We are now just over a week into the NHL season and there’s no shortage of storylines. We are also still finding our way with the format of this column. It’s a bit all over the place with no focus beyond what grabs my attention each week.
As the year progresses some themes and specific topics will become regular inclusions. For now… enjoy the randomness of your Wednesday Weekly Wrap-up!
Fantasy Hockey Week in Review
NHL 3 Stars of the Week
First Star: Austin Matthews, Center, Toronto Maple Leafs
Only the second player in 100 years to score hat tricks in the first two games to start the season. Alexander Ovechkin did it in 2017-18. The other three, a century earlier.
Unquestionably, his wrist injury significantly impacted his ability to shoot the puck last year. Even his shot selection in the first three games is massively different.
Is it too early to start talking 60 goals and 100 points… or is it? He’s a legit threat for both, and he’s started hot.
Second Star: Elias Pettersson, Center, Vancouver Canucks
It took exactly one game, maybe one period, for Pettersson to put the hockey world on notice that 2022-23 was not a fluke.
The superstar blossomed into his potential last year. This year, he could take another step forward and push into the conversation of the elite of the elite.
With a goal and five helpers in two games versus the Edmonton Oilers, and four of those points on the power play, Pettersson looks primed to put up another monster season.
Third Star: Evgeni Malkin, Center, Pittsburgh Penguins
For the last five or six years, people have wanted to count Malkin out. They think his body has taken too much wear and tear and scream, ‘The fall is coming.’ Yeah, it is coming, that’s inevitable. But early on, it looks like the ‘father time’ will have to wait at least another year.Malkin is off to a hot start with six points in his first three games, including a four-point game against Washington. Another point-per-game season is in store for this future first-ballot Hall of Famer.
News and Notes
Edmonton Oilers Goaltending
Look, it is early. Do not overreact. Especially if you own Stuart Skinner and/or Jack Campbell. Roberto Luongo will be the first to tell you not to sweat a goalie’s stats in October (he was notorious for bad October’s). There’s more room here to withhold concern about Campbell though. We’re entering a second season of poor play. It is a lot to ask a young goalie to take over the starter responsibilities on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations in a Canadian market.
Something has to give. The easier fix is to improve defensive play. No disrespect to him but, Cody Ceci cannot be your best defenceman. They need to be better as a team.
Luckily for the team, the Oilers will be able to outscore a lot of their problems. I have avoided owning an Edmonton goalie for at least a decade. In leagues where GAA and SVPCT count, they’ll offer really good stretches, but you better own a top-10 goalie to offset the bad stretches.
Evan Rodriguez, C, LW, RW, Florida Panthers
For the third straight game, Rodriguez played on the top line with Alexander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe.His ice time to start the year is similar to 2022-23 in Colorado with two differences. First, his ice time is not the result of injury replacement. Second, he has seen regular exposure on the top power-play unit. He’s averaging over five minutes a game on the power play, three minutes per game higher than his current career high.He has had hot starts before, Pittsburgh 2021-22, only to watch his production fade in the second half. Again though, he moved up the line-up to fill in for multiple injuries.With five points in his first three games and averaging four shots a game, Rodriguez is someone to grab and keep a close eye on.
Connor Bedard, Center, Chicago Black Hawks
A five-game road trip with stops in Toronto and Montreal is a hard way to start a season. Add in ‘super-rookie’ status and the media circus in those two cities becomes bonkers. At least Bedard gets those stops over with early.
Still, three points in four games and 20 shots is a solid start. A couple of practices and some home games will let him settle in. He’s dazzled in each game, but this is a tough start for any team or player.
Logan Cooley, Center, Arizona Coyotes
The Calder race is already underway. Cooley looks great early, with three points in his first two games, all on the power play. At 19 minutes a game, Cooley is already a big fixture in Arizona.
Teuvo Teravainen, LW/RW, Carolina Hurricanes
With four goals in his first three games, Teravainen is looking to put a poor 2022-23 season behind him as fast as possible.
But don’t expect this kind of goal-scoring to continue. He’s a career 10.2% shooter and only had 200 shots in a season once. With four goals on five shots, he’s an early-season sniper. Expect a bounceback year, but the goal-scoring will slow dramatically. Luckily, Teravainen is known more for his passing than scoring.
