Ramblings: Lindholm and Giroux Traded, Nelson, Bratt, Perron (Mar 20)

Ian Gooding

2022-03-20

As we inch closer to the trade deadline, two more significant names in Hampus Lindholm and Claude Giroux were officially moved on Saturday. Read about the fantasy impact of each of these deals below.

Lindholm to Boston

Giroux to Florida

Brock Nelson scored a hat trick in the Islanders' 4-2 win over Dallas. Nelson was a player I had on my radar as a weekend pickup, although the fact that the Isles played an early game resulted in me missing the boat on him. (Basically, I needed to add a goalie and was waiting for starting goalie announcements before making a decision.) The good news is that the Islanders play again today (Sunday) in Philly, so you'll have another chance to add him before the week ends. Even in non-head-to-head formats, Nelson warrants a pickup. He has scored seven goals in his last eight games.

Due to earlier COVID shutdowns, the Islanders have more remaining games than any other team (23). As well, the Islanders offer more waiver-wire options than the average team, with Noah Dobson and Mathew Barzal the only skaters that are rostered in more than half of Yahoo leagues. For this reason, I listed more Isles that might be worth adding to your roster for the final quarter in a Ramblings last weekend.

False alarm for Jack Eichel, who left Thursday's game with an injury. Eichel suited up for Saturday's game, recording an assist in a much-needed win for the Golden Knights over Los Angeles.

With Robin Lehner likely out for a while and Laurent Brossoit not always reliable, Logan Thompson might be the Vegas goalie to target. Thompson has been in net for back-to-back wins, including a 38-save effort in the 5-1 victory. The Knights play four games next week, so Thompson is worth consideration if you need a goalie to stream for the week and perhaps longer. He's posted some decent AHL numbers, including a 1.96 GAA/.943 SV% last season with the Henderson Silver Knights.

The Jesper Bratt breakout continues. Bratt scored a pair of goals along with an assist on Saturday, giving him 60 points in 57 games. I've stated before that Bratt has been my top waiver-wire pickup this season, and I still hold that to be true. The fact that he was on my waiver wire in a deep league (went undrafted) speaks to the fact that practically no one expected him to be in this spot before the season. The Devils are emerging as a sneaky-good scoring squad with Bratt and Jack Hughes leading the way as point-per-game options.

Evander Kane scored a pair of goals, giving him three 2-goal games over his last eight games. True to his reputation as a multicategory threat in bangers leagues, he also had six shots and six hits. So far, the risk that Ken Holland took has paid off, as Kane has 12 goals and 20 points in 23 games as an Oiler.

With a goal and two assists, Connor McDavid has multiple points in each of his last five games. As well, he has taken at least four shots in each of his last four games. To absolutely no one's surprise, he is also the league's scoring leader and the first player to reach 90 points this season. With that total, he would have already won the Art Ross Trophy back in 2014-15.

David Perron… again on Saturday. Three more goals and an assist. That gives Perron goals in six consecutive games along with 12 goals in his last nine games. Shooting the puck more has helped, as Perron has fired 28 shots over his last five games – an average of over five shots per game. Just think: you could have bought super low on Perron from early January to mid-February, when he had recorded just two points in 13 games (I was lucky enough to buy just before the current goal streak). I was even being asked multiple times whether to drop him. Hopefully you didn't. You could sell high now, but also remember that he was a point-per-game player last season, as plentiful as point-per-gamers are now.  

Elvis Merzlikins left Saturday's game early in the third period with back tightness, missing out on a potential win. The potentially good news is that it doesn't sound like a long-term injury.

Ondrej Kase can't catch a break. Kase left Saturday's game after taking an accidental elbow to the head. This is concerning, considering that Kase has a concussion history. Kase entered this game with goals in three consecutive games.

Auston Matthews returned from his two-game suspension, scoring his league-leading 46th goal of the season while adding an assist. Matthews also took 10 shots, which was his second-highest total of the season (he took 11 shots against Columbus on February 22). He also has 39 goals in his last 40 games. Simple tip for those of you who play the Tim Horton's Daily Challenge: just pick Matthews whenever he is showing on the menu.

Another three assists for Roman Josi, giving him four consecutive games of at least three points. Now he's up to 75 points in 60 games, and a 103-point pace. Not only could he become the first defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to reach 100 points, but he is also on pace to break the Predators' franchise record for most points in a season. Currently that is held by Paul Kariya with 85 points in 2005-06. This will be fun to watch.

