Pleased Wednesday, Razzball trustworthy!
It’s been a little bit of a wild trip for Morgan Geekie (2 G, +1, 3 SOG, 1 PPG, GWG).
The Geekie Squad was the 67th general decide within the 2017 draft and wasn’t thought-about a lot of a prospect after a 25-point season (in 66 video games) for the 2015-2016 Tri-Metropolis Individuals of the WHL.
It was the next yr’s breakout that put Geekie on the map (72 GP, 35 G, 90 PTS), and satisfied the Carolina Hurricanes that he was value a big gamble within the third spherical of the NHL Entry Draft.
So how did we find yourself right here?
After a shot of espresso (2 GP) within the 2019-2020 season, Geekie adopted up with simply 9 factors in 36 video games for the 2020-2021 Canes.
Apparently, that was a large enough pattern dimension for then GM, Don Waddell, and head coach, Rod Brind’Amour, to contemplate Geekie expendable for the Seattle Kraken’s growth draft.
And that story just about wrote itself. The GM who drafted Geekie in Carolina was the identical man tabbed as the top architect of the most recent NHL franchise in Washington state.
Ron Francis plucked the unprotected Geekie as a substitute of extra established gamers like Nino Neiderreiter and Jake Bean, seeing the High 6 potential that the Geek Squad flashed within the WHL 5 years prior.
The outcomes? Properly, they weren’t fairly what Francis had hoped for. In two seasons, Geekie averaged 71 video games performed and 25 factors.
Oof.
Quick ahead to that fateful day in 2023 when the Kraken declined to tender a qualifying provide to the then 24-year-old.
The Boston Bruins swooped in and signed the recent free agent to a 2-year, 4 million greenback deal, hoping that the ahead would assist fill in some scoring that the group was sorely missing up the center.
Final yr’s 57 factors in 77 video games had been sufficient for the Bruins to supply Geekie a 6-year, $33 million greenback extension.
What? You’re nonetheless not satisfied that this man’s story is a enjoyable one?
Morgan Geekie gifted all of the Bruins custom-made baseball gloves after signing his extension ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/cBWdHid704
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) December 8, 2025
Now? Properly, now, even the largest Bruins homer wouldn’t have believed you for those who mentioned that Geekie would have 24 objectives earlier than Christmas. They usually’d assume you’re downright insane for those who prompt that he’d be within the dialogue for a kind of coveted spots on Crew Canada’s Olympic squad.
Is The Geek Squad going to attain 50 this yr? Did anybody else tally a bunch of factors at work final night time?
Right here’s what else I noticed in Tuesday night time’s NHL motion…
Jeremy Swayman – 20 saves on 21 pictures and the 4-1 win vs UTA. That pushes Swayman’s document to 13-8-0 and improves the ratios to a 2.74 GAA and a .909 SV%. Love that soiled water!
David Pastrnak – 2 A (25), +1, 5 SOG, 1 PPA, 1 BLK, and 9 factors in 4 video games since getting back from a two-week damage break.
Vitek Vanecek – 19 saves on 23 pictures and the loss, his seventh in a row. This drops Utah again to .500 (16-16-3).
Barrett Hayton – 1 G (4), -2, 2 PIM, 2 SOG, 1 PPG in 13:42 TOI. Even the faceoff numbers are ugly (4-10).
Sean Durzi – 1 A (4), -1, 1 SOG, 1 PPA, 10 PIM! FIGHT! With 25 seconds left within the third, Nick Schmaltz took exception to a slash from Alex Steeves late within the third, and Durzi stepped in to present the rooster jockey a bit of little bit of the enterprise. At the least the Mammoth went down swinging on this one.
Thatcher Demko – 23 saves on 23 pictures and the 3-0 shutout win at NYR. That’s back-to-back wins for Demko and his first shutout of the yr. The ‘Nucks aren’t folding up store simply but!
Conor Garland – 1 G (7), +1, 3 SOG, 1 SHG, 1 H, 1 BLK. A modest 3-game level streak and 4 PTS in his final three. The SHG is a pleasant bonus for the managers in leagues with short-handed cats, too!
Evander Kane – 1 G (6), +1, 2 SOG, GWG, 2 H, 1 BLK…and one soaking moist pair of jogging pants within the bathe.
Jonathan Fast – 14 saves on 16 pictures. The ratios aren’t dangerous, however this pushed Fast’s private shedding streak to 4-games.
John Gibson – 16 saves on 18 pictures and the 3-2 win vs NYI. Talking of previous U.S.A. goalies. Gibby had some stable protection in entrance of him and rode a Marmo-favorite’s offense to the dub.
Alex DeBrincat – 2 G (20), 6 SOG, GWG, 1 H. Each objectives had been on the PP. DeBrincat has 13 factors in his final 8 video games, together with 6 objectives in his final 4 video games.
Lucas Raymond – 3 A (27), 1 SOG, 2 PPA, 2 H, 2 BLK. Raymond’s 37 factors in 32 video games is sweet for a High 20 spot within the scoring race.
