Now is the time to get excited if you own Blues players. Sure, the top guys have been plenty good, but after their seven game battle with the Coyotes, the Blues played their next 11 games against the California trio. It took a dramatic finish on Thursday, but they started off on the right foot. With the goalie pulled, the Blues tied the game before winning it in overtime on a David Perron goal. Perron scored a goal and added two assists with four shots in the victory. That brings him over a point per game on the season with a quality plus-minus, solid shot rate, and good PIM. He’s a true stud across the board that tends to get a bit overlooked. The top players on the Blues could be in line for a big month with Perron leading the way. I can’t rule out a top 50 season when we reach the end of this truncated year. Let’s take a look at what else happened on Thursday night:
Vitek Vanecek – 22 saves on 23 shots in the 3-1 win over the Sabres. The Sabres hit multiple posts in this game, but it was easy enough for Vanecek overall. I wrote in yesterday’s post that he should be streamed so hopefully you had Vanecek in your lineup. This says more about the Sabres than Vanecek; he’s still a desperation play.
David Krejci – Left the game with an LBI and did not return. There was no update after the game, but he was ruled out pretty quickly which is never a good sign. If he misses time, Charlie Coyle would be the biggest beneficiary.
Kyle Palmieri – Two goals with two PIM. That’s three points in two games for Palmieri since the Devils started playing again. He had a slow start, but generally, I’m a believer. He’s on the fringe but I lean towards holding.
Kevin Hayes – Two assists with two PIM and two shots. Revenge game for Hayes who been outstanding this season. Easy hold in all formats.
Tristan Jarry – 31 saves on 32 shots in the 4-1 win over the Islanders. Nice for Jarry to put two quality starts in a row together. If you own him, I would still hold, but keep expectations in check.
Evgeni Malkin – Two assists with four shots and ten PIM. Bryan Rust moved back on this line and he had a goal and an assist with four shots, as did Jason Zucker. Could this be what finally gets Pittsburgh’s second line going? Here’s to hoping because Malkin and Zucker have been incredibly disappointing.
Tim Stutzle – Goal and an assist with four shots. I wouldn’t hold Stutzle, but he’s clearly an elite streamer. If he starts to get more ice time, maybe that changes.
Auston Matthews – Two goals and two assists with four shots. Mitch Marner had a goal and three assists with three shots while Joe Thornton had a goal and two assists. I’m still bearish on Thornton and wouldn’t be holding him. It looks like the other two could easily finish as top 10 players.
Morgan Rielly – Two assists with two shots. Despite Toronto’s dominating offensive season, Rielly has been a bit disappointing. He’s under two shots per game and was actually a minus player before tonight. The assists are excellent, but that’s about it so far.
William Nylander – Goal and an assist with two shots. Nylander was pointless in his previous six games and is closer to a bottom end hold than I anticipated he would be this season.
Alex Kerfoot – Two assists with three shots. He’s been good in his role, but Kerfoot is stuck as a bottom end streamer barring an injury to Matthews or Tavares.
Elvis Merzlikins – 32 save shutout in the 3-0 win over the Predators. Elvis has been decent so far, but his missed time due to injury has limited his action. I do think he’s a better goalie than Korpisalo, but I’d be surprised if they aren’t close to an even split. That puts Elvis on the fringe.
Mike Hoffman – Goal and an assist with five shots. Hoffman has moved onto the second line which pushed his minutes up a bit. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes on a big run with this schedule boost incoming.
Kaapo Kahkonen – 16 saves on 17 shots in the 3-1 win over the Ducks. Easy night for Kahkonen who is the clear workhorse while Talbot is out. I’d hold him for the time being. Welcome to the Razzball Database!
That’s all for now guys. I’ll be back on Monday recapping the action from the weekend. As always, feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, or give any suggestions below. Thanks for reading, take care!
talbot seems back shortly. STL had what i read somewhere was a record for one game (which surprised me) when they had 3 goals with goalie pulled during one of the ARI series in around just under 4 minutes, i watched this game, if it was even another 3-5 secs it looked like they’d probably have 4 and have tied it. if they could just say look like that during their PP’s, oh baby watch out (esp if they get healthy, which might not be for a while: parayko’s been playing hurt all year till last game, rob thomas finally has a great what 1 period and gets hurt for a while, schwartz probably back in not too long, by the time rob thomas is back senko probably has been playing for enough weeks to have a real opinion on whether his shoulder will ever be ok, no chance on perunovich this year (he might not have played this year anyway). if only they could trade say dunn for a more defensively good guy (ferraro? oh baby that’d be nice, but won’t happen with the state of SJ’s old D guys, they NEED somebody like ferraro bad long term, but SJ has made bad deals before. somebody convince MIN they should try to be competing now for addison (dreaming). MIN did just set their lines in a way that appears they are trying though last night (ek/zucc/fiala line 1, kaprizov not doing much of anything and he’s not young enough such that that makes any sense, the russian fear starts to kick in, be gross if he gets even close to current gusev (obv both aren’t dead long term))).
