Welcome back to the Fantasy Hockey Hacks Podcast! In the eighth episode of the podcast, Devon and Bruce are joined by a new member of the Fantasy Hockey Hacks podcast – John Ens. The group discusses recent news from around the NHL, including playoff results and highlights, suspensions, injuries, and more. We cover DFS Picks that we like for the upcoming week; and finish the show by highlighting players to keep an eye on for next year’s season-long fantasy hockey drafts.
Hockey News | May 17 – May 25
- May 17th | Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers has been suspended one game for boarding, see the play here:
. @FlaPanthers Sam Bennett has been suspended one game for his hit on Blake Coleman. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/YyE3zLWKmr
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 17, 2021
- May 17th | Frank Seravalli has resigned from TSN
Personal news: Today is my last day at TSN. My decision.
If you told a Philly kid that he’d break news on nat’l television for 6 yrs, he wouldn’t have believed you. Thank you
Not exactly sure what’s next, but I’m excited to see what’s out there in the universe for me.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 17, 2021
- May 17th | Adam Larson is rumoured to be closing in on a 4 year deal with an AAV between 3.75M and 4M.
- May 18th | Chris Driedger is expected to make his first NHL Playoff start for the Florida Panthers. Will this solidify his spot for next season? UPDATE: Looks like Spencer Knight is making a case for the crease.
- May 20th | John Tavares taken off the ice on a stretcher after a collision with Corey Perry. Maple Leafs lose series opener to Montreal Canadiens.
- May 20th | The 2021 NHL regular season is finally over, and we now know the draft lottery odds, which are as follows:
- Buffalo Sabres – 16.6%
- Anaheim Ducks – 12.1%
- Seattle Kraken – 10.3%
- New Jersey Devils – 10.3%
- Columbus Blue Jackets – 8.5%
- Detroit Red Wings – 7.6%
- San Jose Sharks – 6.7%
- Los Angeles Kings – 5.8%
- Vancouver Canucks – 5.4%
- Ottawa Senators – 4.5%
- Arizona Coyotes – 3.1%*
- Chicago Blackhawks – 2.7%
- Calgary Flames – 2.2%
- Philadelphia Flyers – 1.8%
- Dallas Stars – 1.4%
- New York Rangers – 1.0%
This year’s lottery will be different than in previous years. There will now only be two draws rather than three, so the Buffalo Sabres can’t drop lower than No. 3 overall.
Next year, the NHL will implement two more changes. Teams won’t be able to jump more than 10 spots if they win the lottery and teams won’t be allowed to win the lottery more than twice in a five-year span.
The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery will be held June 2 to determine the order of selection for the first 16 picks of the 2021 NHL Draft.
It includes the 15 teams that did not qualify for the playoffs and the Seattle Kraken, who begin play next season.https://t.co/7CzjW4T0oK
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) May 19, 2021
- May 21st | Nazem Kadri’s dangerous hit on Justin Faulk earns him an 8 game suspension!
Nazem Kadri receives a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Justin Faulk. pic.twitter.com/RVZkVsqNMz
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2021
- May 23rd | Colorado Avalanche sweep the St. Louis Blues, move onto round 2. Boston Bruins defeat the Washington Capitals in 5 games for a series win.
- May 24th | Winnipeg Jets sweep the Edmonton Oilers after a marathon triple overtime game.
- Wayne Gretzky leaves his post as Vice Chairman of OEG.
- Set to join TNT as a studio analyst.
- May 24th | Florida Panthers avoid elimination with a 4-1 win over Tampa Bay.
- May 24th | New York Islanders take series lead after stellar 48-save performance from Ilya Sorokin.
- Sorokin’s numbers: 1.66 GAA and .951 SV%, 3 wins in 3 games played against the Penguins.
- May 25th | Toronto Maple Leafs extend their series lead over the Habs with a shutout Tuesday night.
- May 25th | Carolina Hurricanes
DFS Picks | May 24 – May 31
FORWARDS
- Sam Bennett, FLA | DK Salary: $5,400
- Averaging 18.83 FPPG in series with the Lightning!
- 1 goal, 4 assists, 16 SOG so far in the series.
- Jeff Carter, PIT | DK Salary: $5,000
- Averaging 15.3 FPPG in series with the Islanders.
- 3 goals, 1 assist, 13 SOG so far in the series.
- Joel Eriksson Ek, MIN | DK Salary: $4,600
- Averaging 14.06 FPPG in series with the Golden Knights.
- 2 goals, 17 SOG so far in the series.
DEFENCEMEN
- Kris Letang, PIT | DK Salary: $5,800
- Averaging 15.26 FPPG so far in the series versus the New York Islanders.
- Leads Pittsburgh skaters in scoring with 5 points (1 goal) in 5 games played against NYI.
- Alec Martinez, VGK | DK Salary: $5,500
- Averaging 12.06 FPPG through three games in the series against Minnesota.
- 1 Goal, 21 blocked shots!
- Scott Mayfield, NYI | DK Salary: $4,300
- Averaging 21.73 FPPG through the first three games of the series against the Penguins!
- Playing on the second pair with Nick Leddy.
GOALIES
- Juuse Saros, NSH | DK Salary: $7,500
- 2.52 GAA and .929 SV% through 4 games against the Hurricanes.
- Averaging 17.0 FPPG.
- Marc-Andre Fleury, VGK | DK Salary: $8,200
- 1.40 GAA .945 SV% last 10 games played.
- Averaging 18.87 FPPG
- Varlamov/Sorokin Tandem, NYI | DK Salary: $7,900
- 1.80/2.00 GAA, .943/.935 SV%
- Averaging 18.52/17.56 FPPG last 10 games played.
Scouting Playoff Performers For Next Season
Nathan MacKinnon, COL, C
- 9 Pts (6 goals) in 4 games played. 3 PPP, 2 GWG
- Expected Draft Position: #1-3, depending on league setup.
- “Playoff Nate” is a thing. 53 points in 37 games played over the past three playoffs. 1.43 pts/gm is second behind Connor McDavid (1.51 in 6 games).
Brayden Point, TB, C
- 5 Pts (3 goals) in 5 games played. 3 PPP, 1 GWG
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 2 through 4
- Jeff Carter, PIT, C/LW/RW
- 4 Pts (3 goals) in 4 games played. 1 PPP, 1 GWG
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 18 through 20?
- Taylor Hall, BOS, LW
- 3 Pts (2 goals) in 5 games played. 1 PPP, 1 GTG
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 4 through 6
- Teuvo Teravainen, CAR, LW/RW
- 2 Pts (1 goal) in 4 games played.
- There are 15 players with at least 1.0 primary assists at 5-on-5 over the last three years. They are as follows: Marner, Panarin, McDavid, Huberdeau, Crosby, MacKinnon, Malkin, Kucherov, Marchand, Kane, Stamkos, Pettersson, TERAVAINEN, Stone, Point.
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 10 through 12?
- Alex Tuch, VGK, LW/RW
- 4 Pts (3 goals) in 5 games played. 1 PPP, 1 GWG
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 18 through 20
- Mackenzie Weegar, FLA, D
- 3 Pts (1 goal) in 5 games played.
- 36 point regular season.
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 18 through 20?
- Alex Nedelkjovic, CAR, G
- 2.13 GAA and .928 SV% through 4 games.
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 10 through 12?
- Ilya Sorokin, NYI, G
- 1.66 GAA and .951 SV%, 3 wins in 3 games played against the Penguins.
- Expected Draft Position: Rounds 10 through 12?