Sean Durzi, Defence, Arizona Coyotes
It has only been two games, but Durzi is getting over five minutes a game on the power play. He’s been on the ice for over 70% of the Coyote’s powerplays. He has defensive lapses, this is a great way to minimize those gaffes.
I am keeping a watch on how this plays out. I can’t shake the feeling (gut feeling) that Valimaki is going to get an opportunity at some point in Durzi’s stead.
Tampa Bay Lightning Goalie Situation
It’s a different situation in Tampa Bay than in Edmonton. Vasilevsky will be returning in two months, possibly a little less.
In the meantime, they might have the worst tandem in the NHL. Jonas Johansson has yet to demonstrate he can be relied upon as a steady backup over 5 seasons. I’m sure Tampa would have preferred to give Tomkins at least the first part of the year in the AHL to acclimatize to North American pro hockey. Instead, they are running two unproven, green goalies out, in tandem.
They’ll need to exercise strong team defense to remain close to a playoff spot until Vasilevsky returns. Otherwise, that Tanner Jeannot trade could get a lot worse.
Jordan Binnington, Goalie, St. Louis Blues
Two brilliant starts to begin the year, 33 saves on 34 shots, and 30 on 31 shots. A sparkling .92 GAA and .969 SVPCT to start the year.
His problems over recent years have been long stretches equally as bad. This situation might be where you want to ‘pump and dump’ the player. Take advantage of the hot start and trade for a better long-term asset.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Defence, Florida Panthers
With the Panthers down Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, they needed to turn to someone. I don’t think anyone thought that person would ever be ‘OEL’. Bought out and written off by Vancouver, he is averaging over 26:00 a game in ice time.
He is also seeing big minutes on the power play and penalty kill. He is only a potential short-term solution. Once Montour and Ekblad return, OEL’s offensive opportunities will diminish significantly.
Still, it’s nice to see him have a solid bounce-back year. I’d look to flip him for any type of draft pick I could. He holds short-term value so you can’t be picky. Even a late-round draft pick would be difficult unless you find a believer.
AHL Prospects – Fast Starts
Similar to the NHL, the AHL got underway over the past week. While only a couple of games in, there have been some very fast starts from several prospects who should see time in the NHL this season.
Nick Robertson, RW, Maple Leafs
Five points in two games, including a goal off a wrist shot that can only be described as elite. The Leafs will desperately be searching for depth scoring. Robertson’s start in the AHL is a smart move with how many games he has missed in the last two seasons. His next call-up could be his last.
Trey Fix-Wolansky, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets
Five points in two games. He played reasonably well during his stint with the Blue Jackets in 2022-23. Similar to Robertson, his days in the AHL could be numbered.
Jeremy Poirier, D, Calgary Flames
In his second AHL season, Poirier is looking to explode. With 41 points in 69 games in 2022-23, Poirier had a very strong rookie year. If he continues to produce like this, he’ll force a call-up. Rasmus Andersson is the only real offensive option on the Flames. Sure there’s Noah Hanifin and MacKenzie Weegar, but they’re more your ‘all-around’ defenceman. Poirier is all offense, all the time. There’s room on the bottom pair for Poirier when the time is right.
Brad Lambert, C, Winnipeg Jets
Three points in two games match his point total in 14 games from last season with the Manitoba Moose. He also has ten shots over those two games. Needless to say, Lambert looks much more comfortable starting this year with the Moose.
Olen Zellweger, D, Anaheim Ducks
Three assists in two games and nine shots. Zellweger is an offensive juggernaught. The real question is how his defensive game will develop. Expect him to spend the full year in the AHL, no matter how he produces. Perhaps a late-season call-up as a reward, but that is really the most you can expect.
Brandon Clarke, D, Los Angeles Kings
Sixteen shots in two games, and a 10-minute misconduct penalty. Similar to Zellweger, he needs to improve his defensive game. That said, his offensive game might be so strong it all gets overlooked and he develops it on the fly. If he spends significant time in the AHL he could put up gaudy numbers.
That’s all for this week. Thanks for reading.
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