This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
With the NHL Trade Deadline looming, there will be blockbusters made and there will be insignificant minor-league deals made. Blockbusters are called blockbusters for a reason, they grab all the headlines. However, headlines don't win hockey games or Stanley Cups. More often it's a depth move or a trade that puts a player in a more suitable role on a new team that goes the longest way towards winning championships. Think of Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley for the 2011 Bruins or Andrew Desjardins for last season's Blackhawks, all guys that played important roles for Stanley Cup winning teams.
For the deals completed so far, I see both Dale Weise and Tomas Fleischmann as players with potential to increase their production on a new team. Each player was enjoying a better-than-expected season with the Canadiens prior to being moved to Chicago, and playing with better players on a better team should be a boon to their production. Fleischmann and Weise could skate on the Hawks' third line, flanking the talented playmaker Teuvo Teravainen, who should see his play improve with these new linemates.
If big names like Eric Staal or Loui Eriksson are traded, they'll definitely draw all the attention, but from a fantasy perspective, it'll be prudent to jump on players who were part of the overlooked moves.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Capitals (Braden Holtby) vs. Blackhawks (Corey Crawford), 12:30 PM
Blues (Jake Allen) vs. Hurricanes (Cam Ward), 3:00 PM
Panthers (Al Montoya) vs. Wild (Devan Dubnyk), 3:00 PM
Lightning (Ben Bishop) vs. Bruins (Tuukka Rask), 6:30 PM
Sharks (Martin Jones) vs. Canucks (Ryan Miller), 7:00 PM
Kings (Jhonas Enroth) vs. Ducks (John Gibson), 9:00 PM
Islanders (Thomas Greiss) vs. Oilers (Cam Talbot), 9:30 PM
For updates on projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News for Teams Playing Sunday
Washington Capitals
John Carlson, D (lower body) – sidelined for three-to-four weeks
Mike Weber, D (personal) – planning to join the team after birth of child
Chicago Blackhawks
Marian Hossa, RW (leg) – remains out indefinitely
Marcus Kruger, C (wrist) – may be able to return for the postseason
St. Louis Blues
Brian Elliott, G (lower body) – out for three more weeks
Jori Lehtera, C (upper body) – questionable Sunday
Steve Ott, C (hamstring) – yet to resume skating
Alex Pietrangelo, D (knee) – has received medical clearance
Alexander Steen, LW (upper body) – will miss another three weeks
Carolina Hurricanes
Justin Faulk, D (leg) – doubtful Sunday
Jay McClement, C (upper body) – likely to return Sunday
Andrej Nestrasil, C (lower body) – no update on his condition since being injured Thursday
James Wisniewski, D (knee) – began skating Tuesday
Florida Panthers
Dave Bolland, C (lower body) – out indefinitely
Quinton Howden, LW (upper body) – to miss Sunday's contest
Jonathan Huberdeau, LW (upper body) – placed on injured reserve Thursday, meaning he'll be out Sunday
Willie Mitchell, D (lower body) – has missed the team's last 14 games
Brandon Pirri, C (ankle) – will miss multiple weeks
Minnesota Wild
Jonas Brodin, D (foot) – could begin skating soon
Zach Parise, LW (upper body) – questionable for Sunday's tilt
Jason Zucker, LW (upper body) – out Sunday
Tampa Bay Lightning
Jason Garrison, D (lower body) – could return Sunday
Boston Bruins
Chris Kelly, LW (leg) – likely lost for the season
San Jose Sharks
Matt Tennyson, D (concussion) – questionable Sunday
Tommy Wingels, RW (shoulder) – timeline for return in uncertain
Vancouver Canucks
Alexander Edler, D (leg) – will miss another month
Brandon Sutter, C (jaw) – also expected to miss another month
Radim Vrbata, RW (undisclosed) – doubtful Sunday
Los Angeles Kings
Marian Gaborik, RW (knee) – could return for the playoffs
Matt Greene, D (shoulder) – lost for the season
Joran Nolan, RW (undisclosed) – questionable Sunday
Anaheim Ducks
Chris Stewart, RW (jaw) – to miss two-to-four additional weeks
New York Islanders
Eric Boulton, LW (upper body) – out indefinitely
Calvin de Haan, D (lower body) – has a slim chance to play Sunday
Mikhail Grabovski, C (upper body) – questionable for Sunday
Adam Pelech, D (upper body) – may miss the remainder of the season
Edmonton Oilers
Andrew Ference, D (hip) – out for the year
Eric Gryba, D (knee) – could miss multiple weeks
Oscar Klefbom, D (infection) – should return sometime in March
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C (hand) – skated and fired off shots Wednesday
Hot
Matt Beleskey, LW, BOS – The offseason acquisition went without a goal for over a month, playing in 15 games from Jan. 16 to Feb. 18, but has lit it up of late. In his last four games, Beleskey has potted five goals, provided one assist, and posted a plus-5 rating. Beleskey creates space for himself and his linemates with his dogged forechecking and physical presence, and he's finally showing some of the scoring touch he enjoyed last season in Anaheim when he scored 22 goals in 65 games.
Steven Stamkos, C, TBL – With his uncertain future being the main talking point in the hockey world this season, I'm sure Stamkos was relieved to learn that he wouldn't be traded this season when GM Steve Yzerman released a statement on Feb. 15. Stamkos went scoreless in the game that followed the announcement, but has scored in each of the five games since, totaling 5-2=7 in those games. Much like Sidney Crosby, John Tavares, and Ryan Getlaf, Stamkos struggled early in the season and had people questioning if he'd lost something in his game. Yet like those other three guys, the two-time Rocket Richard Trophy-winner now looks like the player we've grown accustomed to seeing.
Cold
Valtteri Filppula, C, TBL – The Finnish center was a reliable scoring option as a third liner for almost his entire career, but it looks as though his abilities are failing him this year. He's scoring at a rate of less than a half point per game this season (27 points in 61 games) and is pointless in his last seven contests. Not only is Filppula failing to put the puck in the net, he's not making much of an impact with just six shots on goal in that span of games while still averaging 2:55 of power play time on ice. While head coach Jon Cooper continues to give Filppula heavy usage, fantasy owners should not.
Recommended Pickup
Rickard Rakell, C, ANA – As a first-round pick in the 2011 draft, Rakell came into Anaheim with high expectations in 2014-15, his first full season. Head coach Bruce Boudreau sheltered Rakell in his rookie season, limiting his minutes to around 12 per game and playing him mostly on the wing. This season has been a different story, though, with Rakell thriving in his natural position of center and skating on Anaheim's second line. The 22-year-old Swede has already eclipsed his 31-point total from last season, with 34 points in 57 games, and is continuing his growth as a player as the season progresses.
