Eichel and Skinner are getting tons of credit for the great start to the season for the Buffalo Sabres, but Sam Reinhart isn’t getting the love he deserves. Reinhart had five assists in two games over the weekend, extending his point streak to 10 and reaching 32 points in 34 games. I’ve long been a Reinhart supporter but this jump is to an unprecedented level. The former second overall pick does all of the little things so well and this year, he’s finally being rewarded for it. I don’t see why he can’t get 70+ points come season’s end. His goals are actually down from last season and with how well the top line is playing, there’s no reason why Reinhart can’t end up pushing last season’s total of 25. He was always expected to be a playmaker going back to his junior days and now, he might set a new career high in assists by New Year’s. If you’re in one of the 25% of leagues that Reinhart is still available, go grab him immediately. For those who own him, I would definitely hold tight and enjoy the breakout. Let’s take a look at what else happened over the weekend:
Friday’s Games:
William Karlsson – Two goals with two PIM. All things considered, this has been a very good season from Karlsson. He wasn’t going to repeat last season’s 43 goals, but 13+13 is solid. I still fear some regression since he’s shooting 19%, but it won’t be too badly given his proclivity to generating high danger area shots.
Jonathan Marchessault – Two assists with three shots. Marchessault has been a six category stud as expected.
Travis Zajac – Goal and an assist with three shots. I refuse to care about Zajac at this point in his career.
Marcus Johansson – Two assists with three shots. He’s back up to decent streamer status since his workload has increased lately.
Cory Schneider – 4 saves on 7 shots in 9:36 before being pulled. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Schneider shouldn’t be used in any format at this point.
Derek Stepan – Goal and an assist with three shots. Revenge game for the former Blueshirt. Stepan hasn’t had a good season to this point so he’s only a bottom end streamer.
Nick Schmaltz – Two assists with two shots playing over 23 minutes. Schamltz has been great since going to Arizona with 4+5 in 9 games. He’s right on the fringe currently.
Clayton Keller – Two assists with three shots. It’s been a disappointing season for Keller who appeared on the verge of a breakout. I still love him long term and think he’s a clear hold now, but we might be another year or two from the big jump.
Kevin Hayes – Goal and an assist with three shots. Hayes has taken his play to another level this season. He’s a clear hold in all formats. Hayes is a pending UFA, and he’s going to get paid this offseason. He’ll be a huge add for somebody at the deadline if the Rangers don’t lock him up
Chris Wagner – Goal and an assist with nine shots. And there’s your annual Wagner update!
Sean Kuraly – Two assists with a shot. Nothing to see here.
Zach Aston-Reese – Two goals and an assist with five shots. It’s going to take more than one big game for me to care about ZAR.
Sidney Crosby – Two assists with two shots. Crosby doing Crosby things.
Ryan Dzingel – Two assists with a shot. Dzingel hasn’t slowed down and probably should be held onto at this point.
Chris Tierney – Two goals on four shots playing almost 21 minutes. Tierney has slowed down after a hot start, but with this workload, he’s a bottom end streamer.
Thomas Chabot – Goal and an assist with four shots. What a value Chabot has been this season. Once the team around him improves, things could somehow get even better.
Alex Ovechkin – Hat trick on five shots and two PIM. Is back to back hat tricks good? Asking for a friend.
John Carlson – Three assists with three shots. Carlson has found a way to be better than last season when he had the most points by a defenseman in the entire NHL.
Nic Dowd – Three assists. Dowd has been surprisingly decent for the Caps in real life this season, but 19 shots in 28 games isn’t going to play in fantasy.
Sebastian Aho – Two goals and two assists with six shots. After slowing down, Aho has caught fire once again. The Caps had no answer for him and Teuvo Teravainen (1+2). Aho is a surefire top 50 player going forward with some upside from there.
J.T. Compher – Goal and an assist with five PIM. Compher with the Gordie Howe hat trick! He’s had a really nice start to the year with 8+4 in 17 games. He’s an okay streamer right now as the Avs lack secondary scoring and are giving Compher an opportunity for extra minutes.
Ryan O’Reilly – Goal and an assist with two shots. The Blues have been extremely disappointing but the trade for RoR is not the reason. He’s still right at a point per game which would destroy all of his previous career highs.
Colton Parayko – Two goals on five shots. He’s a guy a lot of people like but that I find a bit overrated. He’s picked it up lately, but Parayko is a waiver wire guy barring something unforeseen. Yes, I know Pietrangelo is injured at the moment, but it’s still not enough to own Parayko, who has only three assists on the season.
Mark Scheifele – Two goals and an assist with three shots. Scheifele is playing like a top ten guy on the season. His increased shot rate has taken his game to another level. 100 points isn’t out of the question.
Blake Wheeler – Three assists with eleven shots. All your assists are belong to Wheeler!
