I celebrated the top of 2025 in one of the simplest ways conceivable: watching hockey for your complete day. There have been a variety of highlights, beginning with my Sabres profitable their tenth recreation in a row. Sure, Billy Bob, 10! Extra on that later. Essentially the most unbelievable efficiency although was one other Avalanche beatdown. Not that it was shocking in any respect towards the Blues, however that they scored 4 objectives (and have a fifth disallowed) earlier than the Blues even had a shot on purpose! What a powerhouse. Nathan MacKinnon had his regular 2+2 with seven pictures, however the notable efficiency for a non-superstar was Valeri Nichushkin. Large Val had a hat trick on six pictures within the 6-1 win. He now has 11+15 in 31 video games with an excellent shot fee. He’s nonetheless accessible in nearly two-thirds of leagues, and that merely wants to alter. Nichushkin is again on PP1 so if there was any doubt, he’s should personal in all places. Certain, he might get injured once more, however you must experience him till that occurs. Let’s check out what else occurred over the past two nights:
Wednesday’s Video games:
Adam Fox – Aim and an help with two PIM. Fox has bounced again this season in a giant manner, and it’s absurd that he’s going to be left off the Olympic staff.
Artemi Panarin – Two assists with three pictures. Even this disappointing season for Panarin continues to be some extent per recreation and three pictures per recreation. That’s the ground.
Tom Wilson – Two objectives and an help with 4 pictures and 5 PIM. He crushed once more on Thursday with two extra factors. Wilson has discovered a stage to his recreation that I didn’t suppose he had in him, and he’s earned his Olympic spot.
Rasmus Sandin – Two assists with two pictures. Good participant in actual life, however Sandin’s fantasy worth is minimal.
Connor McMichael – Two assists with three pictures. He’s been a giant disappointment this season having solely 5 objectives. McMichael did play 20 minutes on this one, however even with that, it’s exhausting to get previous middling streamer.
Aliaksei Protas – Aim and an help. Protas has six objectives in his final eight video games and is doing sufficient to be a backside finish maintain in most codecs.
Justin Sourdif – Two objectives. Sourdif is on the second line and PP2 proper now, making him a middling streamer within the quick time period.
Luke Evangelista – Two assists with two pictures. The taking pictures proportion is poor, however it’s yearly for no matter motive. Evangelista is a strong streamer for the assists.
Pavel Dorofeyev – Two assists with three pictures. Dorofeyev’s scorching begin is a factor of the previous. He’s an elite streamer who’s arguably on the perimeter, however he’s not a slam dunk maintain anymore.
Brandon Hagel – Three assists with six pictures and two PIM. It nonetheless drives me nuts that Hagel doesn’t get PP1 time, however he continues to dominate at even power like only a few within the league can.
Nikita Kucherov – Aim and an help with three pictures. He’s severely going to be within the dialogue for finest European ahead with Jagr when all is alleged and finished.
Darren Raddysh – Aim and an help with six pictures. Raddysh has taken full benefit of the chance he’s been given. He’s been a backside finish #1D in 12’ers.
Macklin Celebrini – Aim and an help with 4 pictures. It’s terrifying how good Celebrini already is. He’s going to be a high ten decide for the following decade.
Igor Chernyshov – Aim and an help. The primary decide within the second spherical final season, Chernyshov has been unbelievable since his recall, taking part in with Celebrini. He has eight factors in seven video games and is an elite streamer whereas he’s a scorching schmotato. Long run, there’s clear maintain upside in all codecs, making him an elite dynasty asset. Welcome to the Razzball Database!
John Gibson – 23 saves on 24 pictures within the 2-1 win over the Jets. Gibson’s wins are good, however his GAA and sv% are beneath common. He’s a advantageous #3 for the wins, however don’t count on extra.
Luke Hughes – Aim and an help. The Devils had been taking part in an atrocious recreation, however they stormed again within the third to steal a win. I used to be very low on Hughes in comparison with consensus going into the season, and even with him getting extra PP1 than I believed, he nonetheless has upset. He’s a backside finish maintain, however I don’t see any bounce happening.
MacKenzie Blackwood – 12 saves on 13 pictures within the 6-1 win over the Blues. They couldn’t have made it any simpler for Blackwood. As an American, I’m grateful that he was left off the Olympic staff for Binnington.
Brock Nelson – Aim and an help. Nelson is prospering on the second line now and is again onto the perimeter. Should you can abdomen a decrease shot fee, he’s positively price holding.
