NHL Barometer: Risers & Fallers

This week's article includes Columbus' captain on a roll, Mason Who? in Florida, a possible future Hall of Fame D-man hot in Pittsburgh, a possible time-share in net in Colorado and a blueliner with his scoring Flame somewhat extinguished. 

First Liners (Risers) 

Boone Jenner, C, CLM – Jenner has ably taken to the role of Columbus' top-line center. His two goals and pair of assists Thursday gave the 28-year-old center 18 goals and 30 points through 41 games, putting him on pace for career highs in both categories. That production is a far cry from the 17 points he put up last season in the same number of games he has played this season. Jenner has looked more like the player he was when he scored 49 points in 2015-16 and has been leader on and off the ice while wearing the C for the Blue Jackets. 

Cam Atkinson, RW, PHI – It's been a rough season for the Flyers, but the play of Atkinson has been one of the few bright spots. After registering two goals and an assist Saturday, Atkinson has now amassed 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) through 44 games, which beats his total from last year when he completed his 10th campaign with the Blue Jackets. The trade of Atkinson for Jakub Voracek has worked out well for Philadelphia, providing the team top-line right winger who can be a game changer.

Troy Terry, RW, ANA – Any concerns that Terry would hit a wall and fall off a cliff have been answered by his January performance. He notched his 25th goal of the season Saturday, giving him seven goals and 11 points in his last 10 games. Terry is up to 25 goals, 16 assists and 41 points in 43 games this season, easily setting career highs in all three categories. Enjoy the ride, which has shown no signs of abating.

Mason Marchment, LW, FLA – Marchment's magical mystery tour has shown few signs of ending abruptly. After tallying a goal Saturday, Marchment tallied a pair of goals along with four assists Monday and is now riding a four-game, 12-point streak with a goal in each game. Marchment had a strong start to the season but missed a lot of time due to injury. He's picked up where he left off and is thriving on the Cats' strong third line, flanking Anton Lundell and Sam Reinhart. Marchment now has 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 21 games; the only downside is that he sees only crumbs of power play, though that is offset by a solid plus-minus thanks to his solid 5x5 play.

Evan Bouchard, D, EDM – Bouchard, the 10th overall draft pick in 2018, saw his ice time slow-played by the Oilers his first three seasons. After playing just seven games in 2018-19, Bouchard spent all of 2019-20 in the minors, recording seven goals and 29 helpers in 54 game with AHL Bakersfield. Expectations were high for 2020-21, and despite being one of the team's better blueliners, Bouchard played just 14 games for the Oilers' parent club. Edmonton doubled down by re-signing Tyson Barrie and acquiring Duncan Keith from Chicago this offseason, but Bouchard has forced his way onto the ice with his fine play, tallying nine goals and 14 assists with a. plus-four rating in 40 games while playing nearly 21:30 a contest.

Kris Letang, D, PIT – A debate I've had with a few of my colleagues is whether Letang is a Hall of Famer. To me, it's almost a no-brainer considering his production. Injuries have cost him substantive time, but Letang still has 622 points in 904 games, along with a pair of Stanley Cups. In addition, he seems to have been getting better, or at worst, showing no signs of dropping off as he ages. This year is no different, as Letang has five goals, 35 assists and a plus-17 rating in just 41 games, putting him on pace to possibly exceed his career high in points of 67 set in 2015-16.

Pavel Francouz, G, COL – Francouz extended his win streak to seven games with a 6-4 win over the Blackhawks on Friday. That contest was the first time Francouz had allowed more than three goals in that streak. The 31-year-old took advantage of the opportunity afforded him when Darcy Kuemper was sidelined to at least earn a share of the net-minding duties in Colorado. With a high-powered offense in front of him, Francouz is valuable in DFS leagues when he starts as well as seasonal ones.

John Gibson, G, ANA – After missing five games due to COVID-19 protocols, Gibson has been red-hot between the pipes. He is 3-1-2 with a 1.81 goals-against average and .946 save percentage, stopping 192 of 203 shots. Gibson is nearly halfway through the eight-year, $51.2 million contract extension he signed with the Ducks in August 2018 and should benefit from the talent on the team and in the pipeline. Gibson is 15-10-8 this season while sporting a 2.49 goals-against and .922 save percentage.              

