Every Sunday this season, we’ll share 20 Fantasy Thoughts from the writers at Dobber Hockey. These thoughts are curated from the past week’s “Daily Ramblings” on DobberHockey.com.
1. The Nick Foligno bounce-back season is for real. He is back to skating big minutes and seeing usage on the Blue Jackets’ top PP unit. I’m not buying him to continue at this point-per-game pace. Nor do I think he’s scoring 70 points again. Could he sneak a 60-point season in there? What about mid-to-high 50s? I’m a fan of his usage and linemates.
2. Not exactly good times for Loui Eriksson, who is still waiting for his first goal as a Canuck to go with four assists in 12 games. You can probably drop Eriksson in shallow leagues, although I’m simply keeping him on the bench right now. But I’m going to agree with what Don Cherry said in Coach’s Corner – Willie Desjardins has given up too early on Eriksson making it work with the Sedins.
3. I wouldn’t be actively shopping Nathan MacKinnon but I wouldn’t recoil from trade offers for him either. Is there some concern that MacKinnon has plateaued? Not really, he’s only 21 and has already established himself as a 60-point player. I don’t know when the 70-point breakout is coming but there is a good chance it will happen in the next couple of seasons.
4. The Canadiens might be 10-1-1, but if you look closer there’s a real problem that’s been lingering the last few games. Carey Price faced 38 shots on Saturday. Montoya was hit with 40 shots on Friday. In the two previous games, Price faced 42 and 38 shots. In fact, the Habs have allowed an average of 33.7 shots per game this season, which is the second-highest total in the league. Price is arguably the best goalie in the league, but if I’m a Price owner or a Habs fan I’d be worried.
5. So, while Jonathan Marchessault has been wielding a hot stick, Aleksander Barkov has remained quiet. I steered clear of Barkov in all points-only settings because he is a Band-Aid Boy who has missed an average of 18 games a year since joining the league. He could be a point-per-game guy but as long as he’s missing that kind of time, he won’t reach the 70-point plateau, let alone higher.
6. Like the Panthers, the injuries continue to pile on for the Stars’ forwards. Jason Spezza left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury. Since Lindy Ruff mentioned that Spezza will miss some time, plan to be without him for Sunday’s rematch with the Hawks and possibly next week. The Stars are basically a one-line team at the moment, with Patrick Eaves the lucky winner playing alongside Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
7. Andrei Vasilevskiy is probably ready now. He has been actively stealing starts from Ben Bishop earning the small chunk of a 7-4 split in starts. Vasilevskiy should see a third of the action this year, or just shy of 30 starts. Bishop isn’t going anywhere this season so the only hope for an early jump for Vasilevskiy is injury. He could definitely see a full workload next season.
8. With all the attention that the rookies have received in TO, veterans Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak, and James van Riemsdyk are quietly putting together solid seasons. Don’t forget that veterans can bring consistency that youngsters can’t always provide.
9. Sergei Bobrovsky is killing it right now, with two shutouts in the past three games. This is a great start, but can he maintain? Seems he is always getting derailed one way or another. His Vezina year was the half-season, if you recall. Not enough time to fall off the rails in that one. Plus March and April are his money months.
10. How I feel about Shane Prince today is how I felt about Marchessault a year ago today. All he needs is a chance. But that time is not now and the smart man’s bet is that he’ll never get that quality chance he needs. Next year he’ll need his own ‘Huberdeau/Bjugstad’ injury help.
11. Kevin Hayes is really clicking with J.T. Miller and Michael Grabner (?!?). Third-year magic? Sure looks like it. If both Hayes and Chris Kreider are having that breakout year, the Rangers will be a powerhouse. They already lead the NHL in goals for. But I would bet good money that Grabner isn’t for real. Lucky to get 30 points, despite how he’s looked so far.
12. I still believe that Tyler Johnson, if healthy, is close to a point-per-game player. I know many of you were getting skittish about him. Right now I consider him a ‘hold’.
13. Michael Frolik disappointed me last year as I thought he’d get the ice time needed to take that next step. He’s a 41-point player (a point every two games) and I thought with the Flames he’d top 50 and flirt with 55. An injury derailed him last year, but his production was still near a point every two games. Perhaps this is the start of that big year.
14. Ryan McDonagh. Quite the run, especially when you consider he has 10-goal potential. A slowdown is coming at some point, but similar to Ryan Suter’s hot run to start last season, it could be enough to propel McDonagh to a 50-point season.
15. I would note that Ondrej Palat is not some tent-pole guy you drafted in the top five rounds where you should absolutely be married to him. If there’s an appealing option on the wire, make the move.
For instance, I dumped Palat for Tomas Tatar. Similar upside here, and similar slow start but Detroit plays thrice between now and Sunday and it’s all on off-nights. Plus, I like Tatar’s usage better. What could go wrong?
16. Tyler Motte isn’t relevant in many leagues but he’s got some talent for those in DEEP leagues.
17. I have been getting lots of questions about Alec Martinez’s hot start and how he’s taken over Jake Muzzin’s spot as the No. 2 guy alongside Drew Doughty. I’m not too worried about Muzzin. He probably gets 40 points again, and outscores Martinez. It seems Martinez gets a chance with Doughty two or three times a year but it never sticks. Maybe this year it’ll be different, but I’m not optimistic, and I’m a Martinez owner in some deeper leagues.
18. Mikkel Boedker is looking like a sunk cost for the Sharks. He did most of his damage last season skating huge minutes on the power play. They’ve got no room for him on their top PP unit in San Jose.
He does bring the speed dimension but hasn’t yet found a fit in the Sharks lineup. I cannot advocate Boedker as an option in anything but the deepest of leagues.
19. I’m pretty disappointed in Tyler Ennis so far, as I had considered him a rebound possibility. He’s just not clicking at all with his linemates. Meanwhile, Kyle Okposo is seriously clicking with Ryan O’Reilly. I wonder if Ennis would make a better fit on that line than Matt Moulson.
20. Marian Hossa keeper-league owners, shop him now. Not only is the points-per-game not going to be sustained, but he’s a ticking time bomb in terms of injury. Speaking of selling high, Artem Anisimov.
Yes, he’s definitely going to have a career year and I even projected as much in the Guide. But this torrid pace is beyond ridiculous. Even with his linemates. Those are the same ones he had last year. He will slow down and it will be quite dramatic.