Josh Manson – Two assists with three pictures and two PIM. Good deep league choice since he’s hitting all the classes pretty effectively.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen – 28 saves on 29 pictures within the 4-1 win over the Stars. One of the best efficiency of the season for Buffalo, the staff dominated an elite Stars staff. UPL was unbelievable, and with Alex Lyon out for some time, it’s his crease. Should you want goaltending assist, experience the vibezzzz.
Tage Thompson – Two objectives and an help with seven pictures and two PIM. Tage was TAGE on this one, dominating on nearly each shift. It appears like he’s been barely disappointing, however he’s nonetheless on tempo for over 40 objectives whereas pushing 3.5 pictures per recreation.
Bowen Byram – Aim and an help with two pictures. Byram is taking part in one of the best hockey he has whereas being a Sabre. He’s on the perimeter proper now and doubtless price holding whereas he’s scorching.
Noah Ostlund – Two assists. Ostlund has regarded unbelievable and whereas he’s solely a backside finish streamer, he appears like a pleasant long run piece to construct round. In fantasy, I don’t see large upside, however he ought to find yourself being a maintain for prolonged stretches. Welcome to the Razzball Database!
Josh Doan – Aim and an help with three pictures and two PIM. If Doan might end, he can be a celebrity. As is, he’s an elite streamer.
David Pastrnak – Two objectives and an help with six pictures and two PIM. The plus-minus is tough as a result of the Bruins are actually unhealthy regardless of their first rate file, however Pasta has been nice per regular.
Hampus Lindholm – Aim and an help with 5 pictures. Lindholm is just an excellent deep league man now.
Elias Lindholm – Aim and an help with two pictures and two PIM. Lindholm has bounced again properly. He regarded actually unhealthy final season, however now, he’s a strong streamer regardless of a poor shot fee.
Viktor Arvidsson – Two assists. I all the time favored Arvidsson’s recreation, however accidents have taken a toll. He’s nonetheless a middling to strong streamer.
Fraser Minten – Two assists wiwth a shot and two PIM. Minten is taking part in with Pasta proper now, placing him on the streaming radar. He’s barely taking pictures although, so Minten is just backside finish.
Dustin Wolf – 25 saves on 26 pictures within the 5-1 win over the Flyers. Wolf has been fairly good, however the staff is a large number. He’s positively price holding, nevertheless it’s going to be middling to backside finish #2.
MacKenzie Weegar – Two assists with 4 pictures and two PIM. Weegar appears again to his regular self once more. I added him the place I might.
Connor Zary – Aim and an help. I hoped for a breakout, however Zary is caught in backside finish streamer vary.
Matt Coronato – Two assists. Middling streamer.
Thursday’s Video games
Shane Pinto – Two assists with a shot. Pinto has fallen off a cliff since his torrid begin. Middling streamer vary.
Dylan Guenther – Hat trick and an help. The Isles had no likelihood towards the highest Mammoth gamers, with Nick Schmaltz, Clayton Keller, and Mikhail Sergachev every totaling three factors. Guenther has eight factors in his final 4 video games, and 9 objectives in his final ten. Protected to say that he’s again into type.
Lawson Crouse – Two assists. Crouse is ok for deep leagues for hits and okay offense, however there’s not a lot right here for shallower leagues.
Barrett Hayton – Two assists with a shot. Hayton misplaced his PP1 spot to Peterka so there’s nothing right here anymore.
Max Shabanov – Two assists. First rate rookie season for the Russian, however Shabanov is just a backside finish streamer.
Mark Scheifele – Two objectives and an help with eight pictures. Man, what a brutal loss for the Jets as Comrie pissed the sport away. You must suppose some trades are coming with how disappointing they’ve been. Scheifele doesn’t deserve a lot blame, and has definitely delivered from a fantasy hockey perspective.
Gabe Vilardi – Aim and an help with two pictures. Backside finish maintain via and thru.
Auston Matthews – Hat trick and an help with 5 pictures. We’re beginning to see some indicators of life from Matthews by way of the shot quantity. I’m nonetheless skeptical he can drag the Leafs again into the playoffs, however the East is so bunched collectively that it will possibly’t be dominated out.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Aim and an help with three pictures and two PIM. It’s extra fringe now, however I nonetheless suppose OEL is a backside finish maintain.
Matias Maccelli – Aim and an help. He’s at the moment with Tavares and Knies with Nylander out. Maccelli has 5 factors in his final 5 video games, however he even have 5 pictures on purpose in that span. He’s a backside finish streamer in the interim.
