I saved Christmas week for my "What's Wrong With…" piece on the Colorado Avalanche – I planned to be charitable until some of the research and statistics that follow. Wrong, you say?  The Avs have been considered strong options, if not favorites, to repeat as Stanley Cup champions! Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Ranranen, those guys….    Sure, they're in a wild card spot now, but they're still the team to beat – but maybe not.   

Colorado simply isn't the same team. Losing Nazem Kadri and Andre Burakovsky, plus Gabriel Landeskog being out since the preseason, means there's a deficit of 207 points from those three players. The Avalanche have struggled to find chemistry on their second line, with JT Compher, Alex Newhook, and Evan Rodrigues all taking turns at the C-2 position, and as of last night the third line skating was Denis Malgin, Ben Meyers, and Logan O'Connor. (Hey, they had 6 shots last night!) But seriously, the offense is top-heavy and now without MacKinnon, it's impotent.   Before #29 went down just eight games ago, Colorado averaged 3.83 goals per game.  The last eight contests, 18 goals in regulation (2.25 average), and still they're 5-3, with two OT scores and a shootout win. On defense, where did the same Devon Toews go, with his 57 points in 66 games last year?

To win the Stanley Cup again, they'll need their captain (Landeskog) back, and Bowen Byram.   If healthy in April, they're a tough opponent, but getting out of the Central Division?  Don't bet too much on it. 

DFS for today, I'm focusing on three games.  (Apologies for no fantasy values, I'm in a U.S. Veterans Hospital – just visiting, where they block access to sin-ful gambling sites. LOL.)  Philadelphia visits Toronto – game moved to 2 PM (Eastern) – in a match where I'll play William Nylander and Michael Bunting. Minnesota, on the back half of B2B, is still favored over a San Jose team missing Tomas Hertl, so Filip Gustavsson, Mats Zuccarello, and Calen Addison make a promising stack. Finally, Calgary faces the defensively challenged Los Angeles roster. Nazem Kadri, Dillon Dube, and Rasmus Andersson are my selections. If I need to add a sleeper into the mix, consider David Krejci as the second center. He's on the best team, playing at home, and due to score a 1+1.  

Merry Christmas to all, and to all – win your fantasy league!!