Others include Mitch Marner, Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, Elias Pettersson, Clayton Keller, Brayden Schenn, Erik Haula, Brandon Saad, Valeri Nichushkin, Chris Kreider, Brandon Hagel,  Ross Colton, Alex Formenton, Vladimir Tarasenko, Kyle Connor, Jonathan Dahlen, Sam Bennett, Michael Bunting, Sam Steel, Jake Guentzel, Evander Kane, Tyler Ennis, Gabriel Landeskog, Sam Bennett, Roope Hintz, Tyler Bertuzzi, Blake Coleman, Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, Sean Durzi, Braden Schneider, Charlie McAvoy, Mark Giordano, Duncan Keith, Frederik Andersen, Spencer Knight, Matt Murray, James Reimer and Linus Ullmark.

Buy Low 

Alex Newhook, C, COL – Newhook, who celebrated his 21st birthday in style with a goal Friday, has been quietly productive for the Avalanche. That tally was his 10th of the season to go along with six helpers in 34 games. Newhook gets a chance to take on a more prominent role in the short-term due to the absence of Nathan MacKinnon (shoulder/concussion). He was moved to the second line, filling in at one wing for Valeri Nichushkin, who skated as a winger on the top line while Mikko Rantanen slid from wing to cover MacKinnon's spot at center. 

Training Room (Injuries)

Nathan MacKinnon, C, COL – MacKinnon suffered a concussion and broken nose when his stick bounced up and hit him following a clean check by Taylor Hall on Wednesday. He underwent surgery last weekend and will miss the All-Star Game. Future updates should indicate whether MacKinnon, who has 43 points in 31 games this season, will return for the Feb. 10 game against Tampa Bay. The fracture will need to heal as well as concussion symptoms dissipate before Mac can suit up and play. 

Others include players still on the COVID-19 protocol list, as well as Josh Norris (shoulder, not expected to return for at least another week), Jonathan Drouin (injury now classified as to his wrist, out indefinitely), Kaapo Kakko (wrist, injured Jan. 21, listed as week-to-week), Drake Batherson (ankle, injured Jan. 25, underwent surgery out two months), Brendan Gallagher (lower body, missed the last 10 games, could play against the Blue Jackets on Sunday), Adam Fox (upper body, injured Thursday, landed on injured reserve, out until after All-Star break), Erik Karlsson (left forearm, surgery, out until mid-March), Tuukka Rask (lower body, missed Sunday's game) and Mackenzie Blackwood (heel, sidelined earlier in year by similar injury, landed on IR on Jan. 25). 

Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers) 

Jack Roslovic, C, CLM – Roslovic has been held off the scoreboard in 10 of his last 13 games, though he has posted a point in each of his last two games. He has only seven goals and 18 points through 42 games this season, well off his scoring pace from 2020-21 when he notched 34 points in 48 games. The acquisitions of Roslovic and Patrik Laine for Pierre-Luc Dubois have certainly not panned out as Columbus has hoped. Laine and Roslovic are each restricted free agents with arb rights after the season and each could be elsewhere by the trade deadline.

Oliver Kylington, D, CGY – He is still having a breakthrough season, but Kylington is suffering through a bit of a slump. Kylington has 19 points and a plus-16 rating in 39 games, though all his goals and assists came in the first 31 games of the season, as he is scoreless in his last eight. The ice time, both at even-strength and on the man-advantage remain consistent, boding well for him to eventually get back on the scoresheet. For now, though, keep Kylington benched.          

Ilya Samsonov, G, WAS – I still feel Samsonov remains the future between the pipes in Washington. For now, though, Vitek Vanecek has taken a hold of the larger share of the playing time between the pipes. Samsonov has started just twice in the last three weeks, a span of 11 games. Part of my thinking with Vanecek-Samsonov is that both goalies are restricted free agents with arb rights and Washington might be reluctant to pay both. Samsonov is younger by two years, but if Vanecek continues to be the better goalies, the Caps may have little choice but to keep and pay the two netminders. 

Others include Max Domi, Antoine Roussel, Kieffer Bellows, Brady Tkachuk (no goals, 12 games), Jakob Chychrun, Jordan Binnington and Alex Nedeljkovic. 

Sell High

Evan Rodrigues, RW, PIT – Rodrigues helped the Penguins survive earlier in the season when they were beset by several injuries. With Pittsburgh getting healthier, Rodrigues' role and output have each declined accordingly. Rodrigues snapped an eight-game point drought with his pair of assists  Tuesday but followed that game with a trio of scoreless games. On the season, Rodrigues has 15 goals and 17 assists in 45 games, but his two points in his last 12 games show just how good he was earlier this season. Rodrigues should be planted firmly on your bench.