Coffee in the Crease: Navigating the All-Star break

Welcome back everyone! Before we go into the All-Star break, I wanted to make sure we highlight some goaltending situations around the league, as well as a gameplan on a good way to navigate the break.

Talbot Out

Cam Talbot left his last start after seeing 14 shots on goal, and while nothing looked particularly serious in the moment, you could tell by the way he skated back to the Ottawa Senators bench that he knew that something wasn’t right. Originally, I was under the impression that Talbot may miss a significant bulk of time, and that’s going off of what we have seen and heard but also his injury history. This isn’t the first time we’ve written about Talbot missing time this season.

I think we can at least assume that Anton Forsberg is going to be the main goaltender for the Senators for the next two games at minimum, which are very spread out due to the break. His next start should come Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens, but the following start won’t be until February 11th against the Edmonton Oilers. I like this addition for fantasy for those in need of a goaltender because at this point in the season starts are becoming valuable assets to have more than ever. Forsberg looked good in his last start against Montreal earning a shutout victory and even played well in his prior start against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Talbot does have the advantage of the all-star break to mend but if this apparent lower-body injury is to keep him out long term I think Forsberg becomes a great option in fantasy.

UPL a potential addition

We’re looking for somebody with good upside that could potentially start and that’s lead us to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Luukkonen stopped 33 shots in his last start against the Minnesota Wild and put together a solid January with a 6-2-0 record. Buffalo’s next game is tomorrow against the Carolina Hurricanes, and I think if UPL is named the starter he makes for a good addition to your fantasy team this week.

In most leagues, the matchup period will go through All-Star weekend to next Sunday, but Buffalo is one of the clubs that will only play once next week. I think Luukkonen makes for a good short term add and then if you want to rotate him out with someone else that’s a solid play. Buffalo has had a rotation of Luukkonen, Eric Comrie, and Craig Anderson so it’s been difficult to roster a Sabres goaltender long term with the uncertainty. It’s now or never for this club following the break so I wouldn’t be surprised if they begin to start the “hot” goaltender moving forward.

Navigating the break

I’ve said it a couple times before yes, the All-Star game is primarily geared toward kids, but I do think the all-star game is a great snapshot of who mattered in a given season. For fantasy it’s always a difficult stretch to plan out your roster but do keep in mind, if your roster looks a little light your opponent likely also a roster with less players in action. Depending on your roster and what add/drops could be made to help fill out team, I think there’s something to be said to rolling the dice this week and not dropping a player that you may need further on down the line this season. If there’s any silver lining to these one or two game slates this week just remember that this is much better than the league mandated breaks that were staggered throughout January. I don’t miss losing players randomly for a week on end.