Hello and welcome back to the most trusted salary cap fantasy article in the world. Probably. This week is all about giving thanks. I'm American (bang-bang, what's the hang), which means that I'll be filling my plate with turkey, stuffing, and Ocean Spray cranberries (the way they're meant to be) tomorrow…at least I think so. My grandparents are hosting and they're from Italy. This could be pasta and chicken cutlets instead, and ya know what, watching the Lions lose paired with that meal is a-ok in my book.

Last Thanksgiving, I was with my wife's family down in South Carolina and it was a Thanksgiving of firsts for me. I'm from Chicagoland so it being 72 degrees on Thanksgiving Day was absolutely a first, but we also went around the table and said something that we're thankful for. I can't say that I've ever done that, so when it was my turn, I wasn't sure what to say so I turned to my wife's cousin and asked what she was thankful for and that would be what I'll go with as well. Now, my wife's cousin is I want to say five or six years' old, so she turns to me and with the biggest smile and enthusiasm shouts, "We're both thankful for waterfalls!". As random of a pull as that is, in thinking back on this, waterfalls are awesome.

I'm going somewhere with this, trust me! Say that everyone in your salary league was sitting down to dinner and someone suggested that let's everyone go around the table and say one salary that they're thankful for on their roster. Now, the folks that roster Macklin Celebrini or Connor Bedard are going to of course name those types of players because they're still on their ELC. Don't worry, that tab is coming, but what other names might be mentioned before your league digs in?

Well, let's pretend that this is Thanksgiving dinner. Your league is just sitting down, everyone's drink has been filled, the noon game is just kicking off, and we begin going around the table to say what contract we're thankful for…and of course; waterfalls.

Victor Olofsson – $1.57M

So, I figure I'm hosting this pretend Thanksgiving, which means I'm the first to go, and there's no name I can get out of my mouth faster than Victor Olofsson. How do I know this? Because out of the 24 people in my league (we're a big bunch) that are sitting down at my table, I'd say five of them by have inquired on a trade for him. Maybe compliment my cooking of imaginary turkey and stuffing before offering again, because Olofsson has been an excellent asset to have for my 19^th place 2-5 team. Look, I'm new at salary leagues, okay?

Olofsson is currently skating on the Colorado third line, but I don't so much mind this because that line still sees good matchups, and Olofsson sometimes skates on the Avalanche top power-play unit. Where his value really shined, was when Valeri Nichushkin left the lineup, giving Olofsson more ice time. The book is out on him going back to his Vegas days, that he shoots the puck a ton and maybe the defense lacks behind a tad. Good news is this is fantasy hockey, so the 52 shots on goal is all that we care about. For this AAV, and that offense, this is a contract to be thankful for.

Connor McDavid – $12.5M

The person that has Connor McDavid on their roster better be bringing a decent desert to my party after he re-signed for the exact same AAV for the next couple seasons. Now, I haven't met anyone in my league personally as I was invited in, so I don't know if the fella who rosters McDavid is an Oilers fan but let's say that he is. It's my made-up Thanksgiving, so why not?

Not only should folks rostering McDavid be thankful they roster him in the first place, but won't have to shift salary off their roster next season with him re-signing for the same AAV and that's just my point. Could you imagine a world where McDavid isn't signed and we're sitting down for pretend Thanksgiving coming off that Oilers game against the Stars? We'd be throwing out destinations for McDavid come July 1^st like it was asking to pass the green bean casserole. Don't get me wrong, things might not be sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops in Oilersland right now, but things could be much bleaker.

Anton Lundell – $5M

I suppose the person who rosters Anton Lundell would probably have to include a bit of injury opportunity as well? Anton Lundell found himself skating on the Florida top line, which has turned out to be a very high-event trio. Not sure if this is a "just became important at work" situation here, but Lundell is now on pace for a career-high in points and that's just what happens when your ice time is up three minutes from the previous season. Shooting 13% is also going to help hit these marks, Lundell is a great player to have right now in your salary league.

Corey Perry $2M

I don't know why I think this, but the person who rosters Corey Perry is the person who spills wine somehow. I don't know why I think this. Anyway, our give-thanks train gets to this person, and they think about it…and sheepishly say, "Corey Perry and his $2M AAV…". There's bound to be some snickers but wait just a minute here, this contract has been so good to have on a roster so far this season. For $2M, you currently have seven goals, six assists, and a plus-5 rating. I'd be thankful too! I don't think a lot of us saw this coming as we entered the season, but hey, if you got Perry on your roster, he's been a great asset to have.

Dylan Holloway $2.2M

If the person that rosters Dylan Holloway at this Thanksgiving party is a Blues fan and is from that area, then they are 100% one of the ones that's the life of the party. Trust me, I went to university down there. Anyone remembers last season where Holloway went on an absolute heater? In 20 games during Q2 of last season, he was a point-per-game player and was also close to that mark as the season ended. I don't watch a ton of St. Louis, but I sort of feel that this is a club that's been more unlucky than good and while we all want to point blame on their goaltending, their defense isn't exactly helping them out any. Holloway right now is on a line with Jordan Kyrou and is sometimes centered by Pius Suter, who just may be the Blues best center right now. I like that line, and I like this AAV for Holloway this season as you would think looking at his name and production that he is at the very least a $5M player.

Pavel Dorofeyev – $1.83M

I'm going to take you all away from my imaginary Thanksgiving feast, and take you to my actual draft party. My buddy takes Pavel Dorofeyev in the ninth round, and I turn to him and mention that I like the pick. One of the guys at the table thought I was blowing smoke, but I was not at all doing that, this is a player that I'm convinced that if Vegas had gone further in playoffs last season that more people would know about him. The primary and secondary assist numbers may be low, but he currently sits at 11 goals and five assists on the season, all while shooting lower than last year. Even with Mark Stone back in the lineup, Dorofeyev could get close to the 60-point mark before season's end and is carrying an AAV less than $2M.

Emil Heineman – $1.1M

The thanks are almost done, as we get to the person rostering Emil Heineman. While he's minors eligible, so this isn't a surprise his AAV is low, the production has been just the opposite. This is a player that is on pace right now for over 50 points and I know eye test isn't everything, but he just looks great out there on the Islanders top line. I don't have much else to say here and odds are the person giving thanks may not either. Let's keep 'er movin' and dig in.

Kiefer Sherwood – $1.5M

I saved the best for last; this is my guy right here. While I don't roster Kiefer Sherwood in salary formats, I do in my main league on ESPN, and he's been great to have on the roster. He's LW/RW eligible so I picked him up on a whim and he goes out and gets a hat-trick. Immediately a player that I now can't cut and why would you? He has four multi-point games and skates in the top six…sometimes. Vancouver does some weird stuff with their lines, but we like here is that Sherwood skates on the top power-play unit. No offense to Lucas Reichel, David Kampf, or Aatu Raty, but on the man advantage he has a center that I feel confident in. What's also great here are the hits he provides as Sherwood has 98 of them so far on the season. That's not a typo, 98. With that, let's raise a glass and enjoy our pretend meal!

For everyone celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow here in the States, I wish you and your family a safe and memorable holiday. Cheers!