among any team left standing. That kind of quality also goes for unblocked attempts (fifth-fewest, but fewest among non-eliminated teams), shots against (fifth-fewest overall, second-fewest remaining), scoring chances (second-fewest, fewest). Expected goals, too (fourth- and second-fewest).

And, obviously, all that goes toward the team’s playoff-leading 1.33 goals against per 60. The fact that, at the other end of the ice, they also have the third-most goals for is a pretty good recipe for success.

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You can’t reasonably expect a goaltender to keep up this kind of performance, of course. Not for much longer than Rinne already has. The good news is that his performance has Nashville one win away from a conference final already. And even if he takes a little bit of a step back, the players in front of him are still doing a good enough job that a bit of a dip back to his previous standard might not matter much.

Every stat you look at right now, this team is just rolling. Everything has gone right.

And though few expected it before the playoffs began, that quality starts from the net out.

Ryan Lambert is a Puck Daddy columnist. His email is here and his Twitter is here.

(All statistics via Corsica unless otherwise noted.)

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[thrashermaxey]

Ramblings: Effects From Coaching Changes, US Thanksgiving Playoff Team Predictions (Nov 23)

Effects From Coaching Changes, US Thanksgiving Playoff Team Predictions

First, I’d like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who live or are from south of the border. Hope you enjoyed your turkey and your time with family. Just so you know, those of us in Canada like to refer to that day you call Thanksgiving as “Thursday.”

Because US Thanksgiving is also all about the NFL, the NHL went dark on Thursday night. So for the first time since preseason, I didn’t have any games to write about! So I’ll have to think of something. Let’s see…

So we’ve already had four coaching changes this season: Los Angeles, Chicago, Edmonton, and St. Louis. You can view our fantasy impact piece for each coaching change by clicking on the link for each team above. As you know, the changes in Edmonton and St. Louis have been very recent. But we’ve already had a couple of weeks with the new bench bosses in Chicago and LA making their mark. Has anything happened that we should be aware of?

Chicago

The most notable change that new coach Jeremy Colliton has made is loading up the Blackhawks’ top line with Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Brandon Saad. Kane and Toews are what you might expect (6 points each in the 7 games since the coaching change). But the previously struggling Saad has also chipped in three goals and an assist in the five games he has played since Colliton replaced Joel Quenneville. Saad’s goals have also been scored in his last three consecutive games. With just 17 percent ownership in Yahoo leagues, Saad is definitely worth taking a flier on if he’s available. He also received a season-high 22:33 of icetime on Wednesday.

But that means that other Hawks’ forwards are hurt by the line shuffling, in particular Alex DeBrincat. After skating with Toews for much of the first quarter of the season, Debrincat has been moved onto a line with Artem Anisimov and Nick Schmaltz. Debrincat has just one point (a goal) over his last seven games, while his linemates haven’t helped much with two points each over that span. Overall, Debrincat has just one goal in his last 11 games, Anisimov has none over his last 11 games, and Schmaltz has one goal over his last 13 games.

As Dobber mentioned, Brent Seabrook has received increased power-play time and fired nine shots on goal on Wednesday. This might lead to a short-term spike in production, but I haven’t been that interested in Seabrook for fantasy purposes for at least a couple years now, and that won’t likely change now.

Seabrook’s long-time partner in crime had been on a major slide since before the firing. Duncan Keith had been held without a point in nine consecutive games before chipping in an assist on Wednesday. So as far as power-play blueline deployment goes, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Even if Keith and Seabrook aren’t as productive as they used to be.

Ever since busting out of the gate with five points in his first three games, Henri Jokiharju has just five points in his last 19 games. To boot, his power-play time has been sporadic. Jokiharju has a bright future as a potential keeper, but in single-season leagues it might be time to cut him loose. If there’s an injury to Keith or Seabrook or the Hawks fall well out of the playoff picture, Colliton could decide to throw him onto the first unit to see what he has. Then we could be discussing him in single-season leagues again.

Los Angeles

Probably the most glaring example of a player who has been hurt by the appointment of Willie Desjardins as Kings’ coach is Ilya Kovalchuk. After scoring a goal and two assists in Willie D’s debut on November 6 against Anaheim, Kovy has now gone seven games without a point. After being held to just 12:47 overall on Monday, Kovalchuk was back up to 16:02 on Wednesday.