Sidney Crosby scored a pair of goals while taking six shots on Saturday. He now has 12 shots over his past two games. Since January 15, only four players have recorded more points than Sid the Kid at 37 points (over 27 games). There are obviously newer, shinier toys that are discussed a lot more often, but Crosby is still very much a valuable fantasy contributor.

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Jake Allen pitched a quality start on Saturday, making 29 saves in a 5-1 win over Ottawa. Allen has started back-to-back games for the Habs, so he should get the bulk of the work the rest of the way. Feel free to add him, but just keep in mind that the schedule next week features playoff teams Boston, Florida, and Toronto (all at home, though).

Brandon Hagel made his Lightning debut on Saturday, being held scoreless with just 10 minutes of icetime and no power-play time. He played on a line with Mathieu Joseph and Ross Colton. I didn't think this trade would benefit Hagel's fantasy value, and so far that's true. Obviously things can change, but it wouldn't be out of the question to consider other options.

Fantasy Take: Hagel to Tampa Bay

Matthew Tkachuk scored a goal and added two assists on Saturday. That gives him two 3-point games over his last three games. If your league counts plus-minus, then anyone from the Flames' top line has an extra little bit of value. Elias Lindholm (+46), Johnny Gaudreau (+44), and Tkachuk (+37) are all within the top 6 in that category. According to Frozen Tools, this line is the top even-strength line and by a wide margin. That may have to do with the fact that this trio has spent about 80 percent of their even-strength minutes together.

Having said that, Darryl Sutter decided to juggle his lines a little bit after getting shut out against Buffalo on Friday night.

MIKAEL BACKLUND – MATTHEW TKACHUK – DILLON DUBE

CALLE JARNKROK – BLAKE COLEMAN – ANDREW MANGIAPANE

MILAN LUCIC – TREVOR LEWIS – SEAN MONAHAN

TYLER TOFFOLI – ELIAS LINDHOLM – JOHNNY GAUDREAU

Yes, that’s Tyler Toffoli on the top line. Just something to keep an eye on. Tkachuk has been fine on his own in the past when he wasn’t on the top line, and part of his increase this season has to do with the fact that scoring in general is up. So I wouldn’t panic and try to sell Tkachuk based on this, especially in roto leagues where he offers a whole lot more than scoring.

Yanni Gourde scored the game-winning goal and an empty-net goal in Seattle's 4-2 win over Detroit. Very quietly, Gourde has put together a three-game goal streak and a six-game point streak. His overall scoring pace is similar to his pace in Tampa Bay last season as a supporting player, yet his icetime has increased over a minute and a half from last season. That icetime (18:38) leads Kraken forwards. Gourde is now the leading scorer (38 points) on a Kraken team that hasn't exactly provided jewels of fantasy talent in their expansion season.

With two assists and a plus-2 on Saturday, Vince Dunn has five points (all assists) over his last four games. With Mark Giordano being healthy scratched in anticipation of a trade, Dunn is now the clear first-unit power-play guy. His minus-21 lowers his value, but he could be an underrated source of power-play points down the stretch.

Follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding for more fantasy hockey discussion.

2 Comments

  1. Striker 2022-03-20 at 19:00

    Bratt breaking through right on my development model schedule. I drafted him in every pool I went in this season where available. Wasn’t available in either of my head-to-head leagues, protected as they all follow the model almost. I got him late in all of my draft pools. Going to make money in all of them but 1 box pool but will win 1 and finish 3rd in another. A so so year by my nominally below average. I didn’t have time to make my own draft list this year, I bought 1.

    My 2 H2H leagues were & are a gong show. I was going to quit both my H2H leagues but a friend talked me out of it. He convinced me my frustration with the NHL and the CHI situation and other issues that piss me off have always pissed me off but it is really covid that is the issue. Have agreed to stay the course for 1 more year. I am going to miss the playoffs in 1 & in the other it comes down to today and my 4 NYI players got blanked today not good but should still just slide in. These will be my worst finishes ever in both except when I decided to do a quick retool in both the season before Covid started, 18/19 but missing was the plan to give myslef the best shot at 1st overall, got 1st in 1, 2nd in the other.

  2. Kathrine Peacock 2022-03-21 at 18:30

    covid that is the issue. Have agreed to stay the course for 1 more year. I am going to miss the playoffs in 1 & in the other it comes down to today and my 4 NYI players got blanked today not good but should still just slide in. These will be my worst finishes ever in both except when I decided to do a quick retool in both the season before Covid started, 18/19 but missing was the plan to give myslef the best shot at 1st overall, got 1st in 1, 2nd in thCe other.

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