Risers and Fallers: Cooley As A Cucumber

Heads up that this is the last normal week as far as fantasy hockey scheduling before the Olympic break. If your league(s) anything like mine, next week you’ll be in a near month-long spanning match. Use this time away from the NHL to tweak your rosters for when play resumes. Consider schedules for teams to draw from so you can maximize starts.

It’s officially “tank for McKenna” time in British Columbia with it announced on Tuesday that Thatcher Demko would undergo season-ending hip surgery. Can’t say I’m surprised whatsoever but you have to feel bad for the guy as he just cannot avoid the IR. At 30 years old and with his track record, I’d be considering retirement to preserve quality of life in the later years.

Originally, the Los Angeles Kings were the team to stream coming into this week with five games. But then the USA-spanning winter storm saw their game cancelled Monday against the Blue Jackets. Still, they have three games left this week amongst several other squads as tilts are crammed in before the break.

Risers

Lukas Dostal

It took a month for him to come around after he returned from injury on December 13th but the young Czech looks to have found his footing now with six wins and five quality starts in his last six nods.

Starting in late October, Anaheim looked to be on a rapid ascent after years of mediocrity but fell apart in late December through early January. That hardship has been left in the rear view mirror now as this young squad figures out the consistency necessary to succeed. Grab their number one who may’ve been dropped by a frustrated owner.

Alex Nedeljkovic

The former Pittsburgh Penguin is developing a trend of being a thorn in the side of a team’s assumed starting goaltender. In his two seasons prior in the Steel City, he consistently pushed Tristan Jarry for more starts, seeing 38 total in each season respectively. At times he was outright the better option and history seems to be repeating itself here and now in the Bay Area.

With four quality starts in his past five calls, he’s pushed this into a 50/50 timeshare with Yaroslav Askarov. And with how poor overall the young Russian's been since December 1st, Alex may be tipping the share to at least 60/40 in his favor.

Devin Cooley

Much like in San Jose, things are playing out in the same fashion in Alberta. Dustin Wolf, like Askarov, is a young, promising goaltender the franchise views as their starter for years to come. But like Yaroslav, he’s been shaky with two quality starts since the calendar flipped to ‘26.

Meanwhile, the former Milwaukee Admiral has been a steadying presence with four straight quality starts. Until Wolf figures things out, the Flames may have to look to the netminder with 23 games of NHL experience under his belt. Don’t expect wins but hope for serviceable ratios.

Fallers

Jordan Binnington

There will be no elaborate explanation on this one. He has five quality starts total SINCE NOVEMBER 3RD. This is a mediocre at best goaltender and has been for several years. The Blues organization has finally accepted it, looking more and more to Joel Hofer.

He has a propensity for rising up in big games and Team Canada better pray that propensity continues going into the Winter Olympics. If he never starts in Italy with how bad he’s been I wouldn’t be shocked either.

Jesper Wallstedt

I still believe in the Swede but things have slowed down in steady fashion since a torrid November where I felt he was going to take over number one duties in the state of hockey. I will now accept I’m eating crow on that one with only two quality starts so far in 2026.

However, Filip Gustavsson isn’t all that much better lately with four quality starts in January. Unfortunately, this is the pinnacle example of “follow the contract” across the entire NHL this campaign. Since Filip is paid more, he will more than likely continue to see the most starts.

Joey Daccord

2026 has not been nice to the Arizona State alum with only two quality starts across six calls to the crease. The change of fortunes is stark as he was overall excellent the first three months of the season outside a slight lull in late November/early December.

The 29-year-old American seems to be feeling the pressure put on by his German counterpart, Philipp Grubauer, who’s performed rather well since late December. Daccord has been the 1A for a couple seasons in the birthplace of grunge but a role reversal may be underway unless he returns to form.

Other Thoughts

There are way too many lefties in Toronto. An entirely left-handed PP1 unit is not ideal.

Trevor Moore back from injury for the Kings. Worth a look maybe; L2/PP2.

NY Rangers need to let Scott Morrow run PP1 over Gavrikov.

Logan Cooley should be returning sooner rather than later.

Evgeni Malkin allegedly was injured at the tail end of the game Sunday. Hopefully three days rest prior to Thursday’s tilt will see him miss no time.

If Artemi Panarin lets the Rangers trade him I believe he will only go to Colorado, Tampa, or Florida.

Jack McBain has been banger league gold the past month.

The Philadelphia Flyers are in a free fall. What happened to Michkov?

Anthony Duclair has eight goals in the past ten games.

Ryan Hartman is L1/PP1 in the state of hockey.

If you have the ability to roster one if not both Buffalo goalies do it. People are still not appreciating how good this team is.