Ramblings: Marchand Makes Season Debut; Hart, Oettinger Continue Strong Starts; Drowning Ducks (Oct 28)

Ian Gooding

2022-10-28

Earlier than originally projected (but maybe not because he's a fast healer), Brad Marchand made his season debut on Thursday. He didn't disappoint, scoring two goals and adding an assist with four shots in a 5-1 win over Detroit. Marchand's ADP on Yahoo was 117, so the early return means that he could provide some big-time bang for the buck for those who took the chance in drafting him.

With Marchand, the Bruins' lines for this game were as follows:

PATRICE BERGERON – BRAD MARCHAND – JAKE DEBRUSK

NICK FOLIGNO – CRAIG SMITH – TOMAS NOSEK

CHARLIE COYLE – PAVEL ZACHA – TRENT FREDERIC

DAVID KREJCI – TAYLOR HALL – DAVID PASTRNAK

David Krejci left this game early after taking a stick to the head and isn't expected to play Friday, so these lines will change. In addition, Marchand also isn't expected to play today (Friday) because the Bruins don't want him to play back-to-backs just yet. The next back-to-back is November 12 and 13, but then the Bruins don't have another one until just before Christmas. His missing those games is part of the plan, so nothing to worry about.

Pavel Zacha was expected to benefit from the Marchand absence, but he has recorded just one point in his last six games. He's droppable with Marchand returning unless he can make his way back into the top 6 as a result of the Krejci injury. Also watch for Taylor Hall to potentially lose value, as he was on the second-unit power play and was held to under 15 minutes of icetime on Thursday.

While we're on the subject of the Bruins, they exchanged 23-year-old prospects with the Canucks late Thursday. The Bruins acquired onetime goalie prospect Michael DiPietro, while the Canucks added Jack Studnicka. DiPietro's development had been stalled because of COVID, and he had even become the odd man out on the Canucks' AHL affiliate. He's still young enough to develop into an NHL goalie at some point. As for Studnicka, don't be surprised to see him fill a fourth-line role for the Canucks right away with the recent injury to Curtis Lazar and possibly move up the lineup. The Bruins have given him top-6 minutes in the past, so there's scoring upside as well.

Earlier in the day, Kieffer Bellows was claimed on waivers by the Flyers. Bellows was a 2016 first-round pick of the Islanders with potential bangers league value (103 hits in just 45 GP last season). The Flyers could have an opening for Bellows this season because of their lack of snipers, which might be something to keep an eye on if this team is a better fit for him than the Islanders. If not, he is now 24 years old and may be running out of NHL options when his contract expires this season.

After beginning the season without a point in his first five games, Brandon Hagel has goals in three consecutive games, including a power-play marker in Wednesday's late game in Anaheim. He's still on an even-strength line with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, which is about as good as you'll get. He's also just 7% rostered in Yahoo leagues (34% in Fantrax). Hagel has had success in the past when paired with top-drawer players such as Patrick Kane, as I mentioned here, but not so much when the linemates aren't as strong. Keep that in mind when adding him.

More than a few cold Ducks, according to the Frozen Tools Cold Players Report.

Jamie Drysdale: 0 PTS in 7 GP – in other words, no points this season

John Klingberg: 0 PTS in 6 GP – no points since the Ducks' opener

Adam Henrique: 1 PT in last 7 GP – started season with 0 PTS in 5 GP

Cam Fowler: 1 PT in 7 GP

Ryan Strome: 1 PT in last 6 GP

In other words, it's difficult to find anyone on this team not named Troy Terry or Trevor Zegras that is scoring at the moment. The Ducks, who are historically among the leaders in off-night games, play tonight (@VGK) and on Sunday (vs. TOR). Having those off-night games doesn't help your fantasy team if they can't produce.

Someone recently asked me whether it is okay to drop Klingberg at this point. I think it depends on the type of league and the player you're going to add, but he's clearly lost value in Anaheim. In my fantasy take, I said that a 45-50-point pace wouldn't be out of the question. I might downgrade that to about 40-45 points now. If you decide to drop him, don't be surprised if someone else picks him up fairly quickly given his name value and the premium fantasy teams place on defensemen that receive first-unit power-play minutes. Keep in mind that if the Ducks plummet far enough to enter the Connor Bedard sweepstakes, Klingberg on a one-year contract is a prime candidate to be traded.

Carter Hart's run of quality starts continued on Thursday. Hart allowed three goals for the first time this season, although he also made 48 saves in a 4-3 win for the Flyers over Florida. I wrote more about Hart in last weekend's Ramblings, so I won't try to repeat myself. I'll just summarize that this might be a good time to sell high on Hart, although his long-term value deserves an upgrade based on his recent run of success. Don't underestimate the influence that Torts is having as a defensive-minded coach who urges his players to block as many shots as possible.

