You really could not have drawn up a better gold medal matchup between Canada and the USA. It had everything you want in a final: pace, layers of skill, quality looks at both ends and a sudden death overtime winner that sent the Americans to their first Olympic gold since 1980 in Lake Placid. The stakes felt heavy all morning and the execution matched it.

Cale Makar scored the lone goal for Canada and was excellent throughout the final, driving play and logging big minutes. Canada pushed hard, outshooting the Americans 42 to 28, but Connor Hellebuyck was the difference. He was outstanding and clearly USA's best player. Hellebuyck finished the tournament with a 1.23 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage, elite numbers in a short, high-pressure event. He heads back to NHL action riding serious momentum. Winnipeg sits eight points out of a wildcard spot and near the bottom of the Central, so the math is tough, but if anyone is going to push them, it is Hellebuyck.

The bigger question is how this carries over for players like Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews who have not had their usual offensive rhythm this season, but an event like this can reset you mentally. Hughes had just one goal in his last 10 games before the break, though he did chip in 11 assists. Maybe this is the spark New Jersey needs, especially with Jesper Bratt tracking toward 60 points after posting 88 and 83 in the previous two years.  Matthew is eerily the same with only three goals in his last 10 games entering the tournament. Will see a change when they come back to their respective NHL clubs?

On the Canadian side, Connor McDavid finished the Milan Games as the tournament scoring leader with 13 points in six games and was named tournament MVP. Macklin Celebrini was right behind with 10 points, while Lucas Raymond added nine of his own and Juraj Slafkovsky with eight in a strong showing.

One of the lasting images from the night came after the final horn, when Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin brought Johnny Gaudreau's children onto the ice for the team photo, holding up Gaudreau's jersey. It was a powerful moment and a reminder that some wins carry meaning far beyond the scoreboard.

By the time you read this the Olympic trade freeze will be lifted, and with the March 6 trade deadline is right around the corner, things are about to ramp up quickly. The rumor mill will start spinning again, contenders will look to load up, and a few non-playoff teams will pivot toward selling. That movement will not just impact real-life rosters, it is going to shake up fantasy lineups as well. Roles will change, power play units will shift, and opportunity can open up overnight. So, buckle up and keep an eye out on your waiver wire.

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Speaking of the waiver wire, as I have done for the past few weeks since the Olympic break, I focused on waiver wire options with 30% roster ownership and then followed that up with 20% or lower the following week. This week, I'm spotlighting a few deep cuts owned in 10% or fewer in Yahoo! leagues. These are players who matter most in deeper formats, but if you are trying to find an edge anywhere, they could quietly make a difference.

Oliver Kapanen – C – Montreal Canadiens – 7 %

Oliver Kapanen has put together a strong rookie campaign, sitting fourth in rookie scoring with 31 points and tied for the rookie lead in goals (18) alongside Beckett Sennecke. His 17.6% shooting rate stands out well above league average, so some regression is possible. He is averaging 1.8 shots per game and 7.1 per 60 at 5v5, paired with 2.2 points per 60, showing he can drive offense efficiently at middle-six minutes. Nearly half of his 5v5 ice time comes alongside Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovsky, with more than half of his even-strength points coming with this duo. The trio has been consistent all season, and Kapanen has been central to its effectiveness. However, his PP time is limited with less than a minute per game, so do not expect significant contributions there. In deeper formats, he offers a bit of peripheral value, having taken 254 draws at 47.7 percent. Averaging just over 15 minutes a night in a top-six offensive role, Kapanen is a promising, efficiency-driven rookie who could continue to grow as his overall usage expands.

Marco Kasper – C/LW – Detroit Red Wings – 5%

Marco Kasper is the type of player who becomes far more interesting in deeper formats than he does in standard leagues.  Kasper spent most of the year in a bottom-six role, which capped both his minutes and offensive upside. More recently, he has been bumped into the top six, taking over the spot that previously belonged to teammate Emmitt Finnie, and that change is significant. In deeper category leagues, his value is also driven by peripherals. He has already piled up 131 hits in 57 games and is tracking comfortably north of 180 over a full season, which would be a career best. That physical edge gives him real multi-cat utility even if the scoring remains modest. It all comes down to deployment. If he is skating in the top six, and especially if he finds himself on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, he is worth a look. The moment he drops back into a middle-six role, the fantasy appeal fades quickly.

Andre Burakovsky – LW/RW – Chicago Blackhawks – 4%

Through 51 games, Burakovsky is sitting at 30 points, a 48-point pace over 82 games, while averaging just over 17 minutes a night. In deeper formats, that combination of role and power play exposure matters. Half of Burakovsky's even strength points have come with Connor Bedard on the ice and he has seen nearly 30 percent of his even strength minutes with Bedard. There isn't any guarantee that the lines will not changed however if he sticks in Bedard's orbit, the assist floor remains stable.

The power play is where the value really jumps. He is averaging 2:34 per game with the man advantage and has already produced 10 power play points, including three goals. Chicago has run multiple combinations, but Burakovsky has consistently been part of productive units alongside players like Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen. Over 55 percent of his total ice time share has come on the power play, which is significant usage.

Dalibor Dvorsky – C/RW – St. Louis Blues – 1%

Dalibor Dvorsky has been playing as St. Louis' top-line centre heading into the Olympics and has shown glimpses of offensive upside. He has 15 points in 47 games with a 14.8 percent shooting rate, so some regression is possible, but his value is tied to maintaining first-line minutes and more power-play opportunity. Most of his production has come alongside key linemates like Brayden Schenn and Pavel Buchnevich, and with the Blues likely sellers at the deadline, he could see an increase in ice time down the stretch. He is not widely relevant in standard leagues yet (hence the 1% ownership in Yahoo! leagues), but in deeper formats, he is worth monitoring. With St. Louis playing on all off nights in week 23 (likely your fantasy finals) Dvorsky could be a player to target.

Thanks for reading! See you next week! For more fantasy hockey content and analysis, follow me on X @Punters_hockey. If you have any questions about your team or a trade? My DMs are always open, happy to help!