This article is part of our NHL Barometer series.
This week's article includes a hot Sedin, a possible new superstar in Hockeytown, the Ghost in Philly, Price down again, and a struggling elite D-man in Calgary.
First Liners (Risers)
Tomas Plekanec, C, MTL – Despite going scoreless Tuesday, Plekanec has 12 points in his last 12 games, putting him to close to a point-per-game pace for the season. Last year, the veteran found the fountain of youth, notching 26 goals and 34 assists at 31 years old. That fine season earned him a two-year, $12 million contract extension with the Canadiens this October. With Brendan Gallagher (hand) out six weeks, Plekanec will be counted on even more by Montreal.
Henrik Sedin, C, VAN – After a poor 2013-14 campaign, Sedin likely was overlooked in your leagues last year. He responded by notching 18 goals while dishing out 55 assists with 25 of those points coming on the man-advantage. That production was mildly discounted as his shooting percentage spiked to 17.8%. This year, Sedin is making that number look downright weak, as he is hitting on 21.6% of his shots while tallying 23 points in 25 games through Monday.
Dylan Larkin, LW, DET – The Red Wings' 2014 first-round draft pick, Larkin shined at the University of Michigan in 2014-15, piling up 15 goals and 47 points in 35 games. Despite those big numbers and high expectations, he was likely slated to open the season at Grand Rapids. Injuries and a strong camp gave him a shot and he has made the most of it, notching a team-leading 10 goals along with eight assists. Larkin has the skill set and on-ice intelligence plus maturity to continue this fine performance throughout the season.
Patrick Kane, RW, CHI – Kane notched another goal Tuesday, extending his point streak to 20 games, which is the record for the longest point streak by an American-born player. Kane leads the NHL with 38 points in 25 games, having been held off the scoresheet just twice all year. The legal issues, which may have dropped down on draft lists and made him a bit of a bargain, are a thing of the past. So, as long as he stays healthy, a 100-point season could be within reach.
Jason Chimera, LW, WAS – In 23 games, Chimera has almost equaled his output in 77 games last season, tallying 14 points after putting up just 19 a year ago. He has seven points, including five assists and four PPPs, in his last five games. Chimera is still just playing on the third line and shooting 13.5%, so don't overrate, but he is worth a short-time flier while hot.
Rasmus Ristolainen, D, BUF – Ristolainen only had 20 points with a minus-32 rating last season but entered 2015-16 as a mild sleeper. There was expected growth, as Risto was to see a spike in ice time and responsibility. So far, so good, as the Finn has four goals and 14 assists (including four Tuesday). In 25 games, Ristolainen is seeing 3:30 more in ice time each game, so jump on the bandwagon before there is no room.
Shayne Gostisbehere, D, PHI – Our preseason outlook noted that Gostisbehere received a taste of NHL action in 2014-15 when the Flyers called him up from AHL Lehigh Valley for two games in October but shortly after returning to the minors, he suffered an ACL tear that would keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. The Ghost was expected to spend a good portion of this season in the minors, but Mark Streit's injury created an opportunity. The 22-year old has made the most of his chance, notching four goals, including three on the man-advantage, in nine games. Even when Streit does return in about a month, Gostisbehere should continue to see major PP TOI. Don't sleep on him as I did in my league and Dan Pennucci beat me to him while I debated if I should waive Justin Schultz.
Sergei Bobrovsky, G, CBJ – Bobrovsky suffered through a nightmarish October, losing eight of 10 decisions, plummeting him down the goalie rankings. He was a totally different man this past month, conceding just 20 goals in 11 starts, while posting a .940 save percentage. Bobrovsky lost 2-1 Tuesday, allowing the two goals on 26 shots, which is another solid effort. If Columbus is going to try and move into playoff contention, the Bob will need to carry them as he has lately.
Mike Condon, G, MTL – Fantasy sports is all about recognizing trends or taking advantage of injuries. In the case of Condon, he picked up the baton when Carey Price was sidelined earlier in the year. Now, he will be the man for the next six weeks while Price is out again with a right leg injury. Condon stopped 22 of 23 shots Tuesday to improve to 9-2-3 and lower his GAA close to two for the season. Ride the former Princeton Tiger.
