NHL Barometer: Risers & Fallers

This week's article includes the future No. 1 center in Anaheim, a pair of Devils and Islanders, a Red Wings — no, I am not kidding — and a slumping center in the City of Brotherly Love. 

This is the final column of the regular season. Thanks to all who read and/or commented during the year.

First Liners (Risers)

Trevor Zegras, C, ANA – If grabbing and stashing players in your league, Zegras is likely already snapped up. Even so, now back from his stint in San Diego of the AHL, where he switched from wing to center, Zegras is worth a look in single-year league. Zegras has three points in four games since he returned from San Diego, giving the New York native and ninth pick in 2019 two goals, 10 points, 42 shots on net and a plus-5 rating in 20 appearances. In addition, he racked up 10 goals and 21 points in 17 games for the Gulls. 

David Krejci, C, BOS – Patrice Bergeron and his linemates are the engine that make Boston go, but when Krejci is on his game, the Bruins, as expected, move to another level as a team. Krejci, who added three assists Saturday, has been on a tear since Taylor Hall arrived in Boston, racking up six goals and 14 points in the last 12 games, and this season the 35-year-old is up to eight goals and 37 points through 47 games. That output comes on the heels of last season, when he dropped from 73 points in 2018-19 to 43 points in 61 games.

Yegor Sharangovich, LW, NJ – Sharangovich, selected 141st in the 2017 draft, has been one of the more consistent and best players on the Devils this season. His goal and assist Saturday extended his point streak to three games, during which he tallied four goals and that single helper. In addition, he has 11 points, including six goals, in his last 10 games despite getting shut out Monday. Sharangovich is third in team scoring with 28 points, behind only Pavel Zacha (31) and Jack Hughes (29). He and Hughes are developing some nice chemistry, so file Sharangovich's name away for next year's fantasy draft.

Anthony Beauvillier, LW, NYI – Any time Beauvillier sees the Rangers' red, white and blue jerseys, he turns into the second coming of Brett Hull, circa the early-'90s. Beauvillier faced the Blueshirts three times in the last two weeks and posted four goals and three assists, giving the 2015 first-round pick 13 goals and 11 helpers in 43 games this year. Slotted on the second line and first power-play unit, Beauvillier is closing out the season in fine form and will be counted on by the orange, blue and white for production when playoff hockey begins. 

Will Butcher, D, NJ – Butcher could have been this week's Buy Low candidate, seeing where he was at last year to now. His production steadily declined from 44 points as a rookie in 2017-18 to 30 the following season and 21 points last year when he was a healthy scratch fairly often. This year has really been no difficulty, but been effective when in the lineup, totaling nine points in 19 games played this season. Butcher has been a lineup mainstay down the stretch, giving him the potential to be a difference maker in some leagues in the season's last few games.

Darnell Nurse, D, EDM – Despite — or maybe because of — the presence of Tyson Barrie, Nurse has had a very solid season on the Edmonton blueline. Nurse has logged 31 points, 137 shots on net, 111 hits, 86 blocked shots, 48 PIM and a plus-29 rating in 50 games. He needs just two more points to match his output from 71 games last season. Keep in mind for next year that part of that output, the 15 goals, is due to an unsustainable 11.1 shooting percentage. Factor that in for next year's rankings, but there is little reason to think he can't stay hot down the stretch.

Thomas Greiss, G, DET – No, I have not lost my mind putting a Red Wings goalie here, Greiss has earned the spot. His shoutout Saturday over the Lightning — again, not a misprint — made the veteran netminder is 5-0-3 over his last eight starts, during which he has posted a 1.45 goals-against average (GAA) and .953 save percentage. The hot streak has left Greiss with a respectable 2.73 GAA and .911 save percentage on the season, albeit with a 7-15-8 mark. Jonathan Bernier will see starts down the stretch as well, but Greiss has earned a roster spot for the last week or so of the season. 

Semyon Varlamov G, NYI – Even though he doesn't start every game, Varlamov's recent mark as a stone wall warranted inclusion. He has a league-leading seven shutouts, four of which have come against the Rangers, who he blanked Thursday and Saturday. Varlamov didn't allowed a goal in 248:00 before getting beat Monday by the Sabres, with that stretch is a team record, besting the great Chico Resch (178:26). The Isles clinched a playoff spot Saturday and will have to decide if Varlamov or Ilya Sorokin will be alternated in the postseason or if coach Barry Trotz rides one as the top netminder.