Blues definitely have a lot of upside again if Tarasenko isn’t a shell of his former self. I think they need him to be a true first liner though to make a run. I really like Dunn, but I get that he wants out and is a bit redundant on their team so I get moving him, they just need to be smart about it.
Kaprizov has so much more skill than Gusev, it’s not even close. The problem is that the Wild have one competent center on their team at this point and he’s not good enough to be carrying a line as a rookie in the NHL, 23 years old or not. You can see the talent, but he needs to be a bit more selfish and start shooting the puck more (he’s over a shot per game below his KHL rate). I don’t have any worries about Kaprizov going forward, if anything I would target him in a dynasty. Gusev I’ve always been out on, the skating just sucks too much.
oh yeah i wasn’t suggesting they were equal for sure. gusev was never called “the best scoring player not in the NHL” ever.
oh baby, this is coolest answer ever to doing something good when asked about it:
https://www.nbcsports.com/edge/hockey/nhl/player/24154/david-perron
Hey Viz
Keep 4 forwards or def league, roto 15 teams
I’m in first right now by 20pts
Only have 2 decent d in Nurse and SJones
Have been offered Burns for my Kaprisov who I have been sitting off and on as I’m a little over on my wingers pace
Keepers right now would be Mackinnon Rantanen Huberdeau and one of Perron Rust Trocheck Nurse Jones Kaprisov
I’m thinking Burns should be better rest of the year …what do you think?
G A Pts Pim Ppp shp sog +\-
I agree that Burns would be an improvement rest of season, so if you want to make the move to keep your push for the title going, I’m all for it. I don’t think Burns will be a keeper, but that’s fine in your position. Get that trophy!
Thanks bud!
One more move I’m considering
Giving up Hornqvist for Hall
Is this a good buy low sell high with keeper potential or should I just stays put…it’s a league with position games played restrictions so I could bench him for a bit
No problem! Man, it’s crazy that this is close, but I think I would bet on the player and make the move for Hall. For what it’s worth, Saturday was the best game he played all season, so there has to be a reasonable chance that he builds on it and you look back at this trade in a month and laugh that you were able to make it.
Hi Viz!
I’m thinking about dropping Fiala, and pick up Perron. Points only, one year leauge, 6 teams.
Goals (G) 6
Assists (A) 4
Plus/Minus (+/-) 2
Powerplay Points (PPP) 2
Shots on Goal (SOG) 0.9
Blocks (BLK) 1
Good or bad move?
JP-just my opinion, but I looked at a similar move and am glad I did not pull the trigger. Fiala on Saturday night had 2 goals and one assist, and Perron had one assist. I believe that Fiala is poised for a breakout season, and he will have better goal and SOG numbers than Perron, with the others being a toss-up. After the COVID break, it took MN a little while to get back up to speed, but I expect good things from Fiala going forward. As always, I defer to Viz, who has already talked me off the Rust and Horvat ledge when they hit slowdowns. 🙂
Very much in agreement with you VC!
I really like both players, but I would lean towards holding Fiala. I think Fiala will score more goals and while Perron ends up with more assists and total points, I think Fiala’s shot rate will be high enough to counteract that.
Hey Viz,
Im getting a little tired with Bjorkstrand. Seems like Torts isnt a big fan either. Moving him down to the third line and off of the top powerplay unit. Im kind of suffering with my LW slot. I have Rust whos playing well but nobody else whos really playing great. Hall has been very meh, Olofsson has his moments, and the aforemention Bjork.
Would you drop him for one of
R.HINTZ-playing ridiculous minutes
N.NIEDERRIETER
C.KREIDER
T.MEIER-hits are a big plus for my soft hitting squad. tons of shots as well
I think you can make a move and let go of Bjorkstrand with that kind of talent on the wire. If you really need the hits, I’m good with Meier, he’s playing pretty well. I would go with him or Hintz, I like Nino and Kreider but I don’t think their upside is at the level of the other two guys.
Just got Hintz for bjorkstrand. Now somebody just dropped Dubois. Have to grab him. Especially if he stays on that top line with wheeler and schieffele. Who would you drop for him? Olofsson? Hintz?