Looking Ahead: Look for Cozens, Leave Vegas

Andrew Santillo

2024-12-06

What's good to everybody? Hope everyone out there is having a nice week as we head into December. Check that. We're already in December, so let's dive in to what we have Looking Ahead.

The Immediate Fix (Grab this guy and use him for the next several days)

Dylan Cozens, C, Buffalo Sabres (Rostered in 48% of ESPN leagues, 65% Fantrax, 23% Yahoo)
– The NHL is at it again next week, and by that I mean Monday and Wednesday we'll be treated to less than three games each, while Tuesday and Thursday seemingly every club is in action. For this reason, I wanted to find a player on a club that will play Monday/Wednesday that gives us a good chance for production. Sorry about Friday though, there's only one game that day. Stay hot, NHL.   

If we're looking for a player to fit days on the calendar where there's not much action, Buffalo fits that mold next week as they have games Monday, Wednesday, and both weekend days. Looking at roster numbers here one skater stood out and that's Dylan Cozens. This is a player here that I would want on my club for next week and even if you want to roster him into the following weeks, I think that's a solid play. Cozens centers the top power-play unit for the Sabres and has four points in his last five games. I know you all come here for the hard-hitting analytics each and every week, and there's something I noticed with Cozens. When he shoots the puck a lot, normally does not get on the scoresheet. Doesn't shoot as much, gets on the sheet. Sabres fans, does anyone else notice this? Regardless, Cozens makes for a great addition next week.

The Building Block (Buy now, sit back and enjoy the production)

Jared Spurgeon, D, Minnesota Wild (Rostered in 11% of ESPN leagues, 36% Fantrax, 15% Yahoo)
– I've had Jared Spurgeon circled here for a while as a Building Block but always hesitated because the last time I did this, well, a Band-Aid Boy Certified player did what Band-Aid Boy Certified players do. Now though, I'm going for it and throwing Spurgeon on here as a Building Block.  

I wrote up the Minnesota Wild preview to start the season and pushed all the chips in the middle. I thought that this club had a brutal start to last season and never really recovered from it, but with what they had coming in along with a full camp under a new coach, I liked them over the long haul. One of the issues with this club last year was that they missed their captain on the blue line, and I think there was something to that. Not that I dislike Brock Faber, but I liked what Spurgeon brought to the man advantage as I needed to see someone shoot the puck more from the point and be able to move and create space. The Wild tried to use Declan Chisholm in this role briefly, but now it looks like if healthy, this is Spurgeon's power play to run from the point.

I understand the hesitation with health, but Saturday's game winning goal versus Nashville sealed it for me, as he's a player I'm likely targeting to add in my main league. Side note, if anyone in my league is reading this, I am in no way considering Jared Spurgeon. Nope. I don't even know who that is. If healthy and given the opportunity on the current best record in the league Wild, I think 40 points is in play here. For peripherals as well, if he can get up to even 60 games played then I'd imagine 55-60 hits and close to 80 blocks are in play here.

The Odd Man Out (His short-term value is cause for concern)

William Karlsson, C, Vegas Golden Knights (Rostered in 60% of ESPN leagues, 60% Fantrax, 27% Yahoo)
– So maybe not so much over on Yahoo, but for everyone on ESPN and Fantrax, the roster numbers are pretty high here for William Karlsson. He's a player in deeper leagues that I still like but for smaller leagues, he makes it as our Odd-Man Out this week.  

If you've been on the DFS streets the past couple seasons (it's hard out here), then you'll know that the Vegas second line on any given slate, for whatever reason, always has crazy high roster numbers, and for the time being that included Karlsson. This season though, William Karlsson came back from an injury to open the year and was put onto the Golden Knights third line right away. Out of the gate, he had excellent production but correct me if I'm wrong, those games were all against lower competition sealed off by a Sunday Road matchup against Anaheim.

As things stand right now, he's still the third line center behind Jack Eichel (no surprise there) and Nicolas Roy, who has at times either been the top power-play center or left wing. The value here for Karlsson is that there are times that he goes out with the Vegas top power-play unit and as mentioned, in deeper leagues he makes for a good depth center to have. For smaller leagues out there either by roster or league members, there may be more productive centers out there.

