Welcome back to the Weekly Wrap. Week nine of fantasy hockey was a busy one. With so many storylines, it’s impossible to fit them all into a weekly article. I’ll do my best to get to as many as I can.
There is a slight change to the format moving forward. I will be breaking the article into four sections. This will ensure I provide more balanced coverage to each division.
With that, let’s dig in.
Week 9 of Fantasy Hockey – Atlantic Division
Jeremy Swayman, G, Boston Bruins
He’s won three in a row which is a good sign. However, his Save Percentage (SvPct) in those three wins is .894. It remains .893 for the season. A far cry from what everyone expected. But should we be surprised? Not really. The security blanket of Linus Ullmark, G, Ottawa Senators, is gone. This is Swayman’s first year as the undisputed number-one goalie of the Bruins.
Growing pains should have been expected.
Joonas Korpisalo, G, Boston Bruins
He’s now 6-2-1 with a .909 SvPct on the season. If Swayman’s play doesn’t improve soon, Korpisalo will steal more starts. The Bruins are still in ‘win-now mode. This means Korpisalo will start if he gives the team a better chance to win.
Matthew Tkachuk, LW/RW, Florida Panthers
From underwhelming to white hot. Tkachuk has seven points in his past two games and 15 in his last seven. If you have ever needed an example of why you ride out superstar slumps – this is it. He’s now on pace for 100 points. As the first star of the week and 11 points, Tkachuk owned week nine of fantasy hockey.
Trent Frederic, LW/RW, Boston Bruins
Keep an eye on Frederic. In his last two games, he’s had 4:29 and 4:48 PPTOI (Power Play Time On Ice). For the season he’s averaging 1:23. We’ll see if this trend lasts. Regular time on the Bruins’ first power play unit would boost his offensive upside.
Patrick Laine, RW, Montreal Canadiens
Three games, three goals, and 11 shots. Laine is settling in as well as anyone could have hoped. A happy, comfortable Laine could result in point-per-game numbers.
Sebastian Cossa, G, Detroit Red Wings
In 45 minutes, Cossa gave up two goals on 14 shots. His .857 GAA doesn’t tell the story. He held the fort, which allowed the Red Wings to steal a wild 6-5 shootout victory against the Buffalo Sabres. Cossa has the first NHL win of his career before getting his first NHL start. Finally some good news from Detroit’s goalies.
Week 9 of Fantasy Hockey – Metropolitan Division
Igor Shesterkin, G, New York Rangers
Next year, Shesterkin becomes the highest-paid goalie in NHL history. He signed an eight-year, $92 million contract extension with the Rangers. That works out to $11.5 million per season (AAV).
I don’t like to spend big money on goalies in salary-cap leagues. Odds are I will never own Shesterkin in one. Goalies are voodoo. It’s nearly impossible to be a top-10 goalie two years in a row. Let someone else spend big money on Shesterkin (salary cap pool advice only).
Noah Dobson, D, New York Islanders
It hasn’t been a great statistical start for Dobson with 15 points in 29 games. The Islanders are far from an offensive juggernaut. It will be difficult for him to repeat his 70-point season.
On the bright side, he’s on a modest four-game point streak. His 87 shots also put him on pace for 246, which would be a career-high. Only Cale Makar, D, Colorado Avalanche, and Roman Josi, D, Nashville Predators, averaged three shots on goal per game as defencemen last year. This would put Dobson in elite company.
Andrei Svechnikov, G, Carolina Hurricanes
He grabbed six points in his last two games (before last night’s game). This broke a four-game pointless streak.
Every year we expect Svechnikov to have that big breakout year. Yet, seven years into his career he sits with a career high of 69 points. That said, you’d be foolish to trade him. You know he’ll break out as soon as you do.
Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers
With two assists last night, Michkov now has 27 points in 27 games. This leads all rookies in scoring and points per game. He’s on a five-game point streak, four of those games have been multi-point performances.
If Flyers fans weren’t in love with their super rookie already, they are after his game misconduct. After being ejected, Michkov stopped in the tunnel to sign an autograph. This is the stuff of Philly legend.
Week 9 of Fantasy Hockey – Pacific Division
Thatcher Demko, G, Vancouver Canucks
Demko started his first game of the season last night for the Canucks. Finally. Kevin Lankinen has been superb during his recovery and is largely responsible for the team’s success this season. They’re a better team with a healthy Demko.
Let’s hope he is healthy.
JT Miller, C/LW, Vancouver Canucks
After a nine-game absence, Miller returned to Canucks practice. He did not play last night, making it 10 games in a row he has missed. Regardless, his return to practice is huge to the Canucks offense and fantasy hockey owners alike.
Jacob Trouba, D, Anaheim Ducks
He was traded over the weekend to the Ducks for a 4th and Urho Vaakanainen, D, New York Rangers. The Ducks took on his full salary, which lowered the return to the Rangers.
Trouba isn’t known for his offense. His fantasy value ultimately remains intact. He’s a peripheral machine. He’ll hit and block wherever he is.
Adin Hill, G, Vegas Golden Knights
He’s won three in a row including a 28-save shutout against Edmonton on Tuesday, December 3rd. He followed that up by giving up two goals on 40 shots. He’s been lights out since being named to Team Canada’s Four Nations Cup roster.
Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken
Things are starting to go right for Wright. Going into last night’s game, Wright has eight points in his last eight games. There is no track record to support this being a breakout.
What it is though, is a huge step forward in his development. I acquired Wright almost as a throw-in last year. The shine had worn off. In this pool, prospects have no game or age limits. You can leave them in the minors as long as you like. Once I call a prospect up, they are up for good. I’ll let Wright marinate a while longer before I consider activating him. At least signs are pointing to actually activating him versus trading or dropping him.
Week 9 of Fantasy Hockey – Central Division
Mackenzie Blackwood, G, Colorado Avalanche
On Monday, Blackwood was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Colorado Avalanche, completing a full makeover of their net. Givani Smith, LW/RW, was also traded to the Avalanche. Blackwood reunites with Scott Wedgewood in Colorado. Wedgewood and Blackwood previously shared the crease in San Jose.
Alexander Georgiev, G, San Jose Sharks
Georgiev’s season was disastrous in Colorado. After removing goalies with five or fewer starts, Georgiev’s .874 SVPct ranks 58th in the NHL. The Avalanche have Stanley Cup aspirations. They needed to make a decisive move, and they did.
Nikolai Kovalenko, LW/RW, San Jose Sharks
He also joined the Sharks in the goalie trade. Kovalenko hasn’t lived up to expectations. He’ll receive a better opportunity to play with the Sharks.
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild
We’ll have to take a look at last night’s box score but going into last night’s game, Faber hasn’t seen a full shift on the power-play over the last four games. It is a trend we’ll want to keep an eye on.
This is something the Wild have done for the past several years. They’ve lacked a true number-one power-play quarterback for years now. As good as Faber was as a rookie, he’s not an offense-first defenceman.
Jared Spurgeon, D, Minnesota Wild
Spurgeon has taken over that role, again.
Thomas Harley, D – Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars
Heiskanen has held a firm grip on the first power-play unit this season. Through 27 games, Heiskanen has four goals, and 10 assists, for 14 points. With only 3 power-play points, on 57 shots. He’s averaging 3:21 PPTOI.
Harley, also has four goals and 1o assists through 27 games, on 59 shots. So far, he has no points off the power play while averaging 1:44 PPTOI.
The Stars can’t be happy with the power play production between these two. Don’t be surprised if Peter DeBoer flips Harley and Heiskanen at some point, giving Harley an opportunity on the first unit.
That will do it for this week. Thanks for reading
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