The excessive damage whole from the condensed schedule has resulted in additional prospects and faces in new locations taking extra distinguished roles than they usually would. You will see just a few of these gamers in at this time’s Ramblings.
Denver Barkey had a powerful NHL debut, ending with two assists in 15:18 whereas taking part in on a line with Sean Couturier and Owen Tippett. Barkey was a scoring star for the Memorial Cup champion London Knights, ending with 82 factors in 50 video games in his ultimate OHL season. He was recalled throughout his first AHL season, the place he recorded 16 factors in 26 video games for Lehigh Valley. He has a reasonably excessive NHL ceiling, though his main draw back for fantasy relevance is his lack of dimension (5-9, 155 lb.) For extra on Barkey, see his Dobber Prospects profile.
Artemi Panarin scored twice to steer the Rangers to a 5-4 shootout win over the Flyers. Panarin has been capturing the puck a ton just lately, averaging seven photographs per sport over his final 4 video games. Panarin led all skaters with seven photographs on this sport. If he can sustain the capturing, Panarin may attain 30 objectives for the third consecutive season.
J.T. Miller left Saturday’s sport within the third interval with an upper-body damage (presumably arm or shoulder) after he was on the receiving finish of a success from Nick Seeler. Miller was seen after the sport together with his arm in a sling, which makes it appear unlikely that he’s in a position to play at this time (Sunday) towards Nashville. Here is a medical opinion of the damage:
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Within the Pink Wings’ 5-2 win over the Capitals, Moritz Seider stuffed the Christmas stockings of multicat groups with a objective, an help, three photographs, a plus-3, a success, and three blocked photographs. Seider is within the high 5 within the league when including photographs, hits, and blocks along with 223.
John Leonard scored a objective for the Wings, giving him two factors in three video games since being recalled from the AHL. Leonard was deserving of a callup from the AHL, as he had scored 19 objectives and 10 assists in simply 20 video games with Grand Rapids this season and 36 objectives in 72 video games with Charlotte final season. At 27 years of age and a 2018 sixth-round choose of San Jose, Leonard is past the age of a prospect, having performed as many as 44 video games with the Sharks in 2020-21. But he is perhaps price watching if he can stick within the NHL as a real late bloomer. Leonard has been on a line with Alex DeBrincat and Andrew Copp since being recalled, however he could also be again within the AHL as soon as Patrick Kane returns from damage.
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Following Saturday’s sport towards Ottawa, Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill mentioned that he expects Frank Nazar to be out of the lineup for about 4 weeks. Nazar took a puck to his face within the first interval, so it is doable that he has a damaged jaw. The Blackhawks will now be with out their high two facilities in Nazar and Connor Bedard for the foreseeable future, creating an enormous gap up the center.
When it comes to a participant who may fill the void, Ryan Greene led all Hawks forwards with 22:46 in icetime. A second-round choose in 2022, Greene picked up two assists however was a minus-3 within the 6-4 loss. He doesn’t possess an upside as excessive as Bedard and even Nazar, so he’ll doubtless be again to a third-line middle function as soon as everyone seems to be wholesome. He’s rostered in nearly no Yahoo leagues (0%) and only a few Fantrax leagues (12%) and should have some short-term worth with the accidents. For extra on Greene, see his Dobber Prospects profile.
Ilya Mikheyev scored two objectives for the Blackhawks. The objectives had been his first since November 5, which is a span of 21 video games.
Whoops…
Within the Senators win, Tim Stutzle had a objective and two assists with a plus-4, whereas David Perron scored two objectives. Stutzle has piled up 13 factors in his final six video games, which incorporates 5 multipoint efforts.
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Vladimir Tarasenko scored a objective whereas including an help with a plus-2 and 4 photographs on objective within the Wild’s 5-2 win over Edmonton. Tarasenko now has six factors in his final three video games. I discussed Tarasenko in yesterday’s Ramblings as a possible weekend add for his elevated function within the Wild lineup. Nonetheless, Mats Zuccarello returned to the lineup on Saturday from an upper-body damage, reclaiming his spot on the highest energy play. Tarasenko was again to PP2 duties and totaled simply 14:53 in icetime on Saturday. This improvement reduces Tarasenko’s worth.
Matt Boldy added a pair of objectives, giving him objectives in 4 consecutive video games. With 22 objectives on the season, Boldy is on tempo to hit at the least 40 objectives.
The Wild now have seven straight wins and are 4-0 since buying Quinn Hughes, wanting like a reliable Stanley Cup contender. The large boy playoff hockey can be performed within the Central Division this season. Presently the highest three groups within the league standings are Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota, so a really robust crew can be eradicated within the first spherical.
