Frozen Fantasy: Order Returns

Hockey is so secondary to the state of the world today. But its return is a wonderful distraction. And a tiny signal of hope.

Order has returned. Or at least a little bit.

We can't wish COVID away. We all need to keep doing our part to stop it from spreading. But we can use hockey to pretend our world has order.

If only for a few hours at a time.

I miss the crowd noise, but love the game sounds that suddenly seem louder. Blades on the ice. Bodies on the boards. Pucks ringing posts.

I like the broadcasts this season – no offense, but it feels like the US feeds have finally improved their camera locations and angles. That's a huge deal to a Canadian raised on near-perfect visuals.

I love the division splits, especially the north. Again, it's a Canadian dream to have our teams pounding each other. Montreal-Toronto is going to be epic. Ditto Calgary-Edmonton.

I don't like the sloppy play so far, even though there are a lot of chances AND goals. I worry the Leafs lack heart, just like they have for years. Did you see newcomer Wayne Simmonds call out his own bench? In the the second period of Game One?

Yikes.

I know that P.K. Subban still has a big shot. And no ability to play D.

I love that Steven Stamkos is back. And that Auston Matthews' talent is growing, if that's even possible.

I'm impressed by the Devils – they are way better (and more entertaining) than I thought possible.

And I am still laughing from Jakub Voracek dropping a John Tortorella in a post-game presser.

Hockey is back. Order is restored, well at least a little bit.

Now let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.

Drake Batherson, RW, Ottawa (7 percent Yahoo!) – Batherson stood out Friday night in the Sens' win over the Buds. Two helpers (one on the PP), four hits and five shots while skating in the top-six. The Sens are going fast and young this season and their youth is easily top-two in the NHL. There will be struggles and droughts, but Batherson is driven to prove himself. And that intensity alone will deliver production in secondary categories like hits, blocked shots and SOG. I'm all for plugging in guys with upside to deliver those categories instead of pylons. And Batherson fits that bill.

Jakob Chychrun, D, Arizona (19 percent Yahoo!) – The Desert Dawgs don't get much fantasy respect and it's really too bad. So much so that Phil Kessel went undrafted in three leagues I'm in this year. Crazy. Chychrun is a guy I've loved for a long time – he has the full package for today's NHL. This is just a hunch, but I like the growth in his game. He could come close to out-performing Oliver Ekman-Larsson (88 percent Yahoo!) this year. That would be an impressive ROI. Chychrun has two points in one game and looked sharp on the PP on Thursday night. I'm rolling the dice on him.

Maxime Comtois, LW, Anaheim (2 percent Yahoo!) – Is Comtois to Sam Steel as Corey Perry was to Ryan Getzlaf? The latter two are hard to replace, but there's talent to burn on the Quacks' third line this season. Comtois scored twice Thursday playing alongside fellow young players, Steel and Troy Terry. They were Anaheim's best line on the ice and Comtois scored twice in just 3:36. Don't just chalk it up to a good game and walk on by. Those goals were the fastest two goals scored by a Duck to start a season opener in more than 15 years. And Comtois has nine snipes in 40 career games. He can score. He is going to surprise this season. Get ready to put in a claim.

Jonathan Drouin, LW/C, Montreal (26 percent Yahoo!) – Oh how fickle fantasy players are. This talented 24-year-old was strangely passed over in three-of-every-four fantasy drafts this season. That's despite averaging 51 points over his last full three seasons. Drouin's production over that span is slightly better than 93-percent covered William Nylander (49). The latter may have the sexier upside, but Drouin is no slouch. And he's off to a great start. Don't sleep on him.

Thomas Greiss, G, Detroit (11 percent Yahoo!) – This reco comes with a big caveat – it's Detroit, after all. But if your league counts saves as equally as wins, then Greiss deserves a look. The dude is going to need some bruise cream with all the rubber he's going to see. He stopped 40 shots Thursday night and allowed only two goals. Greiss isn't Roberto Luongo, but he could face the same kind of shot volume that Bobby Lou did early in Florida.

Martin Necas, RW/C, Carolina (8 percent Yahoo!) – Necas is a talented second-line winger on a high-octane, offensive team. And he gets time on the second power play. Sure, there's chance of a sophomore slump, but there's also the opposite. Necas won't sustain his 18.2 shooting percentage, but he could still put up more than 45 points. COVID-19 could put a lot of guys on the sidelines this year. Necas can fill the void. File his name away.

Vitek Vanecek, G, Washington (5 percent Yahoo!) – Vanecek was strong and steady against the Sabres on Friday night. He's inexperienced, but so is starter Ilya Samsonov. And Vanecek has shown strong and consistent improvement in his game in the minors over the last couple years. The Caps have a solid defensive approach under Peter Laviolette and that will disguise a lot of wobbles in the net. I've snagged Vanecek for spot starts – he could prove more valuable than a heavier-used backup on a lesser squad.

Miles Wood, LW, New Jersey (1 percent Yahoo!) – Wood has no off-switch – he's fast, aggressive and super-intense. He danced around the Bruins' D on Saturday and even took on teammate P.K. Subban in a dust-up at practice this week. There's still inconsistency to his game. But he has a goal in each of his first two games by going straight to the net. And he'll deliver hits and shots when there's no offense. Woodsy's tool kit is perfect for the last spot in your specialty league. Plus he's a blast to watch. Give him a view even if you don't pick him up – trust me, you can't help but like the guy's game.

Back to the new world order, at least hockey-wise.

I have told you what I like, love and know so far. But here's what I hope.

I hope that the Dallas Stars' outbreak is the one and only that happens.

That the NHL can pull this off.

And that order outside hockey returns soon, too.

Stay strong. Stay healthy. And welcome back.

Until next week.