Risers and Fallers: Dreadful Saros

In today’s fallers I’m highlighting a couple all too familiar brittle beings who not surprisingly find themselves in the infirmary. Time and time again you can count on these guys to sooner or later end up here. Track records tell no lies, avoid at all costs in future drafts.

If we look at league leaders with respect to goaltending, things are starting to normalize as far as names we’d expect to be at or near the top of the list. There are however still outliers the likes of Casey DeSmith and Jake Allen, but what this tells us is that remaining steadfast in the early going is key to long-term success.

Those who panicked selling names the likes of Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin will more than likely regret it immensely. As the campaign continues to unfold, keep leaning on your studs. This is what they’re paid for and why you spent a relatively high pick on them.

Risers

Darcy Kuemper

Although he may be a well documented Band-Aid Boy, the 35-year-old tends to perform admirably when he is actually in the lineup. Such is the case lately for the journeyman with four quality starts in his last five games played.

After a collective slow start, Los Angeles has rebounded to second in the Pacific Division with a 6-3-1 record in their last ten tilts. Unfortunately, the team will now be without the services of captain Drew Doughty, who has been deemed week-to-week with a lower body injury.

Without their defensive stalwart I would expect a step back in the Kings collective showing but overall their improved play suggests Kuemper sustaining recent performances is more likely.

Dustin Wolf

The 24-year-old has potentially turned the corner since November 2nd providing four quality starts in his past six. Wins will be tough to come by for this Calgary squad but it’s good to see his ratios improve as the season moves further into month two.

The Flames play four times this week however it is broken into two separate back-to-back games so you’re probably only looking at two starts for the American. Nonetheless those who drafted him are probably breathing a sigh of relief as he seemingly shakes off the early rust.

Kevin Lankinen

Thatcher Demko on the IR. Color me shocked. Once again the “backup” rises to the No. 1 role after what was a solid ‘24-’25 campaign as the workhorse. Starting once shy of fifty times last year, the Canucks are fortunate to have such a capable secondary option.

Like Wolf, wins have been hard to come by though we can hope for improvement as I have more faith in Vancouver than I do Calgary. Lankinen heavily assisted many teams to fantasy titles last season (mine included) so another run with the former Chicago Blackhawk may be in the cards. Only three games this week with two days off between more or less guarantees he starts all of them.

Fallers

Thatcher Demko

Lankinen rising means Demko must fall. Are we really shocked anymore at this point? A backup receiving a five-year contract should’ve told everyone there’s no faith in Thatcher’s ability to remain healthy.

Great potential will seemingly go to waste as he enters his thirties in three weeks time. He couldn’t muster good health in his twenties, do not expect this to improve in the coming decade of life.

Matt Murray

Cut and paste the excerpt above and supplant Murray’s name. Every time the former Pittsburgh Penguin sneezes it’s a potential trip to the IR.

Now expected to miss six weeks with a lower-body injury, add another one to the litany of malaise throughout his career. Steer clear at all costs outside of a desperate stream if and when he returns.

Juuse Saros

After what I saw in the Global Series games this past weekend it’s not so much about who’s in net for the Nashville Predators anymore. This franchise is steamrolling ahead to lottery contention this summer therefore avoid anyone not named Filip Forsberg.

Going back to Oct. 28th, the Finn only has three quality starts. If you keep hitching your postseason hopes to him you’re bound to watch the wheels fall off the wagon. Barring a trade, Nashville is locked into all of Steven Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, and Jonathan Marchessault through ‘26’-’27. This ship isn’t righting anytime soon in my opinion so I'd be looking to net a return on Saros' name value while you still can.

Other Thoughts

New York Rangers call up Gabriel Perreault and find offense. Naturally they send him down and immediately revert to one-goal wonders; brilliant.

Mathieu Olivier once again sits on many a wire providing elite multi-cat value.

Where was this when you were a Ranger Jack Roslovic?!

Claude Giroux is quietly humming along for an age-37 60-point campaign.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka is running PP1 in Detroit. Grab if it sticks as he’s a textbook offensive defender.

Charlie McAvoy will probably be out long-term so Hampus Lindholm and Mason Lohrei become good options to potentially add in his absence.

Anton Lundell needs more recognition for how well he’s filling Aleksandr Barkov’s skates.

Jamie Benn has returned. Keep tabs to see where his deployment falls once back up to speed.

Victor Olofsson is a piece of the vaunted Colorado PP1 available to many on the wire.

If you still have the ability to grab Lukas Dostal in your league(s) please do so.