It’s safe to say that at 26 years old, Jonathan Huberdeau has plenty of hockey to play in his career. The scary thing is that he’s going to destroy the Panthers point record. In Sunday’s big win over the Maple Leafs, Huberdeau had a goal and an assist to pass Olli Jokinen for the most points in franchise history. After last season’s breakout campaign where Huberdeau had 92 points, he’s on pace to blow by that this season with 61 points in their first 45 games. The shot rate has fallen off to slightly below average, but I don’t think anyone who drafted Huberdeau is complaining. He’s a safe bet to finish as a top 20 overall player this season, and since he’s entering his prime along with some of his other teammates (notably Barkov), the future is incredibly bright. Let’s take a look at what else happened over the weekend:
Friday’s Games:
Gabriel Landeskog – Goal and an assist with five shots. He’s had a bit of a slow start this season, partially due to injuries, but I’m expecting Landeskog to get rolling again sooner than later.
Samuel Girard – Two assists with a shot. All of your assists are belong to Girard lately! You can use Girard based on team needs.
Dominik Kahun – Three assists with three shots. He played with Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust (goal, assist, three shots, two PIM each) which makes Kahun an elite streamer immediately.
Teddy Blueger – Goal and an assist with five shots playing over 20 minutes. I’m simply not buying Blueger, especially because Sidney Crosby is going to be back very soon.
John Marino – Two assists with two shots. He’s been a godsend for Pittsburgh given their injury woes. He’s a fringe option depending on team needs. The lack of shots is really holding him back because everything else is decent or better.
Colin White – Goal and an assist with four shots. White is getting plenty of opportunity but he’s still only a bottom end streamer at best.
Tyler Bertuzzi – Goal and an assist with two shots. He’s fallen off quite a bit but I still think Bertuzzi is a bottom end hold for now.
Filip Hronek – Two assists with three shots and four PIM. Hronek has been solid, especially given the disaster the Red Wings are. It all comes down to whether or not you want to deal with the plus-minus.
Petr Mrazek – 32 save shutout in the 3-0 win over the Coyotes. The save percentage is a bit disappointing, but the wins have been very good and the GAA is close to average. Mrazek has settled in as a #2.
Saturday’s Games
Jack Eichel – Two assists with three shots. Counting Sunday’s game, Eichel is on another seven game point streak. That’s 24 of 26 games with a point for Eichel. He’s playing at a top ten level.
Rasmus Dahlin – Two assists with two shots. I really like the way that Dahlin is playing right now. If anything, I’m expecting him to get better down the stretch as the team urges him to shoot the puck even more.
Brock Boeser – Two goals on eight shots. Boeser has been terrific with over three shots per game and pushing a point per game. He’s only three assists short of his career high.
J.T. Miller – Goal and an assist with three shots. The trade in the summer looks better by the day as Miller has been great for the Canucks. He’s gone from shooting well below two for most of his career to 2.5 this season. Miller is a no-brainer hold in all formats and an actual contributor in all six categories.
Bo Horvat – Goal and an assist with three shots. Horvat is on a monster run right now giving him a great chance to top last season’s career high of 61 points.
Tanner Pearson – Two assists with a shot. As long as he’s playing with Horvat, Pearson is playing right onto the fringe. He’s been one of the biggest surprises this season.
Teuvo Teravainen – Goal and an assist with four shots. The jump in shot rate will give Teravainen an outside chance of being a top 50 guy, but more than likely he solidifies himself as a top 75 guy.
James Reimer – 41 save shutout in the 2-0 win over the Kings. Reimer has been pretty good for the Canes this season. I’d stream him in most matchups. Oh, and here’s the 40th reminder to stream every goalie against the Kings if you need the start.
Mathew Barzal – Goal and an assist with nine shots. The shot rate over the last month has really helped his overall value. Barzal is playing great hockey and will smash his previous career high in goals. The question now and going forward is, is he a 70 point guy regularly who occasionally has better, or is he normally a point per game guy?
Carey Price – 41 saves on 42 shots in the 2-1 win over the Senators. Price remains a tier above desperation, but with how poor the Canadiens are playing, it’s hard to see it getting much better.
Ilya Kovalchuk – Goal on four shots. He played over 20 minutes in this game as Montreal seems intent on giving him a ton of offensive opportunity. I’m bumping him up to elite streamer.
Andrei Vasilevskiy – 23 save shutout in the 1-0 win over the Flyers. God mode engaged by Vasilevskiy right now. I wrote about him on Friday if you want more in-depth Vas discussion.
Carter Hart – 27 saves on 28 shots as the tough luck loser. Hart has been pretty up and down, but he’s a 21 year old goalie and his save percentage is still slightly above average. He’s a #2 for now, but he’s on the path to being a future #1.
Louis Domingue – 33 saves on 34 shots in the 5-1 win over the Capitals. It’s amazing how the Devils have rallied after trading Hall away. Domingue has had three great starts in a row (one more later, spoiler alert!) but he’s still a desperation play for me.
Will Butcher – Two assists with a shot. Butcher doesn’t shoot the puck and his assists have dropped off significantly once again. Nothing to see here.
Nico Hischier – Two goals with two PIM. Hischier is on the fringe right now but I would slightly lean towards holding again.
Filip Chytil – Goal and an assist with two shots. It was encouraging to see Chytil play almost 18 minutes. That said, he’s a bottom end streamer at best right now.