The Anchors (They’ll do nothing but disappoint even over the long haul)

Juuse Saros, G, Nashville Predators (Rostered in 92% of ESPN leagues, 99%, Fantrax, 99% Yahoo)
– That's it. I've seen enough. Nashville is horrendous this season, and I don't know so much if there's a turnaround. While Saros isn't the main issue here, he's been sinking fantasy starts all season. Good news for my audience out there, I can speak firsthand on this. Sigh.  

This season in my draft I wanted one thing. Or well, maybe two. I wanted Auston Matthews (check), and two goaltenders that I didn't have to constantly check the start 'em, sit status…even though, quick plug here for GoaliePost. One stop information superhighway for all things goaltenders! Any who, so I draft Connor Hellebuyck and Juuse Saros. Hellebuyck has been fantastic, Saros, well. Last game out, three goals allowed and a loss. This is also the case for the three games prior to that, but not going back as far as four games. That one was four goals allowed and a loss.

Look, as long as he's there and healthy, I can't see Nashville sharing the net or outright going to someone else in net, but Nashville is poor enough right now where even a low-volume win is hard to come by right now. I genuinely hope for a turnaround here soon, for fantasy and just because Nashville on the low is just something we're not used to seeing. As a Chicago fan though…welcome to the bottom. Join us! All our welcome, even without a Tennessee ZIP code on a credit card…traveling Hawks fans know what I'm getting at there.

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)

This period runs through December 6 – December 15

Toronto – The Leafs' busy schedule is back, and so is Auston Matthews! Toronto will be in action four times next week, which is excellent news for fantasy leagues and DFS.

NY Rangers
– The Rangers start the week at home versus Chicago and end it on the road versus St. Louis. That alone makes them a Love 'Em for me.

Winnipeg
– Winnipeg plays both days this weekend against Chicago and Columbus and also has a favorable schedule next week with Boston, Vegas, and Montreal, all on home ice.  

Leave ‘Em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed in the short term)

Vegas
– Vegas has three games on the schedule next week, all towards the end, and all on the road. They'll see Winnipeg, then a road back-to-back Edmonton/Minnesota. That's a tough stretch for any club, Vegas is a Leave 'Em for now.

Dallas
– Only two games next week for Dallas, and I'll give them a…not a Leave 'Em but not 'Love Em either? They'll see Nashville and St. Louis both on home ice but that's it for the week. If they had another game in there, they'd be a Love 'Em but just two games have me off them for now.

Washington
– So they do end this week on the road in Montreal, which may just be a 60-minute shoot out, but next week just two games. Staying away for now.

For continued fantasy news and notes, follow me on Twitter @ndySanz.

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UPCOMING GAMES

Dec 12 - 19:12 CBJ vs WSH
Dec 12 - 19:12 TOR vs ANA
Dec 12 - 19:12 MTL vs PIT
Dec 12 - 19:12 PHI vs DET
Dec 12 - 19:12 N.J vs L.A
Dec 12 - 19:12 NYI vs CHI
Dec 12 - 20:12 DAL vs NSH
Dec 12 - 20:12 STL vs S.J
Dec 12 - 20:12 WPG vs VGK
Dec 12 - 20:12 MIN vs EDM
Dec 12 - 21:12 CGY vs T.B
Dec 12 - 21:12 COL vs UTA
Dec 12 - 22:12 VAN vs FLA
Dec 12 - 22:12 SEA vs BOS

Starting Goalies

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MELVIN FERNSTROM VAN
DYLAN HOLLOWAY STL
BRANDT CLARKE L.A
KENT JOHNSON CBJ
LANE HUTSON MTL

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  Players Team
MACKENZIE BLACKWOOD COL
THATCHER DEMKO VAN
ADIN HILL VGK
DUSTIN WOLF CGY
STUART SKINNER EDM

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency ANA Players
23.3 MASON MCTAVISH BROCK MCGINN CUTTER GAUTHIER
22.1 FRANK VATRANO TROY TERRY RYAN STROME
18.1 BRETT LEASON ALEX KILLORN LEO CARLSSON

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