Ilya Sorokin – 18 saves on 21 pictures and the 3-2 loss at DET. Final week’s participant of the week noticed his private 5-game successful streak snapped.
Anders Lee – 1 A (13), +1, 3 SOG, 1 BLK. I used to be on the lookout for somebody to spotlight from the Islanders, and it was both this man or Scott Mayfield. Woof.
Dan Vladar – 21 saves on 22 pictures, and the 4-1 victory at MTL. A pleasant win for the darkish lord after a few robust losses in time beyond regulation and a shootout in his final two video games. The pressure is robust with this one.
Travis Konecny – 1 G (9), 1 A (20), +1, 3 SOG, 1 H, 1 BLK. He’s bought factors in 8 of his final 10 video games.
Sean Couturier – 2 A (14), +2, 2 PIM, 4 SOG. Bear in mind when this man was tabbed as the following massive factor in Philly? I wouldn’t be holding him exterior of the deepest of leagues.
Jacob Fowler – 17 saves on 20 pictures. That’s 8 objectives allowed in his final two video games. In the event you dumped a confirmed goalie to select this child up, possibly verify the wire to see if there’s one other one obtainable. Fowler might find yourself again in Laval earlier than the Christmas break.
Alexandre Texier – 1 G (3), -1, 3 SOG, 3 H. Critical query. If this man’s title had been Alex Texxer, and he didn’t converse French, would Montreal even give him a re-examination? Credit score the place it’s due, although. He’s bought a 4-game level streak going.
Jet Greaves – 24 saves on 27 pictures, the 3-2 OT win vs ANA, and nonetheless the good goalie title on the market.
Zach Werenski – 2 G (11), 1 A (25), +1, 2 PIM, 4 SOG, 1 BLK, and a assured blueliner for Crew USA in February (well being allowing). Extra importantly, he’s proof that the “Zach, Zak, Zac, Zack” annoyance and triple-checking aren’t simply restricted to baseball writing.
Boone Jenner – 1 G (5), 1 A (9), 2 SOG, 5 H, 1 BLK. There’s a Kardashian joke right here someplace, however I’ll simply say that this man is a good “real-life” hockey participant that I’d like to have on my favourite group…simply not essentially on my fantasy ones.
Ville Husso – 24 saves on 27 pictures and the 4-3 OT loss. Again-to-back losses after a modest 3-game win streak, however you possibly can’t blame Husso. Apparently, the Geese advised all of their defencemen to take the week off. (He’s confronted 112 pictures in his final three video games.)
Mikael Granlund – 1 G (4), 1 A (7), +2, 3 SOG, 2 H, 1 BLK.
Ryan Poehling – 2 A (10), +2, 4 SOG, 2 H, 3 BLK. The checking line heart’s stats line seems extra like a sixth defenceman’s (1 G, 10 A), however he’ll offer you hits and blocks in these deep leagues with a number of classes.
Spencer Knight – 24 saves on 27 pictures, and the 3-2 loss at TOR. The Blackhawks are with out their celebrity ahead (extra under) for a number of weeks, so I assume they’ll be in for various tough Knights forward.
Connor Bedard – Zero factors. Zero minutes. Loads of tears and worrisome Hawks followers. Yesterday’s official information was “separated shoulder,” and phrase is he’ll be out till mid-January on the earliest.
Joseph Woll – 23 saves on 25 pictures and the win. That’s three straight wins for Woll. He has a .947 SV% in his final 3 video games.
Auston Matthews – 1 G (14), 1 A (9), 1 SOG, 1 PPG, 1 H, 20:30 TOI. Bear in mind when individuals mentioned he was higher than Connor McDavid? I imply, these individuals had been all Leaf followers, however nonetheless.
William Nylander – 2 A (25), 2 SOG, 1 PPA. And I even scrolled to see if there have been any hits or blocked pictures. No, significantly. I did.
Tristan Jarry – 26 saves on 30 pictures and the 6-4 win at PIT. I got here thisclose to operating Jarry out as our lede immediately. I even had the title able to go (“A Recipe For Jarry(ed) Penguins: Simply Add Oil”). Alas, I fell sufferer to the Morgan Geekie story.
As for Jarry, it was a pleasant thumb-biting to his previous squad after being dealt lower than per week in the past. If he can keep scorching, he’s going to reward these of us who took a shot on him as a later-round backup in our two-goalie leagues.
Connor McDavid – 2 G (20), 2 A (38), 6 SOG, 1 PPG, 2 PPA, 1 BLK. Ya. This man is fairly good.
Leon Draisaitl – 4 A (30), 2 PIM, 3 SOG, and 18:02 TOI. You understand what’s type of loopy? This man scored his one thousandth level within the NHL final night time, and he nonetheless will get buried behind McDavid within the write-up.
However all jokes apart, once I heard the announcers say Leon recorded his one thousandth level, I did a double-take and needed to search for the profession factors leaders.
For reference, he’s within the 103rd spot on the all-time listing with Brian Propp (1004 PTS) and Lanny McDonald (1006 PTS) subsequent to be leapfrogged by the large German ahead.
