James van Riemsdyk didn’t manage a point this week, which is a bit uncharacteristic for the big forward enjoying a breakout campaign in Toronto. Watching him play on Saturday, however, it’s clear he’s not banged up (there was some concern he might’ve been, after he blocked a shot with his neck in Sochi). He’s getting his chances, some weeks the puck just doesn’t bounce in.

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So, Ondrej Palat might be really good. While looking at scoring rates, one guy stuck out to me as a surprise entry among the NHL’s top-30 even-strength point producers this season. Palat is among the top-30 forwards, leaguewide, in scoring efficiency at even-strength this season.

A good deal of that is just good fortune (Palat’s on-ice sh% is above 10% and he seems unlikely to be driving it), but Palat has still impressed me. His line with Filppulla and Ryan Callahan got eaten up against Zdeno Chara on Saturday, but Palat still managed a goal, an assist, two shots and five hits – the five hits being a useful fantasy biproduct of Palat spending so much time in his own end.

Anyway, Palat has been crushing top competition all year long and is producing a mind-bending amount of offense considering his age and responsibility. While some of his production is likely to prove ephemeral: there’s no doubt that Palat has a bright, bright future.

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So if you decided to pick up Tuomo Ruutu in the immediate aftermath of the NHL trade deadline: that’s looking like a pretty good bet. Ruutu has slotted in on a big line with Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr, and he managed a goal and an assist in New Jersey’s victory over his former team the Carolina Hurricanes. Ruutu also managed five shots and four hits for good measure…

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Eric Gelinas was back off of New Jersey’s first power-play unit, and played just a tick over 10 minutes in total. So expect to see him back on your league’s waiver wire for the 9000th time this season next week.

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Radim Vrbata scored a power-play goal in a losing effort for the Coyotes – a team really choking away its playoff hopes lately – against the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Vrbata was another name that surprised me in showing up while I was doing my MacKinnon research. Vrbata is in the top-5 among NHL forwards in 5-on-4 shot rate this season behind only Alexander Ovechkin, Ryan Kesler, and Zach Parise. What a hugely useful player Vrbata is…

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Alex Ovechkin: no points, no PIMs, -1. But still six shots and six hits. What a player.

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Artem Anisimov scored the only goal in Saturday’s Blue Jackets vs. Predators tilt. Anisimov – who is an absolute beast – is on quite the run, as he’s now managed six goals in his past six games. 

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The Stars are really good, and that ridiculously dangerous top-line looks to be right back to playing the type of potent hockey they were stringing together before the Olympic break. A fun question to ponder: which young Western Conference team has the most exciting group of young forwards – Dallas or Colorado? 

Sad but true: despite a bevy of first overall picks and 8 seasons of complete futility, the Edmonton Oilers aren’t even in the conversation.

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The Canucks played the Flames and enforcers were in the starting lineup and zzzzz…

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Logan Couture had an excellent week but couldn’t capitalize on his chances until Saturday night, when he blew up against an overmatched Habs side in San Jose. Couture managed three points in the victory (a goal and two assists).

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Daylight savings bright side: the season finale of True Detective is one hourer nearer to airing.

Thomas Drance is an NHL news editor at theScore.