20 Fantasy Thoughts: Canucks crease stuffed with questions with Demko’s damage uncertainty

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Is there a crease with extra questions round it this 12 months than that of the Vancouver Canucks?

Thatcher Demko’s well being is on the centre of all of it and the way a lot he performs goes to have a ripple impact on the opposite Canuck netminders. To begin the season it looks like Arturs Silovs is the man to roster, primarily based on his sturdy playoff efficiency and the consolation degree Vancouver has with him. Even although the Canucks don’t play their first back-to-back till mid-November, Kevin Lankinen may even have some early-season worth as a streamer. Vancouver is a powerful group and certain gained’t wish to overtax Silovs, so I’d anticipate Lankinen to get some taking part in time in some very beneficial conditions. It begins to get sophisticated when Demko will get wholesome, which may very well be early within the 12 months or possibly he’s out for much longer. There’s no readability at this level and since Silovs doesn’t require waivers, he may very well be the odd man out and get despatched to the AHL for extra taking part in time. There’s additionally the chance Vancouver carries three goalies when Demko is able to relaxation him utterly in back-to-back conditions like we’ve seen different groups do in recent times. I’d anticipate Silovs and Lankinen to, at minimal, have some short-term stopgap worth within the early a part of the season, with extra upside if Demko stays out long-term.

There additionally needs to be some concern that Demko by no means actually totally comes again, or he offers it a attempt, and the damage simply doesn’t enable him to play at an elite degree once more. I do know some have been frightened sufficient to keep away from him completely in drafts, whereas others bumped him down their boards and are planning a stash. I believe the stash possibility is one of the simplest ways to go, since a wholesome Demko on this Canucks has an excessive amount of upside to disregard completely.

We all know what sort of impression Demko could make when he’s at his finest, so the potential reward ought to outweigh the danger.

1. When it involves the Toronto Maple Leafs energy play, it appears like Morgan Rielly will stay the quarterback of the highest unit. There was some speak Oliver Ekman-Larsson may take over the duties, although I don’t suppose his skillset is way completely different than Rielly’s. The Leafs want extra of a capturing menace on the level, so penalty-killing items can’t key so simply on the likes of Matthews, Nylander and Marner, and I don’t suppose there’s an ideal possibility which inserts the invoice proper now on Toronto’s blue line. Until that adjustments, anticipate a variety of Rielly on energy play one.

2. If you have been banking on a repeat of Frank Vatrano’s nice 2023-24, you may’t be too excited along with his present deployment with the Anaheim Ducks. There was virtually at all times going to be some regression anyway, however being slotted with Robby Fabbri and Ryan Strome in the meanwhile and caught on the second power-play unit makes issues much more difficult. With Trevor Zegras wholesome, Leo Carlsson’s load administration behind him and the arrival of Cutter Gauthier, there merely isn’t as a lot room for Vatrano to flourish like he did final season. 

3. The Carolina Hurricanes may be morphing right into a one-line group, with Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis serving as the highest unit. They’ve gone with that at occasions through the pre-season, however have additionally dropped Svechnikov all the way down to the second line to play with Martin Necas. There’s merely not a lot offensive expertise left to assist make Necas a 70-point participant once more if the Canes load up that prime line. You’ll should hope Necas actually feasts on the facility play. 

4. Speaking of the Canes energy play, I actually see a situation the place Brent Burns is caught on the second unit this season. Shayne Gostisbehere is again on the fold and he was nice in a quarterback function on the person benefit in Detroit final 12 months. Burns actually regressed in 2023-24 and is closing in on 40, so I’m not relying on an enormous bounce again. 

5. Tough luck for Matt Boldy lacking a piece of coaching camp as a consequence of damage. I perceive the Minnesota Wild eager to unfold the offence round, however one of the best model of Boldy is with Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. If that trio will get to play collectively fairly a bit this season, it wouldn’t shock me if Boldy is a 40-goal scorer. 

6. It’s nonetheless a bit unclear how Tampa’s prime energy play and league-best unit goes to look this 12 months with Steven Stamkos gone. Four spots are locks, with Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point and Victor Hedman in place, leaving Nick Paul, Brandon Hagel and presumably even Cam Atkinson combating for the final spot. Hagel will likely be value rostering regardless, however his worth skyrockets if he’s on the primary unit, whereas Atkinson and Paul might not be fantasy related with out prime power-play time. 

7. I’m very curious to see how Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella handles Matvei Michkov, who regarded nice within the pre-season. We all know Tortorella isn’t shy about benching or scratching nearly anybody, making it a problem at occasions to depend on Flyers gamers as fantasy choices. There will likely be rising pains as Michkov learns the NHL sport, so hopefully Tortorella workouts a bit extra endurance with the teenager. 

8. I don’t suppose stashing Evander Kane goes to be a savvy transfer. The sounds of the restoration timeline for his damage are fairly imprecise, with potentialities of January or February as a return date. Given the Edmonton Oilers” cap scenario, this looks as if a scenario the place the earliest Kane takes the ice may very well be Game 1 of the playoffs. That gained’t allow you to in fantasy. 

9. Colorado’s goaltending scenario is one to look at. Alexandar Georgiev has performed over 60 video games in back-to-back seasons, and final 12 months, his numbers weren’t nice, to say the least. There’s in all probability a world the place Justus Annunen will get some elevated taking part in time in a very-goalie-friendly scenario. I’m not satisfied that is going to be something near a tandem scenario, as I don’t suppose coach Jared Bednar is overly involved about Georgiev’s workload, however the door is unquestionably open for Annunen to steal begins. 

