On Thursday, for the third time this season, Zach Parise scored his third hat trick of the season, adding an assist and six shots in the 6-2 win over the Flames. While he’s a step behind his usual pace, 22+25 in 64 games is nothing to sneeze at, especially with elite shots. However, I’ll probably be staying away from him next year given where I suspect his ADP will be. He plays a heavy game, he turns 32 in the summer and is starting to miss chunks of the season more regularly. That’s not to say I don’t like his game but his days of a top 50 player, for me, are over. Here’s what I saw around the league the last two nights:
Mark Stone – Goal on four shots with two PIM. He’s been a monster in the second half to get back to 60+ points for the second straight year. Not bad for a 22 year old.
J.F. Berube – 22 saves on 23 shots in the 3-1 win over the Senators. He’s been very good when he plays but as long as the Isles are fighting for home ice, don’t expect him to see much, if any, action.
Brock Nelson – Goal on two shots. His production is generally tied to whether or not he’s with John Tavares (goal on two shots). That said, Nelson hasn’t been much lately and it’s caused a drop in his minutes. He’s scored 24 goals so there’s value here but I’d rather stream him.
Loui Eriksson – Two assists and ten shots in two games. It’s been an excellent bounceback year from Eriksson as he enters free agency. Where he ends up will have a crucial effect on his value.
Frank Vatrano – Goal and an assist with five shots. The minutes aren’t there right now to even consider streaming him in 12’ers.
Derek Stepan – Goal and two assists with three shots. The Rangers are finally starting to some offense the last 10 games or so and the top guys are leading the charge. Keep rolling them all, Stepan included.
Keith Yandle – Two assists. Really wish the minutes were consistent but you have to keep him regardless.
Mats Zuccarello – Goal and an assist with two shots and two PIM. Incredibly underrated player right in his middle of his prime.
Rick Nash – Goal and two shots. Finally starting to deliver for his owners after being a dud for a few months straight.
Henrik Lundqvist – 39 saves on 41 shots in the 5-2 win over the Bruins. There’s no goaltender in the league more dependable than Hank. It’ll keep him at or right near the top of my goaltender rankings next season.
Roberto Luongo – 34 saves on 35 shots in the 4-1 win over the Bruins. It feels like Luongo has got back to elite status this year but his numbers are virtually identical to last season at this point. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
Vincent Trocheck – Goal and an assist with three shots playing almost 22 minutes. He’s definitely a finalist for waiver wire pickup of the year.
Jussi Jokinen – Goal and an assist with three shots playing almost 22 minutes. He’s definitely a finalist for waiver wire pickup of the year. And that’s me repeating me!
Kyle Palmieri – Two goals on four shots. He’s probably the winner of waiver wire pickup of the year. 29 goals!? From Kyle Palmieri!? He now has more goals than the previous two years combined.
Reid Boucher – Two assists and a shot. The minutes are up and he has points in three straight so Boucher can be streamed in deeper leagues and held in the deepest of leagues.
Damon Severson – Two assists and two shots. I had high hopes for Severson going into this season but it hasn’t clicked. Yet. He’s still only 21 years old.
Scott Wedgewood – 39 save shutout in the 3-0 win over the Penguins. It seems like there is a youngish goalie who comes out of nowhere every season to take the league by storm. It’s late in the season but perhaps it’s Wedgewood’s turn for a hot run? If you’re desperate for starts, definitely grab him. I’d fade him tonight against the Capitals though.
Eddie Lack – 42 saves on 44 shots in the 3-2 win over the Blue Jackets. The Canes are giving up a ton of shots lately so I’d be cautious of using Lack. He can play well and still hurt your numbers like the game before this when he made 44 saves but still allowed 4 goals.
Elias Lindholm – Goal and four PIM. His value next year will largely be determined by who the Hurricanes add to their top 6.
Brandon Pirri – Goal and two assists with seven shots. Elite stream right now while he’s on the first power play unit.
Shawn Horcoff – Two assists and a shot. And there’s your annual Horcoff update!
Jamie McGinn – Two goals on three shots with two PIM. As you’re all aware, he’s one of my favorite streamers and I’d argue he’s a hold right now in 12’ers.
Fredrik Andersen – 20 saves on 26 shots in the 6-5 overtime loss to the Leafs. Puke. That start is going to ruin a lot of people in head to head leagues when more often than not, it was going to help them tremendously.
Nazem Kadri – Two goals and two assists with two shots and two PIM. He outplayed the first line for the Ducks at even strength. I’m going to be on Kadri next season in the middle rounds because he has an elite shot rate and will certainly have improved linemates next year.
Milan Michalek – Two assists with a shot. Solid streamer down the stretch while he’s on the first line.
Tyler Bozak – Two goals on five shots in his return from injury. He’s actually been pretty solid this year when healthy.
Morgan Rielly – Two assists and a shot. I’m going to on Rielly next year as well. There’s a ton of offensive potential here.
Connor Brown – Goal and an assist with two shots. Congrats to the young man on his first career goal!
Joel Hanley – Two assists and a shot. That’s back to back two assist games for the recent callup but I’m still taking it with a grain of salt.
Max Pacioretty – Goal on six shots with two PIM. The biggest reason for his dropoff in goals this season is simply a drop in shooting percentage. Patches will still be in the top 50 going into next season and quite easily.
Mike Green – Two assists and two PIM. He’s been kind of a dud overall for the Red Wings and simply can’t stay healthy anymore.
Brendan Smith – Two assists with two shots and two PIM. Not a defenseman who has fantasy relevance.
