This article is part of our Neutral Zone Wrap series.
Dealing with injuries is a painful and patient process. When you get hurt, you want to get better as quickly as possible. At the same time, you don't want to do anything that will make it worse.
When it comes to your fantasy lineup, it always seems that one player goes down right as another recovers. The immediate reaction to fill the vacancy is to grab the first shiny object that passes by. This could do the job for the next week or so, but better long-term options probably exist. The stats for players on the wire may also be misleading – opportunities may evaporate due to others returning, and hot performances without corresponding ice time and consistent chances tend to be outliers.
That's why, as mentioned last week – and every moment we can – it's important to closely follow real-life happenings so that your make-believe team stays competitive. If you let up for just one day, that's one day you could miss a roster move, key pickup or favorable trade proposal. To get you focused, let's start by looking at five teams that have decisions to make and evaluating how those calls will affect them down the road:
Okay, Arizona, stop being so good and play like everyone assumed you would this season. After a sizzling start (18 points the first two months), Max Domi (three assists in 11) has cooled off. His reign atop the Coyotes' chart has ended; all hail Mikkel Boedker (31, including eight in
Dealing with injuries is a painful and patient process. When you get hurt, you want to get better as quickly as possible. At the same time, you don't want to do anything that will make it worse.
When it comes to your fantasy lineup, it always seems that one player goes down right as another recovers. The immediate reaction to fill the vacancy is to grab the first shiny object that passes by. This could do the job for the next week or so, but better long-term options probably exist. The stats for players on the wire may also be misleading – opportunities may evaporate due to others returning, and hot performances without corresponding ice time and consistent chances tend to be outliers.
That's why, as mentioned last week – and every moment we can – it's important to closely follow real-life happenings so that your make-believe team stays competitive. If you let up for just one day, that's one day you could miss a roster move, key pickup or favorable trade proposal. To get you focused, let's start by looking at five teams that have decisions to make and evaluating how those calls will affect them down the road:
Okay, Arizona, stop being so good and play like everyone assumed you would this season. After a sizzling start (18 points the first two months), Max Domi (three assists in 11) has cooled off. His reign atop the Coyotes' chart has ended; all hail Mikkel Boedker (31, including eight in eight), the new king! For someone who's 39, Shane Doan (leading the team with 15 goals) can still put the puck in the net. Don't forget about Martin Hanzal (points in two after missing 11 to injury), who joins Doan and Boedker on the first power-play unit. Connor Murphy (averaging 20:40 on the ice since Dec. 1) is the latest to skate alongside OEL, although his numbers (10 points in 37 games) don't reflect his new partnership. And out of nowhere, Louis Domingue (2.06 GAA, .936 save mark, two shutouts in 10) has shot well ahead of Anders Lindback (3.77, .870 in his last seven).
The Hurricanes were another club expected to lie down and bank on a high lottery pick, but they've also surprised. It's somewhat shocking to see Jordan Staal (multipoint outings in three straight) outperforming his brother Eric. More should be coming from Jeff Skinner (seven assists in 43), but no complaints about his goal total (15, yet only two on the power play). Andrej Nestrasil (two goals in 13) owns a wicked shot, so perhaps he can use it to enhance the top power-play unit, where he's seen over 4:30 in the last two games. More minutes (a 2:30 boost from mid-December) means more maturity for Jaccob Slavin (only six in 24, but assists in two straight). It's a similar situation for Brett Pesce, albeit without any recent success (scoreless in seven). And so much for old age slowing people down, as Cam Ward (1.63, .937 in the last eight) has shown impressively over the last few weeks.
Confusion is running rampant with the Islanders (4-7 since Dec. 15). First off, there's some guy not named John Tavares leading the team in points -- instead, it's Kyle Okposo with 31. Josh Bailey (three in 11, minus-4) has disappointed recently. Things aren't as severe for Anders Lee (five in 13, but 19 PIM), though that's still subpar by fantasy standards. It seems like eons ago that Nikolay Kulemin (three in 15) could be relied upon, but actually, it was five years ago when he put up 57 points. With Johnny Boychuk hurting (out 4-to-6 weeks with separated shoulder), Nick Leddy (six in seven with two power-play assists) can climb out from that hole he dug (nine assists the first 35). A couple poor efforts from Jaroslav Halak (seven goals allowed) since his return, making it easier for Thomas Greiss (2.33 GAA, .928 save percentage in 20) to slip in additional starts.
The Devils may care that their weaknesses (primarily lack of offense and durability) are being exposed. Kyle Palmieri (four goals, two assists in nine) is probably the only healthy example of someone up front who isn't struggling. The excitement that followed Lee Stempniak for the first few couple months (18 in 23, with six points on the power play) has dissipated (three in the last nine, no power-play production in the last 15). Even veteran center Travis Zajac (three in 11) can't provide any hope. And young Russian Sergey Kalinin (four in 26, minus-5) isn't adding any value. For all the minutes logged by Andy Greene (23:10) and Adam Larsson (22:06), one would assume a higher return (seven and eight points, respectively). At first glance, calling up Marc-Andre Gragnani (15 in 24 in the AHL) to inject some offense from the blue line looks desperate.
Buffalo continues to buffalo supporters into believing it's ready to win now. The Sabres may not admit it openly, but they're really missing what Tyler Ennis (out for 17 games thanks to separate upper-body ailments) can provide. At least ice warrior Jamie McGinn (19 in 42, including six on the man advantage) has earned top-six time. Remember when Matt Moulson (zero goals in the last 29 and just four total) used to score regularly? The acquisition of Cody Franson (two in 16) was supposed to bring added D punch, but that hasn't materialized. It's a waste to keep Carlo Colaiacovo (scratched 13 of 14) in town when his skills are exclusively used in the press box. Robin Lehner's return is imminent – he's been missing since an Opening Night injury, but should be activated this week after a Rochester conditioning stint – so we'll have to wait and see how Chad Johnson's (2.46 GAA, .916 save mark in 26) role will change.
