Jason Chen and Michael Amato discuss the improving outlooks for the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators after the All-Star Weekend.
The Sleepers and Keepers fantasy hockey podcast hosts Jason Chen and Michael Amato think a few underperforming teams in the first half of the season are bound to bounce back, or at least revert back to the mean.
Although the Flames are looking to trade veteran players, which included top center Elias Lindholm before the All-Star Game, they're getting scoring from Jonathan Huberdeau and Yegor Sharangovich, and good goaltending from Jacob Markstrom. Blake Coleman remains one of fantasy's biggest surprises this season.
Teuvo Teravainen (86) and Sebastian Aho (20)The Hurricanes have been red-hot after a lackluster start to the season, re-affirming their status as one of the Eastern Conference's best. Andrei Svechnikov can't seem to stay healthy and their goaltending is in a constant state of flux, but Sebastian Aho once again leads a deep, balanced lineup.
The Penguins' underlying metrics are good, but they can't find their rhythm and often have trouble scoring despite acquiring Erik Karlsson over the summer. If you believe that the numbers eventually manifest on the ice, then the Pens are your team. Bryan Rust has been excellent when healthy and Rickard Rakell has managed to return to form following an ice-cold start.
The Senators have languished at the bottom all season, but with their top three centers now in the lineup -- Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris and Shane Pinto -- it should give them enough depth to remain competitive while Jacques Martin continues to coax better defensive structure out of a talented group.
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