But as much as Kovalchuk has supposedly struggled (five goals in 21 games), he’s actually the Kings’ leading scorer with 14 points. That’s a scary thought if you’re a Kings’ fan. That means we’re looking directly at Anze Kopitar. So far, the coaching change has had little effect on Kopitar bouncing back from what has been a noticeably subpar first quarter, as Kopitar has just three points over his last eight games.

Since Kopitar seems to thrive on additional icetime, and Willie D was known for disbursing it evenly during his Vancouver days, it’s worth checking out the icetime splits for both Kopitar and Dustin Brown, who regularly logged at least 20 minutes per game last season:

Time on ice by coach:

  Stevens

Desjardins

Kopitar

22:58

21:01

Brown

21:43

19:59

  That’s right, ATOI is down nearly two minutes per game for both players. It’s worth mentioning that Brown also has three points over his last eight games. So if you’re a Kopitar owner, the best thing you can do is cross your fingers and hope things will improve, as selling low is not the right approach.

The only truly hot player (and we’re not talking red-hot) under Desjardins is Tyler Toffoli, who has five points (2g-3a) over his last eight games. The Kings as a whole have scored 15 goals over those eight games, so you’re hard-pressed to find anyone else that has been helped by the coaching change. All in all, it’s shaping up to be a long season in LA.

Jeff Carter is glued to my bench at the moment. Like Kovalchuk, Carter has gone seven games without a point. He also has just four goals in 21 games, but his shooting percentage (6.6%) is well below his career average (12.4%). Carter doesn’t log the kind of minutes that Kopitar or Brown does, so he should be largely unaffected by the coaching change. Not only is there a buy-low opportunity given the low shooting percentage, but you might also be able to find Carter on your league’s waiver wire, as his Yahoo ownership has already dipped to 55 percent.

*

In case you missed it, the Penguins have placed Matt Murray on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. So that means we’ll likely see even more of Casey DeSmith, as well as a Tristan Jarry recall. As Dobber said yesterday, for some reason the Pens are playing much better in front of DeSmith as they have been in front of Murray. So if DeSmith starts to slide, expect the Pens to turn quickly to Jarry. Don’t be fooled by Jarry’s AHL numbers this season (2.89 GAA and .909 SV%), which are kind of around league average. Either way, the Penguins’ goaltending situation isn’t nearly as desirable as it has been in years past.

*

There were a couple of important notes from both the 31 Thoughts article and podcast concerning the Oilers and their recent coaching change:

First, from the article introduction, regarding Ken Hitchcock’s immediate impact on a team:

Here’s what else we know: team defence gets better almost immediately. Dallas went from 260 goals against to 222 in his first full year. Philadelphia from 192 to 166. He coached 62 games in his opening season with Columbus. The Blue Jackets dropped from 276 to 244 when he joined for most of 2006-07. St. Louis was 228 to 155.

My immediate thought was to recommend buying low on Cam Talbot. As in pick him up for a very low price if you can.

But then here’s the second note. I listened to the podcast and at about the 7:40 mark, Elliotte Friedman stated that “Mikko Koskinen is the number one guy.” Hmmm, Koskinen is only 21 percent owned in Yahoo leagues. He's also the likely starter against Anaheim on Friday. So I added him to my team almost immediately. Although Koskinen has the better numbers at the moment, I’m not sure if he'll remain the starter for the rest of the season. But right now you have a new starting goalie who will reap the benefits of the Hitchcock effect. That means you need to add Koskinen immediately if he’s available in your league and you need a goalie.

*

The Senators and Oilers swung a minor trade on Thursday, with Chris Wideman heading to Edmonton. Wideman hadn’t ever been a 20-minute-per-game defenseman this season, but he was receiving second-unit power-play minutes in Ottawa. Wideman has a bit of offensive upside, although he’s probably only worth an add in the very deepest of leagues. I would totally expect to see him on the Oils’ second power-play unit in the near term, though. Long term, however, he’s simply keeping the seat warm for Evan Bouchard or Ethan Bear.  

*

Public service announcement time: With today being Black Friday (is it an official US holiday now?), you’ll need to set your lineup earlier than normal. The Rangers/Flyers game starts at 1 pm ET (10 am PT), with five more games starting at 4 pm ET (1 pm PT). The Kings are the only team not in action, so make sure you bench any of their players if you’re in a daily league. And as always for your goaltending matchups, don’t forget to check Goalie Post.

