This article is part of our Left, Right & Center series.
In fantasy, when is it time to throw in the towel? The short answer is: never.
If you're in a rollover league and are playing for some tangible prize, then there's no reason to quit now. Patch the holes, build the squad, and do everything else in your power to enhance your team. In setups where stats are tabulated daily, it's your duty to stay vigilant by checking the latest updates. And the "I'm busy" excuse doesn't work because all you really need is a good 10-15 minutes per day to review.
Within a keeper/dynasty format, the situation becomes harder to gauge. A sizable chunk of the season has elapsed, so you should be able to determine which way your team is headed by now. Or maybe you really can't tell. Your lineup may be solid on paper, but multiple injuries and/or unscheduled slumps don't care about potential.
If you can assess your lineup at this stage and see yourself near or at the top of the standings deep into the year, then keep going. If you can't, then well, please don't give in yet. You got into the game for a reason – don't lose hope simply because it isn't currently working out. There are many weeks to go and many ways to improve. Stick around and you could ultimately be rewarded.
And now, we return to our regularly scheduled programming. Here are this week's cruisers, losers, and refusers:
Left Wing
Two Steps Forward: Mike Hoffman, Ottawa
The
In fantasy, when is it time to throw in the towel? The short answer is: never.
If you're in a rollover league and are playing for some tangible prize, then there's no reason to quit now. Patch the holes, build the squad, and do everything else in your power to enhance your team. In setups where stats are tabulated daily, it's your duty to stay vigilant by checking the latest updates. And the "I'm busy" excuse doesn't work because all you really need is a good 10-15 minutes per day to review.
Within a keeper/dynasty format, the situation becomes harder to gauge. A sizable chunk of the season has elapsed, so you should be able to determine which way your team is headed by now. Or maybe you really can't tell. Your lineup may be solid on paper, but multiple injuries and/or unscheduled slumps don't care about potential.
If you can assess your lineup at this stage and see yourself near or at the top of the standings deep into the year, then keep going. If you can't, then well, please don't give in yet. You got into the game for a reason – don't lose hope simply because it isn't currently working out. There are many weeks to go and many ways to improve. Stick around and you could ultimately be rewarded.
And now, we return to our regularly scheduled programming. Here are this week's cruisers, losers, and refusers:
Left Wing
Two Steps Forward: Mike Hoffman, Ottawa
The Sens may not be shooting the lights out (24th in the NHL with a 2.31 goal average), but a few of their star forwards have heated up. One of them is Hoffman, who is coming off of a 29-goal campaign. Since missing a couple games, the Kitchener native has nearly been unstoppable (six goals and six assists in his last eight games). What's also impressive is that Hoffman leads the team in power-play points (nine), slightly ahead of offensive juggernaut Erik Karlsson (eight).
Broken Wing: Jussi Jokinen, Florida
Jokinen missed substantial time early on due to injury. He returned in early November to full duty but hasn't been able to produce very much (two points in 12 outings). Perhaps the knee problem hasn't completely healed or the time off stunted his momentum carrying over from last season (when he amassed 60 in 81), but something clearly isn't right with Jokinen. To be fair, the Panthers have looked awful offensively (right behind the Senators with 2.29 goals per game), so perhaps the Finnish veteran will see a resurgence when the club does likewise.
Between the Lines: Kevin Fiala, Nashville
Since being highly touted leading up to the 2014 Draft (where he was taken 11th overall), Fiala has rarely disappointed. Some believed his game wouldn't translate in North America, but he has proven people wrong (78 points in 106 AHL appearances). In his abbreviated stint with the Preds, Fiala has already displayed enough brilliance (five goals in 14) to warrant a regular role. There's no reason to leave the Swiss sniper in the minors when he's making hyper-grown men look foolish.
Right Wing
Two Steps Forward: Sam Reinhart, Buffalo
Through years of heartache, the Sabres' faithful have been waiting for their accumulated youth to mature into a cohesive unit. Despite a rash of injuries, this could finally be their time. With all the buzz surrounding Jack Eichel, it's easy to forget Reinhart (the second selection in 2014) was also labeled a blue-chip prospect. Not only is the 2013-14 WHL MVP adept at potting the puck (five goals this season), he can also be crafty in finding teammates (nine assists). Hey, did anyone order a no-look pass?
Broken Wing: Nail Yakupov, St. Louis
The former #1 pick was referred to three weeks ago, but has never fully been highlighted – or rather, lowlighted – in this forum. Yakupov provided a brief flourish in his first few outings (two goals, two assists in six) but has since disappointed (one assist in 11 appearances), leading to eight healthy scratches. His inclusion in the lineup of late (averaging in the nine-minute range) seems to be more out of pity than anything else. It's unknown whether the kid will be able to adapt to the St. Louis system, but his chances aren't looking promising.
Between the Lines: Brayden Point, Tampa Bay
With a surname like Point, you'd figure there's a lot of pressure for him to produce. What the 20-year old lacks in size (5-foot-10, 165 pounds), he more than makes up for in talent (323 points in four full WHL seasons). It's often quite the jump from junior to pro, but that doesn't seem to be an issue (15 combined points in 32 AHL/NHL games). A natural center, Point is being used by the Bolts on the wing to allow him better opportunities. The early returns (11 points in 27, 15-minute average) may not be outstanding, but he has exhibited a playing level well beyond his years.
Center
Two Steps Forward: Travis Zajac, New Jersey
Considering the last few seasons have proved mediocre (averaged 38 points the last three campaigns), who could've imagined Zajac would now be acting as a premier performer? While the point haul (20 points in 24 games) may be surprising, his minutes (over 22 in the last six games) should be expected considering the Devils' dearth down the middle. Adam Henrique (11 points in 24) should eventually reclaim his rightful spot as top center in Jersey, but Zajac will be able to hold off any challenge, at least until his luck runs out.
Broken Wing: Tomas Plekanec, Montreal
After battling injury and inconsistency early in his career, Plekanec has served as Montreal's most proven scorer in recent years. The career Hab was never flashy, but could occasionally break out a sweet move if required. His current downturn (seven points in 25 games, including two assists in 12) has been magnified by the club's sudden inability to score (23 goals the last 10 matches). However, with Alex Galchenyuk sidelined, Plekanec will be offered the chance to make immediate amends.
Between the Lines: Mikael Backlund, Calgary
While the older stories surrounding the Flames focused on their goaltending woes, the latest print has detailed their scoring prowess (eight goals Sunday). He may be stuck behind Sean Monahan and is quickly being approached by Sam Bennett, but Backlund still handles enough ice time (around 18 minutes) to make him worth your fantasy while. Calgary's patience in the 2007 first-rounder looks to be paying off, as he completed a solid 2015-16 (47 points playing all 82 games) and is becoming a regular contributor in filling the stat sheet (12 points, 68 shots, 20 blocks).
