Looking Ahead: Stankoven’s Production; York’s Role; Toronto’s Schedule, and More
Andrew Santillo
2024-03-08
Welcome back everyone! So, the trade deadline was Wednesday, who knew? The player movement might affect some spots going forward, while we may have some opportunity here in the near future. Once the dust settles after today we'll have a better idea of the new NHL landscape, but for now let's see what's in store for the weekend and matchup period ahead.
The Immediate Fix (Grab this guy and use him for the next several days)
Logan Stankoven, C, Dallas Stars (Rostered in 17% of ESPN leagues, 58% Fantrax, 24% Yahoo) – Calling out a rookie for an Immediate Fix? With lower roster numbers? And in THIS economy? I circled Logan Stankoven when he was called up for Dallas and I've seen enough to roster him for the next little while.
Two seasons ago, I wrote up the Dallas Stars for our offseason guide. I remember writing about Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson's upcoming contracts, Rick Bowness stepping down, and then then I went and looked at their prospect pool. Of course, I mostly used DobberProspects (excellent resource), but I found myself falling down the YouTube rabbit hole of watching highlights from some of the Star's prospects. I remember thinking that I wasn't sure if Wyatt Johnson was going to get called up for an extended amount of time but liked his game, really thought Thomas Harley could be a hit, but then stumbled upon Stankoven, leaving me with writing that "The Dallas Stars have a sneaky good prospect pool". I want to say that held up, as all we need to do is go back and look at their recent drafts.
I watched Stankoven's first goal against the Islanders and thought okay sure, it's the Isles but I thought he looked good on the ice. Maybe a little bit on the smaller side, but every year come playoffs we fall over guys that can create their own shot, and I think Stankoven has that in him. I typically stay away from rookies in fantasy, but we'll make an exception for a player that I plan to only roster for a shorter period of time, and that's where I think adding Stankoven might make a difference. He has eight points in his last five games played and the matchups look great for Dallas to close out this week with a game against Anaheim and Los Angeles.
The roster numbers outside of Fantrax dynasty leagues are lower, so odds are if this is an add you wanted to make, it should be available for you to do. For DFS I roster Dallas every which way so if you want to pair him with Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, and 2019 Alexander Radulov go right on ahead and I'll be right there with you.
The Building Block (Buy now, sit back and enjoy the production)
Cam York, D, Philadelphia Flyers (Rostered in 12% of ESPN leagues, 48% Fantrax, 5% Yahoo) – Let's go through the Flyers defensemen here for fantasy…within the past 24 hours, that is. Sean Walker was traded to Colorado, while back on the Flyers Nick Seeler, Jamie Drysdale, and Rasmus Ristolainen are all on IR. That leaves us with Travis Sanheim and Cam York, but with Sanheim's roster numbers significantly higher, that leaves us with York who is our Building Block.
I'm not going through the Flyers blueline and looking for cross-off's here for fantasy, I actually roster York in one of my leagues currently and play him in DFS often because he fits parameters I like for a defenseman, those are as follows: Usually cheap; sometimes block bonus. York's minutes skyrocketed towards the end of February we he was hovering around the 19:30 mark, but now has seen himself up near 23:30, and I don't expect that to change any time soon.
I do wonder moving forward if he begins to see more time on the Philadelphia top power play grouping as he has gone on and off that unit at times, but that's just a product of playing in Philly. I do like this addition long term this season and think there's value here in scoring ability and blocked shots, as just in the last 15 days, York has racked up four points and 23 blocks in the seven games over that time span.
The Odd Man Out (His short-term value is cause for concern)
Alec Martinez, D, Vegas Golden Knights (Rostered in 50% of ESPN leagues, 20% Fantrax, 9% Yahoo) – Sigh, this is a trade deadline Odd-Man Out situation. To add to that, we do have an injury to Alec Martinez as well that just confuses things.