*

You’ve probably heard by now the stat that most teams that are in a playoff spot by US Thanksgiving will make the playoffs. So I’m going to take a look at the playoff teams and tell you whether I think they will make it. Just a simple fun exercise, but there might be a fantasy tidbit or two in there.

East

Tampa Bay – Yes

Toronto – Yes

Buffalo – Yes, but as a wild card. They are a much-improved team though.

Columbus – Yes

NY Rangers – No, because the Metropolitan is too strong and the Rangers will ultimately focus on their rebuild.

Washington – Yes

Boston – Yes, assuming they get over all their injuries.

Montreal – No, Max Domi will eventually cool off and Carey Price won’t be able to steal every game.

I’m thinking Pittsburgh and Florida make it. The Penguins will pull through because of their experience. So why Florida, if they’re at the bottom of the conference? Because they’re the only team in the entire league that has not played at least 20 games. They have as many as three games in hand on the teams that they’re chasing. Call it a fearless forecast if you want. But this prediction is contingent on Roberto Luongo staying healthy.

West

Nashville – Yes

Minnesota – Yes

Winnipeg – Yes

Calgary – Yes. If they go with David Rittich over Mike Smith and Rittich turns out to be legit, I wouldn’t count them out of winning a watered-down Pacific Division. Throw away goaltending and the Flames are a very strong team.

San Jose – Yes

Anaheim – No. I’m surprised they slipped into third into third in the Pacific, but that’s how cupcake the Pacific is this season. The only team with a worse goal differential in the entire NHL is their crosstown rival in LA. Both SoCal teams are proving to be too old and slow for the new faster-paced NHL.

Colorado – Yes

Dallas – Yes. Only because St. Louis and Chicago have issues and both West wild card teams will be from the Central.

As for the other team I think makes it from the Pacific, I’ll stick with Vegas because I predicted they would make the playoffs at the start of the season. But a good darkhorse pick here is Arizona.

Until recently, Vancouver occupied a playoff spot in the Pacific. I’m not going to go out on a limb and state they will make the playoffs. They have too many issues with defense and goaltending. But here’s a stat to store in the ol’ memory bank for later if you like home/road splits: Thanks to some lengthy early-season road trips, the Canucks play 22 of their last 37 games at home.

So I’ve picked a total of 13 of the 16 teams occupying a playoff spot to make the playoffs. Let’s see what happens!

*

For more fantasy hockey information, you can follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding.

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-effects-from-coaching-changes-us-thanksgiving-playoff-team-predictions-nov-23/

[thrashermaxey]

Dobber’s Offseason Fantasy Grades 2018: Winnipeg Jets (and Final Rankings)

  Dobber's offseason fantasy hockey grades – Winnipeg Jets

  For the last 15 years (12 with The Hockey News, last year’s via pinch-hitter Cam Robinson) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 16th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey.

Enjoy!

  * * Buy the 13th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Guide here – always updated and you can download immediately * * 

^^and hey – this was just updated today, in fact!

  Gone – Toby Enstrom, Michael Hutchinson, Paul Stastny, Matt Hendricks, Joel Armia, Shawn Matthias, Steve Mason

  Incoming – Laurent Brossoit, Dennis Everberg

  Impact of changes – This young, high-octane team was built to last. It was built so that the players can grow together with minimal tweaking, from the goalie on outwards, backed up by the contract extension of their captain Blake Wheeler. Six players on this team would be on the first line of most teams. So very little was done in the offseason with the hope that some of the prospects can slot into the open roster spots and the younger proven players can eat up more of the available ice time. Adding Brossoit instead of the injury-prone Mason also furthers this notion. Because although Brossoit is one of the weakest backup goaltenders in the NHL, behind a strong team he could be a 0.910 guy who wins more than he loses when it comes to spot starts. And if Connor Hellebuyck ever gets hurt, the Jets would just call up Eric Comrie to hold the fort over an extended period while Brossoit remains backup.

In a nutshell, if you own any young Jets you can expect more opportunity and ice time.

