In this article, I will be looking at some recent storylines, determining how much you should care about them and how you should react in your Fantasy Hockey league.
Multiple NHL Games Postponed Thanks to Omicron
How much should I care? 4/5
The NHL schedule is in turmoil and it’s having significant impacts on fantasy hockey. If you want to win your matchups for the next couple of weeks, you need to pay attention to which teams are playing and which are not. Daily Faceoff has a nice NHL schedule tool that I personally use for this purpose.
Here’s a quick recap for the next two weeks:
Week of January 3, 2022:
- 0 Games: Canadiens, Islanders
- 1 Game: Sabres, Kraken, Canucks
- 2 Games: Hurricanes, Oilers, Kings, Wild, Senators, Maple Leafs, Capitals, Jets
- 3 Games: Ducks, Coyotes, Bruins, Flames, Blackhawks, Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Stars, Red Wings, Panthers, Predators, Devils, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins, Sharks, Blues, Lightning, Golden Knights
Week of January 10, 2022:
- 1 Game: Flames, Oilers, Wild, Golden Knights
- 2 Games: Islanders, Blues, Jets
- 3 Games: Ducks, Coyotes, Sabres, Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Stars, Red Wings, Panthers, Kings, Canadiens, Predators, Devils, Rangers, Senators, Flyers, Penguins, Sharks, Maple Leafs, Capitals
- 4 Games: Bruins, Avalanche, Kraken, Lightning, Canucks
There is certainly a chance that the NHL adds to the schedule for a team like the Islanders, but if it doesn’t, the Islanders only have 2 games over the next 2 weeks and you need to adjust your fantasy lineup accordingly.
Obviously, you are not going to be dropping your star players, but if you play in a league with weekly lineup setting, get the players with 0 or 1 game to your bench. On the other hand, if you have any fringe or replacement level players on a team like the Islanders, Wild, Oilers, Canadiens or Sabres, I would drop them for a similar player on a team that plays 6-7 games over the next two weeks.
Pay particular attention to your goaltending situation, making sure you hit minimum starts if applicable.
Cam Talbot Injured in Winter Classic
How much should I care? 2/5
Cam Talbot sustained a lower-body injury during the winter classic. That in itself is not worth caring about too much until we hear the extent of the injury (it may be very minor). However, Talbot has also given up 5 goals or more in 3 of his past 4 starts and posts a fairly poor 3.00 GAA and .909 Save Percentage on the season. Combine those two items and the Wild may give Kappo Kahkonen a few more starts than usual in the near term.
If you are in need of some goaltending help or have an open bench spot available for a stash, consider Kahkonen, who is 48% rostered in Fantrax leagues.
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