Welcome fantasy managers to another edition of the Eastern Edge. This week we are going to take a closer look at John Gibson‘s excellent first half of the campaign, David Pastrnak's brilliance in Boston, Dan Vladar seizing his opportunity in Philadelphia, trade talk surrounding Dougie Hamilton and a potential new lease on life for Kent Johnson. Let's get to it!

John Gibson sure is loving life with the Detroit Red Wings, isn’t he? The American-born goaltender has been on a heater since the beginning of December with an astounding 13-2 record accompanied by an impressive 2.06 goals against and .931 save percentage including three shutouts during that span. In addition to that, Gibson has 10 quality starts in those 14 games along with a 16.94GSAx for good measure.

The former Anaheim Duck has vaulted the Red Wings atop the Atlantic division as we approach mid-January with a red-hot Tampa Bay Lighting squad (currently on a nin game win streak) breathing down their neck with three games in hand. Gibson will need to continue his high level of play in the second half of the campaign while at the same time remaining healthy for a Detroit team that has its sights set firmly on the NHL's postseason.

The brilliance of David Pastrnak is quite something to behold, and the Bruins winger reminded us of that on Saturday with a phenomenal six-assist game against the reeling New York Rangers in what amounted to a 10-2 thrashing at TD Garden. Pastrnak has been on some kind of run lately with 14PTS in his last 6GP in helping the Bruins to a modest two-game win streak in what is a jam-packed Eastern Conference playoff race.

What makes this all the more impressive is the exodus of elite talent that has left the Bruins roster over the last number of years with the retirements of players such as Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci while long-time running mate Brad Marchand was dealt at last year’s trade deadline to the Florida Panthers winning a second Stanley Cup in June. Through it all, the Czechia native has continued to produce at an insanely elite level considering the talent around him and looks poised to continue producing at such a level for years to come.

The Philadelphia Flyers look like they may have a good one in goaltender Dan Vladar. The former Calgary Flame is having a breakout campaign with a 16-7-4 record accompanied by a 2.42 goals against and .907 save percentage with a 77.8% quality start rate and 12.86GSAx. Fantasy managers who went out on a limb to select Vladar or the previously mentioned John Gibson either during draft season or off the waiver wire are reaping some serious value as it relates to the average draft position (ADP). It lends even more credence to the Zero G strategy that continues to gain stream each year.

It certainly goes a long way that the Flyers appear to be moving into the next phase of their rebuild by making their way up the Eastern Conference standings and contending for a playoff spot. A large part of that transformation had to do with coach Rick Tocchet's implementation of a more defensive-minded system which of course had offered more support to the teams goaltending to the tune of 2.93 GA/GP (10th overall). Vladar has rewarded the Flyers with even better play of late, having gone 5-2-1 in his last eight games with a tidy 2.25 goals against and .905 save percentage in addition to all seven games being quality starts. Look for a strong second half from both the Flyers and Vladar.

Much ink has been spilled regarding New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton as it relates to his healthy scratch this past weekend. It has been a struggle all season for the 6'6" 220lbs rearguard with measly 10 points on the year while being deployed on the team’s first power play unit and still logging almost 22 minutes per game. Quite simply the Devils are not getting near enough return on the 11.55M salary that Hamilton is taking home this year. Hamilton has an abysmal 5PTS in his last 27 games played with one power play point during that span.

Talk is that both Hamilton as well as his agent J.P. Barry are open to adding more teams to a modified no-trade clause to facilitate a move out of New Jersey in order to find a better fit.

Stay tuned.

A coaching change in Columbus was needed as several of the team’s younger stars’ development had stalled under former bench boss Dean Evason, none more than centre Kent Johnson. Johnson had a mini breakout in 2024-2025 with 57 points in 68 games played which has fantasy managers excited for what was in store for this year. Well, to say things have not gone as planned is an understatement as the 23-year-old has struggled mightily with a stat line of only 12 points in 44 games played, a far cry from what was expected.

The hope here is that incoming coach Rick Bowness can get the kids back on track production-wise. Let's face it, when it comes to Johnson's outlook things can only go up…….right?

That's it for this week folks, keep an eye out for my Weekend Waiver Wire column every Friday morning over at the Goalie Post for streaming options as it relates to upcoming games this weekend.

Thanks for reading and feel free to follow me on X @mikeouellet9 or BlueSky @mikeouellet9.bsky.social

See you all again next Tuesday!