Every week this season, NHL.com will answer your fantasy mailbag questions. Whether you're in a year-long league or play DFS, we'll answer the most relevant questions based on Yahoo transaction trends, DraftKings value and any other developments (production, lineup, injuries) around the League. Send your questions to @NHLJensen.
Fantasy mailbag: Take Fiala, Connor more seriously
Predators, Jets forwards here to stay given lineup placement, production; Fleury nearing return for Golden Knights
@coachrichlax: What to do with Brandon Saad? He makes me sad. Drop for Kevin Fiala?
Since an opening night hat trick and eight points (six goals, two assists) in six games, Saad has seven points (four goals, three assists) over his next 23 games. His lineup placement remains alongside mostly Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik at even strength and Patrick Kane on the power play, but Fiala (LW/RW, 12 percent owned in Yahoo) jumped Saad in my
top 100 forward rankings this week
. I realize this is a classic hot vs. cold roster decision, but Fiala has shown flashes of sleeper potential dating to last season and is thriving alongside Kyle Turris and Craig Smith. Saad has one power-play point on the season, and Chicago has one of the worst power plays (15.8 percent; 28th in NHL) . Fiala had another assist against the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday, giving him 12 points (five goals, seven assists) in 14 games since the Turris trade Nov. 5. Fiala has had improved peripherals over that span with 42 SOG (3.0 per game) and four PPP.
@bibbobolypse: Should I trade Kyle Connor for Mitchell Marner? Standard, one-year points league.
Since missing one game because of a foot injury, Connor (LW, 17 percent owned in Yahoo) has been held without a point in two games and is minus-3 with seven SOG in the span. That said, he has remained in the coveted spot with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler at even strength and on Winnipeg's first power-play unit for more than one month, and Marner has fallen out of coach Mike Babcock's favor in his second NHL season. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward has bounced around the lineup, falling way short (285th in Yahoo) of his average draft position (33.3), and is seeing far fewer minutes per game (15:35) than Connor (17:56). Marner remains an attractive buy-low option in many other cases in the hope his usage spikes, but the rookie Connor has surprisingly emerged as the safer fantasy option.
@WCS_BFerg: Which rookie will have the strongest fantasy season from here on out (standard format)?; @m1keroth: Was I wrong to drop Nolan Patrick for Pierre-Luc Dubois?
Especially with Bo Horvat (fractured ankle) being sidelined up to six weeks for the Vancouver Canucks and the potential negative impact on Brock Boeser, the stage is set for Mathew Barzal (C, 55 percent owned) to be the top-performing rookie the rest of the way. His impact on the New York Islanders power play and second line is the biggest reason they are near the top of the Metropolitan Division standings.
As for some others who could spike in fantasy value over the course of the season, we're seeing nice pushes by Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Columbus Blue Jackets center Pierre-Luc Dubois right now. McAvoy (59 percent owned) is heating up with points in six of his past nine games and could challenge Will Butcher and Mikhail Sergachev to be a Calder Trophy finalist by season's end if the Bruins stay healthy. Don't sleep on Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, either. He has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 28 games and is playing alongside a resurgent Taylor Hall on the top line.
As for the second question, I think the Dubois-for-Patrick swap was an obvious one. Patrick, despite frequent exposure to Wayne Simmonds for the Philadelphia Flyers since returning from injury, has been quiet as a rookie for an inconsistent team. The Columbus top line of Artemi Panarin, Dubois and Josh Anderson is extremely appealing moving forward considering the Blue Jackets have yet to hit their stride offensively. Dubois was my
top waiver wire add
for this week and has combined for seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past six games after a goal against the Devils on Friday.
@bobmill1976: Any info on Marc-Andre Fleury being back between the pipes anytime soon?
The Vegas Golden Knights may have survived their rash of goaltending injuries, between Fleury, Malcolm Subban and Oscar Dansk. Subban defeated the Predators on Friday and has a .924 SV% through 10 games. That said, Fleury (concussion) will be the clear No. 1 once he returns from a lengthy injury absence. He practiced Wednesday for the first time since his injury and is traveling with the Golden Knights -- great news for Vegas' sustainability and fantasy owners of Fleury. Now is the time to pick up or trade for Fleury (72 percent owned) if you need a better second or third fantasy goaltender.
@GibSenipXXX: Should I continue holding onto Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan O'Reilly? Points-only league. Not many takers trade wise but available options include: Colton Parayko, Noah Hanafin, Jacob Trouba & Hampus Lindholm OR David Krejci, Brayden Point, Jason Spezza, Alex DeBrincat & Paul Stastny.
The Buffalo Sabres have earned a point in back-to-back games for the fourth time this season, yet still sit 16 points out of Stanley Cup Playoff position in the Eastern Conference. They are not a team (maybe with the exception of the Jack Eichel-Evander Kane point pair) that you want to own multiple players from in fantasy. Point is the obvious replacement for O'Reilly given his recent exposure to elite forward Nikita Kucherov and top-six spot on one of the most explosive offenses and deepest power plays in the NHL. Ristolainen still has value in leagues that count SOG, PPP and/or hits, but Parayko is the better option in a points-only league. Since Nov. 13, Parayko has 11 points (two goals, nine assists), five PPP and 34 SOG in 11 games. Even in the shadow of Norris Trophy candidate Alex Pietrangelo, Parayko is quietly on pace for NHL career highs in points (45), PPP (17) and SOG (229).
@GregSyna: Ryan Ellis and Jared Spurgeon are each on the waiver wire. Pick one up and stash him on IR? If so, which one?
Ellis (knee) could return later this month or in early January, and will re-join a talented group of offensive defensemen with the Nashville Predators. His fantasy impact down the stretch last season and during the postseason was right up there with the likes of his defense pair Roman Josi and P.K. Subban when all three were healthy -- and Ellis even more productive than those teammates at times. Nashville is rolling two strong power-play units even in the absence of top center Ryan Johansen (upper body). Spurgeon has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists; five PPP) in 23 games playing frequently on the Minnesota Wild's first power-play unit, but has missed five straight games because of a groin strain. Ellis is the more appealing waiver wire addition for the rest of the season.
@briantodd34: Pete, do the Montreal Canadiens have a surplus in goal now that Carey Price is on point again?
Price is 5-1-1 with a .942 save percentage and one shutout in seven games since returning from a lower-body injury. With all due respect to Charlie Lindgren's fast start, Price is the be-all and end-all in Montreal. His past two starts have been rocky, but he has lifted Montreal back into contention. As for Lindgren, he may be worth stashing in some deep or keeper leagues but has an uncertain future in Montreal given Price's long-term contract and elite status. Lindgren was assigned to Laval of the American Hockey League upon Price's return and has had a .920 SV% or better in four of five AHL games since. With so many goalie injuries around the League, it would not be surprising if other teams come calling before the NHL Trade Deadline. For now, Lindgren is getting playing time in the AHL with veteran Antti Niemi backing up Price.