  Ready for full-time – Laurent Brossoit was horrible for 14 games with Edmonton, but that wasn’t entirely his fault. They eventually sent him back to the AHL as more of a mercy thing than anything else. In the AHL he was solid with Bakersfield and in his eight games with the Oilers in 2016-17 he was actually pretty good. Since the Jets would like Eric Comrie (click for scouting profile)to get in plenty of starts, having Brossoit around as an NHL backup will allow Comrie time to do that. Brossoit won’t get many spot starts, mainly just one of the back-to-back nights when the team plays. If Hellebuyck were to ever get hurt for a significant length of time then Comrie will get recalled and become the starter. Unless, of course, Brossoit thrives.

Nicolas Petan must clear waivers in order to be sent down. He won’t, so he won’t. Petan has had the unenviable task of being an up-and-coming scoring-line winger accustomed to putting up massive numbers at other levels…on an organization that already has plenty of those, but at a slightly higher gear. He’ll have to fight for ice time, and his big opportunity will come when the first injury strikes one of Kyle Connor, Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jack Roslovic or Mathieu Perreault. He will need to take full advantage if he’s to salvage future fantasy value. Do not underrate as he is still only 23.

Tucker Poolman was a big point producer at the college level, but the Jets already have several options on the blue line who can do that and a better option than Poolman coming up (Niku, below). Expect him to join the team on the bottom pairing with a few healthy scratches thrown in for good measure.

Defenseman Sami Niku almost embarrassed the AHL last season with his ridiculous production (54 points in 76 games). The 21-year-old even scored in his only NHL game, as if he didn’t make enough of a statement already. I think he will start the season with Manitoba but he won’t end it there. But working his way into the power-play mix with Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba and Josh Morrissey already there will be difficult. Patience is needed with Niku as he may not help fantasy leagues for another two years yet, even if he is in the NHL.

  Winnipeg Jets prospect depth chart and fantasy upsides can be found here (not yet ready for mobile viewing, desktop only right now)

  Fantasy Outlook – Winnipeg’s 277 goals last year were topped only by Tampa Bay and I feel like they haven’t even scratched the surface yet. If the team wanted to shorten the bench in the third period it’s almost as if they could ice three potential 80-point players and two potential 55-point defensemen from minute one through twenty. I really, really like their goaltending, and the prospect pipeline is similarly strong, albeit not as much when it comes to forwards. But overall, this organization is a fantasy owner’s dream with all that offense that will take place over the next five years.

  Fantasy Grade: A+ (last year was A-)

    Pick up the 13th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Hockey Guide here (released August 1 and updated recently)

OR

Get the Fantasy Guide and the Prospects Report as part of a package and save$8.00 – here!

    Other Offseason Fantasy Outlooks, with their Fantasy Grade (not a measurement or projection of on-ice success, but rather an overall organizational ranking from a fantasy hockey standpoint). I shuffled these in the order of how happy I would be if my keeper league player was to be traded to this team:

  Fantasy Outlook for the Winnipeg Jets                   A+

Fantasy Outlook for the Tampa Bay Lightning      A+

Fantasy Outlook for the Toronto Maple Leafs     A+

Fantasy Outlook for the Nashville Predators        A

Fantasy Outlook for the Pittsburgh Penguins      A

Fantasy Outlook for the Edmonton Oilers           A-

Fantasy Outlook for the Buffalo Sabres             A-

Fantasy Outlook for the Boston Bruins               B+

Fantasy Outlook for the Philadelphia Flyers         B+

Fantasy Outlook for the St. Louis Blues                  B+

Fantasy Outlook for the Vegas Golden Knights   B

Fantasy Outlook for the Florida Panthers              B

Fantasy Outlook for the Calgary Flames             B

Fantasy Outlook for the Washington Capitals      B

Fantasy Outlook for the Minnesota Wild                               B

Fantasy Outlook for the Columbus Blue Jackets B

Fantasy Outlook for the Colorado Avalanche      B-

Fantasy Outlook for the Dallas Stars                  B-

Fantasy Outlook for the San Jose Sharks                               C+

Fantasy Outlook for the Vancouver Canucks       C+

Fantasy Outlook for the Anaheim Ducks             C+

Fantasy Outlook for the Los Angeles Kings           C+

Fantasy Outlook for the Carolina Hurricanes       C+

Fantasy Outlook for the New York Islanders        C

Fantasy Outlook for the Arizona Coyotes           C

Fantasy Outlook for the Chicago Blackhawks     C

Fantasy Outlook for the New York Rangers          C-

Fantasy Outlook for the New Jersey Devils          C-

Fantasy Outlook for the Ottawa Senators             C- with Karlsson

Fantasy Outlook for the Detroit Red Wings         D+

Fantasy Outlook for the Montreal Canadiens      D

    from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/the-dobotomy/dobbers-offseason-fantasy-grades-2018-winnipeg-jets-and-final-rankings/

