Blue Line Buzz: Studs and Duds

The first week of the NHL season is in the books, and what a fine week it was. The league has never seen more talent, with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Connor McDavid taking center stage. While the forwards have wreaked havoc so far, don't forget about young defensemen Zach Werenski and Mike Matheson (more below), both of whom have been equally impressive.

Every Monday, the Blue Line Buzz will feature five studs and five duds, as well as a "big board" featuring the league's top 20 defensemen. The names atop the big board are unlikely to see any significant changes, but as the season goes on, the bottom half of the list will see a lot of turnover as burgeoning talents emerge while others regress. Projecting totals for defensemen is generally more difficult than forwards, but this column will try to give you an extra edge by keeping an eye on ice time, roles and any other factors that may impact a blueliner's value.

Good luck!

Top Five Studs of the Week:

Erik Karlsson, Senators – He continues to do it all for the Sens, and though Auston Matthews made Ottawa look absolutely silly, Karlsson finished the home opener with 27:36 of ice time with three points and eight shots on goal. He followed that up with a 30-plus-minute game against Montreal. Right now there's nothing to suggest that he won't be able to match or exceed last season's 82-point total.

Brent Burns, Sharks – The consensus No. 2 defenseman in fantasy, Burns also registered points in his first two games of the season, finishing the week with a goal, two assists and 10 shots. It was a bit of a surprise to see the Sharks come away as Western Conference champs last year, but Burns continues to give them an offensive edge on defense that few other teams in the league can match.

Kris Russell, Oilers – A departure from the usual suspects, Russell signed with the Oilers less than a week before the season started and fit in like a glove, averaging 19:25 over his past two games and even chipping in with three assists and five blocked shots. Though he managed just 19 points last year, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him top 30 points this year in addition to his prolific volume of blocked shots. All he has to do is get the puck to Connor McDavid.

Mike Matheson, Panthers – Who? Remember the name, because you'll be hearing about him for a long time. A first round pick in 2012, the Quebec native went the NCAA route and starred for Boston College for three seasons before turning pro last year, playing 54 games for AHL San Antonio and receiving rave reviews. His stat line over his first two games – one assist, six shots – isn't earth-shattering, but look at what he did to earn that first assist on Aleksander Barkov's OT winner:

Matheson's known as a two-way defenseman and an absolute horse capable of playing big minutes, so keep him on your watch list and if his ice time starts trending up from his current average of 19:50 per game, make sure to snatch him up.

Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets – He's been the subject of conversation in this space before and he hasn't disappointed. Through two games in his rookie season, Werenski has averaged 21:55 of ice time, registering two points with nine shots on goal. He's quickly emerging as Columbus' most dynamic defenseman and head coach John Tortorella – who has a penchant for really leaning on players he likes -- is a huge fan. Snatch him up. Now.

Top Five Duds of the Week:

Danny DeKeyser, Red Wings – He wasn't exactly a dud, but it's worth noting that his first goal of the season came off a shot from center ice that bounced awkwardly off the corner boards before hitting Ben Bishop and dribbling into the net. For a team whose defense is a shell of what it once was, DeKeyser needs to step up and take the reins. He's not particularly aggressive, which is a potential problem because it's difficult to count on him to provide offense in a pinch, and Detroit has allowed 10 goals already.

Torey Krug, Bruins – It's still Zdeno Chara's team after the Bruins captain stepped up and punished Leafs agitator Matt Martin for his (clean) body check on Krug. Last year, Krug led all Bruins defensemen with 44 points, and is expected to lead the team offensively again this year. However, through two games he's yet to register a point.

Keith Yandle, Panthers – Brought in to replace the void left by Brian Campbell, Yandle has yet to make an impact. His power-play effectiveness may be limited due to the presence of Aaron Ekblad, and it remains to be seen how the two will share duties with the man advantage, but so far it looks like it may take a little time for the pair to settle in.

Anton Stralman, Lightning – He's owned in over 85 percent of ESPN leagues, which is far more representative of what he does on the ice rather than in fantasy. He's a dependable rearguard that scores a decent amount (73 points over the past two seasons), but doesn't possess the amount of upside to make him a must-have fantasy asset. He's a safe option, but in fantasy it pays to be a little more aggressive. Stralman has an even rating with zero points and just one shot on goal so far.

Dion Phaneuf, Senators – He's supposed to be in line for a resurgent season playing on a team where he doesn't have to carry the load, but he's back to his usual ways with a minus-3 rating to open 2016-17. The upside is that he's still throwing his body around and blocking shots, but those looking for a Flames-era renaissance are in line for a big disappointment. The Senators' defense -- even with new head coach Guy Boucher preaching defensive structure -- has already flashed examples of poor positioning and lapses, further diminishing Phaneuf's fantasy outlook this year.

TOP 20 BIG BOARD