Winnipeg’s new additions pay off, are the Kings after Phaneuf?, and a look at Mike Hoffman’s peripherals… 

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As the trade deadline nears, the hockey world is buzzing with rumours. Dion Phaneuf to Los Angeles? Andrej Sekera to Dallas? Jeff Petry to an NHL caliber team? 

For now the asking prices seem high, what with the Maple Leafs – the most reported on team in the league – reportedly looking for a second-round pick in exchange for Mike Santorelli or Daniel Winnik, and holding out hope of a first-round pick for Cody Franson. 

Expect those prices to come down as the deadline nears. And expect movement to be limited until those prices normalize.

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In the early game, the Ottawa Senators showed the Edmonton Oilers no love in a 7-2 Valentines Day blowout.

The Senators destroyed the Oilers, chasing Viktor Fasth and peppering Fasth and Richard Bachmann with 42 shots. Mark Stone (1G, 1A, 3SOG, 3HITS); Milan Michalek (2G, 1A, 6SOG, 2HITS); Bobby Ryan (2A, 2SOG, 3HITS); Erik Condra (2A, 1HITS); Erik Karlsson (2A, 2SOG); Mike Hoffman (1G, 1A, 3SOG); and Alex Chiasson (1G, 1A; 4SOG, 1HITS) all managed multi-point outings. 

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With 19 goals and 32 points in 51 games, Hoffman has become a bona fide fantasy stud in his first full NHL season.

While the 25-year-old winger has leaned heavily on the percentages in transforming himself into the league’s second most efficient even-strength goal scorer (behind only Rick Nash by goals/60), his peripheral offensive numbers remain very strong. This isn’t just luck, Hoffman’s legitimately very good.

In terms of the percentages, we should note that Hoffman’s on-ice shooting percentage is well over 12 percent. Hoffman’s actually second among all NHL forwards this season in on-ice shooting percentage at 5-on-5 (behind, once again, Nash) and he’s similarly second among all NHL forwards in PDO (combined on-ice shooting and save percentage) behind Calgary’s Joe Colborne.

This type of extreme good fortune and favourable puck luck isn’t likely to prove sustainable, nor is it likely a function of Hoffman’s considerable abilities as a hockey player, but it has an enormous impact in inflating his offensive output. Fantasy owners should keep in mind that his production is likely to tail off a bit over the balance of this campaign, and next season.

On the other hand, Hoffman’s is generating shots at an elite rate at 5-on-5. Currently he’s one of 27 NHL forwards generating more than 10 shots per 60 minutes of even-strength ice-time (he ranks 20th overall). The other players on the list are guys like Patric Hornqvist, Marian Hossa, Jason Zucker, Tyler Johnson, Brendan Gallagher, Nash etc..