This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Wednesday was a night of new acquisitions making their marks and the big names asserting their role.
Jamie McGinn opened the scoring for Anaheim and Andrew Ladd scored his first as a member of the Blackhawks. In Toronto, Colin Greening scored his first for the Maple Leafs since coming over from Ottawa. Recent Leafs call-ups made their mark too with Connor Carrick grabbing his first NHL point and Nikita Soshnikov grabbing his first NHL goal.
There's always a big focus on the guys who move at the trade deadline. Can we get a little something extra from them? Might they be an under-rated play in daily for a couple weeks?
Yet, amid the scoring from recent acquisitions and call-ups loomed the truth of the trade deadline: It's exciting, but it's not as big of a deal as it's made out to be for teams or your fantasy roster. If a team is going to make a big run, it has to come on the back of the key pieces already in place. The big producers are going to be clutch players who recognize that this is the time of year when legacies are built.
We saw a number of those kind of players step up Wednesday. T.J. Oshie assisted on all three Washington goals in their 3-2 win. Evgeny Kuznetsov, Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom (two assists) and Matt Niskanen also put points on the board.
In Chicago's win over Detroit, Artemi Panarin (two goals), Patrick Kane (one goal, two assists) and Brent Seabrook (one goal, two assists) were in the spotlight. Duncan Keith (two assists) and Jonathan Toews also put up some production.
It's the time of year where the big players start making a big mark. It's easy to be excited by a player on the move like Mikkel Boedker, but don't lose sight of the players that are really going to be making a difference.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Blackhawks (Scott Darling) at Bruins (Tuukka Rask), 7:00 PM
Flames (Jonas Hiller) at Sabres (Robin Lehner), 7:00 PM
Oilers (Cam Talbot) at Flyers (Steve Mason), 7:00 PM
Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist) at Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury), 7:00 PM
Wild (Devan Dubnyk) at Maple Leafs (Garret Sparks), 7:30 PM
Lightning (Ben Bishop) at Senators (Craig Anderson), 7:30 PM
Devils (Keith Kinkaid) at Predators (Pekka Rinne), 8:00 PM
Islanders (Jaroslav Halak) at Jets (Ondrej Pavelec), 8:00 PM
Panthers (Roberto Luongo) at Avalanche (Calvin Pickard), 9:00 PM
Ducks (Frederik Andersen) at Coyotes (Louis Domingue), 9:00 PM
Sharks (Martin Jones) at Canucks (Ryan Miller), 10:00 PM
Canadiens (Ben Scrivens) at Kings (Jonathan Quick), 10:30 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Thursday
Chicago Blackhawks
Marcus Kruger, C (wrist) - remains out long-term
Marian Hossa, RW (leg) - has been ruled out of Thursday's game
Boston Bruins
Chris Kelly, RW (fractured femur) - skated Tuesday for the first time since suffering the injury
Zac Rinaldo, C (suspension) - is serving a five-game suspension
Calgary Flames
Ladislav Smid, D (upper body) - remains out
Karri Ramo, G (ACL) - will miss the rest of the season
Dennis Wideman, D (suspension) - is still waiting on the results of the appeal on his 20-game ban
Buffalo Sabres
Cody Franson, D (neck) - did not play Tuesday
Tyler Ennis, LW (concussion) - is hopeful he'll return before the end of the season
Ryan O'Reilly, C (lower body) - remains out
Cody McCormick, C (blood clots) - is unlikely to return this season
Edmonton Oilers
Andrew Ference, D (hip) - has been ruled out of the remainder of the season
Benoit Pouliot, LW (shoulder) - could miss the rest of the year with a separated shoulder
Eric Gryba, D (knee) - is out long-term
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C (hand) - returned to practice Tuesday
Oscar Klefbom, D (infection) - should return at some point this month
Philadelphia Flyers
Jordan Weal, C (upper body) - is on IR
Jakub Voracek, LW (lower body) - is expected to miss a couple weeks
Michael Del Zotto, D (wrist) - isn't likely to play again this season
New York Rangers
Rick Nash, LW (knee) - is expected back in 10 to 14 days
Jesper Fast, RW (illness) - is not traveling with the team for Thursday's game
Pittsburgh Penguins
Oskar Sundqvist, C (undisclosed) - will miss "a couple of weeks"
Eric Fehr, RW (lower body) - the initial timeline should have him back soon, but there hasn't been a timeline update
Ben Lovejoy, D (upper body) - is facing a long-term absence
Beau Bennett, RW (upper body) - continues to rehab
Pascal Dupuis, RW (blood clots) - will not play hockey again
Minnesota Wild
Jason Zucker, LW (concussion) - has practiced, but remains questionable to play Thursday
Toronto Maple Leafs
Byron Froese, C (hand) - will miss some time
Tyler Bozak, C (head) - has no timetable for return
James van Riemsdyk, LW (foot) - won't play again this season
Raffi Torres, LW (knee) - has been shut down for the season
Joffrey Lupul, LW (abdomen) - won't play again this season
P.A. Parenteau, RW (upper body) - didn't play Wednesday
Milan Michalek, LW (finger) - has returned to practice
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) - is still without a timetable for return
Jared Cowen, D (undisclosed) - will not play again this season
Tampa Bay Lightning
Jonathan Drouin, C (suspension) - remains a non-roster player
