Risers and Fallers: UPL'S Second-Half Potential

Rosters for the ‘26 Winter Olympics have been declared, with the usual suspects comprising many a list for respective nations. Overall I am happy with Team USA’s construction though I feel Jason Robertson needed to be there over JT Miller. As a Rangers fan, I can understand Adam Fox’s omission, as mobility is clearly GM Bill Guerin’s main concern for his back end and that’s just not his forte.

Canada is a juggernaut of course and the way MacKinnon/McDavid are going these days, you could surround them with beer leaguers. Sweden and Finland as usual comprise “Tier 2” so to speak of team strength but they can certainly hold court with the former two. Czechia, Latvia, Denmark, Germany, and the likes thereof will have a tall order to overcome the talent disparity.

At the midpoint of the week I’d be looking to add a Washington Capital or Utah Mammoth as they’re the only teams with games falling exclusively on the off nights of Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Ryan Leonard is who I’d be looking at in the nation’s capital and Lawson Crouse or Barrett Hayton in Salt Lake City assuming higher end options are unavailable.

Risers

John Gibson

After ceding ground to fellow netminder Cam Talbot, the former Anaheim Duck has bounced back since early December. Since the eighth, he’s provided eight quality starts while receiving the bulk of nods in the Motor City. After an entire career spent in one place, perhaps the 32-year-old American just needed a longer adjustment period.

The winged wheel hasn't made the playoffs since 2016. There is going to be an all out push to end this drought for a storied original six franchise. Gibson will be an integral part as to whether or not this manifests.

Ukko Pekka-Luukkonen

Luukkonen seems to be earning back much of the timeshare he ceded to Alex Lyon lately. He’ll have significant value if he’s the Sabres’ top option for the second half of the campaign, as Buffalo’s recent 10-game winning streak is what this lineup should be able to accomplish.

Many casual fans felt they lost the JJ Peterka trade badly whereas I, in the minority, felt the return of Josh Doan but more importantly, gritty right-handed defender Michael Kesselring, made them more well-rounded. With one of if not the most dynamic blue line in the game, I’m expecting the western New York franchise’s long playoff drought to finally end.

Jet Greaves

The 24-year-old has been the Blue Jackets workhorse netminder for some time now so he deserves his flowers. Much like Jordan Binnington, Elvis Merzlikins has been mediocre at best for many seasons. Therefore, all it would take to usurp him was a better option presenting itself.

Enter the Barrie Colts alum who has started six straight, posting five quality starts during said run. If we go all the way back to Dec. 7th, he’s only once not started between the pipes for Columbus. One of the best options in the league for some time now with respect to volume and results, if somehow available, go grab him.

Fallers

Lukas Dostal

When John Gibson was dealt to Detroit it set up for a promising ‘25-’26 season for the young Anaheim goaltender. Over the course of the first month and half, there were highs and there were lows, but potential still seemed viable.

Since mid-December however, said potential has dwindled, with the Czech native posting but two quality starts since December 15th. Dostal’s leash will be long since the only other real option is Petr Mrazek, but his play of late does not inspire confidence. The switch could flip at any moment so keep tabs while steering clear until performance improves.

Thatcher Demko

Well at least he’s managed to stay relatively healthy for his standards so far. However, the Canucks are a bottom feeder heading straight for lottery contention so he’ll be sinking with the ship. Backup Kevin Lankinen has not been able to repeat last year’s prominent performance, thereby eliminating the viable alternative they turned to last season.

With the team at the bottom of the Pacific Division possessing the second worst record in the league, do not expect things to rectify anytime soon. If you can somehow fool someone into buying into his name value despite injury risk, please do so immediately.

Samuel Ersson

Dan Vladar has taken the crease from the 26-year-old Swede making it tough to roster him as anything other than a streamer. Ersson has never necessarily impressed in his NHL tenure thus far, having yet to hit the .900 SV% mark in any respective season going back to ‘22-’23.

Although young with time to improve immensely, he’s seemingly just an average goaltender who won’t be a difference maker for fantasy purposes. Do not hesitate to move on for a better option at this point.

Other Thoughts

Ryan Leonard has 14 points in his last 12 games played. Turning into Forsberg-lite.

With Devon Toews out, look for Sam Malinski to shine. Don’t trust Girard’s hot streaks, he will go cold.

Leevi Merilainen is seeing good volume lately however it’s risk reward as far as ratios.

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

Buffalo has maybe just maybe finally arrived.

Matthew Tkachuk’s return is imminent.

Gabriel Landeskog’s career may be over.

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

Jeremy Lauzon is back to being the hit god with an injured Vegas blue line affording him more ice time.

Adam Larsson’s floor deserves more rostering in category leagues.