Friday’s information on Aleksander Barkov confirmed the worst, because the Panthers captain underwent surgical procedure on each the ACL and MCL on his proper knee. The Panthers have said a restoration timeline of seven to 9 months is regular for any such harm, which signifies that Barkov would miss your entire common season. A best-case situation might see Barkov return someday throughout the playoffs.
Barkov wanted to be helped off the ice throughout Thursday’s observe after what appeared like a comparatively innocent play.
As a lot as this could be an enormous loss for the Panthers, three-time Selke winner Barkov might be a good higher real-life participant than fantasy participant, much like Jonathan Toews throughout the Blackhawks’ prime years. Barkov has been a point-per-game participant for six of his final seven seasons, which makes him a recognized commodity – however solely to a level. Over the past 4 82-game seasons, Barkov has performed 70 video games simply as soon as, and he has missed a minimal of 9 video games every season. A correct projection for Barkov would have him lacking not less than 10 video games, so his season-long projection would have been nearer to 70 factors than 80 factors.
Anton Lundell stands to achieve essentially the most with the prolonged Barkov absence, as Lundell might doubtlessly transfer as much as the highest 6. Lundell has been productive as a third-line heart and deserves not less than a glance within the prime 6. That may change, nevertheless, if the Panthers signal Jack Roslovic or go for one thing a lot greater (Sidney Crosby, for instance?) If we’re talking in hypotheticals, Roslovic would not essentially be a assure to bump Lundell down, however Crosby would.
That being stated, even after the Panthers introduced the band again towards the chances throughout the offseason, this can be a extra watered-down prime 6 with each Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk out. Barkov and Tkachuk have usually performed on totally different even-strength strains, so there is not a 3rd ahead to vastly downgrade. The accidents might minimize into the manufacturing of the likes of Sam Reinhart or Carter Verhaeghe or Brad Marchand, although. To counterbalance that, Verhaeghe may very well be again on the highest energy play, a spot that he misplaced later within the final season and thru a lot of the playoffs.
In the event you’re in search of sub-50% rostered C-eligible gamers on Yahoo, Barkov’s former Panthers teammate Jonathan Huberdeau is one potential possibility, particularly if he can discover a solution to bounce again nearer to his pre-trade numbers. Assuming he’s wholesome for opening evening, Jared McCann can be price contemplating. Adam Fantilli has potential sleeper worth, though he’s creeping towards being 50% rostered himself. But when Fantilli is not obtainable, you may need higher luck along with his Columbus teammates Sean Monahan or Kent Johnson. Marco Rossi can be price betting on for his upside, and he is solely 18% rostered in Yahoo.
One last item: Barkov is on the fantasy staff that I’ll describe later, so I really feel your ache. He’s a participant that I needed to maintain from final season. As a result of I used to be making an attempt to construct up depth on the heart place even earlier than the Barkov harm, I’ve yet another potential substitute, which you will should learn on to search out out about.
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James Reimer is making a long-awaited return to Toronto. The Leafs have signed the veteran goalie to a PTO. That is doubtless due to Joseph Woll‘s unknown timeline for a return from a private depart of absence. The Leafs might not be completely certain that Dennis Hildeby is NHL-ready, or not less than would really like some extra competitors behind Anthony Stolarz. Reimer is now 37 years of age and appears greatest suited to a backup position at this level in his profession.
For extra participant information, see our Frozen Instruments Participant Information web page.
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You could do not forget that years in the past, DobberHockey had a column known as The Contrarian. On this column, Demetri Fragopoulos would tackle a differing view of a broadly held hockey-related opinion. With the world changing into extra polarized and significant considering changing into a misplaced artwork, I sometimes really feel the necessity to convey any such writing again in a roundabout way.
I undoubtedly do not imply that by discussing politics or different hot-button information tales right here. I am going to attempt to keep in my lane with respect to fantasy hockey. My contrarian take as we speak is how I’ve ended up concentrating on over-30 veterans in my latest sluggish draft, intentionally or not. I am coming off a run of two league championships within the final 4 years together with two different very sturdy finishes. Making an attempt to win forces you to go all in for the current, which ends up in sacrificing the longer term.
That being stated, I’ve additionally seen that gamers on the again half of their careers may be acquired at a reduction, particularly in a keeper league. On prime of that, veterans are sometimes extra of a recognized commodity, whereas those that make investments closely in prospects are sometimes ready some time for tangible outcomes – in the event that they obtain them in any respect from a few of them. All of the whereas, worthwhile weeks, months, and even years are ticking away. Are you contemplating alternative value when formulating a plan to your staff?