Josh Morrissey – Two assists with four shots. Morrissey is on fire right now with 11 points in his past 10 games. He should be owned everywhere.
Jonathan Toews – Two goals and an assist with four shots and two PIM. The Blackhawks might be an embarrassment but it’s not the fault of their captain. This has been his best offensive season in 5+ years.
Duncan Keith – Two assists with two shots. Keith is nearly useless at this point. The PIM are a complete fluke and while the assists are fine, he has 0 goals.
Brandon Saad – Two assists with three shots. Saad is a fine streamer in his current role.
Mikko Koskinen – 31 saves on 32 shots in the 4-1 win over the Flyers. One, using goalies against the Flyers is a good idea. Two, Koskinen is one of the most valuable signings of the offseason and this fantasy hockey season. He’s a bottom end #1 goalie going forward.
Leon Draisaitl – Three assists with a shot. Life is good for the studs on Edmonton.
Connor McDavid – Two goals and an assist. I’ve ran out of ways to praise the best hockey player in the world.
Darnell Nurse – Two assists with two shots. I’m grabbing Nurse right now while he’s a hot schmotato.
Saturday’s Games
David Rittich – 34 saves on 35 shots in the 2-1 win over the Wild. I am extremely confused as to why Rittich is still available in 80% of leagues. He should be owned everywhere.
Matthew Peca – Goal and an assist with four shots. Nothing to see here with Peca’s shot rate under one per game.
Artturi Lehkonen – Two assists with two shots and two PIM. Decent streamer.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Goal and an assist with four shots. Kotkaniemi is going to be fantastic and should be owned in all dynasty leagues. He’s a solid streamer in redrafts.
Thomas Vanek – Goal and two assists with two shots and two PIM. Vanek is barely on the streaming radar in his current role. That could change if Detroit ends up trading him at the deadline.
Mathew Barzal – Goal and an assist with seven shots playing almost 24 minutes. It’s been a tough season to this point for Barzal with only 4 goals. I still love his playmaking ability but I don’t see a big turnaround coming in the second half.
Jake Muzzin – Goal and an assist with four shots. Meh, still passing.
Alex Iafallo – Goal and an assist with three shots. Iafallo is a bottom end streamer.
Bryan Rust – Goal and an assist with three shots. Rust is showing signs of life after a dreadful start. His goal came playing with Crosby so if that sticks, he’ll be back to a solid streamer, if not better.
Rasmus Dahlin – Goal and two assists with three shots. When everything comes together for Dahlin, he’s going to be unstoppable.
Jack Eichel – Two goals on three shots. Eichel is tied for the league lead in multi-point games and is on pace for over 100 points. He’s on another level right now.
Mitch Marner – Two goals on three shots with two PIM. What’s the over-under on Marner’s AAV on his next contract? I’ll set the line at 10.75 million with the chance that it’s higher due to an offer sheet.
Morgan Rielly – Two assists with four shots. Rielly is playing like the defenseman Brian Burke envisioned drafting him 5th overall. He’s been fabulous.
Jake Gardiner – Two assists with a shot. Right after I say I wouldn’t own Gardiner, he starts piling up assists. He’s a pure AAGNOF but he’s still probably worth owning now.
Aleksander Barkov – Hat trick on seven shots. Barkov played almost 28 minutes in this game! The usage that he receives is unmatched. He’s right at a point per game which comes as no surprise.
Mike Hoffman – Two assists with three shots and two PIM. My mancrush! Like his linemate, Hoffman is right at a point per game but with a shot rate pushing 4. Perfect fit.
Jonathan Huberdeau – Goal and an assist with two shots. He’s a slouch, Huberdeau played only 24 minutes. Life is good for Huberdeau as he’s been hotter than a pistol since going back on the first line.
Daniel Sprong – Two goals. Still a fan long term but only a bottom end streamer for now.
John Gibson – 36 saves on 37 shots in the 2-1 OT win over the Blue Jackets. Gibson stealing games for the Ducks has become expected. Gibson is as good as it gets for goaltenders.
Keith Kinkaid – 27 saves on 28 shots in the 2-1 SO loss to the Predators. The Devils have fallen off from last season but it hasn’t killed Kinkaid’s value. He’s a step above desperation.
Juuse Saros – 33 saves on 34 shots earning the win. Saros is an easy stream every time he starts. I just wish Rinne wasn’t playing as well as he is so Saros would play more.
Tyler Seguin – Two goals and an assist with six shots and two PIM. It feels like this season has been disappointing for Seguin yet he has 10+20 in 33 games. His shot rate is over four per game, so he’s due for a lot of positive regression. If you wanted to make a big trade, Seguin is a good target.
Alex Radulov – Two assists with two shots and two PIM. Radulov has crushed across the board when healthy this season.
