Welcome back to the Weekly Wrap! As we inch deeper into the season, more storylines are emerging. Week 3 of fantasy hockey is chalked full of them.
Let’s start with a look at a couple of contracts.
More great fantasy hockey analysis: Slappers and Bangers | Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire | Goalie Streams | Weekly Wrap-Up | NHL Injury Report
Week Three of Fantasy Hockey
Alexis Lafreniere, LW, New York Rangers
His steadily improving play was rewarded with a seven-year $52 150 00 contract, which has an average annual value (AAV) of $7.45 million a season. This could be a value deal before it even begins. He is in the final year of his two-year, $2.35 million AAV bridge deal and should hit 70 points for the first time in his career.
Once he ascends to the first power play unit his production should soar into the 90-point range.
Jake McCabe, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
There’s not much fantasy value here outside of multicat pools. McCabe’s new contract is for five years with an AAV of $4.7 million. That makes for expensive hits and blocks in cap pools. By staying in Toronto he should continue to produce close to 30 points a season. It’s something, right?
Shea Theodore, D, Vegas Golden Knights
It feels like Vegas is extending someone for seven years every few months. Starting in 2025-26, Theodore’s new deal runs an AAV of $7.25 million for the next seven years. The immediate comparison is Zach Werenski in Columbus, who’s making a whopping $9.583 per year. The biggest issue is Theodore’s health. If he can stay on the ice, he’ll be worth every penny.
Week Three of fantasy hockey has brought us some interesting goalie developments.
Justus Annunen G, Colorado Avalanche
It’s early, but Annunen is starting to wrestle the starting job from Alexander Georgiev, G.
Let’s be honest, Annunen hasn’t been lights out. His 2.48 goals-against average is good, but his .905 save percentage won’t win him a Vezina. Simply put, Georgiev has been downright awful. His 4.99 goals-against average and .810 save percentage.
If the Avalanche’s goal is to chase a Stanley Cup this year, neither one should be the answer. Don’t anchor your goaltending on either one of them for the season.
Anthony Stolarz, G, Toronto Maple Leafs
Craig Berube went back to Stolarz on Monday night after a tough overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday. Joseph Woll, G took it on the chin in his first start of the season in a 5-1 loss versus St. Louis Blues. Right now, Berube trusts Stolarz in the net. The Leafs have also played, at best, inconsistent hockey to start the year. Stolarz gives them the best chance to right the ship.
As long as Stolarz doesn’t falter too much he should continue to receive the majority of starts. Expect a 40-30 game split at this point. After all, Stolarz’s career high for games played is 28.
Tristan Jarry, G, Joel Blomqvist, G, Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
Jarry has played three games for the Penguins and was shelled in two of them. He was assigned to their AHL affiliate, Wilkes-Barrie Scranton on a conditioning stint three days ago. Blomqvist doesn’t need to clear waivers. Once Jarry completes his conditioning stint expect him to be sent down.
Jarry is on the books for $5.375 million for three more years. They’re at the top of the salary cap. They will want to trade him, not waive him to resolve this issue.
Elvis Merzlikins, G, and Danil Tarasov, G, Columbus Blue Jackets
There’s a starting goalie battle in Columbus. Through eight games, Tarasov has started five. Expect a relatively even split unless one takes the bull by the horns and claims the net. Merzlikins has seen his share of injury reserve stints over the years as well.
I’m a fan of Tarasov. It’s only a matter of time before he pulls ahead.
Anton Lundell, C, Florida Panthers
Alexander Barkov, C, returned to the lineup last night and Lundell returned to his third-line spot.
As a result, Lundell’s ice time was chopped by five minutes from the Panthers’ previous game. He remains on the second power-play unit, no significant change there.
In the short term, Lundell’s value takes a hit. The change in the caliber of linemates is significant.
Long term, he has shown the Panthers organization he can chew big minutes and carry a larger load. We’ll have to wait and see if this changes Florida’s approach to the Sam Bennett, C, negotiations.
Stefan Noesen, LW/RW, New Jersey Devils
Noesen is off to a rockin’ start. In a season-high 16:51 ice time, he scored two goals on four shots. This brings his season tally to 11 points in 12 games. Right now, he’s on the first power play unit, which has relegated Timo Meier to the second unit.
He’s always had a strong offensive skill set. It just never fully clicked in the NHL. He’s an intriguing player to watch. He’s been a depth option his whole career, which until 2022-23 in Carolina was fraught with yo-yoing between the AHL and NHL.
To break out, Noesen will need to find a way to stick in the Devils’ top-six and first power-play unit. Neither is assured.
A fun story early on.
Steven Stamkos, C/LW, Nashville Predators
Week 3 of fantasy hockey was much like Weeks 1 and 2, void of production.
But alas! There is life in Stamkos yet. Of course, his first two assists came against his old club, the Tampa Bay Lightning. One of the assists came on the power play. He also added six shots in the game.
It’s one game, but it’s also a multi-point game. Take the wins and hope he’s breaking out.
Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights
Who had Stone leading the NHL in points after week three of fantasy hockey, Finally healthy, Stone is showing it.
In 10 games, he’s up to 18 points. Everything is going Stone’s way early. If you’re a Stone owner, you hope he’s wrapped in bubble wrap under the uniform and can remain healthy. 2018-19 was the last time he played more than 65 games in a season.
Enjoy it while it lasts.
Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets
He’s on a nine-game point streak to start the season. Eight of his 14 points have come in the last three games, including two goals and two assists in a 6-4 loss to Toronto last night.
This is easily the best start of Connor’s career. We might finally see him return to his 2021-22, 93-point form. Few are hotter than him right now.
Alex Pietrangelo, D, Vegas Golden Knights
Pietrangelo is on his little streak right now. With nine assists in his last four games, Pietrangelo now has 12 points in 10 games. Interestingly, he has never had more than 54 points in a season.
Without significant time on the power-play, averaging 54 seconds a game, this pace isn’t sustainable. It provides him a legitimate shot to hit 50 points again, just not much more. It would be a good time to sell for someone who can give you a power play boost.
Mikael Granlund, C/RW, San Jose Sharks
It seems Granlund loves being a Shark. According to the score sheet anyway. He’s on a seven-game point streak, including three last night to help lead the Sharks back from a 4-1 deficit and capture their first win of the season. With 13 points in 10 games, we haven’t seen this Granlund since his days in Minnesota.
The biggest eye-opener is the 36 shots. He was only too 134 in 69 games last year. That’s 1.94 per game. This year, he’s averaging 3.6 per game.
He’s rostered in 70% of Fantrax pools, so poolies are noticing. As long as you don’t count or care about plus-minus, Granlund is a really good claim. He’s on the first power play unit and averaging 21:46 per game. He is setting himself up nicely for a career year.
Well, that will do it for week three of fantasy hockey.
Thanks for reading.
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