Last season, we had Alex Ovechkin's (97 percent Yahoo!) epic goal chase. He broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record on Apr. 6. I remember it like yesterday. Maybe that's why I've been into milestones this year.
Two big ones fell in the last two weeks. Did you see them? I did.
Sidney Crosby (100 percent Yahoo!) became the Penguins all-time leading scorer (1,724 points) with two points against the Habs on Dec. 21. Sure, it took him 472 more games than it took Mario Lemieux (915) to get there. But what a milestone. And there's more to come. The team record may be untouchable by the time he's done. Sid is still producing at greater than a point-per-game pace.
On Saturday night, Auston Matthews (100 percent Yahoo!) sniped twice that included goal 421 to pass Hall of Famer Mats Sundin to become the Toronto's all-time goals leader. Love 'em or hate 'em, the Leafs are to the NHL what the Yankees are to MLB. That is, the league's most famous and most commercially powerful franchise.
Matthews is scoring at roughly the pace Ovie scored early in his career. I'm not saying he'll reach that record. And if he does, it won't be in a Leafs jersey. But he'll pad his team record before he leaves for somewhere he can win. I know. Ouch.
Records are meant to be broken. Major moments are meant to be experienced.
I was lucky enough to get a four-ticket package to the 2015 World
Last season, we had Alex Ovechkin's (97 percent Yahoo!) epic goal chase. He broke Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record on Apr. 6. I remember it like yesterday. Maybe that's why I've been into milestones this year.
Two big ones fell in the last two weeks. Did you see them? I did.
Sidney Crosby (100 percent Yahoo!) became the Penguins all-time leading scorer (1,724 points) with two points against the Habs on Dec. 21. Sure, it took him 472 more games than it took Mario Lemieux (915) to get there. But what a milestone. And there's more to come. The team record may be untouchable by the time he's done. Sid is still producing at greater than a point-per-game pace.
On Saturday night, Auston Matthews (100 percent Yahoo!) sniped twice that included goal 421 to pass Hall of Famer Mats Sundin to become the Toronto's all-time goals leader. Love 'em or hate 'em, the Leafs are to the NHL what the Yankees are to MLB. That is, the league's most famous and most commercially powerful franchise.
Matthews is scoring at roughly the pace Ovie scored early in his career. I'm not saying he'll reach that record. And if he does, it won't be in a Leafs jersey. But he'll pad his team record before he leaves for somewhere he can win. I know. Ouch.
Records are meant to be broken. Major moments are meant to be experienced.
I was lucky enough to get a four-ticket package to the 2015 World Juniors in Toronto. I experienced it with one of my best friends, who is as obsessed as me. She and her husband even went to Gothenberg, Sweden for the tourney a couple years ago. And loved every second, even with an early elimination for Canada.
In Toronto, I remember our section was next to the one reserved for the opposing country's family and friends. That was so much fun. I saw Connor McDavid (100 percent Yahoo!) put up 11 points in the tourney. And I remember hugging the guy in front of me when Canada won. No idea who he was, but we'd seen every game together. So, why not? It was about the moment.
Now, let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.
Igor Chernyshov, LW, San Jose (16 percent Yahoo!) -- Chernyshov has been a recent revelation on the Sharks' top line alongside Macklin Celebrini (100 percent Yahoo!) and William Eklund (34 percent Yahoo!). In eight games this season, he has eight points (three goals, five assists) and 17 shots. Chernyshov is doing well enough to keep this gig when Will Smith (63 percent Yahoo!) returns from an upper-body injury in a few weeks. He can play.
Blake Coleman, C/LW/RW, Calgary (37 percent Yahoo!) -- Coleman finds his fantasy feet a couple times every season. He heads into Monday on a four-game, four-point streak that includes three goals, 13 hits and 12 shots. And he has eight points - including five goals - 29 hits and 24 shots from his last nine. But don't hold your breath on special-teams production as Coleman is on PP2, though hasn't produced there all season. His combo of grit and goals will help in daily matchups. Until he cools down. Which he will.
Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW, Vancouver (18 percent Yahoo!) -- DeBrusk was at his aggressive best this weekend as he fired seven shots and rang a couple posts Saturday against Boston. He registered another five on Friday while converting one and adding two assists. DeBrusk also delivered a hit in each after flattening five guys Tuesday against Philly. The Orcas are second-worst in the league, though DeBrusk is a proud player who's out to prove something, especially after being scratched Monday night. The benching may have lit a fire.
Jordan Eberle, RW, Seattle (29 percent Yahoo!) -- Eberle heads into Monday night on a six-game, seven-point run consisting of four goals, 13 shots, six blocks, a plus-5 and three PPP (one goal, two helpers). His shot has always been elite, but he's always been viewed as a bit one-dimensional. Can old dogs learn new tricks? Maybe it takes 13 seasons to do that. If yes, then Eberle's offense plays up, especially in deep formats. A streak is a streak, after all.
William Eklund, LW/RW, San Jose (34 percent Yahoo!) -- Eklund has moved up to the Sharks' first trio with Will Smith's (63 percent Yahoo!) injury. And since Christmas, he's looked like the 57-point performer from last year. Eklund had a three-game, four-point streak (two goals, two assists) snapped Saturday. Anyone with his hands and vision is worth a pickup, even if he doesn't really deliver in other categories.
Luke Evangelista, RW, Nashville (10 percent Yahoo!) -- Pretty soon, I'm going to stop talking about Evangelista as he continues to be grossly underrostered. He's on pace for 60 points - including 50 helpers - and is happy to whip pucks at opposing netminders (91 in 40 games). Plus he's on PP1. Heading into Tuesday, Evangelista has five points (one goal, four assists) during his last four contests. And early Sunday, he was in a 10-player tie for 35th in the NHL with 24 assists alongside Jason Robertson (100 percent Yahoo!), Tim Stutzle (99 percent Yahoo!) and Trevor Zegras (81 percent Yahoo!). He won't ever have their fantasy cache, yet he sure is dishing like them.
Martin Fehervary, D, Washington (4 percent Yahoo!) -- Fehervary played barn door this week to the tune of 15 blocks in four matchups to go with six shots and an assist. But it was his category domination that sucked me in. Fehervary has notched 12 points overall, so he's not a complete pylon if you need his kind of bruising.
Philipp Grubauer, G, Seattle (11 percent Yahoo!) -- Grubauer has gone from fantasy afterthought to a straight platoon, courtesy of a three-game winning run with only one goal allowed in each. And they weren't gimmes as he beat the Flyers and Ducks who are both currently in playoff spots along with a Preds' team one point from a Wild Card before play started Sunday. Grubauer is likely in net Monday against the Flames and again Thursday against Minnesota. The first one is a favorable matchup, even against a hot Calgary side. And overall, Grubauer's 2.32 GAA and .920 save percentage (10 starts; 7-3-1) show he's as sharp as he was when he arrived in the NHL a decade ago. He could deliver a strong second half on your squad. For cheap.
Linus Karlsson, C, Vancouver (1 percent Yahoo!) -- Karlsson has come out of nowhere with seven points - five of those goals - in his last seven games. Two of those snipes have come on the power play. He also has 15 hits, 10 shots and a spot on the top line courtesy of an undisclosed injury to Conor Garland (12 percent Yahoo!). Karlsson has been outstanding in the AHL the last couple seasons with a Calder Cup (2024-25) to his name. Garland is out for a week. Let's see what Karlsson can do on an Eastern road trip. As a pivot-only, he needs to be super hot to play, unless you roll forwards instead of specific positions.
Denton Mateychuk, D, Columbus (10 percent Yahoo!) -- Two years ago in Sweden, Mateychuk was coming off a disappointing World Junior quarterfinal loss to Czechia. Fast forward to now and he's on Columbus' lead pairing with Zach Werenski (100 percent Yahoo!) with seven points (two goals, five assists), eight shots and four blocks over his last six outings. Mateychuk is a smooth, steady puckmover who doesn't get much power-play time, yet he's put up an impressive eight goals. That puts the sophomore even with Jake Sanderson (99 percent Yahoo!), John Carlson (92 percent Yahoo!) and Evan Bouchard (100 percent Yahoo!) for 11th in sniping from the back end. Oh yeah, and he's available in nine-of-10 Yahoo! leagues.
