Great

piece from Chesnokov , gives hope that he’ll at least be back to try again one more time next year.

Jason Arbuthnot did not have time to put together a Frozen Pool Forensics column this week, but he whipped up some quick thoughts which I will put here in blue in case you’re starved for fantasy content!

 

–  "Hey Taylor, maybe it's best if you just relaxed and took it easy over Christmas. Y'know, hang out with the family, play some xbox… I wouldn't want you to get hurt by coming back too soon."

– "Thanks Sam but I really want to get back there. Besides, my shoulder feels great and I have to get back to harvesting dozens of points with

and The Nuge!"

– "Maybe you didn't hear me: I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

– with

gone, it's a good sign that

is close to returning. Let's pray he starts piling on the points because it's quite evident that

is vital to the well being of the Ducks PP Machine.

– is flourishing. Why does this guy have a habit of showing you brilliance just when you're about to write him off for the 10 ^th time. He and his partner

are now leading the Canes PP unit.

– pre-

firing, he was slated to play on the first power play unit with

. Hopefully this hasn't changed. I like him, dare I say bromance.

– has been lining up with Big Buff for first line power play duties as well. He's a very interesting (and cheap!) player. 500 bones and he's yours!

Devils PP QB Revolving Door – Ok who will it be tonight?

?

or

?

– est en feu! Seven points in seven games and is eating up power play time like there's no tomorrow (75%). Now if only he can keep this up after the shattered confidence of last year.

– Again, seven in seven and is also among the leaders in team power play time on ice (70%). During this stretch, he has three power play points. He's playing with

and

the past few games but his value is definitely coming on the power play.

– Is there any slowing down this guy? Like seriously, he's been a machine between

and

. I can't figure out who's benefiting from who? Regardless, he has six points in the past four games (a three pointer last night) with marginal power play ice time (36.7%). He's #3 this week in the Frozen Pool Rotorater and seems to be just getting started!

– Left for dead by poolies, Tomas has been given a breath of life in Montreal. While his suspect defence will feel right at home with

, hopefully he can maintain his 2 point landing luck heading into the All star break.  He has six points in his last three games so far.  We'll see how things settle down after the trade novelty wears off.

– Look I love Detroit, not as much as my Sabres but this guy drives me bat guano crazy. He's on fire right now with six points in his last three but as soon as I mention it, he'll bottom out and crush the million hearts of my twitter followers. Psst @frozenpool.

– The big Russian is getting quite the reputation for being streaky and this is one of those times. With seven points in his last six he's really clicking with

and

.

– See above, minus the Russian.

– Remember five years ago when

was supposed to take it to the next level? Yeah, me neither. Despite battling injuries and earning 4.5 million for give-or-take 50 points a year,

has carved out a decent scoring stretch of six points in his last 5 games.  In years past, he used to lead the power play but now hovers in mediocrity with 34.9% Team PP time.

"Power Play"

– Almost all of his four points this week have been on the power play.  He's rolling with Brendan "Mario"

and

, so ride him while he's hot.  You can pretty much roll that whole line up while you're at it.

 

 

may miss tonight’s contest with an illness. He’s having a pretty good year, but he often has strong starts that slow down by the New Year.

 

is out “indefinitely” with a concussion. Ouch! Got him in one keeper league, and one basic one-year pool. And as with anyone who owns

, this really hurts the chances.

owners should also be troubled here. This helps

. So does this make

,

and

the first line? I think so.

 

The Winnipeg Jets have claimed Antti Mietinen off of waivers. This hurts two players the most, in my opinion. First,

becomes a third liner again. He’ll still have his spurts, but I don’t see the 55 points that he may have reached otherwise. Think 40 now, if healthy. This will also hurt

‘s playing time, assuming he ever gets out of the medical ward.

 

Some thoughts from below/comments – I own

in one league,

in one league. I have no bias here, other than my disdain for Band-Aid Boys.