Alex Pietrangelo – Two assists with three shots. It appears like the soon-to-be 30 year old is going to set career highs across the board.
Brayden Schenn – Two assists with a shot. Schenn has been piling up the assists lately. The shot rate from year 1 in STL appears to be a fluke meaning Schenn is a two shot per game guy. He’s still a hold, but that caps his ceiling.
Zach Sanford – Goal and an assist. Easy pass at the moment.
Ivan Barbashev – Two assists with a shot. I like Barbashev as a player, but I do not like him at all for fantasy.
Dominik Kubalik – Two goals on three shots. Kubalik is on fire right now and is finally getting more playing time like I had hoped. I streamed him a while ago and haven’t let ago. I lean towards holding while he’s on fire.
Jonathan Toews – Goal and an assist. Same story for Toews as the last month or so, he’s worked his way into being an easy hold again.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Two goals on four shots. This is the best stretch of hockey RNH has played in a long time with ten points in his last seven games. Hold him while he’s a hot schmotato.
Kailer Yamamoto – Two assists with a shot. There’s a bunch of long term upside here, and for now, Yamamoto is playing with RNH and Draisaitl. It’s been working so perhaps it’ll last. Yamamoto is a middling streamer for the time being.
Johnny Gaudreau – Goal and an assist with six shots. That’s nine points in the last eight games for Johnny Hockey who finally is piling up some points. Hopefully he goes on a big run like last season.
Elias Lindholm – Two goals on eight shots. While the assists have plummeted, Lindholm is going to easily set a career high in goals. He’s been a good value once again.
Kevin Stenlund – Two assists. Nice to see Stenlund finally stick in the NHL, but he hasn’t shown enough to warrant fantasy consideration to this point. Welcome to the Razzball Database!
Elvis Merzlikins – 27 save shutout in the 3-0 win over Vegas. Elvis has been very good since taking over for Korpisalo following his injury. He needs to be held in all formats for now.
Brent Burns – Goal and an assist with four shots. He left the game for an extended period in the second and third period, but did eventually return. Here’s to hoping Burns is fine and that he can have a big second half to partially erase being arguably the biggest disappointment in the league during the first half.
Aaron Dell – 27 saves on 28 shots in the 2-1 win over the Stars. Dell appears to be the #1 right now so if you need goaltending help, Dell is a decent gamble.
Sunday’s Games
Linus Ullmark – 21 saves on 22 shots in the 5-1 win over the Red Wings. Ullmark is the clear #1 now. The Sabres aren’t great, but they do have an easy schedule following the All-Star Break, so I’m holding for now.
Evan Rodrigues – Two goals on four shots. He was scratched a bunch lately, these were his first two goals of the season, and he asked for a trade. Yeah, easy pass.
Curtis Lazar – Two assists. He’s been a pleasant surprise as a depth player, but he doesn’t do anything for fantasy.
Juuse Saros – 28 save shutout in the 1-0 win over the Jets. It’s been a nightmare season for Saros, but I’m remaining stubborn on the hopes of a better second half. Hopefully it turns with Hynes at the helm.
Connor Hellebuyck – 31 saves on 32 shots as the tough luck loser. Right now, I’d have to put Hellboy second on my Vezina ballot behind Bishop which just goes to show you how good he has been all season. He’s the only reason the Jets’ season isn’t in the toilet.
Jacob Markstrom – 23 saves on 24 shots in the 4-1 win over the Wild. Markstrom shockingly played both games of the back-to-back this weekend. He’s been better than his numbers indicate, not that it helps us. He’s a bottom end #2.
Bo Horvat – Two goals on five shots with two PIM. Dr. Bo keeps slicing up the competition!
J.T. Miller – Two assists with two shots. It just keeps getting better and better.
Evgeni Malkin – Two assists with two shots and two PIM. Malkin has been as good as any player in the league this season when healthy, especially at even strength.
Taylor Hall – Goal and an assist with two shots. It’s only been decent for Hall since going to the Desert, but he can go on a heater at any time.
Louis Domingue – 26 saves on 27 shots in the 3-1 win over Tampa. Revenge game! Still doesn’t change my thoughts above.
Andy Greene – Goal and an assist with two PIM. Greene is still the most random captain in the league. And there’s your annual Greene update!
Miles Wood – Goal and an assist with two shots. Wood played only 9:32 in this one making him an easy pass until his minutes improve.
Zach Hyman – Goal and two assists with two shots playing over 20 minuets. Hyman has had a few huge games lately but the rest have been duds. He’s a great streamer but I wouldn’t be holding him.
Mitch Marner – Two goals on five shots. Eight game point streak for Marner who has been terrific, no surprise.
Vincent Trocheck – Goal and two assists with three shots. I’m still holding Trocheck in all formats. The shot rate is strong, he’s normally good at PIM, the plus-minus is fixed, and he has nine points in the last ten.
Aleksander Barkov – Goal and two assists with three shots. Just when he starts to slow down with one point in six games, Barkov has a big game. Such a beast.
Mike Hoffman – Two goals on three shots with two PIM. Don’t hassle the Hoff, man!
That’s all for now guys. There are five games tomorrow which is an unusual amount. If there is enough to write about, I will have a post on Tuesday, but odds are that I will wait until Wednesday. You can make Three Point Challenge picks for Tuesday below. I’m going with Brayden Point. As always, feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, or give any suggestions below. Thanks for reading, take care!