Riley Sheahan – Two goals on four shots. When I watch Sheahan play, he always leaves me wanting more. The talent is there but the opportunity isn’t right now and to be blunt, he doesn’t deserve the opportunity at this point.
Ryan Miller – 30 saves on 32 shots in the 3-2 shootout loss to the Predators. Miller has been outstanding lately but the Canucks are such a mess that he has 0 wins to show for it. Only use in desperation.
Daniel Sedin – Goal assisted by brother Henrik Sedin. The Cyborgs can’t be stopped!
Bo Horvat – Goal on two shots. I like his game plenty, especially for a 20 year old, but it’s hard to say what the state of the Canucks will be going into next season. Horvat will more than likely be fringe in 12’ers, just like his linemate Sven Baertschi (assist and a shot).
Filip Forsberg – Goal on seven shots. Insert fire emojis here.
Niklas Backstrom – 23 saves on 29 shots in the 6-2 loss against his former team. Yikes. Avoid all Flames goalies unless you’re beyond desperate. What’s beyond desperate? Put something clever here.
Mikko Koivu – Three assists with a shot and four PIM. The shots have been dismal but he’s over 50 points again due to a high shooting percentage. He’s 33 years old so I suspect his role starts to decrease next year.
Charlie Coyle – Two assists with a shot. Coyle should slot in as the first line center next year and be an incredible value in the middle rounds. You guys all know how much I like Coyle already.
Jared Spurgeon – Two goals on three shots. Solid depth guy to own in deep leagues, especially if you include blocked shots. The lack of PIM and hits hurt though.
Devan Dubnyk – 31 saves on 33 shots in the win. He’ll be starting every game, you should be starting him every game.
Anze Kopitar – Goal on two shots. Hotter than a pistol.
Ondrej Pavelec – 33 saves on 34 shots in the 4-1 win over the Kings. Two very strong starts in a row but Pavelec is still firmly in the “desperate for starts” category.
Blake Wheeler – Two assists with two shots. He’s a good bet for 20+50 at this point with elite shots and solid PIM. Translation: he’s a beast.
Mark Scheifele – Two assists with two shots and two PIM. I might like Scheifele more for next season than Grey likes Delino Deshields for this baseball season! Alright, that’s probably not possible, but I love me some Scheifele.
Drew Stafford – Goal on two shots. That’s 20 on the season for Stafford; even with Nikolaj Ehlers back, I’m still holding Stafford in 12’ers.
Dustin Byfuglien – Goal on three shots with four hits and four locked shots. Big Buff doing Big Buff things.
Radko Gudas – Goal and an assist with three shots. To be blunt, this offensive outburst makes no sense at all considering he has little talent.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare – Goal and an assist with six shots. And there’s your annual Bellemare update! Or actually, the first update for Bellemare since he’s not in the Razzball player database.
Steve Mason – 32 saves on 34 shots in the 4-2 win over the Avalanche. Get him in every game down the stretch.
Shayne Gostisbehere – Assist and three shots. He’s up to 40 points now which is amazing given how long it took him to be recalled.
Wayne Simmonds – Assist and six shots. Absolutely killing it the second half of the season.
Martin Hanzal – Two goals on four shots. I think he should be owned in 12’ers right now and is a sneaky sleeper for next season.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Assist and three shots with two PIM. Excellent year down the line for OEL and as he approaches his prime, it’s going to get better. He will probably be my #5 defenseman going into next season.
Louis Domingue – 37 saves on 38 shots in the 3-1 win over the Stars. He’s splitting with Mike Smith right now and both are playing well. That said, they’re both “desperate for starts” guys for me.
Patrick Maroon – Goal and two assists with five shots and two PIM. Elite stream at the moment while he’s on the first line. The reason he’s not a hold is because the Oilers only have 5 games left when most teams have 8 or 9.
Andrej Sekera – Two assists. Classic case of a player being much more valuable in real life than fantasy.
Taylor Hall – Two goals. He’s at 25+35 on the season which isn’t bad by any stretch but with how great he was earlier in the season, it’s a disappointment. The best thing for me is that he stayed healthy for the entire season.
Adam Clendening – Goal and an assist with two shots. The Oilers seem to be giving Clendening a really good chance to produce but with 2+8 in 48 career games, there’s not enough here yet.
Connor McDavid – Assist and two shots. Kid is ridiculous.
Leon Draisaitl – Assist. The massive run he was on is a thing of the past but having 49 points right now as a 20 year old is nothing to sneeze at.
Joe Thornton – Two assists. Seriously? 72 points right now with a +26 and 50 PIM? Unbelievable.
James Reimer – 16 saves on 21 shots in the 6-3 loss to the Oilers. Yikes. After a string of excellent starts by Sharks goalies, Reimer gave up more goals in this game in his previous 4 Sharks starts. I’d still feel confident starting him the rest of the season when he plays.
Friday Streamers – There are only three games on the slate tonight meaning streaming would be at a premium to set yourself up for the weekend. Here are my top three options:
Robby Fabbri (4.0%) – He’s hot right now with 5 points in his last 5 games and gets to play the struggling Canucks on a back to back.
Alex Killorn (15.7%) – Killorn is playing well right now and getting extra minutes because of it. Getting a quality first liner to stream on a three game slate is outstanding.
Andre Burakovsky (10.5%) – The minutes are down but options are thin right now and the Devils come in on a back to back.
That’s all for now guys. I’ll be back on Monday recapping the weekend’s action. As always, feel free to ask any questions or leave any comments below. I hope everyone has a great Easter weekend; best of luck to those still in the playoffs. Take care!