Meanwhile, Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed at least three goals in each of his last five games, including four goals on 22 shots on Thursday. The Panthers have only won one of those five games, so they haven't been able to outscore their defensive issues this season. Maybe we start to see Spencer Knight start with a little more frequency now.

I picked the wrong week to face Connor McDavid in head-to-head, although I doubt there's ever a right week. Nothing special, just three goals and an assist. Here's the hat trick goal.

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The Oilers are a team that can outscore any goaltending issues they might have. In spite of picking up the W on Thursday against Chicago, Jack Campbell allowed five goals on 36 shots. He's allowed at least three goals in five of his six starts this season. Meanwhile, Stuart Skinner has a 1.44 GAA and .957 SV% in three games this season, including a 37-save 3-1 win over St. Louis on Wednesday. Campbell has the contract and the expectations, but don't let the win-loss record (4-2-0) fool you as far as his performance goes.

Patrick Kane started the season with just one point in his first four games, which no doubt worried fantasy teams that drafted him given the lack of scoring on the Blackhawks. Now he has multiple points in three consecutive games, including three points on Thursday. This might surprise you, but the Blackhawks have scored 5, 4, 5, 4, and 5 goals over their last five games. In addition, they had a four-game win streak snapped on Thursday.

Max Domi has benefitted from playing on Kane's line. With three points of his own on Thursday, Domi has a four-game point streak and goals in three of his last four games. Before you rush to the waiver wire to add Domi, keep in mind that his four goals come on just 10 shots. He's obviously in a great spot with first-line duties and solid power-play minutes, although the situation in Chicago hardly seems settled. Domi is also on a one-year contract, so expect the Hawks to trade him for futures at some point this season.

Worried about Roman Josi? Don't be. The Predators defender filled the statsheet on Thursday with 1 G, 2 A, +2, 7 SOG, and 2 HITS. Josi entered this game with no points in his previous five games and just one point in seven games this season. Despite the lack of points, Josi is far and away the leader among defensemen with 38 SOG in 8 GP.

With his shutout of the Capitals on Thursday, Jake Oettinger has posted quality starts in each of his six games. Oettinger has allowed no more than two goals in each of those six games, making a strong case as fantasy hockey's top goalie in the early part of the season. If you include last season's seven-game playoff series with Calgary, Oettinger has quality starts in 13 consecutive games.

Two popularly searched players on Frozen Tools had their hot streaks end on Thursday:

Dominik Kubalik – 5-game point streak snapped (10 points over that span)

Shane Pinto – 5-game goal streak snapped

Timo Meier scored his first goal of the season on a tip-in that was originally credited to Logan Couture (as a potential hat trick goal for Couture!) Meier was long overdue, having entered Thursday as the co-leader in shots (42) and scored the goal on his 46th shot.  

Erik Karlsson made it look like old times again, filling the statsheet against the Leafs with the game-winning goal in OT, 2 A, 4 PIM, and 7 SOG. In fact, he's been very productive so far with eight points in 10 games. Of course, Karlsson is always just an injury away, as he has not played 60 games in a season since he was an Ottawa Senator. Maybe a bit of a sell high for that reason?

Jared McCann now has goals in four consecutive games, including a goal on Thursday. He also has six points over that span. Underrated player in Seattle.

J.T. Miller took one for the team to ensure the Canucks' first win of the season. Check back for updates on his status, as that would be a costly win for the Canucks if he were to miss time. The Canucks have to race back up the I-5/99 to Vancouver to face the Penguins tonight, so we will know the answer to that question very soon.

Yes, that was also Thatcher Demko's first win of the season. He was tested a lot more than Martin Jones in the Cascadia battle, stopping 32 of 36 shots in a game where I'd say the Kraken carried more of the play. Demko has allowed at least four goals in five of his seven games and at least three goals in all seven games, so he's hardly helped fantasy teams so far. The disheveled Canucks defense will probably keep Demko from attaining elite status as a fantasy goalie, even if he is recognized as one of the NHL's most skilled goalies.

Follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding for more fantasy hockey.

One Comment

  1. mikey 2022-10-28 at 09:44

    Ian, as you may recall I’m the leader of the scott laughton fan club. Two newish things to add to the case that he is legit Fantasy asset. 21 was was on his way up pp depth chart but JVR injury has vaulted him to net front on PP1, he paid off last night with a ppg. Also, he’s back at C out of necessity as somehow he is now the Flyers best faceoff option. He got 19 fw last night! Throw in fact that he is LW eligible, oh and he hits ans blocks shots and gets shp. Pageuaesque with LW.

    Another note from last night’s Flyers game. TK did not like being benched. he was explosive all over ice. Farabee took hard knock on surgically repaired back and bounced right up. He’s starting to feel it after being a little rusty.

    Hayes responded OK to benching and had his amazing hayesy moments, but also had several lazy hayesy moments as well. I gotta think as long as Coots gets his back right Hayes won’t be in Philly past this year. Torts thinks there is more there but at this point the player is who he is. he gives 100% 80% of the time.

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