[thrashermaxey]

Ramblings: Converted Touchdowns for Stars and Islanders, an Avalanche of Wins (Jan 21)

Converted Touchdowns for Stars and Islanders, an Avalanche of Wins

What can you say about John Klingberg, who added another three assists on Saturday to give him 40 assists and 46 points, which leads all NHL blueliners. In just 48 games, Klingberg has nearly equaled his point total from all of last season (49 points in 2016-17), while his 40 assists leads all defensemen and is top 5 among all skaters. His eight-game point streak ended on Thursday, but he still has 19 points in his last 14 games.

But it wasn’t all Klingberg for the Stars in a 7-1 rout over Buffalo. Klingberg usually provides most of the Stars’ offense from the blueline, but Esa Lindell chipped in with a goal and two assists of his own to go with a plus-4. When I watched the Stars play live last season, something that caught my eye was how much icetime Lindell receives, as he is Klingberg’s regular defense partner. Lindell has averaged nearly 22 minutes of icetime over the last two seasons, although he usually defers to the second power-play unit. I know Julius Honka has been more appealing to keeper owners over the last few seasons, but I’d keep an eye on Lindell, who a much more established NHL defender at this point.

The Stars’ scoring attack usually falls off a cliff after Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Alexander Radulov, and Klingberg, but they did receive scoring help from another forward on Saturday. Mattias Janmark scored two goals and added an assist with a plus-2. The points were Janmark’s first in five games. Janmark lined up with the previously scratched Jason Spezza, who added two assists of his own to give him four points in his last three games. I discussed Spezza in more detail a few days ago in the Ramblings.

With a goal and an assist, Jamie Benn was able to extend his point streak to seven games. How does Benn stack up against a player like Brad Marchand? This week’s Cage Match featured a comparison of the two.

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Don’t look now, but Michal Neuvirth has back-to-back wins over the past three days. Neuvirth stopped 28 of 29 shots he faced in the Flyers’ 3-1 win over New Jersey. The Flyers are back in action today against Washington, so expect that Brian Elliott will be back for that game. Elliott has played more than he’s probably used to over the first half, so don’t be surprised if we see more of Neuvirth beyond just back-to-back games during the second half. A lot will depend on Neuvirth staying healthy, though.

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When I played minor hockey many years ago, there were three medals given out for each team at the end of the season: most valuable player, most sportsmanlike player, and most improved player. If these were handed out to NHL teams, the most improved medal should be handed to the Colorado Avalanche, who have already exceeded last season’s point total in half the games.

We know Nathan MacKinnon has evolved into one of the top value picks this season, and he did his part by adding a goal and an assist. But there are two other Avalanche who had strong performances on Saturday.  

In stopping 27 of 28 shots, Jonathan Bernier has now won eight consecutive games, just one fewer than his team’s present win streak. During his personal win streak he has a 1.47 GAA and .958 SV%. I know the general rule is that a starter isn’t supposed to lose his job because of an injury, but this recent run could mean that Bernier factors into the Colorado goaltending equation more even when Semyon Varlamov returns. I know the Avs have faith in Varlamov, given the fact that they didn’t protect Calvin Pickard during the expansion draft. But Varlamov has not posted a GAA below 2.80 or a SV% above .915% over the last three seasons.

Erik Johnson scored a goal and added an assist in this game. He has never stood out offensively in his career, never reaching the magic 40-point mark that seems to mean universal ownership for a defenseman in fantasy leagues. But this is at least worth pointing out:  

Erik Johnson has 17 points in 32 games since the start of Nov when the Lando-Mac-Ranta line was put together.

— Stephen Laidlaw (@SteveLaidlaw) January 20, 2018

Maybe I should have acquired Johnson when someone offered him to me in mid-December for a player that I eventually had to drop. But at the time I couldn’t have forecasted Tyson Barrie’s injury just before Christmas. Here’s another stat for you: since Barrie’s injury, Johnson has seven points over his last ten games (all even strength). In addition, EJ’s icetime is up nearly two minutes per game in January, some of which is power-play time. So with Barrie possibly returning next week, Johnson could be back to his old role next week, which isn’t as fantasy friendly.

