I’ve made my fair share of bold predictions and statements this year on Razzball but this one might be the boldest of them all; Tyler Seguin is the best hockey player in the world. No, not Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin. Instead, it’s a 23 year old who was drafted by the Bruins second overall only to be shipped to Dallas because they thought he partied too much or they simply don’t like guys who have a lot of talent. On Tuesday night, Seguin returned to Boston and scored a hat trick on six shots. He also had an assist and eight shots Monday night in Toronto, the team who could have drafted Seguin but they traded that pick to Boston for Phil Kessel who is no longer in their organization. He’s up to 20 points in 13 games, tied for the league lead with his linemate Jamie Benn (Goal, two assists, six shots, two PIM the last two days). He also has 60 shots in 13 games which is at an Ovechkin-like level. Bottom line, he’s the number one player for me going forward. Man am I pumped to have the Stars to win the Cup at 66-1!
Here’s what else I saw the last two days:
Connor McDavid – Out long term after he went awkwardly into the boards shoulder first. Horrible to see the wunderkind go down after averaging a point per game so far this season. Here’s to hoping he recovers quickly because he’s already one of the most exciting players to watch in the game.
James Reimer – 43 saves on 44 shots in the 4-1 win over Dallas Monday. He completely stole the game and coach Mike Babcock said to expect Reimer to start their next game. He’s not a great goalie by any stretch but he’s had hot streaks in the past and Winnipeg is a streaky team so I wouldn’t argue with you streaming him tomorrow if you need a spot start.
Brad Boyes – Goal and assist with one shot. I like Boyes! Brad Boyes, Brad Boyes, whatcha’ gonna do? Alright, I’m done here. He had been scratched in recent games so I wouldn’t own him.
Joffrey Lupul – Two goals and an assist with four shots. He’s incredibly streaky and injury prone so I’d only look to stream him in good matchups.
Morgan Reilly – Goal and two assists with three shots. Now here’s a Leaf that I really like even though I don’t like the Leafs. The former 5th overall pick has 8 points in 11 games and looks the part of a first pairing defenseman. I love him in dynasty leagues going forward and for season-long leagues, I think he’s reached must-own status. He won’t set the world on fire this year but he will be solid. I can already guess he’ll be someone I will own a lot of in 2016-17.
Corey Crawford – 33 saves on 35 shots in the 4-2 win over Los Angeles. Is it possible that Crawford is still underrated despite winning 2 Cups? I feel like he is.
Patrick Kane – Goal and assist with four shots. Up to 16 points in 12 games with 3.5 shots per game and +7. Yeah, he’s decent at hockey.
Artem Anisimov – Goal and assist with one shot. He’s locked in as Kane’s center but I think he’s only a streamer in 12’ers. The shot rate is poor and he’s not on the first power play unit which dominates the time on ice for the Chicago power play units.
Jonathan Toews – Goal and assist with one shot. Hot schomato alert! It was only a matter of time for Muttonchops to get rolling.
Teuvo Teravainen – Goal on three shots. Played with Toews on the first line; good to see him back in the top 6.
Brent Seabrook – Assist with 4 shots in 27 minutes. Playing insane minutes so he’ll be great until Duncan Keith is back.
Jake Virtanen – First career NHL goal on 3 shots with 2 PIM. Love him in dynasty leagues for his future upside and is a solid streamer in leagues that count hits (he has 32 in 9 games).
Bo Horvat – Goal and assist with three shots. Another guy who I love in dynasty leagues but would only stream him this year in good matchups.
Radim Vrbata – Assist with four shots and 2 PIM. Yep, going to kill it with the Sedins.
Ryan Miller – 27 saves on 28 shots in the 4-1 win. His stats are comparable to his Vezina season in Buffalo so far. Do I expect that to keep up? No. Will he be better than I expected? I think so.
Jake Muzzin – Two assist with 4 shots in 2 games. Bottom end but a solid defenseman to fill our your roster in 12’ers.
Anze Kopitar – Goal on 2 shots and 2 PIM Monday, then left the game injured Tuesday. Here’s to hoping it’s not serious as nothing has been reported yet (at the time I write this).
Jhonas Enroth – 24 save shutout against the Blues Tuesday. I’m pumped for Jhonas. He played great for the Sabres the last couple years even though nobody noticed while they were tanking. He’s obviously only a spot starter in L.A. but he’s going to be a great streamer going forward.
Tanner Pearson – Nothing on Monday but a goal and assist with a shot on Tuesday. He’s worth monitoring because he’s valuable if he’s reunited with the 70’s line like he was Tuesday but otherwise, he’s waiver fodder.
Jeff Carter – Goal and assist with four shots Tuesday after one shot Monday. At a point per game with a great +/- and decent shot total, albeit below his normal rate. The Kings look outstanding and expect their offense to be led by Carter and Tyler Toffoli (assist and 3 shots).
Jyrki Jokipakka – First career NHL goal in his 62nd game on his only shot. Zero fantasy relevance but I just wanted to type out Jyrki Jokipakka. It’s awesome to say!
Mattias Janmark – Assist with three shots. Moved up to the second line with Ales Hemsky a.k.a. The Glass Man out injured. While Hemsky is out, Janmark is a top end streamer in 12’ers and probably should be owned in anything 14 man or deeper.
John Klingberg – Two power play assists. In my most important league, I have Seguin, Benn and Klingberg (the first two have been keepers for 5+ years). I get giddy every time those three combine for a three point goal. Klingberg is at a point per game now which is amazing for anyone, let alone a defenseman.
Tuukka Rask – 14 saves in 19 shots. Puke. I want nothing to do with Rask.
Loui Eriksson – Two goals on three shots. Not quite on Seguin’s level but a solid revenge game nonetheless.
