20 Fantasy Thoughts: Roman Josi sustaining unprecedented cold streak

This isn’t what we’ve come to count on from Roman Josi.

The Nashville Predators defenceman is as chilly because it will get, totaling simply three factors because the begin of December and failing to attain in his previous 12 video games. That’s powerful to swallow should you used a excessive draft choose on Josi for this fantasy hockey season, as he’s been effectively over a degree per recreation in two of the previous three campaigns and even flirted with 100 a couple of years again. For those who exclude the pandemic-shortened season, Josi is on tempo for his worst level complete since 2018-19.

Josi is struggling most on the facility play, the place he’s at present on tempo for 10 fewer factors with the person benefit than he tallied a 12 months in the past. Even with Nashville’s energy play now near the center of the pack and the Preds scoring 4 power-play targets of their previous 5 video games, Josi nonetheless can’t get going.

One factor that involved me about Josi heading into this season was the addition of Steven Stamkos. The previous Tampa Bay Lightning ahead loves the one-timer on the facility play and there are solely so many photographs to go round. If the play is funnelling by means of Stamkos, that’s going to restrict Josi’s alternatives for factors. 

What usually makes Josi so worthwhile is his mix of offence and his protection of different peripheral classes. He’s wonderful for photographs and blocks, and you’ll often depend on Josi to supply round 250 and 150 respectively. In 2024-25, he’s nonetheless trending proper at that tempo in each of these areas, which is nice information. However with out the offence to go together with it, Josi turns into much more bizarre. 

As soon as once more, with a participant like Josi, the essential factor right here is persistence. You’ll doubtless lose any Josi commerce proper now and his worth is at an all-time low. We’ve seen gamers like Brad Marchand and Jason Roberston undergo comparable struggles this 12 months, solely to rebound and be key fantasy property as soon as once more. Simply maintain on and anticipate him to rebound or purchase low should you can. Josi will come out of this ultimately. 

1. It’s been a formidable begin to Cam Fowler’s tenure as a St. Louis Blue. Fowler has 9 factors in his previous eight video games and has taken over a spot on energy play one. I didn’t assume Fowler would have the ability to get a lot energy play time with Justin Faulk and Philip Broberg within the fold, however he’s actually stepped up and getting huge minutes total.

2. The struggles of the New York Rangers are beginning to influence Igor Shesterkin, who all of a sudden finds himself on IR as effectively. His targets in opposition to is now over three and he’s given up 4 targets or extra in 10 video games this season. Shesterkin remains to be offering high quality begins right here and there, however wins are scarce. This isn’t on Shesterkin, because the staff in entrance of him is the true challenge and most different goalies could be unrosterable with the circumstances he’s coping with. I’d nonetheless begin him comfortably until the Rangers are enjoying a really powerful opponent and also you’re in a decent battle for the goalie stats late within the week of your matchup. 

3. Martin Necas has actually began to chill off. He has simply two factors in 9 video games and given his historical past of inconsistent play, this shouldn’t be all that stunning. Necas was by no means going to proceed on the tempo he exploded out of the gates with and a few regression was to be anticipated. The Carolina Hurricanes ahead has been so productive this 12 months, although, that I’d be affected person and journey out this chilly stretch. For those who haven’t bought excessive already, protecting him is the most suitable choice. 

4. Usually when a participant like Auston Matthews is sidelined with an harm, the skaters round him lose worth. Nevertheless, Mitch Marner has been the precise reverse, enjoying a few of the greatest hockey of his profession and elevating his recreation in sure areas. Marner truly has 10 of his 14 targets with out Matthews within the lineup, maybe leaning on his shot extra with out among the finest purpose scorers on the planet out there on his line. Regardless of Matthews lacking a bunch of time, Marner is on tempo for a career-best 115 factors. 

