Risers and Fallers: Glorious Grubauer

The new Santagiulia ice hockey arena in Milan, which will stage the top matches at the Winter Olympics next month, has seemingly cleared a major hurdle in that the ice is functional. However, the likes of hospitality areas, lockers rooms, and the media section are not complete, so the race is on to complete everything with less than a month to go.

It's time for the New York Rangers to “tear it down” for a retool. A full scale rebuild would've been ideal but locked into several long-term contracts with players on the wrong side of 30, this is the only realistic route. Artemi Panarin is the prime asset they possess to haul something nice at the deadline. However, with a full no-move clause, he holds all the cards in determining his fate. What we’d assume to be a big return might be underwhelming if he forces their hand.

At the midpoint of the week I’d be looking to add a Los Angeles King as they’re the only team with games falling exclusively on Wednesday and Friday. The Edmonton Oilers still have three games left this week making them a great option to draw from.

Risers

Karel Vejmelka

Let’s revisit one of Dobber and I's preseason favorites in the Utah workhorse. Both of us felt strongly that he needed to be perceived with much higher value going into this campaign on an improving offensively capable squad. Fast forward to now and, surprise, he leads the league in wins.

As an owner since draft day, he’s certainly been up and down in his performances. Lately though he looks like the rock star from the beginning of the season, with six quality starts in the past eight nods. The Mammoth are a young team overall so there will be peaks and valleys but you’re getting thirty-plus wins from the 29-year-old Czech with serviceable ratios.

Alex Lyon

Buffalo has arrived. 8-2-0 in their last ten tilts, the breakout year for this squad seems to finally be underway. Lyon is at the end of the 7-10 days expected to be missed now so return should be imminent.

Nobody has yet to take a firm grasp of the crease but one must “follow the contract” which leads to Ukko Pekka Luukkonen (UPL). Theoretically, he sees the largest slice of starts but even if this is a 60/40 split, Lyon still has value. Before injury, the journeyman netminder was seeing the majority of starts in UPL’s injury absence. Look for him to compete to reassume the 1A slot going forward.

Philipp Grubauer

The 34-year-old German is in a 50/50 timeshare with Joey Daccord but he’s been excellent in six straight quality starts since late December. The former Washington Capital’s four seasons prior have been mediocre at best so I’m sure the Kraken are happy to see him producing since he costs almost six million per year.

At some point he’s going to take a tumble but while he’s feeling it you might as well get some value with spot starts. Seattle lacks superstar players but they are a deep, four-line team that can get the job done seeing as they’re 7-1-2 in their last ten games.

Fallers

Dustin Wolf

Times are tough for the 24-year-old American, losing four starts in a row while allowing four goals in each. The Flames are far from being a contender so meager outings are going to happen more often than not.

While still a very promising netminder in keeper circles, I would be steering clear of Calgary at this point in one year leagues. Fact of the matter is you’ll more than likely have streaming options available that’ll provide better returns in the here and now.

Jonathan Quick

Heading for seller status at the deadline, New York is another team to avoid outright. The Los Angeles Kings legend was not meant to be shouldering a workhorse load less than two weeks from his fortieth birthday with Igor Shesterkin injured.

Since becoming the anointed starter last week, the results have been atrocious. Things are only going to get worse in Manhattan if GM Chris Drury does the right thing and sells off Panarin at the deadline thereby making their anemic offense even more inept.

Sergei Bobrovsky

The 37-year-old Russian will give you great volume while collecting a solid amount of wins but his ratios leave much to be desired. Not posting a save percentage above .900 in very close to a month (12/15), the two-time Cup champion has been porous for some time.

The former Blue Jacket started 216 games over the prior four campaigns not including playoffs. Fatigue coupled with age may very well be at play here, as this being a contract year, you’d probably want to be doing better to maximize your dollars.

Other Thoughts

Christian Dvorak has been excellent centering the top line in the city of Brotherly Love.

Darren Raddysh’s ascent is astounding.

John Gibson is still widely available for the taking in leagues despite being top option the past month.

Add Ducks, Mammoth, Senators, and Kings in the month of January to take advantage of off-night scheduling.

Matthew Tkachuk’s return is imminent.

Statement victory for the Buds over the Avs in Denver.

Keep tabs on Yegor Chinakov in the Steel City; he looks good; add if it continues.

Sabres need to retain Alex Tuch.

Jason Zucker is back in action; go grab off the wire for a very solid depth forward.

Kris Letang sees a short-term bump in value with Karlsson on the shelf.