Bobby McMann, LW, Toronto (12 percent Yahoo!) -- Get thee to the wire for first-liner Bobby McMann, sidekick to one Auston Matthews (100 percent Yahoo!). He goes into Tuesday night on a three-game, four-point streak (one goal, three assists) with four goals, four assists, and 23 shots from his last eight. McMann even has a power-play assist during that run. He has a history of elevating his game when he climbs up the roster. McMann is a fantasy play until he loses AM34.
Mathieu Olivier, RW, Columbus (13 percent Yahoo!) -- Hit alert! Hit alert! Olivier recorded five hits and an assist Sunday to punctuate a Sunday-to-Sunday stretch where he laid down 26 smacks in only five outings. He's not a big scorer, but also potted a goal in that stretch. He won't give you much in any other category, other than a few PIM (nine over his last five). But Olivier is your man if your league counts bone-rattling bruises.
Nicholas Robertson, RW, Toronto (2 percent Yahoo!) -- Success for Robertson comes as a double-edged sword. He heads into Tuesday with points in four of his last five appearances (three goals, three assists) with 14 shots and two PPAs. At 5-foot-9, Robertson is best used in a top-six role and the Leafs are too deep for him to find his keep there. There's every chance they'll be looking to trade for extra help as they climb back to a playoff spot, and Robertson could be the bait. A new opportunity could bring more value, given his talent. I'm thinking about stashing him.
Corey Perry, RW, Los Angeles (2 percent Yahoo!) -- Perry caught my eye Thursday with a three-assist night - it cemented him a spot in the Kings' record book as the oldest player in team history to get three points. The 40-year-old is a fixture on the fourth line, yet heads into action Monday on a four-game, six-point streak (two goals, four helpers) with four of those coming on the man-advantage. Perry is no Andy Stitzer - he knows how to convert. And he can help in the short-term.
Stuart Skinner, G, Pittsburgh (37 percent Yahoo!) -- Skinner suddenly looks playable. Damn, I said that out loud. He's managed back-to-back, one-goal wins against the Canes and Red Wings and his body language feels way better than it was in Alberta. Can he be the Skinner of 2023-24 that posted 36 victories on the back of above-average ratios? Maybe getting out of his hometown and into the relative anonymity of Steeltown is the tonic he needs. I have Skinner in one of my keeper leagues, so I sure hope it is.
Cole Sillinger, RW/C, Columbus (6 percent Yahoo!) -- It's hard to remember Sillinger is only 22 since he's been around a long time. And yes, it feels like the Blue Jackets ruined him. All those what-ifs. But since Christmas, the high-potential Sillinger looks back. It won't last, though I like the four-game, five-point run he took into Sunday afternoon. It included two goals, three assists, a plus-4, nine shots and eight hits. He won't help at the dot, but could overtake Charlie Coyle (9 percent Yahoo!) on PP2.
Mats Zuccarello, RW, Minnesota (20 percent Yahoo!) -- The Norwegian Hobbit is quietly supplying remarkable production at 38 years of age. Zuccarello has notched 19 points - including 15 helpers - across 23 games and skates into Monday on a three-game, three-point stretch that includes a goal on five shots along with two goals, three assists, and 11 shots in his last five. His wagon is hooked to Kirill Kaprizov (100 percent Yahoo!) at even-strength and PP1. That deployment alone given the talent on that top unit is worth picking Zucc up.
Back to more history in the making.
Phil Kessel's ironman streak (1,064 consecutive games) could fall next season if Brent Burns (57 percent Yahoo!) can stay healthy. He's 40 and needs 101 more outings to pass the Thrill. Burns can set the record in late Feb. 2027, a few weeks before he turns 42. An age that only 19 NHL skaters have ever hit.
Does he have it in him? One shot block can spell doom for a defender. But I'm pulling for Burns. After all, he's the pride of Barrie, Ontario. And a few years back, he bought a fat bike at one of the shops I frequent there. I missed him by minutes.
That would have been an epic convo. No hockey. Fat biking is so weird it consumes its victims.
Until next week. And go Canada, GO! Yes, this was submitted during Sunday's game, so fingers crossed...
