Hey Folks, welcome back to the Weekly Wrap. Last week, the youngsters led the way in the NHL Three Stars. Week eight of fantasy hockey brought more streaks, surprises, injuries, and some big names returning to the ice.
Week 8 of Fantasy Hockey
Macklin Celebrini, C – San Jose Sharks
Perhaps no one was more surprised than Celebrini when he was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week. His seven points in four games gave him the nod. He’s up to 15 points in 16 games, on 51 shots.
The Sharks have become a fun team to watch in recent weeks. Celebrini has come as advertised and is a big reason why. This kid is legit and will become a superstar in this league. He could very well provide the best rookie season we’ve seen in over a decade.
Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW, Vancouver Canucks.
Canucks fans are notoriously fickle. They ripped DeBrusk the first month of the year. I wonder how they like this signing now?
With seven goals in his last six games, DeBrusk now leads the team in goals with 11. He’s also up to 20 points in 24 games putting him on pace to smash his career high, which is only 50.
Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maples Leafs
He’s back. He doesn’t look like his characteristic self, yet. We’re all awaiting Matthews to go on one of his white-hot goal-scoring streaks. His ability to produce 15 goals in 10 games is why we love him. It’s also why we can’t rule him out of catching Sam Reinhart, C, Florida Panthers, for the goal-scoring lead.
Sam Reinhart, C, Florida Panthers.
I need to pause and begin to appreciate the scoring pace Reinhart has been on for fourteen months now. I still don’t believe 25% shooting is sustainable. Yet, here we are – year two of Reinhart doing just that. His shooting percentage sits at 27.7%. It is slightly higher than the peak of his shooting percentage last year.
Reinhart has become the league’s most efficient shooter. Imagine if he became a prolific shooter.
Ivan Barbashev, LW, Vegas Golden Knights
We might as well stick with elevated shooting percentages. Barbashev has scored 13 goals on 46 shots, that’s a 28.3% clip. His previous career high in goals and points came in 2021-22 with the Blues (26 goals, 60 points). He did shoot 23.3%, so this isn’t his first regression-ripe rodeo.
I’ve been convinced Reinhart is a player you should keep. In a one-year pool, I’ll ride the wave. In dynasties, I’ll take my chances and sell high.
Bowen Byram, D, Buffalo Sabres
This is more a comment on Byram as a player than anything related to last week. Everyone thought he would be the third wheel in Buffalo – and that may be true. However, he’s still on pace for 49 points.
Owen Power, D is also on pace for 50 points. Dahlin is on pace for 62 points. I can’t find an NHL team in history that’s achieved this feat.
Jakob Chychrun, D, Washington Capitals
He produced seven points over four games in week eight of fantasy hockey and is on pace for 65 points. This is the defencemen the Ottawa Senators thought they traded for two years ago.
All of Chris Patrick’s off-season moves seem to be paying off so far.
Patrick Laine, LW/RW, Montreal Canadiens
He joined the Canadiens for their three-game road trip last week. Last night he made his long-awaited debut. Shockingly, he scored a power-play goal in the first period.
It’s good to get the first one out of the way. This should help him settle into a rhythm a lot quicker.
Tom Wilson, LW, Washington Capitals
He had five points in four games. Well, three games. He was held pointless in the fourth game of the week.
After battling injuries the last couple of years, Wilson is back in a big way. The Capitals as a team are back in a big way. They’re arguably the biggest surprise of the first quarter of the season. His current pace of 62 points would be a career-high. Staying healthy is always a risk with the way he plays.
Filip Hronek, D, Vancouver Canucks
After undergoing surgery for a ‘lower body’ issue, Hronek is expected to miss the next six weeks.
Erik Brannstrom, D, Vancouver Canucks
With a recent run of strong play, Brannstrom would be the logical power-play replacement for Hronek. Keep tabs on him if you need an offensive replacement on the blue line.
Simon Holmstrom, RW, New York Islanders
Holmstrom’s recent run can be chalked up to a move to the top line with Anders Lee, LW, and Bo Horvat, C. It’s been a while since the Islanders produced a top-six forward in their system. Holmstrom is a long way from solidifying himself as a top-six forward, but at least he’s showing signs of life.
David Jiricek, D, Minnesota Wild
He finally received his wish and was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Wild. The Blue Jackets have a lot of money tied up on the blue line with multi-year contracts for Zach Werenski, Ivan Provorov, and Damon Severson. Meaningful ice time was going to be hard to come by.
The Wild gave up four picks for the former top-ten draft pick. Jiricek has yet to suit up for the Wild. When he does, expect him to receive more than the eight minutes a game he was getting in Columbus.
Scott Wedgewood, G, Colorado Avalanche & Justus Annunen, G, Nashville Predators
These two goalies were traded for each other this weekend. The Avalanche needed to do something in the net. Alexander Georgiev has been subpar for two seasons now. Somehow, he’s been worse this year.
They don’t need Wedgewood to be all-world. The hope is, that he provides a reliable presence. If you need a goalie, Wedgewood should be a good pickup – at least in the short term.
He’s been a reliable backup for the past couple of seasons, but he has never been able to take over a net. He will get another shot to do so in Colorado.
Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers
Like the team in front of him, things have not gone well of late. He’s lost five straight. It hasn’t been all bad, there are a couple of quality starts mixed in. Things just aren’t jiving in New York right now.
In a month from now, this will all be water under the bridge and Shesterkin will be standing on his head again. In the meantime, remember to breathe. Don’t overreact.
Don’t trade Shesterkin, unless the return is incredible. This too shall pass.
That will wrap up week eight of fantasy hockey. Thanks for reading.
You can follow me on X here: @doylelb4
You can also follow me on BlueSky:@logandoyle.bsky.social