The Vegas Golden Knights acquired defenseman Noah Hanifin, who has been in trade rumors since I think around last season this time. Good news for those rostering Hanifin; this is a fantastic spot to be in. For those rostering Martinez, I thought immediately that this could impact his ice time and possible spots on the power play, but that was all before he landed onto IR with an undisclosed injury.
The specifics of Martinez's injury remain a mystery, but one thing we know for sure here is that he'll miss at least Vegas' next two games. This is a player I'd easily stash on your IR if you have the space, as the 16 points and 152 (wow), blocked shots have value to them.
The Anchors (They’ll do nothing but disappoint even over the long haul)
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild (Rostered in 59% of ESPN leagues, 75%, Fantrax, 51% Yahoo) – Brock Faber two months ago was a cool story, I don't put much stock in Calder voting but there was some buzz there as well. It really helped with Jared Spurgeon out for fantasy, but now this might be a player that has had trouble contributing offensively.
I think the problem with Faber from the beginning here was that he didn't really shoot the puck. No shot. No score. That's self-explanatory, but that remained the case all throughout February and now we're into March. Some fantasy managers out there may be blindly throwing him onto their rosters on a given slate for upside, but I just haven't seen it. He has no points in his last four games, and as far as shots are concerned recently, he is fifth amongst Wild defensemen in their past six games played.
Don't get me wrong, still a player that could have some value here next season and for those out there in dynasty he's on your team regardless, but moving forward as we close in on playoffs the value may not be there. Like I've mentioned in the past, if your league's defenseman pool on waivers is a little light he might be worth hanging onto but if not, you may want to start adding players to your queue.
Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)
This period runs through March 8th– March 14th
NY Rangers – The Rangers play five games next week. Five. That's just an automatic Love 'Em in my book.
Pittsburgh – So, there's a good number of clubs with four games next week, leaving the analyzer to not really allow one club to standout…so let's take Pittsburgh! Penguins have a road game in Ottawa along with a home game against San Jose, sign 'em up as a Love 'Em
New Jersey – Okay so this club frustrates me to no end, but if there's a stretch here to turn things around it has to be now.
Leave ‘Em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed in the short term)
Toronto – Toronto is only on the schedule twice next week with their first game not coming until next Thursday. That's a long absence for a highly rostered club.
Tampa Bay – Everything I said above about Toronto applies here to Tampa. They're only on the schedule twice, with their first contest coming on Thursday.
Edmonton – I love the Oilers on most weeks, but the lack of games upcoming is turning me away for now. They'll be back as a Love 'Em soon here for sure, but for now they're a stay away.
Friday, March 8th to Thursday, March 14th, 2024 |
Best Bets |
Detroit 4.30 – Away ARI VGK BUF – Home ARI |