Sidney Crosby – Two objectives and an help with 4 pictures and two PIM. 5 recreation level streak for Crosby, who’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. I can’t wait to observe him on a line with MacKinnon and no matter RW (Reinhart?), a minimum of after they aren’t taking part in U.S.A.
Erik Karlsson – Two assists with a shot. The assists are one of the best they’ve been since arriving in Pittsburgh. The plus-minus hasn’t been a complete catastrophe both, making Karlsson a strong #3.
Nikita Kucherov – Aim and two assists with two pictures. Down a purpose with beneath 3:30 left? No downside, the Bolts can rating three objectives to beat the Kings. They’re clearly one of the best staff within the Atlantic to me.
Jake Guentzel – Two assists with two pictures. Enterprise as regular.
Brayden Level – Two objectives on 5 pictures. He’s been extremely disappointing this season, however Level now has ten factors in his final ten video games, together with 5 within the final 4. Hopefully it’s an indication of issues to come back.
Anthony Cirelli – Aim and an help with 4 pictures. I actually don’t suppose Cirelli deserves to be on Workforce Canada, however Cooper pushed for his man and acquired him. He’s a strong streamer for fantsay.
Corey Perry – Three assists with two pictures and 5 PIM. Perry has been a good shock for the Kings, nevertheless it’s nonetheless solely middling streamer territory.
Kevin Fiala – Aim and an help with three pictures. Nonetheless on the perimeter, however now I’m leaning in the direction of elite streamer over maintain. It’s simply not fairly ok throughout the board.
Andrei Kuzmenko – Aim and an help. He’s not anyplace close to pretty much as good as he was as soon as the Kings acquired him final season. Backside finish streamer at finest.
Sebastian Aho – Two objectives and three assists with three pictures and two PIM. Nothing like a 5 level efficiency and your staff loses in regulation! And similar to that, Aho is sitting proper on the level per recreation mark he’s been round for eight straight seasons.
Nikolaj Ehlers – Aim and two assists with two pictures. Essentially the most notable factor Ehlers did on this recreation was utterly present the Canadiens a purpose. He’s on the perimeter, however I nonetheless lean in the direction of holding.
Andrei Svechnikov – Aim and two assists with 5 pictures. He’s utterly again on observe with twelve factors in his final eight video games. Simple maintain once more.
Alexander Nikishin – Aim and an help with two pictures. He’s approaching the perimeter, however I feel we see the true bounce from Nikishin subsequent season.
Sammy Blais – Aim and an help with two pictures. Good to see Blais again taking part in once more, however he’s solely a fourth liner.
Alex Texier – Two assists with two pictures and two PIM. He’s at the moment on the highest line with Suzuki and Caufield, however Texier hasn’t finished a lot. Backside finish streamer at finest.
Juraj Slafkovsky – Aim and an help with two pictures. He’s benefiting from taking part in with Ivan Demidov (two assists, two pictures), with Slaf posting ten factors in his final six video games. He’s as much as the perimeter.
Lane Hutson – Aim and an help with two pictures and two PIM. Hutson has an actual likelihood for some extent per recreation season. I feel he has an actual Olympic case, however as a substitute, we’re caught watching Hanifin, Faber and Jones. Yuck.
Matt Duchene – Aim and an help, as did Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson. Duchene has been very poor thus far, however there’s nonetheless loads of time for him to show it round. He’s nonetheless a middling to strong streamer, however we will’t rule out a Duchene scorching streak.
Ilya Mikheyev – Two objectives on three pictures. And there’s your biannual Mikheyev replace!
Ryan Donato – Two assists with two pictures. The dropoff has been steep for Donato. He’s solely a backside finish streamer.
Andre Burakovsky – Two assists. It’s been a pleasant bounce again for Burakovsky, however he’s lacking Bedard a lot. For now, he’s a backside finish streamer, whereas pushing in the direction of an elite one when Bedard returns.
Philipp Grubauer – 24 saves on 25 pictures within the 4-1 win over the Predators. Grubauer has been shockingly good this season after 4 straight seasons of being unhealthy in Seattle. I’m not totally shopping for in, however I’d stream him in most begins now.
Matty Beniers – Two objectives. His assists are up, however the objectives are ugly. A part of that’s taking pictures proportion, a part of it’s shot fee, a part of it’s he’s simply not producing sufficient high quality probabilities. He’s a middling streamer.
That’s all for now guys. I’ll be again on Monday recapping the motion from the weekend. As all the time, be at liberty to ask any questions, go away any feedback, or give any options beneath. Thanks for studying, take care!