5. One participant who actually missed Matthews is Matthew Knies. He managed solely two targets in December earlier than exploding Saturday night time for a large recreation when Matthews returned. A part of what might have been tied to Knies’ struggles, apart from not enjoying with Marner and Matthews anymore due to the harm to Matthews, is his ice time has skyrocketed this 12 months. Usually that’s a great factor, however Knies is skating nearly 5 minutes extra per recreation than he did a 12 months in the past, which is quite a bit for a younger participant to deal with. That’s going to be a tough adjustment for Knies to make due to the bodily fashion he performs and the toll it takes on his physique. Knies is much more worthwhile in fantasy when he’s racking up the hits and scoring at a strong tempo, however you’ll should count on some chilly streaks right here and there.  

6. Warren Foegele has one thing cooking in Los Angeles. The Kings ahead has 10 factors in his previous 9 video games and no less than three photographs in 4 of these video games. Foegele is clicking on line two with Quinton Byfield, who has picked it up a bit recently after a sluggish begin. He might not be a season-long maintain, however Foegele is value a glance as a short-term add whereas he’s producing strong offensive numbers. 

7. It merely hasn’t labored for Jeff Skinner in Edmonton. Skinner was demoted to the underside six and getting minimal ice time earlier than lastly being scratched final weekend. Connor Brown equally didn’t match with Connor McDavid final season on the Oilers high line and Skinner, who additionally regarded like an ideal match and an incredible fantasy sleeper this summer time, seems to be following down Brown’s path. Skinner has picked up a few factors just lately, however his ice time remains to be extremely low. I’ve a tough time seeing Skinner working his means again to fantasy relevance this 12 months. 

8. It’s laborious to begin off your profession any higher than Jakub Dobes has. A shutout of the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in his first recreation following by a formidable begin over the Colorado Avalanche on the highway is hard to beat. It’s clearly a small pattern measurement and who is aware of the place that is going, however don’t be afraid to make use of Dobes as a streamer in the interim. 

9. Hopefully Matt Boldy’s three-point night time Saturday was step one to him breaking out of a big stoop. Earlier than that recreation, he had only one purpose and three assists in 13 contests. The harm to Kirill Kaprizov has harm Boldy some, although his struggles began earlier than that. He’s had 4 photographs in 4 straight video games, and Joel Eriksson Ek is again to assist steadiness out the offence, so I’m certain Boldy will totally get away of this quickly. If anybody is attempting to deal Boldy in your league, don’t hesitate to pounce. 

10. As talked about, Eriksson Ek is again, enjoying practically 20 minutes an evening and he had an enormous recreation with a pair of power-play assists earlier this week. After a number of stints on injured reserve this season, Eriksson Ek has but to search out his groove, so hopefully he can keep wholesome the remainder of the best way and begin making an influence. The Minnesota Wild ahead is likely one of the greatest there may be for throughout class protection. 

11. Nobody has ever questioned Gabriel Vilardi’s means, nevertheless it’s at all times been accidents which have held him again from being an incredible fantasy choice. Vilardi now has eight factors in his previous six video games and is on tempo for an incredible 72-point marketing campaign. Most significantly, he’s performed in each recreation for the Winnipeg Jets this season. You’d wish to see his shot quantity be a bit increased, nevertheless it’s laborious to complain when Vilardi is supplying you with that kind of constant offensive manufacturing. 

12. At what level do the Washington Capitals begin to hand the web over to Logan Thompson? The Caps proceed to rotate between Thompson and Charlie Lindgren, however Thompson has been the far superior goalie this season, particularly on the subject of the win column. 

13. Kirill Marchenko could be the largest story in fantasy hockey this season that no one is speaking about. Marchenko has already surpassed his level complete from all of final season and is tempo for 35 targets, 88 factors and effectively over 200 photographs. It’s a breakout season that’s a bit stunning when you think about Marchenko has been very purpose heavy over the earlier two years, scoring 44 occasions in comparison with simply 23 assists. This 12 months, although, Marchenko is rather more balanced, at present posting 9 extra assists than targets, making him extra versatile. He’s additionally been a formidable plus-22 on a mediocre Columbus Blue Jackets squad. 

14. When you’ve got a roster area open to stash a participant, Boone Jenner has resumed skating. It stays to be seen when he’ll return, however Jenner is a low-risk, high-reward choice at this level in multi-cat leagues if he’s sitting there on waivers. He’s had hassle staying wholesome, although you can merely drop him if issues don’t work out. 

