12/15/2019
This is definitely not a good year to be an NHL Head Coach.
It looks as if the Buffalo Sabres have found their second wind as Jack Eichel is showing that he now belongs amongst the NHL elite.
And that Victor Olfosson is lighting the lamp again after a soft stretch. See that quite a lot where a relatively unknown catches the league’s attention early on only to cool off before returning to another hot stretch.
Calgary has gotten on a roll of late as I had mentioned to ‘buy-low’ on Calgary players in last week’s SMC article.
Who would have thought the NJ Devils would be this bad? Rebuild starts.
I know Detroit has been hit with some injuries but they are the only team with single digit win totals.
The Red Wings are in on the Alexis Lafreniere sweepstakes.
Even with the coaching change I’m still not convinced about the San Jose Sharks.
These NY Rangers sure are looking very promising for the next decade with the display of talent so far this season. And they are only going to get much better.
Still odd to see teams like the Arizona Coyotes and Edmonton Oilers atop the Pacific Division.
That Darcy Kuemper is something else leading all regular starting NHL goaltenders but Pavel Francouz and Tristan Jarry are looking legit at the moment. I started my points-only fantasy league with just Matt Murray and Pekka Rinne but have relegated them to my bench in favor of waiver wire pickups Kuemper and Jarry. Ride the new wave of goaltending.
Are you starting to believe in the NY Islanders yet? I told you in the PrimePuck™ Draft Guide that they were legitimate playoff contenders.
I also said to beware of Chicago D Erik Gustafsson and that he would regress from last year’s totals. He just had never been that guy before. One-hit wonder like Chumbawamba.
Anthony Duclair has found his NHL life on the Island of Misfit Toys, aka the Ottawa Senators. I saw somewhere that he is on a 40-goal pace.
Let’s get this Taylor Hall situation cleared up as it’s killing my fantasy team that he sits out 2 games while I have his in my starting lineup. Probably the cause of me dropping out of 1st place this week.
Do you know who you don’t hear much of this year? The Winnipeg Jets. Early on it was the Dustin Byfuglien situation, but that story faded quickly. Quiet is good as they are just going about their business.
Where did the Nashville Predators go? They seem to be missing. I know the Central is competitive but the Preds are loaded for Bear and are playing like kittens.
Even Minnesota managed to get back into the race after their horrendous start.
I am putting this out there but I believe that Florida will have the best second half of all the NHL teams.
Montreal will slip back only because Toronto and Tampa Bay will be coming hard along with the Panthers.
January starts the real NHL season, so teams will rise and teams will fall and most will exactly be where you thought they’d be when the season began.
I was a little ambitious having 10 players reaching the century mark this season but it’s looking promising at the moment. Draisaitl, Pastrnak, Eichel, McDavid, Patty Kane, Barkov, MacKinnon, Gaudreau, Marner and Kucherov.
Have a great week and may all your fantasies comes true!
Ray