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<\/p>\nWelcome back! <\/p>\n
As I\u2019ve done for the past few seasons, this column will
\nhighlight the upcoming schedule for head-to-head leagues and offer suggestions
\non season-long adds, mid-term holds and short-term streamers. <\/p>\n
With the opening night triple-header starting on Tuesday,
\nnote the deadline for all 32 teams to submit their rosters is Monday at 2
\np.m. PT\/5 p.m. ET. <\/p>\n
As of this publication, rosters have not been finalized,
\nalthough some teams only have a few players remaining to cut. As always in the
\nfirst few weeks of the NHL season, there will be a lot of moving parts and
\nroster adjustments, from players coming back to injury to prospects getting set
\nback to their junior teams to coaches figuring out the lines they like best. <\/p>\n
In Week 1, the Rangers will be the only team that plays four
\ngames, and they\u2019re one of two teams to play a weekend back-to-back following a
\nday off for the entire league on Friday. That means most matchups will be determined
\nby Saturday evening, so plan accordingly.<\/p>\n
If you want to maximize games played, I\u2019d suggest streaming
\na player from a team that plays twice from Tuesday to Thursday \u2013 Knights,
\nPanthers, Habs, Avs, Flames, Pens, Kings, Bruins, Hawks \u2013 and then streaming a
\nRanger or a Capital over the weekend. <\/p>\n
Because Thursday is so busy and to avoid roster crowding and
\nsitting active players on your bench, I suggest streaming a King for two games
\non Tuesday and Wednesday when they play back-to-back, and then picking up a
\nRanger for three games Thursday to Sunday, giving you potentially five games\u2019
\nworth of production. It\u2019s a sneaky way to pick up an extra game when 21 teams
\nplay only twice. <\/p>\n
Also note seven teams \u2013 Rangers, Knights, Caps, Habs,
\nFlames, Kings, Bruins \u2013 play back-to-back, so backup goalies will see action.
\nThis is an early chance to stream backups should you desire, and the matchups I
\nhave my eye on include Jonathan Quick on Saturday in Pittsburgh, Joonas Korpisalo on Thursday against the Hawks and Charlie
\nLindgren over the weekend against the Isles or Rangers. <\/p>\n
I hope the information provided in this column and in the
\ncoming weeks is helpful. Thanks for reading and your support. Good luck!<\/p>\n
All positions and rostered percentages are courtesy of
\nYahoo Fantasy.<\/p>\n
Schedule<\/p>\n
Pick players from teams at the top of the schedule matrix
\nto maximize games and matchups. Green is good. Red is bad. Points percentages
\nare from the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Season-long adds\u00a0(< 50%
\nrostered on Yahoo)<\/p>\n
Anze Kopitar, C, LA (49% rostered)
\n
Sean Monahan, C, CBJ (49% rostered)<\/p>\n
I can see why fantasy managers are reluctant to roster both
\nKopitar and Monahan \u2013 they\u2019re getting older and Quinton Byfield and Adam
\nFantilli, respectively, threaten their roles as No. 1 centers. However, it\u2019s
\ntoo soon to write off the veterans, and I imagine the transition to Byfield and
\nFantilli will be gradual. In leagues that count faceoff wins, Kopitar and Monahan are still definitely worth rostering.<\/p>\n
Will Smith, C\/RW, SJ (42% rostered)<\/p>\n
If you have Macklin Celebrini on your roster, I highly
\nrecommend rostering Smith, too. Smith had a slow start, but after moving to
\nCelebrini\u2019s right wing, his offense took off and he finished with 32 points in
\n42 games in the second half of the season. Celebrini and Smith are expected to
\nplay together all season and will lead the Sharks\u2019 attack.<\/p>\n
Will Cuylle, LW\/RW, NYR (41% rostered)<\/p>\n
Cuylle is a great streaming option in Week 1 because the
\nRangers play four games, but beyond that, he\u2019s a 20-goal, 300-hit threat. That\u2019s
\na rare combo in fantasy, and he\u2019s slated to play L2 with captain J.T. Miller
\nand Mika Zibanejad, and on PP2. Watch Cuylle graduate from this list after a
\ncouple weeks. <\/p>\n
Anton Lundell, C, FLA (24% rostered)<\/p>\n
The Panthers are loathe to break up that Luostarinen-Lundell-Marchand
\nline that helped them secure a second Cup, and Sam Bennett has been tasked to
\ncenter Aleksander Barkov\u2019s usual line. However, do not rule out Lundell getting
\nmoved to the top scoring line. At worst, Lundell is an all-round 2C who can
\noffer points, shots, hits and faceoff wins.<\/p>\n
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, STL (18% rostered)<\/p>\n
Give it a month or so before Snuggerud graduates from this
\nlist. He was really good with eight points in 14 regular-season and playoff
\ngames combined after three standout seasons with the University of Minnesota.
