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While Friday was mostly quiet, there were a couple big moves along with some nice depth acquisitions.  I'm going to cover those moves and give some first impressions on players with their new teams.  Let's get to it! Winnipeg acquired Tyler Toffoli from the Devils for second and third round picks.  Toffoli didn't play on Saturday so we don't know exactly where he'll slot in, but I love this move for Winnipeg.  With a healthy Toffoli and Vilardi, it's a loaded top six with good depth behind them.  Toffoli is owned almost everywhere, so saying that he's a hold everywhere doesn't really change anything.  The upside is undeniable, whether he plays with Scheifele and presumably Connor, or with Ehlers and Monahan.  Going from the team with the worst goaltending to arguably the best should fix the plus-minus and the shot rate should stay at 3+.  What will swing his value the most is whether he goes on the first power play unit.  They have Connor, Scheifele and Morrissey as locks.  Then you have two spots for Toffoli, Vilardi, Ehlers and Monahan.  We should find out on Monday, although Vilardi being out increases his chances, especially because Bowness hates Ehlers for reasons unknown.  I would bet on a big finish from Toffoli.
Fantasy Hockey Weekly Newsletter: Week 21 Hello everyone. Welcome to the twenty-first edition of JOT This Down! Keep the questions, comments, and concerns coming. I’ll be here all week to answer any and everything you may have.
Nothing like a hat trick to regain the NHL lead in goals.  Especially in what was a timed game.  Brock Boeser finished Tuesday with a natural hat trick, securing a 4-1 win over the Lightning.  That brings him to a whopping 21 goals, well on his way to obliterating his previous career high.  They aren't the same type of player, but it reminds of Kreider's 50 goal year.  A solid player who has everything go right for a year.  Now, it's still early that Boeser is far from a lock for 50, but if he stays healthy, 40 is close to a lock.  It's far from sustainable going to the next few seasons, but the important thing is Boeser is back on his A game ignoring the good fortune.  Let's take a look at what else happened over the last two nights:
It was great to see Aleksander Barkov back in the lineup on Thursday, and if you didn't get him back into your lineup off injured reserve, well, that one is going to hurt for a while.  Barkov scored a hat trick in the first period against the Canadiens and added two assists in the 7-2 win over the Canadiens.  It hasn't been Barkov's best season to this point, but I'm buying Barkov going forward to get back to being well over a point per game.  Florida has dug itself quite a hole in the playoff race and I expect Maurice to really ride their top six even more.  Barkov's shooting percentage is also much lower than his career sh% (10.3 vs 14.0) so look for some positive regression in the New Year for the Panthers captain.  Let's take a look at what else happened over the last two nights:
The Sabres got off to a hot start this season despite their top line struggling to get on the scoresheet.  On Saturday, they started the turnaround against the Blackhawks, but that game paled in comparison to what they did on Monday.  Against the Red Wings, the Sabres scored eight goals, led by their $50 million man, Tage Thompson.  Thompson had the game of the early season, scoring three goals, dishing three assists, and putting nine total shots on goal.  All it took was two games for Thompson to turn his October into a monster month with 6+6 in nine games with over four shots per game.  Granato told him that he needed to start shooting the puck more, and that's turned into 25 shots in the past three games alone.  Obviously he's not going to keep up that rate, but Thompson could turn into a top 50 player if he pushes his shot rate to over four per game.  Let's take a look at what else happened over the last two nights:
In terms of expected goals and puck possession, the Devils have been the best team in October, bar none.  They've been absolutely dominant and earned every single bit of their 6-3 record.  Their most impressive win came on Friday beating the Avalanche 1-0, and they followed that up with a complete demolition of Columbus, 7-1.  The common denominator?  Vitek Vanecek started both of these games.  Vanecek saved all 24 shots from Colorado before saving 20 of 21 shots from the Blue Jackets.  We're looking at a time share in New Jersey, but Vanecek appears to have grabbed the upper hand for now.  Before the season, I had little interest in either of their goalies.  Now, with how well they're playing, both could be owned in 12'ers, but Vanecek definitely has to be.  Ride the hot hand while you can.  Let's take a look at what else happened over the weekend:
Who would have thought that a seven point game wouldn't get the opening?  It would take something extravagant and that's what happened, with Jason Robertson scoring back-to-back hat tricks. R0bertson carried the Stars to victory on Friday scoring three on seven shots, including the overtime winner.  He capped it off with an empty netter to seal the game against Minnesota on Sunday, totaling six shots and two PIM with his hat trick.  That brings Robertson to a whopping 29+25 in 47 games and three shots per game.  Robertson seemingly came out of nowhere last season to earn a second place finish in the Calder race.  Now, the sky appears to be the limit.  Robertson is still only 22 years old and has his center of the present and future already with him.  It looks like the Stars have their new Benn and Seguin.  They can only hope Hintz and Robertson reach that level, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.  I don't think Robertson quite cracks the top 20 for the rest of the season and next year, but he's a slam dunk top 50 player.  Let's take a look at what else happened over the weekend:
Well, we have a clear winner for craziest game of the season.   Toronto went up 6-1 and 7-2 going into the third, only to allow four goals in the first 5:21 of the second, only to end up pulling away from the Red Wings.  10-7!  10-7!!!  Absolutely bonkers.  Toronto scored ten goals and didn't even have a power play.  The top line destroyed Detroit, led by Mitch Marner, who had four goals and two assists with six shots and two PIM.  Michael Bunting had a goal and four assists with four shots, while Auston Matthews had a goal and three assists with four shots.  Look, we know what we're getting from Marner and Matthews.  Bunting I'm still torn on.  Even in this game, Bunting played under 14 minutes.  It's hard to sustain success with that workload.  On the other hand, that line is as good as any in hockey right now, and Bunting has been going off.  I'm still leaning towards elite streamer, but I can't argue with anyone holding him.  Seventeen goals in a game!  Let's take a look at what else happened over the weekend:
The new goalie for the Bruins is the one that's been in for the last decade.  Tuukka Rask made his season debut on Thursday, saving 25 of 27 shots in the 3-2 win over the Flyers.  Somehow Rask is available in over 65% of leagues still, so if you're in one of them, grab him immediately.  He didn't receive a ton of volume even in his prime, but I'd expect him to get 50-60% of the starts going forward which is definitely worth holding.  Linus Ullmark should receive the rest of the starts.  That's still enough for me to hold him as they should be quality starts now that Boston has turned the corner.  Jeremy Swayman was sent to the AHL since he doesn't have to clear waivers, so he can be cut in all formats.  Let's take a look at what else happened over the last two nights:
A personal favorite, Filip Forsberg, took over the game on Tuesday night, scoring four goals in the 6-0 win over the Blue Jackets.  That gives Forsberg 10 goals and 5 assists in 13 games.  Not bad, not bad.  The story is the same for Forsberg as it has been over the last five years.  When he's on the ice, he's one of the best offensive players in the league.  The problem is that he always seems to have an injury that causes him to miss a month.  He's already missed eight games so fingers crossed that he stays healthy the rest of the way.  His linemates (more on them later) have found their form as well giving Nashville a potent first line for the first time since Johansen was playing his best hockey and Arvidsson was at his peak goal scoring ability.  He has a tough matchup with Boston on Thursday, but after that, Nashville has some easy opponents which could let Forsberg continue this goal scoring run.  Let's take a look at what else happened over the last two nights: