Looking at some of the hottest, and coldest, options in the NHL:
HOT – Mike Cammalleri – LW – Devils – 7 goals, 11 points, 22 SOG in last 5 games
It was a slow start to the season for Cammalleri, but here is your reminder that at his best, he can produce with the best in the world. Since returning from dealing with his daughter’s bout of pneumonia, Cammalleri has put together as hot a run as we’ve seen this season. He is shooting the crap out of the puck and right now it is finding twine. At some point Cammalleri will cool off, but it’s worth riding him until he does. He is the only source of offence the Devils have until Taylor Hall returns.
HOT – Jaden Schwartz – LW – Blues – 5 goals, 9 points in last 7 games
The Blues have desperately needed this hot run from Schwartz as they haven’t found much offence outside of superstar Vladimir Tarasenko. Schwartz is skating more minutes than ever before, including almost 2:42 on the power play, but it’s still coming in a secondary role as his hot run has come without exposure to Tarasenko. This probably does not bode well for Schwartz’s long term outlook, but it’s awesome if you want to see the Blues succeed. Of course, the question with Schwartz is less about talent and more about health. Fingers crossed he stays in the lineup.
HOT – Bo Horvat – C – Canucks – 2 goals, 6 points in last 4 games
Horvat has been a bright spot for the Canucks in the midst of a down season. He is up to 15 points in 22 games thus far, which signals a potential breakout. We should be concerned that Horvat still isn’t playing the biggest role, seeing only 1:47 per game on the second power play unit, and also that he has overachieved with a 20.6% shooting percentage thus far. That said, Horvat has always been a good shooter, carrying a 12.8% career average. He also scored 27 points in the final 41 games last season, which is a 54-point pace. Nothing about what he has accomplished is completely out of the ordinary.
HOT – Colton Parayko – D – Blues – 9 assists in last 11 games
With Kevin Shattenkirk in the lineup, Parayko will always be a secondary option, but he is an awesome one. The Blues have been pumping out secondary scoring of late, which has helped Parayko, who still hasn’t scored a goal this season. That’s crazy considering what a good shooter he is and that he currently ranks seventh in shots among defencemen with 60. Parayko’s shooting ability keeps him relevant in leagues, even when his scoring wanes. If some goals start to go in, we’re in business and if the Blues ever trade Shattenkirk, look out.
HOT – Craig Anderson – Senators – 4 wins, 5 goals against, 1 shutout in last 4 games
Few goaltenders have been more reliable than Anderson this season, who has won 12 of 17 starts despite the Senators’ getting out-shot in most games and not providing much offensive support. It feels a bit like a house of cards. Remember when he went on a run like this for the Avalanche back in 2009-10? He stumbled down the stretch that season and finished with 38 wins and a mediocre 2.64 goals-against average and .917 save percentage. Those are right around Anderson’s career numbers so expect something around there by season’s end. Sell high, while Anderson seems unbeatable and is one of the best stories in hockey.
NOT – Patrik Laine – LW – Jets – 0 goals, 1 assist, minus-5 in last 6 games
Welcome to your first test, rook. Laine has cooled off after a slow start having gone goal-less in six games, with just one goal in the past 10. Cold streaks are nothing for a sniper of his calibre, so fear not, unless his confidence starts to fade. One cause for concern: Laine has been shuffled off Mark Scheifele’s wing recently, but it stands to reason he’ll bounce on and off that line sporadically for years to come so we should expect him back on the top line soon enough.
NOT – Joe Thornton – C – Sharks – 0 goals, 2 assists in last 9 games
Rough start for Thornton, who is coming off his best season in years. The Sharks’ normally lethal power play has struggled to produce and they have not found much depth scoring. Promising youngster Tomas Hertl is out indefinitely and prized off-season signing Mikkel Boedker has been a flop. These are all reasons to be concerned and yet you shouldn’t be. Thornton started slow with just 15 points in the first 23 games last season before finishing off with 67 in the final 59. We know how hot Thornton can get when things click. It’s hard to see him finishing with anything lower than 65 points, which means he should be productive the rest of the way.
NOT – Marian Hossa – RW – Blackhawks – 0 points in last 4 games
We’ve all been waiting for the bubble to finally burst and it finally has. Hossa’s ridiculous start to the season has slowed, which coincides with Jonathan Toews’ absence from the lineup. If you’re a Hossa owner and you are looking for optimism, it’s that while Toews remains out his status is day-to-day so he could return soon and reinvigorate Hossa’s scoring.
NOT – John Klingberg – D – Stars – 0 goals, 2 assists, in last 8 games
Klingberg’s struggles have gotten so bad that he was even a healthy scratch early last week. He hasn’t exactly responded with explosive results either, although it can be tougher for defencemen to force the issue. It is concerning to see top prospect Julius Honka up in the NHL and producing for the Stars but ultimately, Klingberg is still their No. 1 guy. It would take a much longer slump for him to lose that gig. Buy low if you can.
NOT – Marc-Andre Fleury – G – Penguins – 0 wins, 22 goals against in last 6 games
Fleury has been roasted in his past few appearances, leading to rumours that the Penguins have much more confidence playing in front of Matt Murray. You could certainly understand how that might be the case, considering the difference between how each has played since Murray’s return. Perhaps Fleury is simply feeling the heat or perhaps this is all random. Expect Fleury to be heard from at some point. He’s too good of a goaltender to drop off this much, this fast.
Steve Laidlaw is the Managing Editor of DobberHockey. Follow him on Twitter @SteveLaidlaw.