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The hottest line in hockey might be the Bruins’ top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron. This trio has combined for 56 points (25g-31a) in their past 16 games. The leader for this line on Saturday against Montreal was Pastrnak, who filled the multicategory stat sheet with two goals and added an assist with a plus-3 and eight shots on goal.

While the Bruins are on their 16-game team point streak which started on December 16, Tuukka Rask has nine wins, a 1.80 GAA and a .933 SV%. He is also 13-0-2 in his last 15 decisions. After a rough start, he’s playing like one of the league’s top goalies while the Bruins have been playing like one of the league’s top teams.  

With his goal against Boston on Saturday, Max Pacioretty now has seven goals in his last seven games. Your window to buy low on him should officially be closed. At the same time, this should be a lesson that we shouldn’t just give up suddenly on consistent, proven performers.

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Morgan Rielly was not in the lineup for the Leafs on Saturday with an upper-body injury. As a result, Jake Gardiner moved up to top D pair with Ron Hainsey. Gardiner took full advantage of the opportunity, recording three assists. The move didn’t affect Gardiner’s overall icetime, though, as he has been averaging around 25 minutes per game in January and logged 24 minutes in this game. Gardiner is now on pace for his second consecutive 40-point season and has five points in eight games with the increased icetime.

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You could say that the Islanders have been shooting the lights out this season.

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With Ryan Pulock scoring five points in the Isles’ seven-goal explosion, an Islanders’ rookie has recorded five points in a game three times this season (Mathew Barzal has the other two instances).

Pulock’s line ended up as a goal, four assists with a plus-3 and four shots on goal. He has the offensive upside to be a fantasy contributor, but getting onto the NHL team prior to this season has been a challenge. Now that he’s on the team, icetime has been a challenge, as he has averaged just 16 minutes and change. But his situation has improved recently with the injuries to Johnny Boychuk and Calvin de Haan. He’s also been receiving second-unit power-play time, for what it’s worth.

Brock Nelson hasn’t exactly gotten in on the Islanders’ scoring jackpot this season, but he did score a goal and added two assists leading all Isles’ forwards in scoring. Nelson had not scored a goal in his previous four games and had not scored a goal in his previous 17 games, which shouldn’t be that surprising considering that he’s played outside of the top-6 for much of the season. But what happens to his fantasy value if John Tavares leaves?

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I’ve been leaving Antti Raanta on my bench for much of the season, but maybe I can roll the dice and start him now. Raanta has a 1.91 GAA and .933 SV% this month, even though he has just two wins in six games.

With two goals on Saturday, Christian Dvorak snapped a 10-game goalless drought.

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The Kevin Fiala/Nick Bonino/Calle Jarnkrok line was on fire on Saturday, combining for eight points. Fiala scored his first multigoal game of the season, which was a feat that he couldn’t manage when he was on the red-hot line earlier this season with Kyle Turris and Craig Smith.

Turris recorded an assist in this game, but I’ve moved him to my bench because he’s been ice cold. Turris has just three points over his last 13 games, which of course is the inevitable cool down after his hot streak (17 points in 17 games) when he first joined the Preds.

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Opportunity knocks for Elias Lindholm. He replaced the injured Sebastian Aho on the Hurricanes’ first line and on the first-unit power play and took full advantage, scoring two power-play goals and taking five shots on goal. With Aho’s status uncertain after suffering a concussion and lower-body injury after a nasty hit from Mark Giordano, Lindholm will need to be leaned on while the Canes’ leading scorer is out of the lineup. We’ve been waiting for some kind of breakout, and we may get something at least in the short term.   

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Brent Burns is doing his thing again. With a pair of assists on Saturday, he now has at least one point in 16 of his last 19 games.

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Want to know who the fantasy MVP is? According to Yahoo, it’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is owned in 45 percent of the top 500 Yahoo Public League teams. No one else is owned in more than 25 percent of this collection of teams, so this is a remarkable number.  

Unfortunately, with the Bolts’ recent three-game losing streak, Vasilevskiy has been sputtering. Going back to the last five games (two weeks) Vasilevskiy has posted a horrific 4.64 GAA and .850 SV%. He’s been fantasy’s most valuable goalie up to that point, so you’re obviously best to be patient unless you can acquire a proven stud in return. But this slide has to be at least somewhat concerning. The Bolts’ next two games are back-to-backs on Monday and Tuesday, so expect to see Louis Domingue for one of those games. Vasilevskiy is second in the NHL in minutes played, so it might be time for a little rest.

