A momentary escape from reality might be just what the doctor ordered right now for the Edmonton Oilers. Quite the way to roll into all-star weekend and also their bye week if you ask me.
Mercifully, Edmonton pulled the plug on the Peter Chiarelli era late Tuesday night. And so new interim point man Keith Gretzky has been tasked with the operation of getting this organization back on track. For now, at least.
Some time on the beach could be beneficial, that’s for sure. You can only wonder what Connor McDavid actually thinks. The 22-year-old Oilers captain has been exceptional but that’s not really shocking. He’s currently on pace for career highs in goals (48), assists (73) and points (121), among other stat categories. Despite all this commotion this season, he’ll likely be on the short list once again for the Hart Trophy. He’s pretty good.
Pretty much, you should be dressing McDavid every single week when it comes to the Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey Pool. The only time that you should be tentative about that is when the Oilers have a light schedule. McDavid’s four-point value is unfair, even in that 30-point cap world.
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I do like that Edmonton won’t be mortgaging their future for possible short-term gain; smart way to go.
Now to your questions:
Rob Mitt – @bibbobolypse
What are your thoughts on Oscar Klefbom? He’s set to return from his finger injury post bye week.
Unsurprisingly, the Oilers have struggled mightily without Klefbom in the lineup (6-12-1). In 31 games, the 25-year-old was averaging almost half a point a game (0.48). Pro-rated, that would’ve put the Swede in line for his first 40-point campaign.
To answer your question, any routine exposure to McDavid or Leon Draisaitl is great news for any player. I’m curious to see how Klefbom is utilized by Ken Hitchcock considering Darnell Nurse’s offensive surge while he was out of the lineup.
Truthfully, I think you can find better options than Klefbom on the waiver wire. You just never know what to expect from the Oilers.
Carlo Conforti – @CarloConforti2
Dustin Brown or Wayne Simmonds?
Solid question. I’m leaning towards the Dustin Brown side.
The former Kings captain is proving that last year’s resurgence was no fluke. At the break, the veteran has 12 goals and 29 points through 40 games. Additionally, the uncanny chemistry he’s developed through time with Anze Kopitar has not wavered much. That duo has been bountiful over the last two months.
When it comes to Simmonds, it’s very likely that he’ll be dealt by the Flyers to a contender. That should bode well for his fantasy value. I’m curious to see who acquires him. Nashville, Dallas and Colorado make a lot of sense.
Simmonds has struggled to find any level of consistency this season in Philadelphia. Another shot at the Stanley Cup should ignite him. After all, he’s in a contract season looking for the final big-time pay day of his career.
Brown over Simmonds.
Mathew Biro – @Birdling83
Would you consider Corey Perry to be fantasy relevant? What’s the timeline on his potential return?
Stash Perry immediately if you have the capabilities. It’s important to temper your expectations, however. The 33-year-old is recovering from a pretty serious knee injury that has already cost him 51 games and counting. At the time of his training camp injury, the expectation was a five-month recovery process. That timeline would signify a potential return in mid-to-late February which is conveniently enough, around the deadline.
If the rugged winger is able to return to the Ducks lineup, he’ll likely find himself back on a line with Ryan Getzlaf. I think you can find some sneaky waiver value in obtaining Perry.
TinyTimSilver – @silver_tiny
Is it time to dump Carter Hutton? (Potential replacements: Kuemper, Howard, Koskinen, Anderson, Delia and Smith)
Let me preface by saying that every goalie has a rough stretch. Unfortunately for his owners, Hutton’s freefall has spanned almost dating back to Buffalo’s 10-game win streak.
Even with that, I’d definitely recommend making a play for Hutton. There’s only one way to go and that’s up.
The numbers are not pretty. The late bloomer has picked up just two wins in his last 12 starts, registering a rather pedestrian .898 save percentage in that span. The bye week will do him good.
Given the list of replacement options, too, I’d hold onto Hutton and hope for the best. I still think the Sabres have another hot run in them. Be smart.
Mattboy – @ExIsledUsher
How will Vincent Trocheck’s return effect Evgenii Dadonov’s place in the Cats lineup?
In general, Trocheck’s return is massive for the Panthers. It’s unlikely but we’ll see if Florida has enough time to get back in the playoff picture.
When it comes to Dadonov, he’s currently skating on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and the red-hot Frank Vatrano. That trio has been producing lately so it’s likely they’ll be left together post-break.
Dadonov is currently on pace for essentially the same statistics as last year (28 goals, 27 assists, 65 points), maybe a touch more. He’s as consistent as they come. I love owning him.
Jason Eklkins – @RedsealNinja
What should I do with Evgeny Kuznetsov?
It’s like Kuznetsov saw your tweet or something. The Russian pivot tallied a goal and two helpers in two games before the all-star break.
Despite Washington’s recent struggles, I’m still backing the Kuznetsov file wholeheartedly. He’s a notorious strong finisher and it’s imperative you stay patient here. The Capitals are long overdue.
Sit tight.
Bleed The Blue and White – @JaymeeKitch8
What do you think happens with Sergei Bobrovsky? Good buy-low candidate?
As we get closer to the Feb. 25 trade deadline, this might be the biggest situation to follow. For some reason, my gut tells me he’ll be traded for some reason. You get the sense that things are coming to a blow in Columbus. It’s certainly a tough predicament for Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen to be in, especially with Columbus firmly in a playoff spot.
When he’s on, Bobrovsky is one of the best fantasy goaltenders out there. Yes, he’s your ‘classic’ buy-low option right now but I’d still proceed with caution. It’s an extremely volatile situation at the moment.
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