10. There’s going to be an honest battle between Tommy Novak and Colton Sissons this season for the centre spot in between Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. Novak has it now and possibly has the higher skillset for it, however don’t low cost Sissons pushing him to maneuver up. He can rating and Sissons has nice worth in leagues that depend faceoffs and hits. It’s a scenario to observe. 

11. Once once more, Josh Norris will likely be a serious danger/reward possibility this season. There’s no denying the attraction, because the Ottawa Senators ahead can pile up the hits, targets and faceoff wins, making him an incredible asset in multi-cat leagues. The downside is he simply hasn’t been in a position to keep wholesome. His profession finest for video games performed in a season is 66 and he’s been suffering from shoulder points. If Norris is sitting there on waivers, he is likely to be value taking an opportunity on in case your group is missing impression gamers, so long as you have got the power to stash him if wanted. 

12. Is there anybody left who hasn’t given up on Nikolaj Ehlers but? No one may blame you when you’ve got, because the Winnipeg Jets ahead at all times leaves you wanting extra primarily based on his expertise. It must be famous this isn’t all on Ehlers. Giving a man along with his skillset lower than 16 minutes an evening over the previous two seasons appears puzzling to place it mildly, however a brand new season and new coach ought to as soon as once more be sufficient to get a minimum of a couple of people to purchase again in. 

Ehlers is definitely coming off his second highest level and pictures totals of his profession and is beginning off this season on the primary power-play unit. There are nonetheless far worse bets to make than Ehlers.

13. The first actual week of video games is upon us with most groups taking part in two or thrice, apart from the Washington Capitals, who play simply as soon as. It’s a tricky matchup in opposition to the high-powered New Jersey Devils, so I’d be a bit hesitant about beginning Charlie Lindgren or Logan Thompson in case your goalie stats are in fine condition heading into the weekend. There’s an honest likelihood the Caps will hand over a bunch of targets. 

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14. I’m excited to see Dustin Wolf this season, although I gained’t be rostering him. The Calgary Flames determine to be in for a tricky marketing campaign after offloading a variety of expertise final 12 months, and the checklist of younger goalies on dangerous groups that may present good fantasy worth is a brief one. Wolf is probably going going to have nice numbers in the future, I simply don’t see it in 2024-25. 

15. Tough luck and timing for Drew Doughty’s damage. That opens the door, although, for extra minutes and a while on the Los Angeles Kings’ first power-play unit for both Brandt Clarke or Jordan Spence. Clarke in all probability has extra offensive upside and is a high-end prospect, so I’d take my possibilities with him first. Clarke was possible going to exchange Doughty on the highest energy play ultimately anyway, however this damage has now accelerated the method. It will likely be as much as Clarke to play effectively sufficient to try to maintain the job when Doughty returns. 

16. The identical goes for Patrik Laine, who appeared poised to profit from a contemporary begin with the Montreal Canadiens. Now he’ll miss a minimum of a few months and turns into a stash possibility. Whether it’s Laine, Doughty or the handful of different important gamers that suffered some degree of damage this pre-season, it’s at all times good apply to carry your fantasy drafts as near the beginning of the common season as attainable. In one draft I used to be in, somebody took Laine mere moments earlier than his damage. The later you may maintain your drafts, the clearer the image of the NHL panorama will likely be and the higher you may form your roster.

17. Looking for a deep sleeper off waivers early within the season? Adam Boqvist received some reps with the Florida Panthers’ first power-play unit through the preseason, and if he secures the spot, he may have some worth. He actually solely has to beat out Aaron Ekblad for the function, and the previous Barrie Colts star only one sturdy offensive season to his credit score. Stranger issues have occurred. 

18. One participant I like for a breakout season is Adam Fantilli. He’s notched six factors within the pre-season, together with a hat-trick, and the Columbus Blue Jackets ahead possesses a superb mix of measurement and ability. Before accidents reduce his rookie marketing campaign brief, Fantilli was on tempo for 20 targets and greater than 100 hits. 

19. Yaroslav Askarov is beginning the season within the AHL, to the frustration of those that took of venture on him in drafts. I nonetheless do suppose Askarov could have some worth this season, as I’m positive he was given an assurance by the San Jose Sharks he’d a minimum of get an NHL cameo in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months. That may find yourself taking place if the Sharks fall out of the post-season race down the stretch, simply in time for the fantasy playoffs. Maybe he finally ends up as a superb streaming possibility if he can catch lightning in a bottle throughout a call-up.

20. With Jeremy Swayman and the Boston Bruins lastly ending their contract stalemate, you might be involved about Joonas Korpisalo shedding worth. There’s no denying he has, however I do suppose he can nonetheless be a serviceable possibility as a No. 3 goalie in your squad. Keep in thoughts that the Bruins are one of many extra goalie-friendly groups within the league, with their good construction and dedication to group defence. Plus, Swayman has by no means had a starter’s workload, topping out at 44 video games final 12 months in a career-high in video games performed. Even with the massive contract, I don’t see the Bruins simply out of the blue placing 60-plus begins on his plate.

In an ideal world, Korpisalo performs as soon as every week and finally ends up at round 35 video games, nonetheless giving him actual worth on a powerful group just like the Bruins.

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