It’s the final “Fantasy Trends” of the regular season. With a lot of ground to cover before next week’s playoff guide, I’m making this a rapid-fire edition. My answers will be short and sweet so we can bounce around to a bunch of four-game streamers and your “Keep or Kick?” nominations.
Four-Game Streamers
Bowen Byram, D, BUF | 48% Yahoo
An increased role in Buffalo seems to agree with Byram. There are four key factors contributing to his success: more minutes (more opportunity), PP1 deployment, even strength minutes with the team’s No. 1 defender Rasmus Dahlin, and more time with the team’s top minutes at five-on-five. Three goals in three games may not be sustainable, but I expect more production to end the year.
Advertisement
Philipp Grubauer, G, SEA | 43% Yahoo
Grubauer has pushed for more playing time in Seattle with some high-caliber play. The goalie now has five quality starts in his past six games. With four games on the docket, an even split could make the most sense.
Anthony Duclair, LW, TBL | 16% Yahoo
There is a lot of bounce-back potential for Duclair in Tampa Bay, thanks to a major upgrade in linemates. I expect a lot more offensive pop from the winger now as long as he stays in the top-six.
Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, CAR | 13% Yahoo
I’m completely sold on Kuznetsov yet, but his role between Jake Guentzel and Martin Necas has piqued my interest — just look at his performance on Thursday night there.
Alexander Romanov, D, NYI | 10% Yahoo
With games against three teams who rank in the top 10 in shot generation — the Hurricanes, Jets, and Devils — Romanov should be busy blocking shots.
Warren Foegele, LW/RW, EDM | 7% yahoo
With the Oilers, my thinking is simple: whoever plays with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid is on my radar. Right now, that’s Foegele and Ryan McLeod. Foegele’s shot volume gives him the slight edge right now between the two.
Kaapo Kahkonen, G, NJD | 6% Yahoo
The Devils are going through it, so I can’t guarantee wins here. But Kahkonen was solid behind an awful Sharks team and looked sharp in his debut with the Devils. If he can keep that up, we could see a pretty even rotation in net.
Tyson Foerster, C/RW, PHI | 8% Yahoo
At worst, Foerster is a depth forward who will contribute shots on goal. But that second line with Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost is generating a lot of offense — that should translate to the scoresheet if they can keep it up.
Calle Jarnkrok, C/LW, TOR | 2% Yahoo
With Mitch Marner sidelined, Jarnkrok has been bumped up to the right wing on that top line. Those minutes with Auston Matthews are super valuable, so this is a chance to try and piggyback off his scoring.
Advertisement
Hendrix Lapierre, C, WSH | 2% Yahoo
Between his role on the top line between Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie, plus a bump up to PP1, Lapierre has my attention.
Alex Iafallo, LW/RW, WPG | 4% Yahoo
Iafallo is in a supporting role on the Jets’ second line of Tyler Toffoli and Sean Monahan. He is more of a temporary option since he should move down the lineup when Gabriel Vilardi returns. Until then, though, he is a fine option who most managers should be able to add.
Light-Night Performers
The light nights, as always, are highlighted by four-game streamers. Otherwise, I say pay extra attention to the Coyotes and Stars. These teams may only have a three-game slate, but they are in action on two light nights (both Wednesday and Friday). Logan Stankoven is on my radar in Dallas, while Logan Cooley could be a player to watch for Arizona.
Keep or Kick?
Joey Daccord, G, SEA: KEEP
Grubauer is taking some of Daccord’s minutes, but the Kraken’s schedule ahead should keep a solid rotation up. Seattle plays back-to-backs next week, then every other day the following two weeks. The Kraken have the most favorable schedule strength ahead, too, which should benefit their netminders.
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW/RW, WPG: KEEP
Ehlers is finally on that top line in Winnipeg, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Alexis Lafrenière, RW, NYR: KEEP
Lafrenière continues to benefit from his top-six deployment with Artemi Panarin. He may not get a ton of power play ice time, but PP2 looks better in New York post-deadline too.
Tage Thompson, C, BUF: KEEP
The Sabres are starting to get on a roll and that top power play unit looks revitalized with Byram. Definite keep.
Evgeni Malkin, C, PIT: KEEP
We’re all worried about Pittsburgh, but realistically (especially for those in deep leagues), who will still be available to match his production?
Advertisement
Gabriel Vilardi, RW, WPG: KEEP
The durability is a concern, but unless you’re hurting for IR slots, why not keep him? Activating a player off injured reserve is a far better option than using an “add.” Plus, that top-six is a lot stronger post-deadline, which bodes well for him.
Martin Necas, C/RW, CAR: KEEP
Let Necas cook with Jake Guentzel. He has so much more scoring potential now in this line combination.
Connor Ingram, G, ARI: KICK
If you’re in a super deep league with no other options, you’re stuck. But if there is a more favorable option to roll with, it may be worth going for that. When Ingram is good lately, he’s great. But the bottom line is that he has just three quality starts in 10 games, and the team around him doesn’t inspire much.
Mike Matheson, D, MTL: KEEP
Matheson may not stack up to some other No. 1 defenders around the league, but he still is a useful fantasy contributor. He chimes in across the board while logging a ton of minutes.
Roope Hintz, C, DAL: KEEP
Hintz always has some scoring potential thanks to his role on the top line and PP1. What also stands out is the Stars’ strength of schedule ahead, which could be conducive to more production.
Bryan Rust, RW, PIT: KEEP
The Sidney Crosby effect remains despite everything else going on in Pittsburgh right now. Plus, his shot generation is super useful. Michael Bunting is the forward I don’t think you need to be as attached to — he is the kickable option, who can always get scooped back up if he gets hot.
Evander Kane, RW, EDM: KICK
Kane has underwhelmed this season, and while that line has more support with Adam Henrique, my preference is leaning on whichever wingers are actually in the top-six in Edmonton.
Charlie Coyle, C, BOS: KICK
Coyle’s fantasy value stems from his PP1 usage, but his next stretch of opponents may challenge his ability to succeed there. The Flyers, Panthers, and Hurricanes are all excellent short-handed. The Rangers and Predators are both benefiting from stellar goaltending, too.
Advertisement
Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL: KEEP
Vasilevskiy hasn’t been up to his usual standards, but he tends to rise to the occasion. I would keep him to see if he can elevate his game to solidify the Lightning’s playoff chances, considering how hard it can be to add another No. 1 goalie at this point in the season.
Alex Pietrangelo, D, VGK: KEEP
Vegas has some reinforcements (with more to come) that should help boost Pietrangelo’s game.
Ivan Provorov, D, CBJ: KICK
I think you can find someone with a little more upside here. If he contributed that much to the secondary categories, it would make up for his point production. That isn’t the case.
Alex Lyon, G, DET: KEEP, for now
There’s always one player who gives me pause. Right now, it’s Lyon. If there are more stable options available, jump at them. But I’m not dismissing him just yet considering some trends from this season. Lyon has had a few poor stretches this season but has bounced back in a big way each time.
Data via Evolving-Hockey, HockeyViz, HockeyStatCards, AllThreeZones, and NaturalStatTrick. This story relies on shot-based metrics; here is a primer on these numbers.
(Top photo of Martin Necas: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)
