Ramblings: Canada has run out of 2018 NHL playoff teams, NHL player babies and more (May 21)

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Congratulations Marc-Andre Fleury for winning this year’s Conn Smythe Trophy. I don’t care if Vegas is swept next round, Fleury gets the CST simple as that.

I picked Vegas to win the first round. And again the second round. Big mistake to bet against them the third round. I’m done betting against them, I don’t care who they play. Lesson learned. “Uncle!” I cry.

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Moving forward what happens? Has he peaked? Will he be better? This off-season is going to be very interesting for Vegas. Especially with 3 RFA in Miller, Theodore and Karlsson making a combined salary less than $3 mil

— Vikingstad (@HockeyRockBeer) May 20, 2018

Jonathan Marchessault hasn’t peaked. I liked him in the minors, I liked what he did over seven or eight games when Tyler Johnson went down and Marchy had first-line ice time with Tampa. And when Florida picked him up I thought it was a great signing with sleeper potential. I didn’t understand why they gave him up to Vegas, I thought it was stupid. And last summer I traded Evgeni Malkin for a package that included Jonathan Drouin, Viktor Arvidsson and Marchessault. I had Malkin for, what, 13 years? I drafted Malkin (I remember trading Mats Sundin for that second overall pick plus a fourth rounder that became Jussi Jokinen). Last summer I called Marchessault this year’s Brian Bradley – a sudden superstar.

Reilly Smith? He’s peaked. I’m often referring to his track record of having a fantastic first season with a new team, but then slowly falling by the wayside over the next year or two. That may not happen next year, but I still think a steady decline is in the cards. William Karlsson? I’m not so sure, but I suspect this is as high as he goes. But the latter will keep rolling because he plays with – Marchessault. That’s the cog that turns the wheel.

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Calling it: If Vegas wins the Stanley Cup, a major motion picture will be made of their story before 2030.

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I know Jack Roslovic didn’t get into the lineup very often and he only ended up with three points in 10 games, but he really impressed me, especially in the last couple. With this experience under his belt, this team only gets better. So who didn’t impress me? Nik Ehlers. If this was his Evgeny Kuznetsov disappearing act and next year he has an Evgeny Kuznetsov re-appearing act – then next year, again, this team will be awesome.

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Mark Scheifele really gave this a good run. In fact, had he scored a goal or two Sunday to help the Jets win, he’d be dangerously close to hitting this record as the Jets make their comeback bid. But alas, the Conn Smythe Winner (above) shut the door again and again.

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I wrote about players who children during or before a season a couple of months ago in the Ramblings, I wish I could dig it up for you. But the Athletic had a little article about three players in the Washington – Tampa series having babies. JT Miller and Yanni Gourde each had their first. John Carlson had his second child. I really think it’s the second one that is the kicker – it sucks the time from all of us. You have a two- or three-year old running around and that’s generally the dad’s job to handle that one…and then an infant that the mom is handling (I use the cold term “handling” not in offensive way – I’m just being all business here, sticking to fantasy hockey implications so bear with me – having babies is a joy of course!). I had discussed Ryan Getzlaf’s bad season happening during that year and compared it to my own experience of it being the toughest year of my life to that point. Cam Talbot had twins a few months ago, as another example.

So now we see that Carlson had his second, so he’ll get his big contract this summer and I tend to believe he’ll disappoint fans in the first year. It has a serious impact. Instead of a regular summer where maybe you work out for two hours and skate for an hour every day or every other day (I have no idea what the routine is), you push off a workout or two because there just isn’t time. And you start cutting workouts short, or miss a skate. Or break your workout into two or three parts. Everything changes, you lose rhythm and you don’t get into the shape or maintain the conditioning that you normally would. And then after the second one turns two or three, you get back on track. More time is freed up.

I’ll keep an eye out for any more “baby” information from now on and note it. I don’t think having one changes the routine, but that second one two or three years after the first one changes things a lot. Just a Dobber Theory for you!

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Marian Hossa has retired. I know Ian covered this yesterday but he was so great that I need to chime in a bit. There was a small hope that he would return after a year off, but that’s done. I remember being disappointed that I didn’t get to draft him back when he was 18, but I was quick to trade for him and owned him for a good seven or eight years. He ended up with 525 goals and 1134 points in 1309 games, with his best season coming in 2006-07 when he had 43 goals and 100 points. Hossa was a six-time 75-point player and an 11-time 60-point player. A Hall-of-Famer in my books, and if you recall – I have pretty high standards for “my” Hall. Even today he has the ability to get 50 points, and he’s 39 years old. A lock for the Fantasy Hall of Fame too!

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Here’s an interesting one. The Oilers signed a right-shooting defenseman who was undrafted from out of Sweden – and then they want him to play in the SHL in 2018-19. And it was a one-year contract! Confused? Well, he’s been in offensive stud in Division 1 and Division two for a couple of years now, and in his first SHL season he had 34 points in 51 games which was second amongst SHL defensemen. The Oilers probably felt that there was a big risk of him not making the team this year and rather than piss him off with AHL time or be forced to keep him so as to not hurt his feelings…they will leave him in the SHL for another year. If he lights it up a second time, they have RFA rights next summer now. And apparently they have the right to recall him if they need him (i.e. if Oscar Klefbom gets hurt they will need him!). It’s a situation worth keeping an eye on, given the potential of this team’s power play.

Edit: Oops, I neglected to post the guy's name! Joel Persson is the d-man the Oilers signed.

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Three names jump out at me when it comes to AHL playoff scoring here early in Round 2. First is Andreas Johnsson, who has had one hell of a year at both the AHL and NHL level. His 11 points in seven games lead all players in points-per-game average. He’ll make the team in the fall and likely be a 40-point player from the word “go”, likely topping off at 60 unless he becomes a first liner and clicks with a Matthews or Marner.

The second name is Victor Ejdsell of Rockford. He was a key part of the Ryan Hartman trade going back to Chicago. He has eight points in nine playoff games so far, and I think we’ll see him in Chicago in the fall. He’s 6-5, 214 and had posted impressive numbers over in Sweden before coming over at the end of the season. He’s doing well so far on North American ice.

Another one from the Marlies is Miro Aaltonen, who also has eight points but in 11 games. He’s starting to look like a potential third-line center and possible Tyler Bozak replacement. I read up on him in this article from the Athletic showing how he led the AHL in goals-for percentage last season at 74.6%.

For those who haven’t been following, the AHL is down to Toronto (up 2-0) leading Lehigh Valley (Philly’s farm) and Rockford (Chicago’s) behind 2-0 to Texas (Dallas, of course).

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I didn’t watch much of the World Championship this year, catching just two periods of one game, and not even the Canadian one. Sweden won the gold beating the Swiss 3-2 and doing it in a shootout of all things. Can you imagine if the Swiss won gold? Wow…

Team USA took the bronze after they beat Team Canada 4-1 and Patrick Kane was the tournament MVP with 20 points in 10 games. But Sebastian Aho was no slouch with 18 points in eight games to lead everyone in points-per-game average. Man, he’s going to be a special player – his trajectory of 49 points and then 65 points and then this ridiculous output at the WC has me feeling pretty bold about his numbers next season.

The Swiss Cinderella team included: Kevin Fiala, Nino Niederreiter, Timo Meier, Sven Andrighetto, Raphael Diaz, Mirco Mueller, Roman Josi and Reto Berra

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Fantasy Prospects Report is out in 10 days. Pre-order here!

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See you next week