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Jesse Puljujarvi didn’t look like a player that had been held without a point in his previous eight games, scoring a goal and added two assists with a plus-3 and six shots on goal. The Oilers have moved Puljujarvi off Connor McDavid’s line, but one constant linemate since his AHL recall has been Milan Lucic while he appeared to connect with Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers haven’t been happy with their scoring from the wing since trading away Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, so expect Puljujarvi to figure significantly in their plans going forward.

Paul Coffey has joined the Oilers in some capacity, with a formal announcement coming today. It will be interesting to see how this affects the Oilers, particularly their defense, in their latest attempt to get things right.   

McLellan says Coffey’s focus will be on skill development, at all levels of organization, and with a focus on D in particular. Will work with prospects and with their NHL dmen as well. More to come tomorrow.

— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) January 21, 2018

Alex Edler might not move the needle much in fantasy. But with an assist on Saturday, he currently has a five-game point streak with six points over that stretch. He's also been shooting the puck a ton recently. With six shots on goal on Saturday, Edler now has 33 shots in seven games this month. Only Brent Burns, who leads all players by a wide margin in shots (44), has more shots on goal among defensemen than Edler this month. 

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For more fantasy hockey information, follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding.

from All About Sports http://www.dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-converted-touchdowns-for-stars-and-islanders-an-avalanche-of-wins-jan-21/

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Malkin's impact, Chicago's changes and the Maple Leafs (Puck Daddy Countdown)

EDMONTON, AB – MARCH 10: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins warms up against the Edmonton Oilers on March 10, 2017 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

(In which Ryan Lambert takes a look at some of the biggest issues and stories in the NHL, and counts them down.)

8. Missing Malkin

Listen, I don’t want to make too much of a stink here, but while we’re all sitting here saying, “Oh, aren’t you so excited for the Crosby/Ovechkin matchup in the second round,” most people are overlooking something.

No, it’s not the fact that the Crosby/Ovechkin argument is an obsolete relic from six years ago and no one should care about it any more. Although, certainly, that’s true.

It’s the fact that the best player in that first-round Penguins series was in fact Evgeni Malkin. My man very quietly put together a 2-9-11 line in five goddamn games. The media will not cover this.

Even in the game the Penguins lost, he had two assists. He had 0-3-3 in the series clincher, just humiliating the opposition while Crosby ate the only tough competition the Blue Jackets could put over the boards. This freakin’ guy!

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He now has 140 career playoff points in 129 games. That’s almost incomprehensible. It puts him fourth among active players, only four behind Crosby for second, and nine back of Hossa for second. Probably tough to run down Jagr’s current record of 201, but come on.

This guy has absolutely shredded defenders in the playoffs his entire career. Few talk about this.

If he were Canadian or American, he’d be one of the top 100 players of all time before you could say, “Jonathan Toews.”

7. How the Bruins went out

It kinda says a lot about the quality of the Ottawa Senators on the whole that so much needed to go their way for them to win their first-round series, albeit in six games.

The Bruins were basically playing Zdeno Chara and an AHL roster on the blue line, but Ottawa needed Erik Karlsson to start playing like the games were on Easy Mode, and for the Bruins to take approximately 400 puck-over-the-glass penalties to even keep things close in regulation.

Here’s how the Bruins lost this series (and it is absolutely wild):

Game 1: Narrow regulation win. Game 2: OT loss 12 seconds after a puck-over-the-glass penalty expired. Game 3: OT loss on a horrible roughing call that should have been 4-on-4 or nothing at all. Game 4: Even narrower regulation loss. Game 5: Narrow regulation win. Game 6: OT loss on a meh holding call that probably shouldn’t have been a penalty in overtime of an elimination game.

You know me, folks. I’m not a big Bruins Believer, at all. But, like, this is an insane amount of bad luck (and bad officiating).

People were laughing about Bruce Cassidy saying the team was proud regardless of how it lost, but with the blue line basically a M*A*S*H* unit and not being able to catch a break from the refs. I think there’s legitimately a lot for a team to be proud of there given the circumstances.

And I usually hate that kinda gotta-lose-to-succeed-and-at-least-we-tried nonsense.