By the best way, Hughes has three factors in 4 video games with Minnesota, together with an help on considered one of Boldy’s objectives on Saturday.
Throughout the second intermission of the Flames/Golden Knights sport, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that the Oilers are hopeful that Tristan Jarry‘s damage is short-term, though extra could possibly be identified on Sunday (at this time). Within the meantime, Connor Ingram is predicted to make his first Oilers begin at this time towards an injury-riddled Vegas squad (extra on the Golden Knights later).
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Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson every scored a objective within the Sabres’ 3-2 shootout win over the Islanders. Dahlin took 5 photographs on this sport, whereas Thompson took 4. Dahlin now has 10 factors in his final seven video games, whereas Thompson has 9 factors in his final six video games. Thompson additionally has objectives in six consecutive video games.
Mathew Barzal scored a objective and added an help for the Islanders. Barzal now owns a seven-game level streak with eight factors over that span.
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In his third sport since being claimed off waivers by St. Louis from Detroit, Jonatan Berggren scored a objective and added two assists. Berggren just isn’t solely entering into the Blues’ lineup, he’s additionally taking part in on a scoring line with Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich, and he’s showing on the highest energy play. Berggren might merely be a stopgap possibility with accidents to Dylan Holloway, Jordan Kyrou, and Jimmy Snuggerud, however he ought to at the least have short-term worth whereas he tries to make an impression with the Blues. Berggren was an early second-round choose in 2018, and a participant that I added to my crew primarily based on Dobber’s advice.
In his third NHL sport, Otto Stenberg recorded his first two NHL factors. Stenberg, the Blues’ first-round choose in 2023, had simply eight factors in 21 video games within the AHL this season. Nonetheless, he warranted a callup as a result of Blues’ damage scenario. Stenberg was on a line with Brayden Schenn and Jake Neighbours, skating 11:39. For extra on Stenberg, see his Dobber Prospects profile.
Within the Blues’ 6-2 win over Florida, Thomas scored two objectives together with an help, whereas Neighbours scored a pair of objectives.
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Make it 4-0 for the Canucks with out Quinn Hughes and an injured Elias Pettersson, identical to all of us anticipated. Linus Karlsson scored a pair of objectives whereas including an help in a 5-4 shootout win in Boston. Acquired within the Hughes commerce, Liam Ohgren scored a objective whereas including an help and the shootout winner.
The Karlsson-Ohgren-Max Sasson fourth line of the Canucks has been dominating their icetime with a 72% shot makes an attempt for proportion over the previous three video games and an 80% shot makes an attempt for proportion on Saturday. Ohgren, a 2022 first-round choose, would not seem to have the upside of the opposite two gamers acquired (Marco Rossi and Zeev Buium). But he appears destined to be a stable middle-six two-way participant. Ohgren didn’t document even a single level in 18 video games with Minnesota this season, but he has three factors in 4 video games with Vancouver. For extra on Ohgren, see his Dobber Prospects profile.
By the best way, Rossi recorded his first level as a Canuck on Saturday – an help on considered one of Karlsson’s objectives. But since he has arrived in Vancouver, Rossi has resembled shot blocker Pettersson by blocking 9 photographs in 4 video games, together with three on Saturday.
Morgan Geekie has 50 objectives within the yr 2025, which is greater than every other participant within the league. I used to be late to come back round on him, however it is time to say he is greater than only a fluke. He appeared just like the Bruins’ greatest participant on this sport.
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Enjoying in his fourth NHL sport, Jacob Fowler pitched a 31-save shutout towards the Penguins. Recalled whereas Sam Montembeault is out of the lineup, Fowler has been making a powerful impression whereas alternating begins with Jakub Dobes, posting a 2.49 GAA and .915 SV% in 4 video games. In the meantime, Montembeault has struggled mightily this season (3.65 GAA, .857 SV%). Montembeault can be presently on a conditioning stint within the AHL, the place he stopped 27 of 28 photographs on Saturday. The vibes with Fowler really feel nice for Habs followers, nevertheless it’s most likely greatest to not let a 21-year-old goalie cook dinner within the NHL. Let’s throw Fowler’s Dobber Prospects profile out right here for you as effectively right here, lets?
Josh Anderson scored a pair of objectives for the Habs of their 4-0 win. Owen Beck scored his first NHL objective in his 21st profession sport (Dobber Prospects profile).
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Throughout his intermission phase on Hockey Night time in Canada, Elliotte Friedman talked about that the Hurricanes are hopeful about Seth Jarvis though he nonetheless must be evaluated by medical doctors. Hopefully the damage would not price Jarvis an opportunity on the Olympics if he’s in actual fact on the listing once more.
