As fantasy managers, we tend to remember how players perform when we have them on our teams. I'm sure just about everyone has a story of a guy who always seems to double his output the week after we cut him due to a cold stretch. Sometimes, it's the sleeper pick that doesn't pan out the year you picked him, but the year afterward, when you'd given up on him. As frustrating as those players and situations can be, it's important to recall that each season is unique. Not every player can perform to our ideal standard of their capabilities all the time -- there's ups and downs throughout seasons and over multi-year stretches.
With that lesson in mind, please open your hearts and minds to the concept of rostering Mikael Granlund again. I'm sure he's disappointed a few people in the previous two-and-a-half seasons, but right now, the Finn is in excellent form. Fueled by a four-assist game versus the Blues on Thursday, Granlund picked up six points in three games this past week. That's good and all, but here's where my confidence in him comes from -- he's at three goals and 13 assists in just 15 games overall. Four of those helpers have come on the power play, and the playmaker is shooting a reasonable 13.6 percent. Last year, he shot 17.6 percent while putting up a decent but not remarkable 27 points in 51 contests. He's playing more than ever (20:25 per game) and thriving in
As fantasy managers, we tend to remember how players perform when we have them on our teams. I'm sure just about everyone has a story of a guy who always seems to double his output the week after we cut him due to a cold stretch. Sometimes, it's the sleeper pick that doesn't pan out the year you picked him, but the year afterward, when you'd given up on him. As frustrating as those players and situations can be, it's important to recall that each season is unique. Not every player can perform to our ideal standard of their capabilities all the time -- there's ups and downs throughout seasons and over multi-year stretches.
With that lesson in mind, please open your hearts and minds to the concept of rostering Mikael Granlund again. I'm sure he's disappointed a few people in the previous two-and-a-half seasons, but right now, the Finn is in excellent form. Fueled by a four-assist game versus the Blues on Thursday, Granlund picked up six points in three games this past week. That's good and all, but here's where my confidence in him comes from -- he's at three goals and 13 assists in just 15 games overall. Four of those helpers have come on the power play, and the playmaker is shooting a reasonable 13.6 percent. Last year, he shot 17.6 percent while putting up a decent but not remarkable 27 points in 51 contests. He's playing more than ever (20:25 per game) and thriving in a top-six role. Trusting someone whose burned you before is tough, but he finally looks to have recaptured his scoring form from his glory days with the Wild.
I'm not done highlighting Predators players quite yet, as it would be poor of me not to mention Matt Duchene. Like Granlund, Duchene has struggled since arriving in Nashville, but the two have clicked -- who do you think Granlund is sending all those assists to? Since the start of November, Duchene has seven goals and four assists in seven contests. The 30-year-old's 20.5 shooting percentage is a little more troubling -- while he's shown a history of maintaining a conversion rate in the double-digits, he won't keep burying pucks like he is right now. Still, points are points. Ride the hot streak and see where it takes you.
I've been a skeptic when it comes to the sustainability of Ryan Hartman, and his career-best 14.9 shooting percentage through 14 games still gives me concern. He's only finished north of 10 percent once in his career, and that was five years ago with the Blackhawks. That aside, he leads the Wild with seven goals in 14 contests. The American is virtually the ideal forward in Dean Evason's system -- Hartman is flexible enough to play center or wing anywhere in the lineup. This is a balanced team, so while I think his scoring pace will eventually dip, I don't think it'll fly off a cliff.
I love to talk about players seizing opportunities, and right now, Dawson Mercer fits the bill. He's keeping Jack Hughes' spot as the second-line center warm, but Mercer's making a case to play in the top six even when Hughes is healthy. Over his last four games, Mercer has two goals and four helpers, and none of those points have come with the benefit of the man advantage. In fact, the 20-year-old has earned just one of his 11 points, an assist, on the power play. It's far too early to talk about end-of-year awards, but if he shows any bit of consistency over the next five months, he'll have a respectable case for the Calder Trophy.
Along for the ride in Mercer's hot streak is Jesper Bratt, who likely ticked off a few fantasy managers by going scoreless over the first five games of the season. Since then: four goals, seven assists and 26 shots on goal in nine outings. He'll be at the mercy of his scoring pace as to where he plays in the lineup, but the hot streak has him on the second line. The nice thing with Bratt is he's a player you can add when he's hot and cast aside when the magic runs out. He'll probably be waiting for you at the next scoring binge. Those players, when added and dropped at the right times, can be of great benefit throughout a season.
There's about two things to like about the Canucks' offense lately, and their names are J.T. Miller and Nils Hoglander. Miller's a household name in fantasy at this point -- he does everything fairly well and it'll probably take a ransom to pry him away from whichever manager is lucky enough to roster him. Hoglander, on the other hand, is widely available. The skilled Swede is up to five goals and four assists in 16 contests overall, but he's picked up five of those nine points in the last three games. My one hesitation with Hoglander is he's yet to receive the full trust of head coach Travis Green. Hoglander's not going to wow anyone with defensive effort, but keeping him in a full-time, top-six position rather than yo-yoing him to the third line would greatly reduce my doubts in his ability to keep this up. He had 13 goals in 56 outings as a rookie last year, and I'd be fine with 20-goal, 45-point performance the rest of the way as a sophomore.
Samuel Girard wore out his welcome with a slow start to the season and a two-game absence with an undisclosed injury. He was one of my favorite depth defensemen to draft in fantasy this year, but I had to part ways with him in some of my eight-team leagues. Then he had a four-point game versus the Sharks on Saturday. Quality of opponent aside, the 23-year-old would be one of those players right on the fringe of usefulness in fantasy, mostly due to his lack of physicality. He has to score to keep your attention, but with seven points in his last three games, take a look. Just be wary that Bowen Byram's return from an upper-body injury will likely eat into Girard's already limited power-play time.
Last week, I hyped up the Kings' second line, which consisted of Adrian Kempe, Phillip Danault and Alex Iafallo. With Viktor Arvidsson in COVID-19 protocols, Kempe moved up to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Andreas Athanasiou slotted into a second-line role. Athanasiou has been money in five games since he returned from an injury of his own -- two goals, three assists and only one doughnut on his ledger. When point-per-game pace is available, you grab it. Don't hesitate on Athanasiou, even though it's unclear how all the pieces fit together in the Kings' top six once Arvidsson returns.
For those who end up a little late to the Granlund party, you can find similar production in Robert Thomas, who has collected seven assists, including three on the power play, in his last three games. Thomas can be a polarizing player -- he's a pure playmaker with no physicality in his game, and he doesn't shoot very much. Last year, he struggled with 12 points in 33 contests, but he had a strong 10-goal, 42-point campaign the year before. After a three-assist game against the Oilers on Sunday, he's at 15 points in 14 games this year. I don't think he can stick at that pace, especially once Brayden Schenn (upper body) returns, but the Blues' offense is as deep as it has ever been.
For managers looking for deep-league help on the blue line, I present Brayden McNabb. The 30-year-old defensive stalwart has somehow picked up six points in 15 contests this season, including three points in his last five games. He's spared none of his usual physicality either, with 32 hits and 41 blocked shots this season. I didn't expect him to turn into Alec Martinez-lite early in the year and I have no clue how long it'll last. He's on pace for 150 hits and 200 blocked shots -- that can be useful in formats where scoring isn't as important.
Second chances are not easy to give in fantasy, especially to veteran players who have been trending down over the years. Usually, success comes with a few red flags along the way. That said, this is a results game -- go with the guys who will lead you to wins, even if they've dealt you a few losses in the past. Nobody's perfect, after all. Take chances and aim for the stars this week, and I'll have more players to spotlight next week.