Evan Bouchard – 1 G (6), 1 A (26), +1, 2 SOG, 1 BLK. Each factors had been on the ability play, and Bocuhard continues to reap the advantages of taking part in on the person benefit with two of one of the best forwards within the league.
Stuart Skinner – 17 saves on 22 pictures and the 6-4 loss. Unskinny Bop. As in, guess who lastly bought bopped out of Edmonton and lands on a Penguins group that’s seeking to give Arturs Silvos extra time between the pipes.
Thomas Novak – 1 G (6), 1 A (11), +1, 1 SOG. Option to take advantage of your one shot on internet.
Erik Karlsson – 1 G (3), 1 A (22), -2, 3 SOG, 1 PPG, 1 H, 1 BLK. The 100-point days are lengthy gone, however he’s nonetheless logging massive minutes (24:11 TOI) in his age-35 season.
Filip Gustavsson – 25 saves on 25 pictures and the 5-0 shutout win vs WSH. With all of the Jesper Wallstedt hype, it’s simple to miss that the Wild has one other stellar netminder in Gustavsson. The large Swede has gained his final 4 begins and allowed simply 5 GA on his final 98 pictures.
Vladimir Tarasenko – 2 G (5), 1 A (11), +3, 4 SOG. ‘Member this man?!
Truthfully, I didn’t even keep in mind he was nonetheless within the league.
Danila Yurov – 1 G (4), 2 A (7), +3, 2 PIM, 1 SOG, 1 H. Final week, I discussed that I had a dialog with a buddy about how some gamers with a ton of expertise simply want that improve in taking part in time to actually flourish.
Now that Minnesota has shipped out some ahead expertise within the Quinn Hughes deal, there is a chance for teenagers like Yurov to show that they deserve an uptick in ice time. Up to now, so good.
Charlie Lindgren – 27 saves on 32 pictures and the 5-0 loss. What? Do you anticipate Logan Thompson to play 82 video games?
Jacob Chychrun – 2 PIM, 4 SOG, 2 H, 1 BLK, 21:18 TOI. No factors to report, however some additional stats to take a look at if in case you have expanded classes in your league.
Yaroslav Askarov – 10 saves on 12 pictures (midway by way of the second interval). Askarov was up 3-2 once I tapped out to edit and put up final night time. He’s allowed two or fewer objectives simply as soon as in his final 7 begins, so I’m not precisely assured that he’ll shut the door the remainder of the way in which.
Barclay Goodrow – 2 G (3), +2, 2 SOG. 3 G, 2 A, in 32 video games? This one was his sport of the yr (and the second interval wasn’t even completed but!)
Macklin Celebrini – 2 A (33), 3 SOG. So, this sport isn’t even executed but, and he’s sitting at 49 factors. In 34 video games. And it isn’t even Christmas but. Oh……..Kay.
Dustin Wolf – 10 saves on 13 pictures. He’s gained 4 straight, so the doom and gloom I used to be feeling a month in the past has considerably subsided. However, significantly, this Flames group isn’t going to do him any favors anytime quickly.
Blake Coleman – 1 G (10), +1, 3 SOG, 3 H. Watching this man rip heaters makes me marvel how he doesn’t have 20 objectives already, too. Then I do not forget that taking part in within the NHL isn’t a straightforward factor to do!
Mackenzie Blackwood – 12 saves on 13 pictures (by way of a interval and a half). This one wasn’t fairly by way of half of the second once I wrote it up final night time, but it surely’s good to see yet one more stellar tandem holding their very own in internet. I’m undecided selecting between Minnesota’s or Colorado’s goalie pair could be a straightforward factor to do.
Artturi Lehkonen – 1 G (13), +1, 2 SOG, 1 H. His twenty eighth level in 33 video games, and much more importantly, an help for Martin Necas, provides the latter 43 PTS (to date).
Philipp Grubauer – 10 saves on 11 pictures. He’s winless in three and is the clear backup to Joey Daccord.
Shane Wright – 1 G (6), +1, 1 SOG. Talking of hotshot prospects who had been alleged to gentle the league on fireplace, Wright jogs my memory a whole lot of Couturier. Shane Wright remains to be simply 21 years previous, so there’s room for him to interrupt out, but it surely’s not trying like he’ll push a lot previous final yr’s profession excessive of 44 factors.
And it’s 3-Level Problem night time for Thursday’s video games!
It’s a 10-game Thursday night time schedule, and you already know the principles. We will’t take any of the High 10 scoring leaders, in order that guidelines out: Mackinnon, McDavid, Celebrini, Bedard, Rantanen, Necas, Draisaitl, Kucherov, Eichel/Connor/Carlsson.
I used to be tempted to go together with the lede right here, and take Morgan Geekie in opposition to Tristan Jarry, however give me Wyatt Johnston in San Jose in opposition to the Sharks.
I hope you loved it. In case you have any questions or feedback, depart them under, and I’ll get again to you as quickly as I can!
Pleased Wednesday, and I’ll see you subsequent week!
Observe me @marmosdad on Twitter/X and Bluesky @marmosdad.bsky.social
