Frozen Fantasy: Change Should be Constant

Guy Boucher's latest trip around the NHL sun came screeching to a halt Friday. Funny enough, it barely made a blip.

More like a clunk.

The Sens have been fun to watch this season, even if they have sucked in the standings. But this week, the gap between the Sens' direction and Boucher's style seemed bigger than the solar system.

The Sens are rebuilding. Boucher was playing to win. Bad mix.

Boucher's first season in Ottawa was incredible. He guided his boys to the Conference Finals against the Pens. He got them to Game 7. Then the wheels fell off.

He couldn't adjust. Boucher kept driving his boys the same way. Game in and game out. He rode his horses (maybe his ponies, all things considered). He limited the ice time of his young players, other than Thomas Chabot. Boucher didn't adapt.

That's the kiss of death. On the ice and in fantasy.

Using the same approach in a changing environment is the definition of insanity. How have you changed your approach given this year's burst of offense? And the seeming return of a Grant Fuhr-esque era?

I monkey with my approaches every season. I often try to use a different technique with at least two or three of my squads, just to test theories. It makes for a crummy overall history rating for my Yahoo! handle, but that's OK. I learn a lot.

Boucher didn't learn a thing. He joined John Stevens (Kings), Joel Quenneville (Blackhawks), Mike Yeo (Blues), Todd McLellan (Oilers), Randy Carlyle (Ducks) and Dave Hakstol (Flyers) on the unemployment line.

It's a good lesson for fantasy owners. Change is needed. It's the only thing that remains constant. Now let's see if Marc Crawford, the Sens new head coach, can show he has changed.

I've taught an old dog a new trick. But it took a lot of time. Crawford's stint as an assistant in Ottawa this season ended a seven-year absence from the NHL. He did take the Canucks to the postseason in 1999-2000 after they struggled the year before.

But he's here to develop the kids. Can he do it? No clue. The next month-and-a-bit will be fun to watch. Especially from a fantasy perspective. I want to know if Drake Batherson has a real shot to be on a scoring line. And if Logan Brown can elevate his game.

And if Colin White can keep up with new team leader, Brady Tkachuk. My fantasy team will be better for it if they can step up.

The Sens need that to happen more than worry about losing the top overall pick to the Avs.

Now let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, LW/RW, Columbus (3 percent Yahoo! owned) – I've always liked this guy. I wasn't sure how he'd handle the influx of players at the deadline, but so far, so good. He's actually picked up his game. Go figure. Bjorkstrand has a four-game, four-point streak heading into play Saturday. It's modest, but it's something. And right now, you need to bottle these little bursts of lightning where you can.

Paul Byron, LW/RW, Montreal (5 percent Yahoo! owned) – Byron was a hot add a few months back, but time on the IR made him a case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind. Hey, I'll admit I dumped him. Well, go get him back – I wish I could. Byron is on a six-game, six-point streak (two goals, four assists). He's a sturdy bench boy who won't drag you down, especially if you're headed to the postseason. His kind of steady can and will help.

Samuel Montembeault, G, Florida (0 percent Yahoo! owned) – Montembeault isn't anything special – he's 13-14-8 with a 3.16 GAA and .901 save percentage in the AHL. But James Reimer is out and Roberto Luongo is injury prone, so it looks like Montembeault is set to make his NHL debut. Roll the dice if you are desperate for goalie points. Sometimes, guys are way better in the NHL than in the minors. No guarantees, of course.

Brock Nelson, LW/C, NY Islanders (28 percent Yahoo! owned) – Nelson is on the verge of something special this year. He's two points from equaling his career points high at 45 – and he should get it soon. He has seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last seven games and has been held off the score sheet just twice during that span. Nelson is a perfect soldier in Barry Trotz's new-look Isles. He could be for you, too, especially if he continues on this mid-50s point pace.

Brady Skjei, D, NY Rangers (4 percent Yahoo! owned) – Maybe there's hope in Skjei's game after all. He has three goals and five points in his last four games. But more impressively, he's been jumping in at the right moments and been flashing the skills that tantalized in his rookie year. Skjei is now on my roster. The Rangers' young players are playing to prove a point (and earn their jobs next season). Late-season overachieving is gold for fantasy.

Jordan Staal, C, Carolina (13 percent Yahoo! owned) – Staal missed almost half the season, so he's out of people's minds. Just like Byron above. He shouldn't be based on Tuesday night alone. Staal showed immediate chemistry with Teuvo Teravainen and his presence seemed to bring Dougie Hamilton out of his shell. Both Staal and Hamilton had three-point nights that night. The Canes are clinging to a playoff berth and it just feels like Staal could get them over that line. He's already put up five points in three games since his return. I'm adding if I can.

Paul Stastny, C, Vegas (24 percent Yahoo! owned) – Check your wire. Stastny is playing at a 70-point pace on a team that got him more weapons at the deadline. He's slipped on the radar for many because he missed so much time. But he has five points in his last four games and has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his last 10. Stastny is in my lineup ahead of Max Pacioretty and Alex Tuch now.

Jimmy Vesey, LW, NY Rangers (8 percent Yahoo! owned) – Maybe this guy is better than I thought. I didn't like his Hobey Baker win in 2016 – Kyle Connor had a much better season. So the overrated tag has sat in my head ever since. But I'm rethinking my bias right now. Vesey has been given a chance up the lineup and he has delivered. He was riding a streak of three straight two-point games heading into Friday's home tilt against the Canadiens. That was snapped, but Vesey could shine for the rest of the season. Just beware his keeper value if the Rangers bring in free agents in the offseason and push him down the lineup.

Back to change.

This year, my biggest change was to take on a co-owner in the Rotowire Staff League. My dear friend and fellow writer, Darryl Houston Smith (@dhoustonsmith) has become an invaluable addition.

I did it to learn new styles, from drafting to waiver work and trades. I did to build my negotiation and collaboration skills. But most of all, I did it to create a new level of fun and dialogue about fantasy.

I have accomplished it all. Best of all, our friendship has grown immensely. Oh yah, we're also in first place and looking at a bye in the first round of playoffs.

Oh yah, baybee. Changing approaches works. Just saying.

Until next week.