\nHe\u2019s an excellent goal scorer with potential for hits and will play L1 and PP1
\nto start the season. Get in on the ground floor. <\/p>\n
Rasmus Andersson, D, CGY (49% rostered)<\/p>\n
That minus-38 rating from last season likely scared some
\npeople away, but think of the upside with 40 points, 150 shots and 200 blocks.
\nOnly three players registered more than 200 blocks last season \u2013 Ian Cole,
\nJacob Trouba and Nick Seeler \u2013 and none of them can come close to scoring 40
\npoints. Andersson\u2019s fantasy value could also get a slight boost if the Flames
\ntrade him, depending on the team and his new role.<\/p>\n
Filip Hronek, D, VAN (37% rostered)<\/p>\n
A defenseman who can score 40 points, provide another 100
\nblocks and 100 hits, and share the ice with Quinn Hughes is definitely worth
\nyour time. The Canucks will be leaning on their top pairing heavily all season
\nwith Hronek quarterbacking the second PP unit.<\/p>\n
John Gibson, G, DET (36% rostered)<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think the Wings acquired Gibson so they can run a
\ntandem with Cam Talbot, though it could happen. Gibson has not been very valuable
\nin fantasy in quite some time but there\u2019s definitely some optimism; his .911 SP
\nand 2.77 GAA last season were his best numbers in six seasons, and he\u2019s likely
\ngoing to get around 50 starts. The volume\u2019s probably there; you just hope
\nquality comes with it.<\/p>\n
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, BUF (34% rostered)<\/p>\n
The Sabres look great on paper but can never put it together,
\nand Luukkonen was battling some sort of injury during camp. However, Luukkonen
\nis capable of stealing games, and on the off-chance the Sabres manage to pull
\nit together, he\u2019s going to get a lot of starts as their incumbent starter. If
\nAlex Lyon or Alexandar Georgiev take over, something really went wrong.<\/p>\n
Mid-term holds\u00a0(< 50%
\nrostered on Yahoo)<\/p>\n
Patrik Laine, LW\/RW, MTL (39% rostered)<\/p>\n
Laine\u2019s a frustrating player, both in real life and in
\nfantasy, because he\u2019s so inconsistent. He is, however, usually quite excellent
\non the power play. The Habs face the Wings, who had the league\u2019s worst PK last
\nseason, and the lottery-bound Hawks in Week 1. <\/p>\n
Marco Rossi, C, MIN (27% rostered)<\/p>\n
The Wild\u2019s lineup is quite fluid and, as of now, Rossi\u2019s
\ngoing to open the season as their top center potentially between Kirill
\nKaprizov and Matt Boldy. That\u2019s a dream setup for the young center, and I
\nwouldn\u2019t read too much into his playoff benching. Only in multi-category
\nleagues does Joel Eriksson Ek have a definitive edge in fantasy value over
\nRossi. <\/p>\n
Josh Norris, C, BUF (26% rostered)<\/p>\n
Norris is excellent for goals, hits and faceoff wins until
\nhis inevitable injury. The Sabres seem intent on moving Tage Thompson to the
\nright wing and installing Norris as the center on their top line. The Sabres are a good offensive
\nteam and ranked 10th in goals for per game last season.<\/p>\n
Marco Kasper, C\/LW, DET (21% rostered)<\/p>\n
Kasper had an underrated rookie season (37 points, 156 hits)
\nthough prone to hot streaks, including January when he scored 12 points in 14
\ngames and April when he scored seven in nine. It worries me a little that he\u2019s
\nso weak in the dot, which means he could move back to the wing, but he\u2019s slated
\nto center Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. That\u2019s a great setup for a young
\nplayer ready to break out.<\/p>\n
Andrei Kuzmenko, LW\/RW, LA (19% rostered)<\/p>\n
All you\u2019re going to get from Kuzmenko is points, and that\u2019s
\nokay for a waiver-wire pickup. He showed great chemistry with Kopitar and Adrian
\nKempe upon joining the Kings, and he\u2019s slated to play with them again on L1 and
\nPP1. <\/p>\n
Matt Coronato, RW, CGY (18% rostered)<\/p>\n
Coronato is the Flames\u2019 best natural goal scorer and will
\ncertainly lead the team in goals if Nazem Kadri is traded. A stacked top line
\nfor the Flames includes Coronato, Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, but so far they
\nseem intent on breaking them up to balance the lines. Had their top line stayed
\nintact, I\u2019d consider Coronato more of a season-long hold for L1\/PP1 exposure
\nand 35-goal upside.<\/p>\n
Sam Rinzel, D, CHI (36% rostered)<\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t read too much into the Hawks signing Matt Grzelcyk,
\nthough it does threaten Rinzel\u2019s role as PP1 QB. I think Rinzel\u2019s job is safe,
\nfor now, and he was excellent late last season with five assists in nine games,
