This week’s installment I have compiled a list of the top 20 lines at even strength over the last ten games. I have also added a new column to the table below. I’ve added a combined AAV for each line. With that info I will be looking at which lines have the best value in a capped fantasy league. I will also look at the hottest and coldest lines over the last week.

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Chicago Blackhawks

Alex DeBrincat – Patrick Kane – Dylan Strome

The trio above has a combined cap hit of $12,141,666.00 for this season or $527,898.52 per even strength point.

Alex DeBrincat is in his final year of his entry-level contract worth $788,333.00. For the season he has two goals and 10 assists at even strength. He is still managing to fire two and a half shots on goal per game, but the puck just isn’t finding the back of the net. For the season he has a shooting percentage of just 9.6, well below his career average of 16.4. He is still managing to rack up the assists so I imagine the goals will come. He is currently on pace for 66 points on the season, but I do see that total getting into the 70’s as this line is starting to really heat up.

Patrick Kane has been a steady fantasy stat stuffer for the last 12 years. His $10.5M annual contract is certainly the highest on the line. However, with a point-per-game average of 1.16 for his career you can count on Kane for all your fantasy needs. This season Kane has nine goals and 10 assists at even strength. His shooting percentage is a little higher than his career average but at 17.5 percent it is sustainable. He is on pace for 107 points on the season so look for Kane to stay hot with his two young line mates.

Dylan Strome has an AAV of $863,333.00 or $61,666.64 per even strength point. He is sitting on four goals and ten assists on the season to go with two power play assists. He has a shooting percentage of 13.8 which is right in line with his career mark. Since Strome was traded to the Blackhawks during the 2018 season he has been close to a point per game player with 67 points in 78 games. I see no reason for Strome to slow down and barring any injury, look for him to get close to 70 points on the season.

San Jose Sharks

Barclay Goodrow – Tomas Hertl – Timo Meier

This trio is averaging $627,000.00 per even strength point on the season for a total cap hit of $12,550,000.00

Barclay Goodrow is the enforcer of this line with a mild scoring touch. For leagues that count PIM as a positive, Goodrow has 40 so far on the season which puts him on pace for close to 160 penalty minutes. He also has 39 hits to go with his 10 even-strength points. Goodrow won’t stuff the score sheet with a lot of points but if he sticks with this line for the season, he could easily top the 40-point mark for the first time in his career.

Tomas Hertl has an AAV of $5,625,000.00 or $375,000 per point as he has 15 even-strength points. He has a shooting percentage of just over 20, which is four points higher than his career average. In the 2018-19 season he had a shooting percentage of 19.9 so being just over 20 could be his new normal. I see no reason not to believe that Hertl will slow down anytime soon so expect Hertl to be close to a point-per-game player for years to come.

Timo Meier has an AAV of $6,000,000.00 or $545,454.54 per even strength point. Meier has four goals on 46 shots for a shooting percentage of 11.5 which is right around his career average. After finishing the 2018-19 with 66 points he was primed for a great season this year. With a pace of only 51 points this year one wonders if last year was a mild fluke. I do believe he is better than he has played so far so I would expect Meier to get hot and get that pace over the 60-point mark.

Hot Lines

Washington Capitals

Evgeny Kuznetsov – Jakub Vrana – Tom Wilson

Usually you would see Ovechkin’s line as the top producer for the Capitals. However, over the last ten games there is a new trio on top of the scorers table as this line has teamed up to score 20 points. Led by fourth year breakout candidate Jakub Vrana with 10 goals and 8 assists, this line is not showing any signs of slowing down and has given the Washington Capitals two lethal scoring lines. All three players are on pace to eclipse their own career highs in scoring. If for some reason any of these three players are on your waiver wire, quickly pick them up and laugh at the rest of your league for not picking them up.

Florida Panthers

Aleksander Barkov – Evgenii Dadonov – Jonathan Huberdeau

The top line in Florida is getting it done. Over their last three games they have combined for 5 even-strength points. All three players continue to be complete studs. Huberdeau and Barkov are both on pace to eclipse the 100-point mark and Dadonov is on pace for 74 points. If the line stays together, I would expect the latter to get at least 80 points. Throw any of these players into your lineup any chance you get and if for some reason another owner is dangling one of them in front of your face make sure you snatch them up and enjoy the ride.

Cold Line 

Calgary Flames

Johnny Gaudreau – Sean Monahan – Elias Linholm

I could have put all four lines for the Flames here as they were shutout in back to back games this weekend. Over the last three games they have one power play tally and that is all. The Flames have lost their mojo and they need to figure out how to get it back. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a line shake up for their next game. It's hard to say bench any of these three players but until they all get their act together if you have another option, you may want to make this trio ride pine.

Thanks for reading

Aaron Boyle