Ramblings: Werenski Out for Season; Goalie Situations in New Jersey, Toronto, Seattle (Nov 12)

Ian Gooding

2022-11-12

Zach Werenski is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a separated shoulder and torn labrum during Thursday's game. This is the worst possible news for those rostering Werenski, in particular those rostering him in single-season leagues. Werenski is already a certified Band-Aid Boy, having missed at least 14 games in each of the previous two seasons.

With Werenski out long term and Adam Boqvist also sidelined with a broken foot, Jake Bean deserves an immediate pickup in many league formats (3% Yahoo/27% Fantrax). Although he did not record a point on Thursday, Bean logged a season-high 26 minutes (including PP1 duties) while blocking six shots. That number was inflated by the fact that the Jackets were down to four defensemen because Erik Gudbranson also left with an injury. However, the icetime total is still notable because Bean had never reached 20 minutes in a game this season prior to Thursday.

Before the season, I had mentioned Bean as a potential deep sleeper because of potential second power-play use and closer proximity to Boqvist than perceived. I don't think Tim on the Five Hole Fantasy Podcast was completely sold on my pick, though. Although I've been cold about starting Bean since adding him to one of my lineups just before the season, I won't have any reservations about starting him next week with the Jackets playing four home games.

Here's a quote from the Fantasy Guide comparing Bean to Boqvist:

When you talk Bean vs. Boqvist with fantasy owners, they prefer Boqvist hands-down, but is that the right call? Bean, who's two years older, is closer to his prime, produced similar offense last season, saw more ice time, doesn't get hurt as often and wasn't sheltered as much… Right now, Boqvist is getting slightly more PP time, so he's still getting favored, but don't be so quick to write off Bean.

Since that was written, Boqvist was healthy scratched for four consecutive games earlier this season before his broken foot in late October. His expected return date is early December. Whether Boqvist can slide ahead of Bean in terms of power-play duties when he returns will depend a lot on Bean's performance over the next few weeks.

The New Jersey Devils have won eight consecutive games thanks to an offense that is becoming more difficult to ignore (27 goals in last 6 games). The goaltending situation is a different story. Vitek Vanecek left Thursday's game with an injury, and he was limited during Friday's practice. Since Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier are also on the shelf, Akira Schmid was thrust in as the Devils' starting goalie. Schmid earned his first win in a relief capacity, stopping seven shots between the third period and overtime.

Schmid is a largely unproven option at the NHL level, but he was off to a solid start in the AHL (4 GP, 1.97 GAA, .918 SV%). On paper, he couldn't be in a better streaming spot on Saturday at home against Arizona, although the Coyotes have shocked the world in winning three in a row. He's only 2% rostered in Yahoo and 7% in Fantrax, so availability is not an issue. If Vanecek's injury is only short term, then you shouldn't be dropping a goalie on stronger NHL footing for Schmid. The Devils' starter for Saturday hasn't been confirmed yet, so check Goalie Post for the latest.

A defense "outjury" happened on Friday, with John Carlson returning to the Capitals' lineup. Carlson recorded an assist with three shots, three hits, and two blocks while logging 26 minutes along with his usual spot on the first-unit power play.

Sonny Milano has had a bit of a journey since last season ended. Not qualified by the Ducks, Milano attended Flames camp on a PTO but couldn't land a roster spot. About a week after, Milano signed with the Capitals and started the season in the AHL. In his fourth NHL game of the season, Milano made some noise, scoring a pair of goals while adding an assist and a plus-3 and four shots. Milano was held to just 14 minutes on Friday, but he landed some second-unit power-play time. He's mostly lined up with Dylan Strome and Marcus Johansson, so I'm not quite there on adding him in standard-sized formats. Yet for some reason, Washington seems like a good fit for his talents.

Andrei Vasilevskiy qualified for the really bad start on Friday, allowing five goals on 24 shots. He's allowed at least three goals in each of his last six starts. Only one of those six starts has been a quality start. I'd bet on him finding his rhythm sooner rather than later, yet I still wonder if three seasons of Stanley Cup runs are finally catching up.

What a moment. Prayers up for Borje Salming.

Following the Leafs' 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh, Sheldon Keefe stated that Matt Murray will not be ready to return for Saturday's game against Vancouver. So it's either Erik Kallgren starting on consecutive nights or Keith Petruzzelli making his NHL debut. Not ideal if you're a Leafs fan.

After Ilya Samsonov was injured, Petruzzelli was signed to a two-year entry-level contract. He posted decent numbers for the Toronto Marlies (6 GP, 2.31 GAA, .922 SV%). I don't know what our DFS writers will suggest as I write this, but this matchup appears to be a prime opportunity to start as many Canucks as you can. And of course, check Goalie Post or follow the five million Leafs beat writers on Twitter to find out who their starter will be.

With a goal on Friday, Roope Hintz extended his point streak to seven games. Over that span, Hintz has 11 points (4 G, 7 A).

Erik Karlsson was held without a point on Friday, meaning that his point streak ended at six games. Yet it was the number of stats that he piled up during that point streak that was especially eye-popping: 15 PTS (7 G, 8 A), 35 SOG, and 5 PPP. Karlsson still leads all defensemen with 21 points, while only three players have more goals than Karlsson (10 G). Just as we all predicted. Karlsson now seems like a steal at his 140 Yahoo ADP and 125 Fantrax ADP.

As a result of the hot start, will I add Karlsson to the Top 100 Roto Rankings? Probably, although you'll have to wait a few days to find out for sure. In the meantime, you can review the rankings published last month and let me know what changes you think I should make for this month.

Timo Meier scored a goal for the fifth consecutive game. He has six goals over that span. Meier continues to do his thing in multicategory leagues, as he also leads the league in shots (80 SOG).

Yes, that was Logan Couture with the Gordie Howe hat trick. Couture scored a goal, added an assist, and fought Jamie Benn, which is no small feat. In one of my leagues, he filled the statsheet like this: 1 G, 1 A, +1, 1 PPP, 3 SOG, 3 HIT, 1 BLK.

I realized after noticing the Gordie Howe hat trick that I haven't looked up Draisaitl Hat Tricks in a while. Sure enough, the leader so far is Mats Zuccarello with two, followed by a whole bunch of other players with one.

Zuccarello happened to be the only goal scorer in the Wild's 1-0 win over Seattle late Friday. He has points in back-to-back games after being held without a point in his previous four games.

Marc-Andre Fleury earned a 28-save shutout of the Kraken. After a slow start, he has righted the ship with six quality starts in his last eight games.

Even though his winning streak was snapped at four games on Friday, Martin Jones has posted five consecutive quality starts. Not what you'd come to expect from Jones in recent seasons, but he's been at least league average over the course of the season with a 1.41 GSAA. Considering how much Philipp Grubauer struggled last season and during his brief time this season before being sidelined, Jones is making a strong case to be the Seattle starter even when Grubauer returns. Don't forget that the Kraken look like an improved team over last season as well. You didn’t think you’d hear from Jones again, did you? Another example of why goalies are so hard to predict.

Follow me on Twitter @Ian_Gooding for more fantasy hockey.

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