The holidays are over and the NHL schedule is getting back to normal. So our focus this week is finding potential gems with lucrative upcoming gaming slates.
4 game streamers
Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW, BOS | 41% Yahoo
DeBrusk is on the rise with seven points in the past five games. His line, which includes Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle, has outscored opponents 6-2. The underlying numbers aren’t very supportive, which is a red flag. But individually, DeBrusk has been a positive for the team’s expected and actual goal production at 5-on-5. So if he can keep it up and continue to take advantage of opportunities, this could be more than just a hot streak.
Alexis Lafreniere, LW/RW, NYR | 30% Yahoo
With four games scheduled, including two bright nights, the New York player could be a cost-effective option. And the Rangers have one player who could play in Lafreniere’s top six in some capacity. The downside is that the power play time is short. He has a good 5-on-5 record alongside Artemi Panarin, who is in the midst of his career. Lafreniere takes several shots per game and also scores some secondary points.
Dakota Joshua, C/LW, VAN | 24% Yahoo
The Canucks’ third line continues to click. Heading into Thursday night, they outscored their opponents 11-4, and even outscored them early against the Blues.
I talked about this line last week and how all three members have some value. Joshua remains a member of that trio, contributing the most overall with his shooting and hitting.
Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, TOR | 22% Yahoo
The Maple Leafs’ second line (John Tavares, William Nylander, Bertuzzi) outscores opponents 11-6 at 5-on-5 and generates 64 percent of the team’s leading expected goal share. So we’d like to see them have a chance to continue performing, especially with the upcoming schedule in mind. Toronto plays home-and-home game against San Jose (Saturday) this this week’s fantasy matchups and next Tuesday), and Bertuzzi will face his former team next Sunday.
Thomas Hurley, D, DAL | 22% Yahoo
For someone looking for a defenseman who can contribute a little bit of everything, Hurley could be a worthy choice, especially considering the Stars’ schedule. Dallas has four games scheduled, three of which will be played on bright nights. Hurley will contribute in the shooting and blocking categories while also contributing to points. At 5-on-5, he is positive in expected and actual goal production for the Stars compared to his teammates, which bodes well for future production.
Joel Farabee, LW, PHI | 18% Yahoo
At 2.87 points per 60 heading into Thursday night, Farabee was Philadelphia’s second most efficient scorer. Current right winger Travis Konecny is the only player above him.
The Flyers’ new top line of Konecny, Farabee and Sean Couturier hasn’t had much time together so far. But in Thursday night’s game against the Blue Jackets, he controlled the game with a 20-5 advantage in shot attempts and a 5-to-1 advantage in scoring opportunities. If that’s a sign of things to come, it bodes well for fantasy managers.
Mason Marchment, DAL, LW | 18% Yahoo
The thing to remember is that the marchment is quite striped. After some high-end production, his play really slumped towards the end of December. But he’s heading in the right direction again and it’s back on my radar.
via HockeyStatCards
Basically, enjoy the production while it lasts. And if you find him cooling off, don’t be afraid to cut bait and find someone else. That’s exactly the strategy for adding depth like this.
Dennis Hildeby, G, TOR | 14% Yahoo
Martin Jones scored for Toronto, but with four games (including back-to-backs) on the upcoming schedule, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hildeby start. Perhaps the most likely options are Tuesday against the Sharks or next Sunday against Detroit.
Morgan Geeky, C/RW, BOS | 6% Yahoo
I love to emphasize the “good teammate effect.” Geeky is tied with David Pastrnak, one of the league’s best scorers. The line had two goals against Pittsburgh on Thursday and zero against Pittsburgh. And then there’s Geeky’s role in a top power play unit with even more fantasy potential.
Marcus Johansson, Louisiana, Minnesota | 5% Yahoo
who it’s not Are you injured in the wild right now? It won’t be an easy game for Minnesota, but it will still be worth it, especially with four games scheduled and three bright nights ahead. Our attention is now on players who may be in the best position to succeed amidst all the missed games. That was Johansson, who was put on the line alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy. Combine that with the fact that he has a positive impact on Minnesota’s 5-on-5 expected goal production compared to his teammates, and there’s some potential here.
Brennan Osman, LW, NY | 1%Yahoo
For those in super deep leagues who are ready to start swinging, Osman would probably be interesting. There are two big questions here: What will be his use? And how long will he be awake (keeping in mind Capo Kakko’s eventual return)? But the Rangers’ first game, Thursday against Chicago, got off to a very solid start. He attempted eight shots in all situations, five of which went on goal.
Pius Suter, C, VAN | 0% Yahoo
Suter is generally not a standout player in fantasy. His strength comes from his defensive game. But if he makes it to the top six in Vancouver, he’ll be someone to watch. This season, he has had a positive impact on the Canucks’ 5-on-5 play on both ends of the ice. He has also made a big impact on the scoresheet, especially since returning to action on December 17th.
light night performer
First, there are four game streamers. Dallas, Minnesota, and Philadelphia all have him active three times on a light night. Next, consider New York (2), Boston (1), and Toronto (1). Another team to really narrow down on if you want to play on schedule is Colorado, who will play his two games on a bright night. Otherwise, there are a few teams with one each, including Detroit, Montreal, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, and Washington.
Jonathan Drouin, LW, COL | 9% Yahoo
He started slower on the scoresheet than expected, but has picked up the pace over the past month. His top-line role alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, as well as his time in PP1, is what sets him apart above all else. He is in the best possible position to succeed with the Avalanche.
Rickard Raquel, RW, PIT | 37% Yahoo
With Rakell’s return, the Penguins’ top six has become even more complete. The top line of Jake Guentzel, Sidney Crosby and Racquel returned to control of play, winning 61 percent of their expected goal shares and going 3-for-8 in scoring. In addition to his scoring ability, he is also a reliable volume shooter.
Max Pacioretty, LW, WSH | 33% Yahoo
We’ve been tracking key injury returns all season, which led to Pacioretty. The winger made his Capitals debut on Wednesday. It wasn’t the most eventful game for the forward, who played only 11 minutes and 47 seconds, but it’s no surprise the team is bringing him back. Top-6 usage and PP1 times should be expected sooner rather than later.
Gustav Nyquist, New South Wales, New South Wales | 26% Yahoo
The Predators’ top line has been a reliable source of offense all season. It’s clear that Ryan O’Reilly and Filip Forsberg are the driving forces, and the scoresheet reflects that. However, Nyquist, who completes the trio, has had successive scoring successes. With 10 points in his last seven games, he’s a player worth considering next week.
Alec Martinez, Democrat, VGK 9% Yahoo
Looking for a blocked shot? Martinez is an ideal player next week on a bright Wednesday night, especially against the Avalanche, one of the most prolific shooting teams. A meeting with the Flames, who are also in the top 10 in shot attempts, will be a perfect opportunity for the struggling coach to strengthen that category.
Data via Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, HockeyStatCards, AllThreeZones, and NaturalStatTrick. This story relies on shot-based metrics. Here’s a primer on these numbers:
(Jake DeBrusk Photo: Brian Bradshaw Sewald-USA TODAY Sports)