6. Being the Rangers (maybe)

Hey man it’s nice to be able to pull that Sens card in the second round after running into a dysfunctional Montreal club in the first. But here’s what I’d be worried about: If they get to the Eastern Conference Final again — which they should, because Ottawa really isn’t great — what does that do for the team’s perception of itself.

It seemed like we were really close to some sort of realization of how good this team actually isn’t, but that might all go out the window if they can somehow only get smoked by Washington in the ECFs. (Which, by the way, I have a Caps/Rangers ECF on the books over here. That seems like it could be good, right?)

Not that they’re going to be deluded into thinking Dan Girardi is good any more, but the impulse to keep the band together if it gets to a conference final again is one that should be ignored at all costs. This team frankly wasn’t that good in the regular season. There’s no window to win a Cup here.

Best-case scenario: Use the capital any over-30 player builds up in this playoff to flip them for futures. Ooo, that’s a good idea. I’m glad I thought of it.

5. Changes in Chicago

One thing that seems like a really good idea is firing your elite head coach’s best friend who also happens to be a pretty good PK and defense coach in his own right. Probably won’t piss anyone off. Probably won’t make your PK or D any better.

To fire Mike Kitchen because you feel like you need to fire Someone is very dumb. Yeah, the Chicago PK has been in the lower third of the league, percentage-wise, over the past two years. You know what else it was? Staffed by an over-30 D corps that for the most part couldn’t be moved because the GM gave out too many bad contracts.

In much the same way I’m not sure what Dan Bylsma was supposed to do with that D group he had to work with in Buffalo, I couldn’t tell you what Kitchen was expected of Kitchen given the quality of the guys he had to work with.

As always, who’s gonna do a better job with that group, none of whom are going anywhere next year? I’d love to hear ideas.

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin responds to questions from reporters, Monday, April 24, 2017 in Brossard, Quebec. The Canadiens were eliminated by the New York Rangers in first round of NHL playoffs. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP)

4. No changes in Montreal

Marc Bergevin seems bereft of answers. Can’t trade Carey Price for a No. 1 center because if you trade an elite goalie, you’re only going to get worse, even if you get that solid No. 1.

But folks I gotta tell ya: This is what happens when your organizational philosophy shifts to “We have to get tougher.” Yeah, the Habs don’t have a No. 1 center, but look who they acquired in the past year: Shea Weber, Andrew Shaw, Dwight King, Steve Ott, Jordie Benn. All guys who have the same profile; they may not be good, but at least they’ll punch someone in the face.

You trade guys who can move the puck and bring in guys who can’t, then try to blame your world-class goalie? Like, come on.

This guy is very clearly in way over his head. I don’t know what goes on up there, but Bergevin’s only smart move of any consequence in like three years has been hiring Claude Julien.

3. Making the right call

Well, it took three years, but the Canucks finally made the right call. And they’re lucky to have that luxury.

Someone really should have come along and hired Travis Green by now, but the fact that they haven’t is to the Canucks’ benefit at the end of the day. Imagine if they hadn’t had a total incompetent behind the bench since 2014. What a world this would be.

2. Injuries

Legit question for you.

What’s more impressive: Joe Thornton being decent against the Oilers despite a torn MCL and ACL, or Erik Karlsson dominating the Bruins — and somehow putting on skates multiple times a day — with a broken foot?

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Both are bonkers.

AND IF LEBRON JAMES HAD EITHER ONE OF THOSE THINGS HE WOULD HAVE DIED, RIGHT FOLKS????

1. The very strong Leafs who are so nice and little

You might just want to prepare yourselves emotionally right now: On Oct. 1, 2017, every major hockey site and publication on earth will have the Leafs at least going to a Cup Final if not winning the damn thing.

It’s not the worst take in the world, but man it’s gonna get a lot of pageviews and move a lot of magazines. This is going to be a very good team, as I’ve said all year, but I’d like to see them make a few more material improvements before I start the coronation.

(Not ranked this week: Days off. 

The problem with the playoffs is that as the games get higher-stakes, they also become fewer and farther between. I love seeing multiple OT games in the first round. I hate waiting three days between rounds.

The first round is the best time of the year for hockey, without question. Everything that comes after it just becomes kind of a bummer.) 

Ryan Lambert is a Puck Daddy columnist. His email is here and his Twitter is here.

(All statistics via Corsica unless otherwise noted.)

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