Torey Krug – Two assists with four shots and two PIM. No goals yet but is taking 3 shots per game and has 10 assists; great start to the year for Krug.
Cory Schneider – 32 saves on 34 shots in the 2-1 loss to the Islanders. More in line with what I expected from him this year from Schneider; great numbers but a loss.
Jaroslav Halak – 23 saves on 24 shots in the win. He’s been great to start the year, even better than last year.
Anders Lee – Assist with five shots and 4 PIM. Good to see him produce even with John Tavares still out sick.
Alex Ovechkin – Goal on eight shots. Nothing to see here, he’s still ridiculous.
Henrik Lundqvist – 32 saves on 34 shots in the 5-2 win over the Caps. The King Stay The King! Yes, I will keep referencing The Wire because it is the best show ever.
Derick Brassard – Goal and assist with no shots. The ultra rare goal with no shots on goal! Love it! For those unaware, he attempted to pass the puck but it was put into the net by a sliding defenseman hence no shot on goal. The shot rate has been poor but Brassard has been very good otherwise.
Kevin Hayes – Goal and assist with four shots. I love me some Kevin Hayes. If only he wasn’t stuck on the third line. That said, it won’t stop him from producing.
Oscar Lindberg – Goal and assist with three shots an 2 PIM. If only he wasn’t stuck on the third line. That said, it won’t stop him from producing. I copy and paste myself really well if I say so myself.
Craig Anderson – 36 saves on 37 shots in the OT win over Montreal. He’s very inconsistent but he has his fair share of dominating performances like this one.
Mike Hoffman – Assist with three shots in his return from injury. Good to see him start where he left off.
Kyle Turris – Overtime winner with three shots. Still rolling.
Dylan Larkin – Goal on three shots and 2 PIM. He has slowed down so good to see him get the game winner in a tough matchup.
Tomas Tatar – Assist with four shots. I’ve said it for a week straight but I think he’s a great trade target. He’s starting to get rolling.
Jimmy Howard – 29 saves on 30 shots in the win. I have no idea what to expect from the Wings goalies going forward individually but I still love them as a duo.
Sam Bennett – Goal and assist with three shots. He’s starting to get hot and prove me right! He may be on the waiver wire in some leagues if his owners panicked so if that’s the case, grab him now.
Johnny Gaudreau – Goal on five shots. He’s at a point per game but the goal rate is way down; hopefully he starts to turn some of his assists into goals.
Mark Giordano – Goal on three shots. No doubts on Giordano going forward.
Tyson Barrie – Three assists with one shot and 2 PIM. The Avs dominated the Flames which says a lot more about the Flames than the Avs. The Avs have been the worst possession team by a mile so now I’m finally concerned about the Flames going forward. I’m still holding the Flames studs but I’m avoiding the goalies. As for Barrie, he should get back around the 50 points he scored last year by the end of this season.
Matt Duchene – Two goals on six shots. Finally, another guy showing signs of life I had ranked very high. Putting him on a line with Gabriel Landeskog seems to have helped Duchene immensely. I’d put some feelers out there to buy low if possible.
Nathan MacKinnon – Goal and two assists with four shots. Doesn’t matter who he’s with, MacKinnon is unstoppable right now.
Jarome Iginla – Two goals and an assist on four shots. He’s up to 11 points in 12 games with this recent hot streak on MacKinnon’s line. I’d pick him up now if possible and roll him for the next week or so to determine if you should hold him or turn his spot into a streamer spot.
Leon Draisaitl – Two assists with three shots and 2 PIM. I love it when I’m right! <pats self on back>. He now has 7 points in 3 games and is locked into the top 6 now long term with McDavid’s injury. For the third day in a row, I’ll tell you he’s must own.
Anders Nilsson – 20 saves on 22 shots in the win. Not the greatest number but a solid stream nonetheless.
Taylor Hall – Goal, two assists and five shots with 2 PIM. He’s not quite top 10 for the rest of the year because of the injury risk but he’s not far off.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Two goals on four shots. Another guy who just needs to stay healthy, especially for Edmonton’s sake after the McDavid injury.
Sergei Bobrovsky – 41 saves on 43 shots in the 5-2 win at San Jose. Feeling better about telling you all to buy low on Bob every day. He looked locked in on Tuesday.
Scott Hartnell – Goal and assist with three shots. I hate Carrot Top but Hartnell keeps producing while being a great source of PIM.
Ryan Johansen – Two assists with a shot. I’d like to see the minutes back in the 20 range but that should happen in time; I don’t have any worries about him going forward.
Brandon Saad – Goal and assist on four shots. Like the rest of the Jackets, I still like Saad a ton rest of season. I still think he can end up a top 50 player like I had him ranked preseason,
Ryan Murray – Goal and assist with a shot. Still on the outside looking in on 12’ers until the shot rate goes up but getting closer to the borderline.
Joe Pavelski – Two goals on eight shots. The only Shark to look like a threat on Tuesday, the new Sharks captain has looked great all year. Solidly in the top 20 rest of season.
Wednesday Streamers: With four games Wednesday, it should be a big day of streaming. Here are my top 3 options:
Joffrey Lupul (17.5% owned) – See above; Winnipeg at home is a pretty good matchup.
Pascal Dupuis – (1.8%) – Still first line with Crosby which is more than enough to stream him on a short slate.
Teuvo Teravainen (17.9%) – See above. The Blues are a tough matchup but he’s very talented on playing on the top line.
That’s all for now. Be sure to check out Marv and Pesos’ article that came out yesterday in the afternoon; it’s a great read and very helpful when judging players to buy or sell. As always, post any questions or comments below. I’ll be back on Thursday recapping the 4 game Wednesday slate with a more detailed breakdown, mostly with advanced stats. Take care everyone!
