Frozen Fantasy: Crystal Ball or Snow Globe?

It was a busy week. The Leafs have sucked. The Lightning has been worse. And the Mammoth and Canadiens lead the NHL alongside the Avs. 

Whose crystal ball had that happening?

Then again, who really thought that both Matthew Schaefer (84 percent Yahoo!) and Zeev Buium (75 percent Yahoo!) would be in a multi-player tie for third in blueline scoring? And that Andrei Vasilevskiy (100 percent Yahoo!) would be winless heading into Sunday night's home game against Vegas? At least he got that monkey off his back. 

Some days I think that preseason predictions are solely made to fuel arguments - we all get things wrong more than right. And sometimes we break the snow globe altogether. 

I won't belabor that. Or anything else this week. Some things simply don't make sense. And then there are some surprising performances, including a few on this list. 

Let's take a look at the ones that caught my eye this week. 

Ian Cole, D, Utah (10 percent Yahoo!) - Cole was noticeable on Saturday with an eight-block performance. Ouch. He's delivered 15 in four games this week alongside a goal and two assists. Will the offense continue? Probably not considering he only put up 17 points last season. But Cole is a shot blocking machine, and the 36-year-old is on pace to improve on his career-best 211 from last season. He's stable and his strong plus-minus means he won't be an anchor in your last D spot. 

Ryan Donato, C/LW/RW, Chicago (41 percent Yahoo!) - Donato has been fire the last 10 days with five goals and two helpers on a five-game scoring streak that ended Saturday. He's really clicked with Frank Nazar (55 percent Yahoo!) and Teuvo Teravainen (24 percent Yahoo!) on the second line while hopping the boards on PP2. It's easy to forget Donato posted 62 points last year and is poised to top that. I could use a 30-goal player right now, especially with his positional flexibility. Donato's rostering jumped 19 percentage points overnight Saturday. I missed him, but maybe you'll get lucky. 

Emmitt Finnie, LW/C, Detroit (35 percent Yahoo!) - Finnie is the 20th seventh-rounder to play in the NHL since 2019. He's on the lead line, tied for second in team scoring, and third in hits. He's also second in overall rookie offense with eight points. Finnie has skill, grit, speed and poise. And oddsmakers have him in the top-5 for the Calder, at least right now. Who had THAT in their crystal ball? Not a single soul, and you'd be lying if you said you did. You'd be wise to take advantage, even if it's a grab-and-trade situation. Players like Finnie always come back to Earth. There are always managers willing to overpay… 

Carter Hart, G, Vegas (15 percent Yahoo!) - Ignore the taste in your throat. Ignore the evidence as reported. Apply a little Vegas "it's business'" thinking to your fantasy squad. If I can do it - and I clearly have a perspective because of my sex - then you can too. Hart is an asset to any lineup. He's extremely talented and the Golden Knights have an exceptional system that will protect him as he shakes off the rust. Hart's first eligible game in the NHL is Dec. 2 against the Blackhawks. He's too good to let someone else get him. I stashed Hart in one draft while picking him up in the first FAAB of my home league for a massive bid. I just need to get to December in decent shape to take advantage. 

Emil Heineman, LW, NY Islanders (11 percent Yahoo!) - It seems there are a lot of people who ignore Isles. I have a lifelong hatred for them, but I'm not that stupid. Heineman had his five-game, six-point streak snapped Saturday, though that doesn't change his situation or potential. He can snipe as he racked up five goals during that run, and his shot is a rocket. Heineman is in the top-six alongside Bo Horvat (76 percent Yahoo!) and Jonathan Drouin (5 percent Yahoo!) while on PP2 with Anders Lee and Simon Holmstrom (both below). He offers 30-goal potential, so go get him now. Remember Pavel Dorofeyev (92 percent Yahoo!) from last season? Do it. 

Simon Holmstrom, RW, NY Islanders (1 percent Yahoo!) - Holmstrom got dropped to the fourth line early on, and that's good news for you. He's started to figure things out with five points (two goals, three assists) on a three-game scoring streak heading into Tuesday. Holmstrom's still skating on the third trio, but is also on PP2. And he could end up in the mid-50s for points by season's end. Most of that will come at even strength, at least for now. But remember Trevor Moore's (4 percent Yahoo!) 57-point campaign in 2023-24? They're different players, but that's the kind of sneaky potential Holmstrom offers.

Anders Lee, LW, NY Islanders (15 percent Yahoo!) - Anders Lee as a playmaker? Huh? He may be reinventing himself at age 35, and right now, it's working… to the tune of a four-game, eight-point streak going into Tuesday that includes six apples. Lee is teaming up with Simon Holmstrom (above) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (6 percent Yahoo!) and all three all clicking. He's established eight 20-goal campaigns across his last nine seasons and is fresh off 54 points. Lee may be slowing down even more, yet his hands and vision are as strong as ever. 

Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh (26 percent Yahoo!) - I never thought I'd ever put Letang on this list. A A defender who's reached at least 50 points on seven occasions. A six-time NHL All Star. Three-time Cup champion. World Junior All Star. Letang has dealt with injuries, but his talent is undeniable. Old is old in fantasy, and we all pass judgement. Letang is 38, yet it was only two seasons ago he registered 51 points with triple-digit hits and blocks. He might not be sexy anymore, though he's more than fantasy-worthy. Letang has produced four points (one goal, three assists), three of which have come on the man-advantage, seven blocks and five shots from his last four games. You can do better, but not by much and not from someone available in three of every four leagues.

Alex Lyon, G, Buffalo (30 percent Yahoo!) - Lyon is here for two reasons. He's really good and the Sabres are logjammed in net now that Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (29 percent Yahoo!) is back in action. The reality is that one of these two is likely to be moved, and that could be out West to Edmonton. Rumors are swirling. And while Stuart Skinner (65 percent Yahoo!) hasn't blown an outing yet, he also hasn't stolen one. Get ready to pounce on one of Lyon or UPL, depending on who gets dealt.

Ryan O'Reilly, C, Nashville (22 percent Yahoo!) - O'Reilly remains one of the best face-off performers. He finished 11th overall with 746 wins (55.7 percent) last year and fifth the one before at 828 wins (53.9). O'Reilly becomes invaluable when he starts accumulating points as he's currently riding a four-game, six-point streak that consists of three goals and three assists. And he's already come out on top in 84 face-offs. Nashville is in a surprise Wild Card spot and O'Reilly is a big part of that as he leads the club in goals (five) and points (eight). He's 34 years old, but he also managed 69 points two seasons ago. O'Reilly could be an unpolished fantasy gem. 

Jaden Schwartz, LW, Seattle (11 percent Yahoo!) - Schwartz was skunked by the Oilers on Saturday, though his seven points - including four goals - in the six previous games stand out. He recorded 14 shots, 11 hits and six blocks during that span while adding a goal and assist on the man-advantage. The knocks on Schwartz have been inconsistency and injuries. Neither is an issue right now. And the 33-year-old is being counted on to help shepherd Shane Wright's (7 percent Yahoo!) development in the NHL. I like that role. There's nothing like the responsibility of leadership to help solidify a forward's game. 

Troy Terry, RW, Anaheim (16 percent Yahoo!) - Terry is on a rip. As in a four-game, six-point stretch that includes a three-game goal streak heading into Tuesday. Terry is great with and without the puck while his shot is elite. And playing on the Left Coast means he's often overlooked. He's notched 67, 61, 54 and 55 points during the last four seasons that included one 37-goal campaign. Terry already has nine points - six of those assists (four PPA) - in eight games while a stalwart on PP1. And he's rostered in fewer than 1-in-6 leagues. That's not right. Go fix that. 

Dmitri Voronkov, LW, Columbus (25 percent Yahoo!) - Voronkov's progress continues to grow rather anonymously in Ohio, though that may not last much longer. He's on the first line and first power play with nine points (five goals, four assists) through eight contests. That includes his current four-game, five-point streak heading into Buffalo on Tuesday night. Voronkov is massive and has the ability to be the next Aliaksei Protas (80 percent Yahoo!). It's time to get in on the ground floor. 

Trevor Zegras, C, Philadelphia (16 percent Yahoo!) - Zegras has somewhat quietly put together a great start in Philly by tallying two goals and six assists across eight appearances, with one of those markers and two of the helpers coming from his gig on PP1. The experiment with Zegras at pivot was a short one, but he and Matvei Michkov (71 percent Yahoo!) are still on the same unit. Left wing eligibility will come soon, and his value will jump when it does. Zegras is another get-in-on-the-ground-floor player. I like his future, even if I traded him away in one of my leagues. 

Back to the crystal ball. Or snow globe. Take your pick. 

Mine says Vasilevskiy figures things out. And teaches that reaching for goalies early may not be the right strategy. 

Wait, didn't someone you know say that in the preseason? BAHAHAHA. I also said Logan Thompson (96 percent Yahoo!) was mid at best while he lists the best GAA (1.50) and second in save percentage (.938) among those who've started at least half of their team's games. 

All that to say we need to let go of presumptions and biases, me included. I traded Thompson away last year in a dynasty due to that bias. And yes, I've learned a lesson from it…

Until next week.