With no games slated for Friday -- sad face -- I thought this would be a good time to open up my fantasy notebook and share some stats and musings. They range from potentially significant, such as Shea Theodore losing his spot on Vegas PP1, to maybe a nothingburger, such as Brady Martin opening the season as the Preds 1C.
I've divided the fantasy notebook by position, so be sure to check out the forwards, defencemen and goalies.
Stuart Skinner, G, EDM (64% rostered)
So much for showing up to camp having lost weight and looking a little quicker – we saw Skinner back to his old self allowing weird goals and soft goals, and blowing a 3-0 lead in the season opener. There’s little margin for error in a tight Pacific and Skinner’s the one auditioning for Team Canada. It’s the type of performance that make you wonder when we’ll see Calvin Pickard – next game, probably – and if the Oilers are just waiting for Connor Ingram to get warmed up and comfortable with his new club before brining him up.
It's been only one game and Skinner still has a shot at 30 wins being the No. 1 goalie on a Cup contender that can outscore their problems, but I am already worried.
John Gibson, G, DET (41% rostered)
Gibson gave up five goals on 13 shots in his Red Wings debut and I can’t say I fault him very much. (What a waste of a debut of a beautiful centennial jersey, too). There was a partial breakaway, a few odd-man rushes and generally not a lot of help from his defense. I’m not sure why Steve Yzerman insists on signing older defensemen who do nothing but take minutes away from their prospects – Travis Hamonic, for one – because they really don’t need them.
With a back-to-back coming up against the Leafs, I suspect the Wings will split the starts between Gibson and Cam Talbot. Right now, I don’t think it’s clear who will get the net, though the bet’s still on Gibson. What’s more concerning is how badly they lost against the Habs despite gaining the lead to open the game and allowing just 17 shots.
Jet Greaves, G, CBJ (40% rostered)
There’s no blaming Greaves in the season-opening loss, allowing just two goals on 31 shots (.935 Sv%) and getting almost zero goal support from an offense that kept shooting blanks. I think the Jackets will want to see both their goalies in action early in the season before committing to one to be their starter, but I think it says a lot when Dean Evason picked Greaves. He praised him last season and had little reason not to go with him. I think there’s an even better chance of Greaves being the 1A goalie following the season opener.
Arturs Silovs, G, PIT (22% rostered)
Dan Muse looked like a genius starting Silovs in the season opener, shutting out the Rangers. Silovs is coming off a great season in the minors after being named AHL playoff MVP, so this shouldn’t be too surprising.
The Pens won their second game with Tristan Jarry in net, but Silovs definitely looked better, and I suspect they will go back to him Saturday where he faces the Rangers again, this time at home. Silovs, seen as the backup coming into this season, is now pushing for an equal timeshare, and perhaps more. I think the Pens really look good so far, but I am skeptical about their ability to keep this up. Silovs should be able to provide a high volume of saves in fantasy but the wins won’t be easy to come by.
Daniel Vladar, G, PHI (5% rostered)
Another interesting decision where the Flyers elected to start Vladar, a career backup signed over the summer over the incumbent Samuel Ersson, and he didn’t disappoint. Vladar made 32 saves in a strong effort and I think it’s actually a good result the Flyers lost by just one goal against the defending champion Panthers.
I don’t think either Philly goalie has much value beyond being streaming options, but early on it looks like we’re looking at a timeshare here.
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