Others include Ryan Strome, Matt Duchene, John Tavares, Ryan Getzlaf, Adam Henrique, Cody Eakin, Evgeni Malkin, Joe Pavelski, Ryan Johansen, Kyle Turris, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Max Domi, Mikko Koivu, Claude Giroux, Robby Fabbri, Patrick Sharp, Rick Nash, Michael Cammalleri, Vladimir Tarasenko, Leo Komarov, Elias Lindholm, Mikkel Boedker, Thomas Vanek, Charlie Coyle, Mike Hoffman, Lee Stempniak, Michael Stone, Roman Polak, Brent Seabrook, John Carlson, Cam Fowler, Kris Letang, Duncan Keith, Sami Vatanen, Connor Hellebuyck, Chad Johnson, Ben Bishop, Garret Sparks, Craig Anderson, and Braden Holtby.
Training Room (Injuries)
Derek Stepan, C, NYR – Stepan will miss the next four to six weeks with broken ribs suffered on what look to be a late, unpenalized hit by Matt Beleskey last Friday. While Stepan had just 12 points in 23 games, he was a stalwart shorthanded and saw some time on the man-advantage while also serving as the 1 or 1a center. Oscar Lindberg is now getting a shot at centering Stepan's line.
Logan Couture, C, SJ – Couture was injured on October 15 and was slated to miss four to six weeks with a fractured right fibula at the ankle that required surgery. He resumed skating on November 21 and was able to go for 30 minutes during Monday's practice. Couture 'looked like he was moving well' and he could be back in the lineup before too long. San Jose has clearly missed their prized center, who notched at least 21 goals his past five seasons.
Kevin Klein, D, NYR – Klein, the Rangers' most consistent D-man the last two seasons, will miss the next two to three weeks with an oblique injury. In his absence, Dylan McIlrath should be in the lineup each game.
Carey Price, G, MTL – Price, who missed nine games with a lower-body injury suffered on October 29, returned to action on November 20. That stint was short-lived, as he aggravated the injury last Wednesday and will now be sidelined six weeks, though he will not need surgery. Mike Condon and Zachary Fucale will fill in for Price.
Others include Connor McDavid (shoulder, healing faster than expected, could be back mid-to-late January), Jonathan Drouin (undisclosed, could play Wednesday), Ondrej Palat (out since November 10 with a suspected ankle injury, could return this week), David Pastrnak (non-displaced fracture in left foot, no timetable), Joffrey Lupul (LBI, placed on IR on Tuesday), Justin Schultz (back, out since Oct. 25, activated), and Kari Lehtonen (suffered UBI on Nov. 24).
Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)
Bo Horvat, C, VAN – Horvat had a solid rookie campaign, notching 13 goals and 25 assists in 68 games as a 19-year old. The sophomore slump may be the case this year, as he has just two goals and six assists in 25 games. In addition, he has just one goal since October 10. Horvat is the Canucks' second-line center for now and especially the future, but lately he is going through growing pains.
Chris Kreider, RW, NYR – This was expected to be CK20's breakout campaign. So far that has not been the case, as Kreider has four goals and seven assists in 25 games. Kreider benefitted from a poor play by Cam Ward to score Monday and maybe that will be what he needs to help reach his potential.
Mark Giordano, D, CGY – Giordano had 48 points in 61 games and looked to be in line for a Norris Trophy nomination before he tore his biceps in February. This season, he is off to a very slow start, tallying five goals and three assists in 25 games. Maybe the defensive depth in Calgary is playing a part in his regression, but whatever the reason, he is not returning the value most expected when drafting him.
Cam Ward, G, CAR – Ward wasn't horrible last year, going 22-24-4 with a 2.40 GAA and .910 save percentage. In 2014-15, Anton Khudobin got decent playing time. This year, Carolina traded for Eddie Lack, who was expected to challenge Ward for playing time. So far, it's been Ward's job, as he has made 19 appearances, but he is just 7-8-3 with a 2.53 GAA and.898 save percentage. He is in the final year of the six-year contract extension he signed with Carolina in late September 2009, worth $37.8 million, so it's only a matter of time before he is headed out of town.
Others include Nazem Kadri, Jori Lehtera, Tomas Hertl, Jakob Silfverberg, Jeff Skinner, Beau Bennett, Nikolaj Ehlers, Shea Weber (before Tuesday's game), Anton Stralman, Dan Girardi, Marek Zidlicky, Cam Talbot, Jonathan Bernier, and Jaroslav Halak.