I saw play/followed in junior and at the time felt he was the best player there – including in a game that had

,

and

in it. Also to clarify

and

– I’m not comparing skill sets nor am I saying that

will get a knee injury and become a bust. I’m saying that his ceiling is in the high 60s but if he clicks with stars that could boost by 25% or even more. And the best/classic example that I often refer to is

. That’s all, don’t read into it any deeper than the surface please ;)

 

Another great comment below – a list of Team Canada WJC cuts from Brendan

:

Matt Dumba (D, Red Deer Rebels, 2012 Draft)

Mark McNail (F,

Albert Raiders, Chicago Blackhawks)

 

with his first three-point game. The situation reminds of that of

so many years ago. A potential 65-point prospect becomes so much more because he clicks with talented linemates. So his potential becomes higher. Granted, he has more points than either of his superstar linemates (I don't need to tell you who, do I?), but that's not sustainable. Regardless of the reason,

is the second highest rookie scorer now.

 

has 22 points on the season, which is fantastic. But he has just seven points in his last 17 games. I don't trust this guy. I like his upside – you recall me tooting his horn back when he was with the Oilers and Islanders – but I no longer trust him. He did play 26 minutes last night which is extremely positive, but I need to see him pick things back up again before I get swayed.

 

was recalled by the Devils and in his second game last night picked up an assist. It was on the power play. Still without a shot on goal yet.

 

After losing four games in a row,

got the hook last night after giving up three goals on just 12 shots. He avoided the loss because his team scored four times. Strategy – quietly pick up

and plunk him on your bench. If the Lightning don't fire the coach, which I don't see, and they don't trade for a goalie, which could happen – then perhaps they'll give

a look.  He's 10-6-0, 2.43 GAA and 0.903 SP in the AHL. Not fabulous numbers, but he's their next best option.

 

Ideally they would have kept

, who in my books is one of the best goalies not in the NHL. He's back from injury and is 5-4-1, 1.70 and 0.946 in the AHL. In Colorado's system. Man, he would be gold right now if TB kept him.

 

The buy-low window on

has come and gone. Sorry for your luck – learn to trust in reliable, proven stars.

missed a season (pretty much) and obviously needed some time. In the last eight games he has 11 points.

 

Since that ridiculous 16:46 ice time that

had in his first game under Dale

, he has only dipped under 19 minutes once. The result has been promising – 15 shots in his last two games.

 

If

is still on the shelf on January 1, then he'll fall off of his perch as the No.1 keeper league player to own. That's a position that he has held for six years, other than three or four months with

had it (and I think

had it one month, too).

 

Sounds like

is still quite a ways away.

is the new

now. Under

, I wouldn't be shocked if he was a 70-plus guy now.

 

With

set to return for the Sabres, they could be looking to scratch M-A

. Just to give you a heads up.

 

will not make the trip for the Flyers (head injury) and will miss at least two games.

will get to sub in for him on the top line.

 

is ready to return to action and he will replace

on the first line with

and

.

was sent back to the minors.

played with

in Oshawa here, and I thought he made a great complimentary player at the time. So if there's chemistry here, then he could produce 25% more points than you would normally expect from him.

 

gets the start tonight against the Rangers. Lots of info on

over at Goalie Post, and as always you can sign up (just 2.99 for a month – or get a week trial FREE) and get up to the second starting goalie updates and analysis.

 

will probably not play tonight against the Leafs.

has been recalled.

 

Here's more on the

to the KHL thing . It sounds a little more promising that he will be back, but I'm still leaning towards him not. I wrote a big spiel on his late yesterday, you can click "next" at the bottom to read yesterday's ramblings. If he does return next year, I get the feeling that it will be more of the same. Shows nothing, then finally shows something… then gets hurt and ruins any momentum.

 

to the Devils is the only fantasy relevant piece of yesterday's trade. I wish I could say that he'll flourish in New Jersey, but I'm not so sure. The team is going with four forwards on the PP now so

would have to make sure that he's the fifth guy. But any new opportunity is a good thing, when you're scratched as much as

was. The acquisition may, however, hurt

's chances of continuing to make his mark.

 

I'm shocked by this news, but I suppose I shouldn't be given his minus-11. Jonathan

has been sent down to the AHL. I have to think that this move is for two or three weeks while he gets his confidence back, unless

kicks ass and steals his spot.

 

is back in the lineup for the Avalanche. Beatwriter Adrian Dater also opines that Joe Sacco will not be fired any time soon and is given a lot of leeway due to the youthful roster.

 

Look at

knock

all over the place before

finally has enough and drops the gloves: