Welcome back to the second installment of the Wednesday Weekly Wrap-up, your fantasy hockey week in review.
With training camps ending and the first night of hockey in the books, a lot can get jammed into a week of hockey. Let’s catch you up.
Fantasy Hockey Week In Review
Sidney Crosby vs. Connor Bedard
Talk about iconic faceoffs. Crosby and Bedard to start the game is one for the ages. It feels like a bigger deal than the first Crosby-Connor McDavid faceoff because Crosby is much closer to retirement.
The Bedard era has finally arrived. It kicked off with 21:29 ice time, his first NHL assist, and five shots. Crosby scored a goal, reminding everyone he’s far from done.
If Bedard lives up to the hype, he’ll put a damper on McDavid’s run for Art Ross record (Wayne Gretzky has 10)
Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov looked in midseason form with 21:19 in ice time, two goals, and five shots. It’s going to be another elite year for Kucherov
Winnipeg Jets Re-Sign Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele
With the talk of players wanting out of Winnipeg, we were pleasantly surprised with matching seven-year, $8.5M (AAV) deals for Connor Hellebuyck and Mark Scheifele. This will keep both in Winnipeg until they turn 37. Perhaps Winnipeg doesn’t need to go full-blown rebuild after all.
Predicting fantasy value is easier when players remain with the same team. it’s status quo for the next three years.
Waiver Claims
With teams making final cuts, we’ve seen a slew of waivers in the last seven days.
Lassi Thompson, Defense – Ottawa Senators
I’m not sure Thompson had time to pack his bags before the Anaheim Ducks waived him, only to be reclaimed by the Ottawa Senators. By reclaiming Thompson, the Senators can send him to Bellingham without placing him back on waivers.
Ivan Prosvetov, Goalie – Colorado Avalanche
A savvy claim by the Colorado Avalanche. With Pavel Francouz often injured and Justus Annunen not quite ready to be relied upon, regularly, Prosvetov provides the Avalanche with much-needed depth in net.
Prosvetov’s fantasy value takes a bump. He moves from a fringe prospect to own in deeper pools, to a prospect you should own in most pools.
Grigori Denisenko, LW – Vegas Golden Knights
He almost cleared waivers. Drafted in 2018, that’s five years ago now, Denisenko has shown little progression. Last year was the first year he demonstrated an offensive spark, with 36 points in 56 games. Hopefully, a fresh start is all that he needs.
Rookies that Survived Final Cuts
It’s no surprise that Connor Bedard (Chicago Black Hawks), Logan Cooley (Arizona Coyotes), and Adam Fantilli (Columbus Blue Jackets) made their respective teams. Some of the following names add varying levels of surprise.
Jackson LaCombe, Pavel Mintyukov, Tristan Luneau (D, Anaheim Ducks)
The Ducks are breaking camp with three rookie defensemen, including the OHL & QMJHL reigning defensemen of the year. Don’t overlook LaCombe, who provides offensive upside himself.
There should be lots of turnovers and mistakes with this trio but there should also be some dazzling moments. Lest we forget Jamie Drysdale is also on the roster. Four offensive-minded, puck-moving defensemen, with Ollen Zellweger in the wings… exciting times lie ahead for the Ducks, indeed.
Zach Benson (LW, Buffalo Sabres)
Nine games is the marker to watch here. Those games will determine if he sticks around for the season. I expect him to return to the Winnipeg Ice of the WHL, after his ninth game. It will take stand-out play for him to remain with the Sabres. After all, there’s no reason to rush him along.
Matthew Coronato (LW, Calgary Flames)
His defensive play was good enough to make the cut. He’ll need to keep it up to stay with the Flames. There’s a good chance Coronato flip-flops between the AHL-NHL a couple of times this year.
Kevin Korchinski (D, Chicago Black Hawks)
His mentorship under Seth Jones begins now. It will be a long year in Chicago, but the excitement is well underway.
Mackie Samoskevich (RW, Florida Panthers)
From happy to be in camp, to playing well, but long shot, to making the opening night roster, Samoskevich is one of the pleasant surprises of September.
Luke Hughes (D, New Jersey Devils), Alexander Holtz (RW, Devils)
Sure he’s behind Dougie Hamilton on the depth charts, but the upside is real. If you’re looking for a candidate to steal the Calder Trophy from Bedard’s hands, here you go.
Holtz finally looks to break through on what is now a very deep and potent offensive team. If he clicks, the Devils are that much deeper and dangerous.
Ridley Greig (C, LW, Ottawa Senators)
The blue-chip prospect few outside of Ottawa talk about. With Norris starting the year on injured reserve, Greig looks to get a shot centering the second line, at least for a few games.
Tyson Foerster (RW, Philadelphia Flyers)
He dropped seven points in his first eight games at the end of 2023-24. Foerster could very well be a force right out of the gate.
William Eklund (LW, San Jose Sharks), Thomas Bordeleau (C, Sharks), Henry Thrun (D, Sharks)
It will be a rough year for this trio, the Sharks will not be a good team. Goals will be hard to come by for stretches.
Eklund will be given all the ice time he can handle to show he’s ready for the NHL. Bordeleau has had a couple of cups of coffee with the big club over the last two years but has never been able to stick. Thrun showed up in a big way during training camp. He earned his way onto the team.
Tye Kartye (LW, Seattle Kraken)
He has carried his strong play into the pre-season and locked down a roster spot. We should temper expectations in regard to production, but he looks like he’s here to stay.
Matthew Knies (LW, Toronto Maple Leafs), Joseph Woll (G, Leafs)
Predictions haven’t come exactly true. Knies will start the year on the third line. There will be growing pains, but for the first time since Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, the Leafs have a high-end prospect in the top six.
Woll starts as the backup to Samsonov. Seek out the tandem here as Woll will get his fair share of starts and could steal the starting gig if he picks up where he left off last year.
Fantasy Hockey Prospect Talk
Terik Parasak – RW – Prince George Cougars – WHL
If you don’t know his name yet, you will. He’s a 17-year-old rookie out of Edge ‘Prep’ School in Calgary. Eight games into the WHL season he has 12 goals and 18 points, leading the league in both categories. He also has a four-goal game under his belt.
He also just won the WHL Rookie of the Week Award.
I went through a bunch of early-season highlights, one thing that stood out right away, he’s always around the net. There were several Cougars goals where he didn’t accumulate a point, he was set up in a high-danger area, ready for a rebound. He’s got a high hockey IQ, quick footspeed, and great hands. He also isn’t afraid to muck it up in the dirty areas for garbage goals. He’s not big, but he’s feisty.
Expect him to start rising in rankings. We’re looking at a potential first-round pick in the 2024 draft.
Nikolai Kovalenko – RW – Colorado Avalanche (Currently KHL)
He’s demonstrating last season’s breakout of 54 points in 56 games was no fluke. He’s off to a quick start this year, with 13 points in his first 11 games. He signed with the Avalanche this summer and was then loaned back to his KHL club, Nizhny Novgorod Torpedos. Expect him to join the Avalanche at the end of the NHL season, once the KHL season is finished.
He could make a significant impact upon arrival so stash his name until 2024-25. I’ve drafted or claimed him in four of my five hockey pools (dynasty & limited keeper).
Season Predictions
I am notoriously dreadful at making season predictions. That said, I’ll throw myself to the wolves anyway
Division Winners:
Metropolitan – New Jersey Devils
Atlantic – Toronto Maple Leafs
Central – Colorado Avalanche
Pacific – Calgary Flames
President’s Trophy – New Jersey Devils
Eastern Conference Finals – New York Rangers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Winner – New York Rangers
Western Conference Finals – Edmonton Oilers vs. Colorado Avalanche
Winner – Edmonton Oilers
Major Award Winners
Stanley Cup Winner: New York Rangers
Art Ross Trophy: Connor McDavid
Hart Trophy: Connor McDavid
Norris Trophy: Cale Makar
Calder Trophy: Connor Bedard
Rocket Richard Trophy: Austin Matthews
Vezina Trophy: Jacob Markstrom
Bold Predictions
- Three players score 60 goals – Connor McDavid, Austin Matthews, and a surprise.
- Twenty players hit 100 points
- Cale Makar scores 30 goals and breaks 100 points
- Boston Bruins make the playoffs in the Atlantic with 107 points
- The Calgary Flames have a huge bounce-back season. Nazem Kadri hits 80 points, Jonathan Huberdeau breaks 90 points & Markstrom has 10 shutouts.
- Brandon Montour misses 20 games and still hits 60-points.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.
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