At some point, I am going to get again to chasing prospects in my league, notably if I am in additional of a retool state. I hesitate to make use of the phrase “rebuild” on this league, as I would reasonably keep away from a protracted rebuild. For now, here is a veteran-heavy listing of gamers that I’ve drafted in my league just lately. A few of that is evaluation on the participant, however I’ve additionally combined in some ideas about drafting normally.
Artemi Panarin, LW, NYR
After leaving observe every week in the past with a lower-body harm, Panarin has returned to observe and been cleared for contact, though he was carrying a non-contact jersey throughout Friday’s observe. I had the excessive bid on Panarin when the harm was introduced, and certain sufficient the bidding abruptly stopped. That is one of many downsides of getting an early draft – you might be left holding the bag on an injured participant. Simply ask those that drafted Barkov earlier than his harm. Luckily, Panarin looks like he’ll be okay and able to ship on his Yahoo ADP of 28 and Fantrax ADP of 25. Understand that he’s almost 34 years of age and skilled a drop in scoring final season (though he fell “means down” to 88 factors).
Darcy Kuemper, G, LA
Okay, perhaps I did not go whole Zero G as I stated I’d. I did say I wanted yet another goalie, and the value on the Vezina Trophy finalist made sense. Solely seven goalies have been drafted forward of Kuemper in Yahoo (ADP 52), which is smart as a result of a straightforward solution to rank goalies is to check final season’s numbers. Amongst goalies with not less than 30 GP final season, Kuemper had the second-best GAA (2.00) and the third-based SV% (.922). A Fantrax ADP of 119 represents much less confidence in a 35-year-old goalie who was not almost as profitable throughout his two seasons in Washington. The Kings have no sturdy challengers (Anton Forsberg, Pheonix Copley, Erik Portillo), so Kuemper ought to not less than present a excessive quantity of begins, even when the ratios aren’t as sturdy as 2024-25.
Jackson Lacombe, D, ANA
This is my exception to the veteran rule. By my very unscientific commentary, I would say that Lacombe (Yahoo ADP 122, Fantrax ADP 96) has been essentially the most ceaselessly searched participant on Frozen Instruments this offseason. I am certain the explanations focus on whether or not he will probably be on Anaheim’s prime energy play once more this season. These rostering both Olen Zellweger or Pavel Mintyukov have a vested curiosity, as each appeared to have the higher hand on Lacombe in that space a 12 months in the past. Lacombe has earned that spot with sturdy offensive manufacturing over the ultimate three quarters of the season (39 PTS in 60 GP). The spot on the highest energy play might shift below new coach Joel Quenneville, however Lacombe’s strong footing as a top-4 defenseman shouldn’t be primarily based on his means to deal with powerful minutes on a younger staff.
Anze Kopitar, C, LA
The Barkov harm makes my Kopitar addition that rather more worthwhile. By my league calculations, Kopitar is a dropoff from Barkov, though not a significant one. Even into his late 30s, Kopitar is remarkably constant, having ranged between 0.8 and 0.9 PTS/GP over the past six seasons. As a result of he has been amazingly wholesome having missed solely three video games over the previous 5 seasons, Kopitar’s level whole has been simple to challenge, ranging between 67 and 74 factors.
It is potential that the Kings start to consider life with out Kopitar very quickly, and that may occur by handing Quinton Byfield top-line duties this season. Kopitar’s Fantrax ADP of 313 displays the dearth of keeper worth that he has with only one extra season, whereas his Yahoo ADP of 167 represents a cut price for the one final season. Kopitar can be rostered in 45% of Yahoo leagues, for what that is price to you.
Teuvo Teravainen, LW/RW, CHI
Teravainen is a back-to-back 50+ level scorer with two totally different groups, and he’s projected to seem on Chicago’s prime energy play once more. Identified veteran commodity as nicely. I might go on looking for causes that he ought to stand out his super-low ADP on Yahoo and Fantrax, however as an alternative I am going to reveal the actual purpose that I added him. Chicago is a staff that appeared to have a good schedule for wingers after I entered the groups of my present wingers into an Excel spreadsheet often called the Identical Night time Software. You will discover it on this Discussion board thread as a downloadable zip file. Thanks to consumer rjfisher83 for placing this collectively!
The Identical Night time Software goes past the straightforward methodology of concentrating on groups with higher numbers of sunshine days. Spoiler: Anaheim has the best quantity within the league (38), which has typically been the case in previous seasons. So Mikael Granlund, Chris Kreider, Leo Carlsson, and Troy Terry may very well be gamers to focus on late in your draft or to stream sooner or later. Chicago has 36 gentle days, which additionally makes Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi gamers to focus on for that purpose. I simply hope none of my fellow league members are studying this!
For different gamers I’ve picked, see my Ramblings from final week.
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Observe me on X @Ian_Gooding and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