15. The Colorado Avalanche juggle their high six maybe greater than another staff, however they’ve shifted to one thing that labored actually for them a 12 months in the past. Jonathan Drouin moved again to the primary line with Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon on Thursday, a spot the place he was very productive final season. Drouin just lately had back-to-back multi-point video games and if this trio sticks, he’ll be very worthwhile once more. 

16. Jonathan Huberdeau’s resurgence is best late than by no means. Huberdeau has notched 17 factors in his previous 15 video games and is pacing for 61 on the season. It’s a far cry from the high-end offensive numbers he produced with the Florida Panthers, however anybody who’s stored the religion and nonetheless rostering Huberdeau will definitely take it. 

To place Huberdeau’s resurgence into additional perspective, he’s already at 16 targets and on monitor to set a brand new profession excessive there this season. The Calgary Flames ahead hadn’t scored greater than 15 targets in every of his two prior campaigns since becoming a member of the staff. Huberdeau truly has extra targets than assists this season, one thing that’s a big departure from his regular output. He has twice as many assists in his profession than he does targets. A part of the explanation Huberdeau is discovering the web with rather more regularity is an inflated 24.6 capturing proportion. That’s about double his profession common, inflicting considerations that he’ll have the ability to preserve this going. That capturing proportion will doubtless regress sooner or later and his scoring tempo could drop barely, however he’s developed a strong chemistry with Nazem Kadri on Calgary’s high line and also you’d hope that duo will nonetheless be productive sufficient to make Huberdeau value holding. 

Calgary is beginning to belief Huberdeau extra, too. His ice time is up greater than a minute from what he performed final 12 months and above his profession common as effectively, and he’s been one of many largest catalysts for the stunning Flames persevering with to remain within the playoff hunt as we shut in on the midway level of the season. That is an encouraging signal should you’re hoping to maintain Huberdeau for the remainder of the 12 months or are contemplating including him on waivers. Regardless of this current scoring surge, Huberdeau remains to be out there in additional than 50 per cent of leagues and has twin place eligibility, making him a flexible participant to suit into your roster. 

The ship could have sailed on Huberdeau being an elite offensive participant as soon as once more, however this present model can nonetheless be an enormous asset. 

17. The Ottawa Senators juggled their traces just lately, placing collectively Brady Tkachuk, Ridly Greig and Shane Pinto. Greig could be the man to place in your watch listing right here if this line has endurance, as he had scored in three straight video games with three photographs in every a type of contests. 

18. Jack Quinn is heating up, profiting from the Buffalo Sabres current uptick in scoring. Quinn has seven factors in his previous six video games and is value a short-term look. He’s on energy play one, too. 

19. There are a bunch of groups that play 4 occasions subsequent week, so loads of alternatives to spice up your roster. For those who want assist in purpose, I’d circle again on Ilya Samsonov, who has been wonderful recently. Samsonov is 5-0-0 in his previous 5 begins and had a .948 save proportion in December. The Vegas Golden Knights goaltender is incomes extra enjoying time and will see a few begins in a busy week for Vegas. 

Patrick Kane is now underneath 50 per cent rostered and has put collectively seven factors in his previous 4 video games. That additionally contains 4 power-play factors and the Detroit Crimson Wings have a couple of pleasant matchups subsequent week, so it could be value seeing if Kane is sitting in your waiver wire. 

For those who haven’t performed so already, it’s most likely time to drop Maxim Tsyplakov. The New York Islanders play simply twice subsequent week and Tsyplakov has only one level in seven video games. His hits have dried up as effectively, as Tsyplakov just lately went 4 straight video games with no hit. To not point out the Isles as an entire are actually struggling, so it’s laborious to depend on the staff to assist prop Tsyplakov up. 

20. Jonathan Toews is working in direction of a comeback. Particulars are scarce about when and what staff Toews would be a part of and it’s laborious to say how he’ll carry out if he comes again, however preserve Toews behind your thoughts if he lands in a great place.