Welcome back to The Journey. 

For those who caught last week's article, where I addressed a few goalie prospect pickup options, I hope you placed a bid on one of the listed names and enjoyed some fantasy benefits during the week. Four of the six I had mentioned saw starts, with each of them earning at least one victory. 

In fact, Vitek Vanecek, Washington Capitals interim starting goalie, has yet to lose in regulation, becoming one of two rookie goaltenders in franchise history to begin their career unbeaten (in regulation) through six games (ties Jim Carey – no, not the actor). 

If you hadn’t picked one up, Cal Petersen, Kaapo Kähkönen, Vitek Vanecek, and Jake Oettinger (who picked up his first career win on Thursday evening) continue to be solid pickups for those interested in a young goaltender with immediate fantasy implications. You can also add Kevin Lankinen (Chicago Blackhawks) to this list, as he's come out of the woodwork and sports a 2-1-2 record.

In front of those goaltenders, we of course have the players, which has its own list of prospects worthy of a pickup. The league has seen a number of youngsters make their mark on the league early on, which includes a list of surprise prospects who have chipped in much more than expected. 

Sidenote – Finally, the one that we have all had our eyes on has found the goal column. This year’s number one pick, Alexis Lafreniere, notched his first NHL goal on Thursday night, adding his name to a list of 14 rookies to tally their first of many this season:

You LOVE to see it 👏

Alexis Lafrenière scores his first NHL goal 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/rE3vyDbQ9G

— Hockey Night in Canada (@hockeynight) January 29, 2021

Here are a few forwards who have caught some fire and are worth a pickup this week.

Shallow Leagues

Jordan Kyrou, RW, Blues

It seems that after two years of in-and-out deployment, Kyrou is in the midst of discovering his first fantasy-worthy campaign. He is currently working at a point-per-game clip and has solidified himself into a top-six role with the Blues. He has spent over half of the season (54.1% to be exact) on a line with Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz and given the talent behind him on the right side, I fully expect this employment to continue for the foreseeable future. 

What makes his stock even more promising going forward is his power-play utilization. It wasn’t until recently that he was added to the club's special teams and has yet to produce on the man-advantage. Going forward, I would expect more permanent minutes on the club's second unit, which assures even higher production potential.

He is a must pick up if you are in the market for an immediate impact prospect, assuming he is available.

Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Oilers

He has yet to find the back of the net, and his two helpers on the year may not scream "pick me up". However, watching his games, he looks to be a much-improved player who is enjoying the game again, all the while sniffing around the net like a bloodhound.

His efforts have not gone unnoticed and has since been promoted to the club's top-line, alongside Connor McDavid. Of course, this makes him an instant fantasy heartthrob.

He currently sits fourth on the team with 26 shots, which trails only the club's top three players (McDavid, Drasaitl, and RNH). It's just a matter of time before they finally begin to find the back of the net. 

Alexandre Texier, LW/C, Blue Jackets

Rookie struggles? Injury woes? The 21-year-old looks to have left all of those behind him and has come out flying for the 2020-21 campaign. Through nine games, he sports six points, with all of those coming in his previous seven games. 

After spending last season on the wing, head coach John Tortorella has decided to utilize him up the middle and we all know who was just traded to the club. It has yet to be determined which line perennial goal scorer Patrik Laine will be placed on, but Texier has as good of a chance as any to receive that honor.

He seems confident in his game, looks strong on the puck, and looks dangerous during most shifts. 

Did I say he looked confident?

"THE TEXIER" #CBJ
pic.twitter.com/OU4BYaJWgf

— CBJ Coverage (@CBJcoverage) January 29, 2021

Nils Höglander, LW, Canucks

The Swedish surprise took a few games off with regards to the scoresheet but looks to be heating up once again. Of course, it helps when your surrounding cast is converting. He has provided four points over his last five, playing almost exclusively on the club’s second unit with Bo Horvat and Tanner Pearson. He has now earned a permanent spot on the special teams unit and is proving to be one of the clubs go-to secondary offensive threats. 

Nils Hoglander went ALL OUT for this assist. 😲 pic.twitter.com/ObNBRfxR5O

— NHL (@NHL) January 26, 2021

He is skilled, tenacious, and speedy. As a result, he will also provide a few stats in the hit department to sprinkle on top. 

Deeper Leagues 

Eetu Luostarinen, C, Panthers

For those who don't know, Luostarinen was drafted in the second round by the Carolina Hurricanes back in 2017. He began his (North American) pro career last year, posting 25 points through 44 AHL games, before being dealt to the Panthers organization in a trade that sent Vincent Trocheck to Raleigh. 

Already a strong minor league producer, the 22-year-old took his talents to Finland during the stoppage (on loan) where he continued his strong play. Suiting up for KalPa (Liiga), he contributed 15 points through 17 matches and left as one of the club's top performers. 

Clearly, there is untapped offensive potential lingering, but his game is more geared towards the two-way side of the game. He is a responsible, well-rounded pivot, who fits the bill for third-line deployment. To the pleasant surprise of most, he has provided three points through his first four NHL games, which includes two goals. 

Given his skill sets, he should be good for a few peripherals down the line and sports a solid 46.8 percentage in the face-off dot. 

Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, Islanders

The sharpshooting 2018 draftee made his season debut on Thursday evening, potting his first career goal in the process. Producing goals early on bodes well for his short-term outlook, as additional scoring is something that is always much welcomed on Long Island (obviously). He only skated for a total of 10:51 minutes during the game, playing on the club’s third-line, but is slated to deploy on the club's secondary unit for the short term. 

His current stint may not last long, but if he can catch a few more goals, perhaps he can watch himself a new role. for now, he is perfect for a quick line-up stream pickup.

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Thanks for joining me this week. Best of luck to all in your fantasy matchups and I will catch you next week.
Follow me @hall1289.