Andrej Sustr, D (undisclosed) - has been ruled out of Thursday's contest
Ottawa Senators
Chris Phillips, D (back) - is not making progress toward recovery
Craig Anderson, G (lower body) - is considered day-to-day
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) - hasn't been cleared to play yet
Kyle Turris, C (ankle) - is out indefinitely
New Jersey Devils
Patrik Elias, LW (knee) - has done some light skating
Michael Cammalleri, LW (hand) - could miss the rest of the season
Jiri Tlusty, LW (wrist) - will not play another game this year
Nashville Predators
Gabriel Bourque, LW (upper body) - could return presently
Eric Nystrom, LW (foot) - remains on IR
New York Islanders
Mikhail Grabovski, C (upper body) - is expected to be available by the weekend
Adam Pelech, D (upper body) - isn't expected to play again this season
Winnipeg Jets
Mark Stuart, D (upper body) - is on IR
Bryan Little, C (compression fracture of vertebrae) - is done for the year
Florida Panthers
Willie Mitchell, D (undisclosed) - won't play Thursday
Derek MacKenzie, C (lower body) - is out
Al Montoya, G (head) - remains sidelined
Dave Bolland, C (lower body) - is back on IR
Jonathan Huberdeau, LW (upper body) - is doubtful and remains on IR
Colorado Avalanche
Ben Street, C (chest) - has been out a long time and shouldn't be expected back soon
Brad Stuart, D (back) - is on IR
Anaheim Ducks
Shawn Horcoff, C (suspension) - continues to serve a 20-game ban after testing positive for PEDs
Simon Despres, D (illness) - did not play Wednesday
Brandon Pirri, C (ankle) - remains laid up
Chris Stewart, RW (jaw) - hasn't yet returned
Arizona Coyotes
Joe Vitale, C (concussion) - will not play again this season
Anders Lindback, G (Achilles) - is done for the year
Boyd Gordon, C (undisclosed) - has practiced
Mike Smith, G (lower body) - has practiced
San Jose Sharks
Tommy Wingels, RW (shoulder) - has a very unclear timetable, but won't play Thursday
Matt Tennyson, D (head) - is still on the shelf
Vancouver Canucks
Radim Vrbata, RW (groin) - practiced Wednesday and will be re-evaluated Thursday
Alexander Edler, D (fractured fibula) - will miss at least another week
Jannik Hansen, RW (rib) - could miss two weeks
Brandon Sutter, C (jaw) - could miss another month
Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price, G (leg) - has no timetable for his return
Jeff Petry, D (hernia) - is out for the season
Tom Gilbert, D (knee) - won't play again this season following surgery
David Desharnais, C (foot) - is on IR
Nathan Beaulieu, D (lower body) - is on IR
Brian Flynn, C (lower body) - will miss weeks
Daniel Carr, LW (knee) - is questionable to return any time this season
Los Angeles Kings
Jordan Nolan, RW (undisclosed) - is on IR
Marian Gaborik, RW (knee) - won't return presently
Matt Greene, D (shoulder) - won't be seen again this season
Hot
T.J. Oshie, RW, WSH — Oshie has bounced back from a four-game point slump, grabbing a goal and three assists in his last two games. Even over that short slump, Oshie looked like he was doing all the right things to get out. He's average 2.6 shots per game over the last eight contests and has been putting up points at crucial times. He scored the game-winner Tuesday against Pittsburgh and assisted on all three against Toronto on Wednesday.
Brent Seabrook, D, CHI — The BC-native has been on a torrid run even before Wednesday's three-point performance. Posting six goals and four assists over the last 11 games, he's been a reliable producer that continues to put up points in other categories as well. In that stretch he has four penalty minutes, six power play points, an average of 2.5 shots per game, 24 hits and 25 blocked shots. There's a bushel of reasons to put him on your roster.
Cold
Semyon Varlamov, G, COL — Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic have a lot of faith in rookie netminder Calvin Pickard. So much so that they waived Reto Berra before the trade deadline and recalled Pickard to the NHL. That may mean that Varlamov is on notice. Varly has been pulled twice in his last five games, posting a save percentage over .900 just twice in his last nine starts. He's shaky and may cede the net soon. The first pull in that stretch had him allowing Buffalo to score on their first two shots. On Tuesday he allowed Minnesota to pot three goals on 12 shots -- though that's partly on some garbage defense. Now, he's not getting the start Thursday. In keeper formats it might be time to look at what else is out there.
Recommended Pickup
Mikkel Boedker, LW, COL — If you follow me on Twitter, you may be surprised by this pick. I was pretty harsh on this acquisition for Colorado. I haven't changed my stance, but fantasy is a different beast. Boedker's five-on-five success is a little overstated, but he has a real chance to succeed as a power play weapon on a more dynamic team. In Arizona, he played the most power play time of any forward and was averaging more power play time per game than anyone on the Avalanche. We've already seen early on that he'll play on the top unit for the Avs. He was successful in his first outing against the Wild and there's reason to believe that he's going to help that top unit in Colorado become a serious weapon going forward. He's getting the time, he has the skill and he's playing alongside some fantastic teammates.