Minnesota 4.22 – Away COL – Home NSH ARI ANA |
Washington 4.21 – Away WPG EDM SEA – Home CHI |
Pittsburgh 4.16 – Away BOS OTT – Home EDM SJS |
Arizona 4.10 – Away CHI MIN DET – Home DET |
Steer Clear |
Vancouver 2 – Home WPG COL |
Tampa Bay 2.15 – Home PHI NYR |
Toronto 2.23 – Away MTL PHI |
New Jersey 2.55 – Away NYR DAL – Home CAR |
Florida 2.61 – Away DAL CAR – Home CGY |
Saturday, March 9th to Thursday, March 15th, 2024 |
Chicago 4.31 – Away WSH – Home ARI ANA LAK |
Washington 4.21 – Away WPG EDM SEA – Home CHI |
Pittsburgh 4.16 – Away BOS OTT – Home EDM SJS |
Winnipeg 4.11 – Away VAN – Home WSH NSH ANA |
Carolina 3.99 – Away NJD – Home CGY NYR FLA |
Steer Clear |
Colorado 1.76 – Away CGY VAN |
Vancouver 2 – Home WPG COL |
Seattle 2.15 – Home VGK WSH |
Tampa Bay 2.15 – Home PHI NYR |
Toronto 2.23 – Away MTL PHI |
Sunday, March 10th to Saturday, March 16th, 2024 |
Best Bets |
Minnesota 4.26 – Away STL – Home NSH ARI ANA |
Pittsburgh 4.25 – Away OTT – Home EDM SJS NYR |
Arizona 4.15 – Away CHI MIN DET – Home NJD |
NY Islanders 4.05 – Away ANA LAK BUF – Home OTT |
Calgary 4.02 – Away CAR – Home COL VGK MTL |
Steer Clear |
Tampa Bay 1.85 – Away FLA – Home NYR |
Toronto 1.93 – Away PHI – Home CAR |
Vegas 1.95 – Away SEA CGY |
Vancouver 2.05 – Home COL WSH |
Florida 2.56 – Away DAL CAR – Home TBL |
Monday, March 11th to Sunday, March 17th, 2024 |
Best Bets |
NY Rangers 4.61 – Away CAR TBL PIT – Home NJD NYI |
Columbus 4.55 – Away MTL – Home OTT SJS WPG |
Detroit 4.36 – Away BUF PIT – Home ARI BUF |
Pittsburgh 4.31 – Away OTT – Home SJS NYR DET |
Winnipeg 4.25 – Away CBJ – Home WSH NSH ANA |
Steer Clear |
Tampa Bay 1.85 – Away FLA – Home NYR |
Toronto 1.93 – Away PHI – Home CAR |
Nashville 2 – Away WPG SEA |
Edmonton 2.05 – Home WSH COL |
Vancouver 2.05 – Home COL WSH |
Tuesday, March 12th to Monday, March 18th, 2024 |
Best Bets |
Columbus 4.55 – Away MTL – Home OTT SJS WPG |
Detroit 4.36 – Away BUF PIT – Home ARI BUF |
Calgary 4.36 – Home COL VGK MTL WSH |
Seattle 4.31 – Home VGK WSH NSH BUF |
Pittsburgh 4.31 – Away OTT – Home SJS NYR DET |
Steer Clear |
Tampa Bay 1.85 – Away FLA – Home NYR |
Toronto 1.93 – Away PHI – Home CAR |
Nashville 2 – Away WPG SEA |
Edmonton 2.05 – Home WSH COL |
Vancouver 2.05 – Home COL WSH |
Wednesday, March 13th to Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 |
Best Bets |
Detroit 4.42 – Away PIT – Home ARI BUF CBJ |
Columbus 4.41 – Away DET – Home OTT SJS WPG |
Pittsburgh 4.35 – Away NJD – Home SJS NYR DET |
Los Angeles 4.16 – Away STL CHI DAL – Home CHI |
Winnipeg 4.01 – Away CBJ NYR – Home NSH ANA |
Steer Clear |
Florida 1.71 – Away CAR – Home TBL |
Dallas 2.10 – Home NJD LAK |
Arizona 2.15 – Home DET – Home NJD |
Colorado 2.71 – Away VAN EDM STL |
Montreal 2.80 – Away CGY EDM – Home BOS |
Thursday, March 14th to Wednesday, March 20th, 2024 |
Best Bets |
Detroit 4.42 – Away PIT – Home ARI BUF CBJ |
Columbus 4.41 – Away DET – Home OTT SJS WPG |
Pittsburgh 4.35 – Away NJD – Home SJS NYR DET |
Los Angeles 4.20 – Away CHI DAL – Home CHI MIN |
Toronto 4.02 – Away PHI PHI WSH – Home CAR |
Steer Clear |
Florida 1.71 – Away CAR – Home TBL |
Colorado 1.85 – Away EDM STL |
Edmonton 2.21 – Home COL MTL |
Vancouver 2.26 – Home WSH BUF |
Nashville 2.31 – Away SEA – Home SJS |
*For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.