Because of the Jarvis damage, the Hurricanes recalled Bradly Nadeau, who promptly scored a objective on Saturday. I added Nadeau in a single league for his upside, however I feel the Hurricanes are too deep for him to make an influence this season – until he’s elevated additional due to accidents. Nadeau performed 13:06 on a line with Mark Jankowski and Jesperi Kotkaniemi – not precisely a recipe for achievement. For extra on Nadeau, sure, you’ll be able to take a look at his Dobber Prospects profile.
Within the Lightning’s 6-4 win over Carolina, Jake Guentzel scored two objectives. Guentzel has eight factors over his final six video games.
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With a objective and an help within the Predators’ 5-3 win over the Maple Leafs, Steven Stamkos has out of the blue heated up with eight factors in his final 5 video games. Included in that whole is a four-goal sport towards St. Louis simply over per week in the past. Stamkos now has 13 objectives, 12 of which have are available in his final 20 video games after only one objective in his first 14 video games. Stamkos has additionally been capturing the puck a good bit just lately, averaging practically 5 photographs per sport over his final six video games. I’m regretting my choice to drop him after his early-season stoop. For this reason I “often” stay affected person with gamers that stumble by means of the primary month of the season.
Max Domi was a wholesome scratch for the Leafs. With simply 12 factors in 32 video games, Domi is droppable in nearly each league on the market. Craig Berube was most likely hopeful that Domi can be a kind of gamers who would choose up the slack with Mitch Marner leaving within the offseason, however that has clearly not been the case. Did anybody actually assume that the Leafs can be higher off with out Marner?
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Mikael Backlund scored two objectives for the Flames of their 6-3 win over Vegas on Saturday. Backlund is often identified for modest but constant level totals, but he has scored two objectives in back-to-back video games. That is most likely extra of an outlier than something, though Backlund has 9 photographs over his final two video games and is averaging over three photographs per sport over his final 5 video games.
Mackenzie Weegar chipped in three assists, giving him six factors over his final six video games. Previous to that, Weegar had simply 5 factors over his first 30 video games. That is a troubling level whole for a participant who’s rostered in most Yahoo and Fantrax leagues (over 80% for each). Weegar makes up for that with excellent shot, hit, and blocked photographs totals, as his 253 lead the league when combining all three stats. You will should verify your league settings to learn how a lot worth Weegar is de facto offering in your crew.
Vegas was with out Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore on this sport, which can clarify the outcome. Calgary was clearly the higher crew, which is unusual to say when taking a look at the place these two groups are within the standings. The excellent news for the Golden Knights is that neither Eichel nor Theodore look like in peril of lacking the Olympics.
When mentioning Vegas damage lists, often Mark Stone is a mainstay. But Stone is wholesome, and he contributed a objective and an help on this sport. Amongst gamers with at the least as many video games performed as Stone (17), solely Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid have a better point-per-game common than Stone (1.59 PTS/GP).
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Mason Marchment scored a objective in his Columbus debut, logging practically 20 minutes on a line with Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli. For extra on the Marchment commerce, try the Fantasy Take I wrote shortly after it occurred.
With a objective on Saturday, Zach Werenski has 5 objectives over his final three video games and objectives in three consecutive video games. Werenski has additionally taken 16 photographs over these three video games. No defenseman has scored as many objectives (14) or taken as many photographs (131) as Werenski this season.
Simply as I am about to submit this text, I simply noticed that Werenski crawled off the ice late within the sport after blocking a shot and wanted assist to get to the dressing room. (Columbus was assessed a too many males penalty throughout that sequence, which appears a bit unfair.) Hopefully that is nothing severe. The vacation break cannot come quickly sufficient to let these guys have a break.
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Within the Kraken’s 4-2 win over San Jose, Chandler Stephenson scored a objective whereas including an help. Stephenson is using an eight-game level streak with 9 factors over that span.
Eeli Tolvanen additionally scored a objective with an help, giving him 4 factors over his final three video games.
Collin Graf is succeeding on Macklin Celebrini‘s line. Graf scored one other objective on Saturday, giving him three objectives in his final two video games (logging at the least 19 minutes in each video games) and 9 factors in his final eight video games. He was a participant that I listed within the 2024 Midseason Information as a possible NCAA free agent signing. I am going to share a stat with you from the information: “Solely Adam Fantilli and Logan Cooley completed the 2022-23 season with extra [NCAA] factors than Graf.” So though Graf was by no means drafted, it should not come as an entire shocker that he’s thriving within the NHL. Chemistry with Celebrini would go a good distance in reaching his upside.
By the best way, buy your Midseason Information to search out out the following unsigned NCAA prospect that would make an influence within the NHL… and naturally an entire lot extra.
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Comply with me on X @Ian_Gooding and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
