Sam Reinhart Offers Value in the Weak Ahead

Adam Daly-Frey

2018-02-09

 

All fantasy owners need help in the short term AND the long term. The Looking Ahead feature identifies one player to plug into lineups in the short term, a second to invest in for the long term, a third to bench for the coming week, and a fourth who will struggle to meet expectations for some time. All players discussed are selected based on their upcoming schedule. Stats in this article updated through January 31st

The Immediate Fix (Grab this guy and use him for the next several days)

Sam Reinhart, C, Buffalo Sabres (Available in 76 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – The reason Reinhart slots into the Immediate Fix section and not the Building Block is how inconsistent the lines have been in Buffalo this season; over his last ten games however, Reinhart has seen a lot of minutes both on the first power play unit and the first line at even strength alongside Jack Eichel and a rotating cast. Those extra special-teams minutes have been a boon to his production as a whole, as Reinhart in his last 10 has picked up 4G-9A-13Pts, with six of those points coming on the PP. He’s also averaging two shots on goal per game during this stretch.

 

The Building Block (Buy now, sit back and enjoy the production)

Yanni Gourde, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning (Available in 56 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – Beyond Tampa’s great short-term upcoming schedule, there are plenty of reasons to consider adding Gourde: he just picked up his 20th goal and 20th assist of the season, putting him at 40 points mostly from a third-line role. To do that on a team like the Lightning is impressive enough, but with the injury to Ondrej Palat, Gourde has recently been moved up to the top-6 and has been paying off in a big way; he’s been a point-per-game in his last ten games, he plays some PK (good for BLKs), and now sees time on PP2 where he’s amassed 7PPP. He’s a great add for teams hit by the injury bug, keeper leagues looking towards next year, and players banking on Gourde continuing to see time with the big boys.

 

The Odd Man Out (His short-term value is cause for concern)

Patrick Marleau, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs (Owned in 53 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – That a player with 17G-9A on the year is somehow 53% owned must be a function of playing for the capital of the Hockey Universe, because there’s not much else to explain Marleau’s ownership. The man affectionately known as “Dad” has only four power play points on the year, only two goals and no assists in his last ten, and has seen less than 16 minutes of ice time in five of his last seven games. He’s good for shots on goal, and not much else.

 

The Anchors (They’ll do nothing but disappoint even over the long haul)

Ryan Kesler, C, Anaheim Ducks (Owned in 52 percent of Yahoo! Leagues) – This may be stepping on Steve Laidlaw’s toes a bit as he covered this succinctly in the Feb 8th Ramblings, but Ryan Kesler’s value at the moment is past the point of droppable. He’s lost his PP spot to Adam Henrique, has only picked up three points (all goals) in his last ten games, and doesn’t do enough in peripherals to make him worth a spot. While he does amass a great number of hits/PIM/blocks typically, his void of scoring hurts too much to hang on to. The obvious exception and one argument against dropping him would be keeper leagues, with the expectation that he’ll come back to form into next year; if peripherals are all that’s needed, there are better players available on the wire.

 

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)

Tampa Bay – After a dismal trip out to the Western Conference – dismal by the Lightning’s standards, as they still played .500 hockey and scored 14 goals – the Lightning will have a strong couple of weeks in February; they’ll play Buffalo, Detroit and New Jersey as some highlights.

Nashville – With the return of Filip Forsberg off suspension, the Preds are back to a full lineup which has been a rarity for them this season. In the two games preceding Forsberg’s suspension, the Preds scored five in each, and have only put up less than 30 shots three times in their last 10 games. Against Montreal, Detroit twice (home and away) and another game against Ottawa, they have a favourable schedule.

Carolina – Of the six games the Hurricanes have during this stretch, five come at home, and all but one come against some porous defensive teams: Vancouver, the MacKinnon-less Avalanche, New Jersey twice, and the Islanders. The ‘Canes have been cold of late, but these games should help out on that front.

 

Leave ‘Em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed in the short term)

Dallas – The Stars are a repeat from last week, as they start this period off on the second half of a road-home back-to-back, leaving Chicago in a snowstorm to play Pittsburgh which is never easy. Dallas only has five games between the 9th and 21st, and beyond Pittsburgh and Vancouver, they have tough defensive opponents in the Blues, Sharks and Ducks with the latter two coming on the road.

St. Louis – St. Louis is a lot like Dallas, in that they have only five games and this period starts on the back half of the dreaded home-road b2b, heading to Winnipeg who have been dynamite of late. Their opponents don’t get much easier than the Jets, with games against the best of the best in Pittsburgh, Nashville, Dallas, and San Jose.

Arizona – Beyond being the worst team in the league and barely having fantasy relevance, the Coyotes have a schedule upcoming that could best be classified as “junk”. The easiest game they’ll have is at home vs. Montreal, but their other games include vs. Philadelphia, a home-road b2b vs. Chicago and San Jose, and they finish off at home against the suddenly resurgent Oilers.