Taylor Fedun – Two assists with five shots. Fedun has been playing on PP1 lately which makes him a viable option in deep leagues.
Nathan MacKinnon – Goal and three assists with seven shots. Mikko Rantanen scored two goals and an assist while Gabriel Landeskog scored two goals. In other words, the top line had five goals again. They’re absolutely insane and clearly the best line in hockey now.
Jacob Markstrom – 31 saves on 32 shots in the 5-1 win over the Flyers. Markstrom has been getting a fair amount of wins despite a 3.01/.904 stat line. I think he still qualifies as desperation.
Brock Boeser – Goal and an assist. After a slow start on the ice and with injury, Boeser has been on fire lately. I love the long term potential of the Canucks and Boeser is at the forefront of it.
Troy Stetcher – Two assists with two PIM. And there’s your annual Stetcher update!
Sunday’s Games
Paul Stastny – Goal and an assist with two shots. Stastny has looked good in the games that I’ve watched for Vegas and he was finally rewarded with points Sunday. He’s a solid streamer for now with clear upside to be a hold eventually.
Colin Miller – Two assists with a shot. Miller has re-established himself as a clear hold.
Alex Tuch – Goal and an assist with three shots. Tuch has been excellent all season, although his shot rate has fallen off a bit. Even still, Tuch is a clear hold and has big upside long term.
Kevin Hayes – Three assists with two shots and two PIM. Four straight multi-point games from Hayes has him reaching a level he’s never been to before. Clear hold at the moment.
Calvin de Haan – Two assists with four shots. de Haan brings next to nothing offensively making his value near nil in fantasy.
Petr Mrazek – 23 save shutout in the 3-0 win over Arizona. Mrazek is extremely inconsistent and is a desperation play outside of the best matchups.
Vince Dunn – Two assists with a shot. Dunn is right on the fringe at this point in his career. I’m a big fan long term as I see a clear PPQB, but for now, I lean towards pass.
Johnny Gaudreau – Two goals and an assist with five shots. All of Calgary’s studs has multi-point games again. It’s becoming a familiar story and why the Flames have the potential to make a deep run. Gaudreau is playing on a truly elite level this season. He’s on the fringe of the Hart discussion.
Jack Eichel – Two goals and two assists with six shots. How good is Eichel? In my opinion, he’s the front runner for the Hart at this point in the season. Obviously there’s a ton of time left, but the Sabres secondary scoring is non-existent and Eichel is on pace for 109 points.
Jeff Skinner – Two goals. As a Sabres fan, the Sabres really need to lock up Skinner as soon as they can. The price is only going to continue to increase.
Rasmus Dahlin – Two assists with two shots. Dahlin is almost on pace for 50 points which would be incredible for an 18 year old defenseman, even for a special talent like Dahlin.
Brent Burns – Three assists with four shots. The shot rate has dropped, but it’s still above three per game and Burns is at a point per game. Things are good for Chewbacca. Again, with seven goals, tons of Sharks had multi-point games, so no need to break down every guy.
Evander Kane – Goal and an assist with four PIM. Kane has had a tough go of it lately in terms of goals and assists. Obviously we have him for the boost in PIM and SOG, but I do expect a goal streak soon.
Corey Crawford – Suffered a concussion after hitting his head on the post. Scary situation for a guy who has had head issues in the past. Best wishes to Crawford for a speedy recovery. I would not touch Cam Ward no matter how ugly my goaltending situation was.
Steven Stamkos – Goal and an assist with three shots. Stamkos back to crushing again.
Ondrej Palat – Two assists with three shots. Palat is an elite streamer but I don’t think he’s a hold.
Brayden Point – Two assists with two shots. The goal rate has to come down with his shooting percentage but Point could realistically get to 90 points this season.
Mark Scheifele – Goal and two assists. Too good.
Nikolaj Ehlers – Two goals and an assist with five shots. Ehlers has put it together lately which comes as no surprise. Clear hold in all formats.
Brock Boeser – Goal and two assists with three shots. He was ranked outside the top 100 by ESPN which is simply comical. If not for an injury, Boeser would be having a top 30ish season.
Alex Edler – Goal and an assist with two shots and two PIM. If your league has extra categories, Edler is must-own. I’d own him in standard leagues too, but it’s a closer decision.
Monday Streamers
Daniel Sprong (2.2%) – On a small slate, I’ll take my chances on Sprong in a revenge game.
Ryan Hartman (0.0%) – Getting a piece of Nashville players against Ottawa seems like a great idea. Hartman is currently on the first line and PP2 so he’s my choice.
J.T. Compher (0.8%) – Compher is playing well and a game against the Islanders is a nice spot.
That’s all for now guys. I’ll be back on Wednesday recapping the action for the next two nights. As always, feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, or give any suggestions below. Thanks for reading, take care!
