Keeping Karlsson: Elan's back from New Orleans. Injuries may have decimated Ottawa and the guys begin by seeing how it may impact the able-bodied players who can still take the ice. They also tip their cap to a couple of d-men who've swapped an IR spot in Pittsburgh, and consider whether Claude Julien can bring a staggering Habs roster back to life. Then, a hotly anticipated rookie who couldn't impress at this season's outset is back for another kick at the can in Columbus, while teammates around him alternately slump and awaken.
Outjuries double as snoozers, as the merits of activating or jettisoning a returning centreman in Dallas and a blueliner in Anaheim are debated, with a healthy but quiet-til-now Panthers defenseman thrown in for good measure. Meanwhile, the debate over whether a certain Ducks forward can maintain a 55+ point pace appears all but settled, and new lines in Anaheim lead to a depth chart search for fantasy value outside of the usual suspects.
In hot streaks, Brian thinks Elan's feeling confident about one Canuck too many. The segment also features a couple Coyotes forwards and defensemen are helpful for as long as they remain in the desert, an entire line reigniting a pretty great even-strength run in Detroit, an assist-happy Blue who Brian prefers as a goal-scorer, a 60+ point scorer starting to maybe look like one again, a doghouse escapee in Boston, Brent freaking Burns, and Elan pining over vintage Zetterberg.
Goalies get some time in the spotlight, including thoughts on why the Blues goalies are suddenly keeping the red lamp from being lit, a Philadelphia goalie whose only hot in the category of 'games started', an apparently reliable Western Conference goalie who could be spelling his starter more often, an emerging title change in Florida, and a struggling Isles tender with rough waters ahead.
Also, what the heck should you do with a couple struggling Jets as they enter their bye weeks? And which Jet forward should you pick up when they hit the ice again?
Players discussed on this episode include Mark Stone, Kris Letang, Bo Horvat, Henrik Zetterberg, Alex Galchenyuk, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jaden Schwartz, Martin Hanzal, Zach Werenski, Michal Neuvirth, Oscar Klefbom, Jordan Eberle, Thomas Greiss, Aaron Dell, Nikolaj Ehlers, Ryan Spooner, Petr Mrazek, Mike Hoffman, Bobby Ryan, Brad Marchand, Max Pacioretty, Ryan Dzingel, Zack Smith, Curtis Lazar, Erik Karlsson, Craig Anderson, Mike Condon, Justin Schultz, Chris Kunitz, Jake Guentzel, Carl Hagelin, Shea Weber, Jeff Petry, Brendan Gallagher, Carey Price, Brandon Saad, Brandon Dubinsky, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp, Sami Vatanen, Radek Faksa, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Brent Burns, Rickard Rakell, Aaron Ekblad, Nick Ritchie, Ondrej Kase, Alex Edler, Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Troy Stecher, Radim Vrbata, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Michael Stone, Alex Goligoski, Tomas Tatar, Anthony Mantha, Jake Allen, Carter Hutton, Steve Mason, Leon Draisaitl, Andrej Sekera, Mark Letestu, Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Mathieu Perreault and more.
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