Risers and Fallers

*Note: This article was written by Chris Liggio

Hello all! A brief introduction on my end to begin before diving in. Back in 2017-18, I was a writer for Dobber Hockey covering Frozen Tools Forensics. After some time away, for the past two seasons I did weekly add/drop coverage on a small site called Fantasy Six Pack. After folding their hockey coverage, I’m back to where it began sort of kind of and happy to contribute!
The overarching premise of this weekly article will revolve around risers and fallers league-wide between the pipes. Because we’re so early in the season though, I think this week we’d be better served to view from the angle of “keeping tabs.” So maybe not outright grab the following but have on your radar for what may become fruitful options.

Arturs Silovs
Yes, it’s the Steel City and yes, they are more than likely destined for lottery contention. But Tristan Jarry is not consistently good enough to be a #1 if you’re asking me.
Does the 24-year-old Latvian have a track record that exudes confidence? No. Does the team seem like a contender? No. He sure as heck cannot be your #1 but if he ends the season with more starts than Tristan, I wouldn’t be necessarily shocked. If your league rewards volume he may be a nice streamer option to consider based off matchups. With 21 games of experience, we have not seen the final product yet and this team’s crease has the makings of a 1A/1B scenario.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
Everyone has already forgotten UPL’s outstanding ’23-’24 campaign after crashing back to Earth last season. But still only 26 years old, he’s just beginning his prime. Despite the wretched start, this team has the potential to improve leaps and bounds still. Frankly, I do not foresee Lindy Ruff lasting much longer behind the bench and pray for a new regime bump in quality of play.
I know this franchise is a tough sell but let’s look at the positives. Buffalo has one of the more dynamic blue lines in the league between Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Bowen Byram. On top of this, even with losing JJ Peterka this offseason, there’s still offensive talent at forward. They’re currently without the services of six everyday players (including UPL) who will return in time. Things look atrocious now but can only go up from here.

Yaroslav Askarov
This is a pure pedigree pick. Selected 11th overall in 2020, there’s nothing left to prove at the AHL level. With his only competition for starts being Alex Nedeljkovic, this year should see the young Russian receive the lion’s share of starts for San Jose.
While they’ll still be a bottom feeder, I expect at least some improvement. The Bay Area franchise brought in some solid veteran blue line presence in Nick Leddy, John Klingberg, and Dmitry Orlov. It’s not going to be the shutdown face of the league, but it should certainly be better. Coupled with improving play from their young stars I’m looking for growth from this team collectively.

Jesper Wallstedt
I am aware the state of hockey financially committed to their #1 in Filip Gustavsson. Despite this, their full-time backup is a 22-year-old former first round pick. His trajectory has been rocky to this point but he’s a goalie, which tends to take longer to come into their own.
This is the young Swede’s first true chance at regular NHL work since being drafted now that Marc Andre Fleury has retired. He may very well be a rhythm goalie that needs consistent work to shine and six NHL games under his belt to this point aren’t remotely enough to mark him a bust.
Filip was great last year but doesn’t have the track record of Andrei Vasilevskiy or Igor Shesterkin to say he can’t be subpar this season either.

Other Thoughts
• Grab Andrei Kuzmenko if you have room. He finished last year strong with LA and picked up right where he left off.
• Alexis Lafreniere looks poised and ready to contribute like two seasons back, perhaps more.
• Sell high on Evgeni Malkin. He’s doing just like last year coming white hot out of the gate. Ten games from now he could very well fade hard and fast at 39-years-old.
• Anders Lee/Tony DeAngelo’s fantasy prospects have gone down the tubes with lackluster deployment changes.
• Matt Boldy goes to the stratosphere this season.
• Kirill Marchenko is probably clearing 40 goals with ease this campaign.