\nincluding three on the PP. The Hawks PP was actually quite good last season (24.9%,
\n7th), and PPP is hard to find among defensemen.<\/p>\n
Anthony DeAngelo, D, NYI (15% rostered)<\/p>\n
Interesting value proposition here. DeAngelo is arguably the
\nIsles\u2019 best puck-moving defenseman and the most ideal option to quarterback
\nPP1, but he scored just four of his 19 points with the man advantage last
\nseason on a dreadful power play that ranked 31st. However, I think that may
\nchange with a healthy Mathew Barzal. As with Rinzel, there\u2019s value for being a
\nPP1 QB, even on a mediocre team. <\/p>\n
Jamie Drysdale, D, PHI (11% rostered)<\/p>\n
Speaking of quarterbacking mediocre teams, Drysdale will get
\nthat coveted role in Philly. The difference here is the Flyers have Matvei
\nMichkov and Trevor Zegras, two puck wizards who can really elevate their power
\nplay after finishing 30th last season. I have doubts about Drysdale\u2019s ability
\nto hold onto this role all season, but let\u2019s wait and see. Good things might
\nhappen.<\/p>\n
Jet Greaves, G, CBJ (37% rostered)<\/p>\n
A little surprising to me that the Jackets\u2019 goalies are so
\nunloved even though this team is clearly on an upward trajectory. I get Elvis
\nMerzlikins is unreliable and Greaves has almost no track record, but Greaves
\nalso has a decent chance to take over as the No. 1 following last season\u2019s 7-2-2,
\n1.91 GAA, .938 SP showing. Given how dire goaltending can be in fantasy, I
\nthink Greaves is worth stashing.<\/p>\n
Short-term streamers\u00a0(<
\n50% rostered on Yahoo)<\/p>\n
Michael Misa, C, SJ (25% rostered)<\/p>\n
I\u2019m curious to see if the Sharks will give Misa an audition
\nor if they really plan on keeping him for the entire season. With Celebrini and
\nSmith, the Sharks have shown they\u2019re not afraid to play young centers at their natural position even though it\u2019s the most difficult forward position to play at this level. If Misa stays, I
\nwouldn\u2019t be surprised if he\u2019s a Calder Trophy contender. In keeper leagues,
\nMisa\u2019s worth tracking right now.<\/p>\n
Ryan Leonard, RW, WSH (11% rostered)<\/p>\n
Leonard is a high-energy player who score a lot of goals and
\ndish out a lot of hits. I\u2019d be more enamored with Leonard\u2019s fantasy value if he
\nwas playing higher in the lineup, but I also think the Caps\u2019 lines will keep
\nchanging until they decide if they want to play Connor McMichael at center. The
\ndream for Leonard would be to play on the top two lines, either opposite Alex
\nOvechkin or with Pierre-Luc Dubois. With the requisite ice time, Leonard can be
\na top Calder candidate.<\/p>\n
Trent Frederic, C\/LW\/RW, EDM (11% rostered)<\/p>\n
Until Zach Hyman comes back, Frederic is slated to play on
\nthe right wing with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, though only at even
\nstrength and not on the power play. I don\u2019t think Frederic\u2019s going to light the
\nlamp, but it\u2019s a great situation to be in for the short term. <\/p>\n
Scott Wedgewood, G, COL (31% rostered)<\/p>\n
With Mackenzie Blackwood nursing an injury and in danger of
\nmissing the season opener, don\u2019t be surprised if the Avs roll with Wedgewood
\nfor a little while. He\u2019s a capable backup that went 13-4-1 for them last
\nseason, and he might get all three games in Week 1 because I don\u2019t think Trent
\nMiner is a viable option. The Avs were around .500 until November last season
\nwhen they overhauled their goaltending, and I don\u2019t think they want to be in a
\nposition with a bad goalie in net again. <\/p>\n
Joonas Korpisalo, G, BOS (1% rostered)<\/p>\n
If Jeremy Swayman gets the season opener in D.C. on
\nWednesday, expect Korpisalo to get the home opener Thursday against the Hawks.
\nThat\u2019s a good matchup even for Korpisalo, who was excellent at home last season
\n(6-2-3, .914 SP, 2.32 GAA) despite mediocre overall numbers (11-10-3, .893 SP,
\n2.90 GAA). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Welcome back! As I\u2019ve done for the past few seasons, this column will highlight the upcoming schedule for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":192685,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433],"tags":[49,48,448,82],"class_list":["post-192684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nhl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-nhl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192684\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/192685"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192684"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192684"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}