Others include Casey Mittelstadt, Anze Kopitar, Jack Hughes, Blake Coleman, Ryan O'Reilly, Jared McCann, Mitch Marner, Kirby Dach, Nico Hischier, Tomas Hertl, Sam Bennett, Andrei Svechnikov, Tyler Toffoli, Taylor Hall, Kevin Fiala, Anthony Duclair, Maxime Comtois, Jordan Kyrou, Craig Smith, Nick Suzuki, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, David Perron, Tyler Toffoli, Shea Theodore, Tyson Barrie, Jack Campbell, Tristan Jarry, Jeremy Swayman and Marc-Andre Fleury.

Buy Low

Brandon Hagel, LW, CHI – Last week, Vinnie Hinostroza was in this slot. This week, another Blackhawk gets the bold treatment. Hagel, a sixth-round pick at 159 in 2016, has two goals and four helpers in his last six outings while skating on a line with Kirby Dach. For the season, the 22-year-old rookie has posted 22 points, 80 shots, 53 hits and a minus-5 rating in 48 games. Hagel has evolved into a solid middle-six option for the Blackhawks in his first full NHL campaign; a pleasant surprise for the team from the Windy City. 

Training Room (Injuries) 

Philipp Grubauer, G, COL – Grubauer, out with COVID-19 since April 14, returned to action in dominating fashion this past Friday. He stopped all 21 shots faced in Friday's 3-0 win over the Sharks to notch his sixth shutout of the season. Coming into Monday's game, where he allowed four goals on 27 shots but grabbed the win, Grubauer had a 26-8-1 record with a 1.94 goals-against average and .922 save percentage, seeing more action than expected with Pavel Francouz out the whole season. That extra playing team could result in Grubauer winning the Vezina Trophy.

Others include Teuvo Teravainen (concussion, played just 13 games this season due to injuries, returned April 27), Tyler Seguin (hip surgery, has missed all season, suited up and scored in his season debut Monday), Evgeni Malkin (upper body, missed his 23rd straight game Saturday, but returned to action Monday), Alex Ovechkin (lower body, missed fourth straight game Saturday, played Monday, but left the contest), Tomas Tatar (lower body, missed fourth straight game Monday), Chris Kreider (upper body, missed third straight game Monday), Samuel Girard (undisclosed, out since April 30, expected to be miss two weeks), Ty Smith (upper body, missed four straight games, returned April 27), Antti Raanta (upper body, missed ninth straight game Monday) and Carter Hart (strained MCL knee, out for season).

Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers) 

Kevin Hayes, C, PHI – Hayes, slumping mightily, was benched by coach Alain Vigneault on Thursday, though that time in the press box was largely due to lack of effort rather than a decline in production. That said, Hayes last scored a goal on March 29. In that span, Hayes has just three assists in 16 games and overall had 11 goals and 16 assists in 50 games before he finally lit the lamp Monday. Those numbers are down from the 23 and 18 he posted in 69 games his first year in Philly last year after signing a seven-year, $50 million deal.

Jake DeBrusk, LW, BOS – DeBrusk returned to Boston's active lineup after sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch Thursday. If that move was made to light a fire until DeBrusk, it failed, as he was held off the scoresheet Saturday and Monday. DeBrusk only has 11 points in 35 games after a 19-goal, 35-point showing (in 65 games) last season, resulting in the four-year player sliding down to the B's fourth-line. If his current slump continues, DeBrusk could find himself wearing a suit as opposed to a jersey in the postseason. 

Ryan Pulock, D, NYI – Pulock was held off the score sheet Saturday, the eighth consecutive game he has failed to notch a goal or an assist. The Isles' No. 1 blueliner tallied 32 to 37 points each of the last three seasons, but has just one goal — tallied April 11 — and 14 helpers on the year. His ice time, both overall and on the man-advantage are about the same as last year, but his shooting percentage has declined from 6.1 percent last year to 0.9 percent this year. This drop makes him a potential rebound candidate next season. 

Others include Martin Necas, Ryan Getzlaf, Charlie Coyle, Vincent Trocheck, Philipp Kurashev, Ryan McDonagh, Shea Weber and Connor Hellebuyck.

Sell High

Kevin Lankinen, G, CHI – Lankinen's solid rookie campaign has hit a bit of a road block recently. He is winless since April 15, posting a 0-3-1 mark with a 4.99 goals-against average and .858 save percentage. Overall, the 26-year-old Lankinen is 16-14-5 with a 3.04 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 36 contests and may be wearing down having seen much more action than anticipated when the season began. Lankinen is still the team's No. 1 netminder, a role he likely will carry into training camp.