Perhaps, it’s just the time of the year, but there seem to be more moving pieces than ever throughout the fantasy landscape. The Week 9 Fantasy Hockey Stock Report is loaded with risers and fallers from across the league.
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Week 9 Fantasy Hockey Stock Report: Risers
C Cody Eakin, VGK: With a point-per-game mark through his past 13 contests, Eakin is proving to be a valuable asset. He’s clicked with wingers Alex Tuch and Max Pacioretty to the tune of 4.65 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five this season, and Eakin also helps in the peripheral categories, especially faceoff wins.
C Jared McCann, FLA: A promotion to the second line following Vincent Trocheck’s injury (ankle) should provide the 22-year-old center with a legitimate chance at positing career-best totals across the board. McCann has scored three goals with an average 1:30 of power-play time through his past four contests..
C Colby Cave, BOS: The rookie is receiving an opportunity to center Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak. While Cave hasn’t marked the scoresheet yet, if he sticks in the role, the potential is there for a fleeting uptick in value. At worst, the 23-year-old center is a player to watch.
C/RW Sam Reinhart, BUF: The emerging winger has marked the scoresheet in eight of his past 12 outings for five goals, eight assists and 24 shots. Reinhart is currently skating on the top line with Jack Eichel and Jeff Skinner, so flirting with point-per-game production for the duration of his stay atop the depth chart isn’t out of the question.
RW Alex Chiasson, EDM: Connor McDavid has had revolving doors on each flank since arriving in Edmonton, but it appears Alex Chaisson could be a long-time fit along with Leon Draisaitl. Playing with No. 97 is obviously a juicy fantasy setup, and Chiasson has scored five times, added two helpers and registered 17 shots through his past eight contests.
D Shea Weber, MON: With an assist, three shots, a hit and two blocked shots through 25:19 of ice time (3:44 with the man advantage), Weber showed well in his season debut Tuesday. He’s obviously a tougher sell in salary-cap formats, but as long as he’s healthy and logging huge minutes, the fantasy ceiling and floor are both high.
D Samuel Girard, COL: The young defenseman is providing respectable numbers this season and is currently projected to see top offensive minutes with Tyson Barrie (undisclosed) nursing an injury. Averaging 9:00 minutes of ice time per game with Nathan MacKinnon certainly helps, too.
D Oscar Klefbom, EDM: The 25-year-old defenseman is hot of late with two tallies, three helpers, 17 shots and 12 blocked shots through his past three contests. Obviously, Klefbom won’t continue posting those elite numbers, but his recent surge does highlight his upside. There’s huge potential, and his ice time is up — 26:06 per game — with Ken Hitchcock calling the shots.
G Mikko Koskinen, EDM: The huge Finn has started four of the past five games and gone 3-0-1 with a .936 save percentage and 1.72 GAA. Koskinen appears to have sealed up the No. 1 gig for now, especially because his recent run has him at a 7-2-1 record for the campaign. It’s a much better start than Cam Talbot’s 5-9-1 line.
G Curtis McElhinney, CAR: The organization’s waiving of Scott Darling all but solidifies McElhinney’s positing as the teams go-to goaltender. The veteran backup has started five of the past six games and posted a 4-0-1 record with a .961 save percentage and 1.39 GAA to improve him to 7-2-1, .930 and 2.10 for the campaign. Just note, McElhinney has never started more than 28 games in a season.
Week 9 Fantasy Hockey Stock Report: Fallers
C Nazem Kadri, TOR: Pair the return of Auston Matthews with Kadri’s single assist through his past six contests, and there’s not a lot to be excited about. It will be difficult for the 28-year-old center to post a third consecutive 30-goal campaign, and Kadri’s unlikely to be a reliable contributor game in, game out.
LW James van Riemsdyk, PHI: There’s a lot going wrong in Philadelphia, but after inking a $7 Million deal this offseason, van Riemsdyk’s start to the 2018-19 campaign is up on the list. Aside from a solid three-point showing against Tampa Bay, he’s missed the scoresheet in five of six games since returning from injury and has just one tally and three helpers for the campaign.
LW/RW Ilya Kovalchuk, LA: Currently nursing an infected ankle, Kovalchuk missed Friday’s game against Calgary. He’s also missed the scoresheet in each of his past 11 outings and seen his ice time drop below 15 minutes in five of his latest six appearances. Scorers usually score their way out of droughts, but the opportunity to do so needs to be there.
RW Jakub Voracek, PHI: It’s been 16 games since Voracek’s last multi-point showing, and he’s recorded just three goals, four assists and no power-play points during the stretch. The veteran Czech’s 2.47 points per 60 minutes is also way down compared to last season’s 3.2 mark.
D Morgan Rielly, TOR: While it’s hardly a concern, there’s potential that Rielly’s recent scoring dip (two assists through his past five games) is more representative of what’s to come than his scorching hot start to the season. His numbers will be buoyed by quarterbacking Toronto’s No. 1 power-play unit, but this could also prove to be a potential sell-high spot.
D Shayne Gostisbehere, PHI: Another slumping Flyer, Gostisbehere has failed to register a point in seven of his last eight contests and has just four even-strength points all season. Statistical correction is likely ahead considering his 1.32 points per 60 minutes are far below the 2.02 mark he posted the previous three seasons, but expecting a full rebound might be asking too much.
G Connor Hellebuyck, WPG: With three goals or more allowed in each of his past five appearances, Hellebuyck’s current form is concerning. He’s sporting a disappointing .904 save percentage and 3.09 GAA for the year, and his 10-7-1 record is also discouraging considering the Jets are considering Stanley Cup contenders.
G Martin Jones, SJ: Simply put, San Jose and fantasy owners need Jones to make more saves. He’s allowed fewer than three goals in just one of his past 11 starts and despite walking away with the victory in six of those contests, his .885 save percentage and 3.35 GAA are anchoring ratios. All it will take is a few more saves per week.
For more great fantasy hockey talk, listen in on Chris Meaney and Neil Parker on the Fantrax Fantasy Hockey Podcast, as they hit on all the injuries, streamers, and recent trends you need to know to stay on top of the fantasy ice.
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