Week 11 Preview

Today we have the Week 11 Preview edition. Here’s your starting roster:

-          Injury Implications

-          Scheduling science

-          Players to Poach

Let’s dive in!

Injury Implications

Gabriel Landeskog (LW, 94%) Landeskog had a report come out on Wednesday indicating his recovery has been progressing nicely since knee surgery in the summer. He’s been skating alone for 2 weeks and rough timetable for return indicates middle of January. Once healthy he is a must roster and provides a nice trade target if you’re sitting high in the standings in your league.

Adam Boqvist (D, 6%) Boqvist returned to practice on Friday from a foot injury and should be back playing within 2 weeks. Upon return Boqvist will likely return to powerplay one and while Columbus is a basement powerplay team, PP1 D don’t grow on trees. Worth a stash if you’re light on D.

Jakub Vrana (LW, 38%) Vrana hasn’t played since the second game of the season after entering the Player Assistance Program. He resumed skating with the team on Friday indicating he’s close to a return to play. He’ll join the red wings top 6 and should be a must start on this depleted red wings team.

Anthony Duclair (RW, 13%) Duclair resumed skating from an Achilles injury shifting his timetable to return from months to weeks. Duclair scored 31 goals in 74 games last year indicating he has a scoring touch. Look to stash him if you have IR space as positive deployment on the powerplay could be an awesome mid-season addition for any team.

Josh Norris (C, 56%) Started practicing in a normal jersey on Friday indicating his return to action could be earlier than the initial assessment of January. He scored 55 points in 66 games last year and will likely slot back into his roll as #1 Centre on a team with multiple scoring wingers.

Blake Wheeler (RW, 56%) underwent groin surgery on Friday and will be out for an estimated 1 month + period. Sam Gagner (RW, 1%) looks like the biggest benefactor so far now playing on a second line with starts Pierre Luc-Dubois and Kyle Connor. He’s looked good so far potting multiple points in his first outing.

Scheduling Science

This is a short week for most leagues with no games over the holiday break between December 24-26. Let’s hope Christmas comes early for you folks and drops a hunk of coal on the competition. Given the break, most teams schedules are similar playing 3 games this week. BUT look out for Detroit and Florida since they have the elusive off night game on Wednesday and play 2/3 of their matchups against tired opponents.

A deeper look:

Detroit plays Washington Monday on the road before playing Tampa at home on Wednesday and Ottawa on Friday on the road. Tampa and Ottawa are playing the second half of a back-to-back so look for weaker goaltending and tired legs out of the opposition. It could be a big week for Detroit streamers. Look out for players to poach in the section below.

Florida has a similar schedule playing Boston on the road Monday before playing New Jersey at home on Wednesday and the Islanders on Friday on the Road. Jersey and the Isles are playing the second half of a back-to-back so expect Florida’s high-octane offense to do some damage. See blow for some key selections.

Players to Poach

Detroit

Andrew Copp (C, RW) 16% rostered Yahoo.

Copp is a perfect stream for week 11. At only 16% rostered he should be available in all but the deepest leagues and dual position eligibility at RW means he won’t be stealing starts from your C’s or be leaving him on the bench on Monday and Friday which are busy days. Playing on the first line and first powerplay unit Copp played over 20 minutes in his last start and looks to continue with this high deployment in week 11. You know what to do.

In deeper leagues check out Michael Rasmussen (C, LW, 2%) who has dual position eligibility and has decent deployment on the second line and second powerplay. In shallow leagues check out David Perron (RW, 62%) or Dominik Kubalik (LW, RW, 63%) who are sharpshooters playing on powerplay 1.

Florida

Eetu Luostarinen (C, LW) 2% rostered Yahoo.

The high-powered panthers should be deeply rostered in most leagues so look out for Luostarinen who has upside playing on a second line with Sam Squared (Reinhart and Bennett) who are both having respectable seasons as well as powerplay 2. Dual position eligibility should ensure he always slots in your lineup so you’re maximizing games played. With a couple injuries on the wing in Duclair and Hornqvist Eetu will be looking to cement his place in the top 6 while he still has time. Stream when the schedule works.

In shallow leagues, look to roster Carter Verhaeghe (LW, 61%) who’s playing on a studded top line with Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. When playing with superstars any touch of the puck can result in a point. Averaging over 17 minutes a night with powerplay time should ensure fantasy relevance.

Thanks for tuning in!