February 9th to February 15th

Best Bets

CAR 4.41 – Away NJD- Home VAN COL LAK

SJS 4.315 – Away ANH – Home EDM ARI VAN

NYI 4.2 – Away – Home DET CGY CBJ NYR

TBL 4.1475 – Away TOR BUF – Home LAK DET

BUF 4.11 – Away BOS OTT- Home COL TBL

Steer Clear

DAL 2.205 – Away – Home PIT VAN

STL 2.845 – Away WPG NSH – Home PIT

MIN 2.8875 – Away – Home CHI NYR WSH

WPG 2.8875 – Away – Home STL NYR WSH

TOR 2.94 – Away – Home OTT TBL CBJ

February 10th to February 16th

Best Bets

SJS 4.315 – Away ANH – Home EDM ARI VAN

CAR 4.2 – Away NJD – Home COL LAK NYI

CBJ 4.1575 – Away NYI TOR – Home NJD PHI

TBL 4.1475 – Away TOR BUF – Home LAK DET

BUF 4.11 – Away BOS OTT – Home COL TBL

Steer Clear

FLA 2.0425 – Away EDM VAN – Home

DAL 2.31 – Away – Home VAN STL

DET 2.7075 – Away WSH TBL – Home ANH

NYR 2.755 – Away WPG MIN NYI – Home

STL 2.7975 – Away NSH DAL- Home PIT

February 11th to February 17th

Best Bets

TBL 4.305 – Away TOR BUF – Home DET NJD

VGK 4.1475 – Home PHI CHI EDM MTL

NJD 4.1475 – Away PHI TBL- Home BOS CAR

BUF 4.105 – Away OTT – Home COL TBL LAK

CHI 4.0225 – Away ARI VGK – Home ANH WSH

Steer Clear

DAL 2.31 – Away – Home VAN STL

STL 2.7975 – Away NSH DAL – Home PIT

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TOR 2.7975 – Away PIT- Home TBL CBJ

MIN 2.835 – Away – Home NYR WSH ANH

LAK 2.8975 – Away CAR PIT BUF- Home

February 12th to February 18th

Best Bets

EDM 4.3275 – Away VGK ARI COL- Home FLA

TBL 4.305 – Away TOR BUF – Home DET NJD

NJD 4.095 – Away PHI TBL CAR- Home CAR

CAR 4.095 – Away NJD – Home LAK NYI NJD

FLA 4.0375 – Away EDM VAN CGY WPG- Home

Steer Clear

BOS 2.2425 – Away VAN – Home CGY

STL 1.8525 – Away NSH DAL – Home

WSH 2.755 – Away WPG MIN CHI – Home

DAL 1.9525 – Away SJS- Home STL

PHI 2.8125 – Away CBJ NYR- Home NJD

February 13th to February 19th

Best Bets

NSH 4.3575 – – Home STL CGY DET OTT

CAR 4.095 – Away NJD – Home LAK NYI NJD

CBJ 4 – Away NYI TOR – Home PHI PIT

NJD 4.095 – Away PHI TBL CAR – Home CAR

VGK 3.99 – Away – Home CHI EDM MTL ANH

Steer Clear

STL 1.8525 – Away NSH DAL – Home

DAL 1.9525 – Away SJS – Home STL

PHI 2.8125 – Away CBJ NYR – Home NJD

TOR 2.84 – Away PIT DET – Home CBJ

ARI 2.845 – Away SJS – Home MTL EDM

February 14th to February 20th

Best Bets

NSH 4.4 – Away DET- Home CGY DET OTT

EDM 4.3275 – Away VGK ARI COL – Home BOS

MTL 4.3225 – Away COL ARI VGK PHI- Home

VAN 4.21 – Away SJS – Home FLA BOS COL

FLA 4.085 – Away VAN CGY WPG TOR- Home

Steer Clear

ARI 1.9425 – Away – Home MTL EDM

STL 1.9475 – Away DAL – Home SJS

DAL 1.9525 – Away SJS – Home STL

PHI 2.655 – Away CBJ NYR – Home MTL

BUF 2.6875 – Away OTT – Home LAK WSH

February 15th to February 21st

Best Bets

NSH 4.4 – Away DET – Home CGY DET OTT

EDM 4.3275 – Away VGK ARI COL – Home BOS

CGY 4.1425 – Away NSH VGK- Home FLA BOS

VGK 4.0425 – Away – Home EDM MTL ANH CGY

OTT 4.005 – Away NSH CHI- Home BUF NYR

Steer Clear

ARI 1.9425 – Away – Home MTL EDM

STL 1.9475 – Away DAL – Home SJS

PHI 2.655 – Away CBJ NYR – Home MTL

BUF 2.6875 – Away OTT – Home LAK WSH

MIN 2.7875 – Away NYI – Home WSH ANH

 

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UPCOMING GAMES

Mar 28 - 19:03 OTT vs CHI
Mar 28 - 19:03 TOR vs WSH
Mar 28 - 19:03 MTL vs PHI
Mar 28 - 19:03 PIT vs CBJ
Mar 28 - 19:03 FLA vs NYI
Mar 28 - 19:03 CAR vs DET
Mar 28 - 20:03 MIN vs S.J
Mar 28 - 20:03 STL vs CGY
Mar 28 - 20:03 WPG vs VGK
Mar 28 - 21:03 EDM vs L.A
Mar 28 - 21:03 COL vs NYR
Mar 28 - 22:03 SEA vs ANA
Mar 28 - 22:03 VAN vs DAL
Mar 28 - 22:03 ARI vs NSH

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
TAGE THOMPSON BUF
JJ PETERKA BUF
ANTHONY DUCLAIR T.B
JORDAN GREENWAY BUF
JURAJ SLAFKOVSKY MTL

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  Players Team
ALEKSEI KOLOSOV PHI
JOONAS KORPISALO OTT
KAREL VEJMELKA ARI
UKKO-PEKKA LUUKKONEN BUF
JUSTUS ANNUNEN COL

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency CGY Players
30.4 JONATHAN HUBERDEAU BLAKE COLEMAN MIKAEL BACKLUND
20.7 MARTIN POSPISIL ANDREI KUZMENKO NAZEM KADRI
20.1 CONNOR ZARY YEGOR SHARANGOVICH DRYDEN HUNT

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