The Winnipeg Jets goaltender has at all times been one of many league’s prime netminders, however at age 31, he’s managed to take his recreation to an excellent better degree. Hellebuyck is a lock for the Vezina and should very nicely get actual consideration for the Hart Trophy. He ranks first in nearly each vital statistical class for goalies, together with video games performed, wins, save share, shutouts, objectives towards common and objectives saved above anticipated. 

For those who’re a frequent reader of my fantasy hockey content material, you already know I’m a giant proponent of the Zero-G technique. It’s the concept you must nearly by no means draft a goalie excessive as a result of the place is so risky, and you’ll typically discover very succesful choices a lot later in your drafts and even on waivers. Logan Thompson, Joey Daccord and Mackenzie Blackwood are nice examples this season. Conversely, you’ll be able to nearly by no means do that with skaters. It will be nearly not possible to search out somebody with comparable worth to Brayden Level, let’s say, within the eleventh or twelfth spherical. Utilizing your early picks on skaters is at all times safer, for my part. 

That stated, typically grabbing a goalie early does repay if he performs so significantly better than his friends, and this 12 months, Hellebuyck has definitely completed that. He has 46 wins, and if you happen to take into account {that a} typical weekly head-to-head league has 21 weeks in a season, Hellebuyck, on common, was providing you with greater than two wins per week. His eight shutouts are essentially the most by anybody since 2021-22 and he’s had so few poor begins that if you happen to’re rostering Hellebuyck, there’s a superb probability you received greater than half the goalie classes every week. 

What’s made Hellebuyck’s marketing campaign much more particular is how he completed it. It’s not unusual for prime gamers to lose worth within the remaining week or two of the fantasy playoffs for relaxation, however fortunately, Hellebuyck has nonetheless been featured as Winnipeg labored in the direction of locking down the Central Division and prime spot within the Western Convention. Hellebuyck confronted the red-hot St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars this week, posting a pair of wins and permitting only a single aim over the 2 video games. Then on Saturday, it wasn’t an ideal outing by any means because the Jets began slowly towards the Chicago Blackhawks and Hellebuyck gave up a pair he most likely would’ve appreciated to have again, however he nonetheless in the end picked up win No. 46 and made some huge saves alongside the best way. 

He’s been in peak type from practically begin to end, and it’s laborious to play the place significantly better than Hellebuyck has this season.

1. There hasn’t been an excessive amount of to smile about for Boston Bruins followers this season, however Morgan Geekie has been a vivid spot, having discovered some chemistry with David Pastrnak and hitting the 30-goal mark. Geekie additionally offers some worth for faceoff wins and hits, so mark him down as a possible late-round choose subsequent season in multi-cat leagues. 

2. It’s been a principally disappointing season for Elias Lindholm, however he’s closing sturdy with six factors in his previous 5 video games. The Bruins’ prime line of Lindholm, Geekie and Pastrnak has been clicking currently. If Lindholm was a buy-low final 12 months, he’ll be much more so this September in drafts. You may even have the ability to snag him with one in every of your remaining few picks. 

3. Jeremy Swayman was on his option to a good outing Thursday earlier than the Blackhawks scored on all 4 of their third-period pictures. One was into an empty internet, however the harm to Swayman’s numbers was already completed. High quality begins for the Bruins netminder have been few and much between this season. 

4. Mason Marchment is now as much as 14 factors in his previous 15 video games because the Dallas Stars ahead enjoys a robust end to the season. Marchment is just 38 per cent rostered as a result of he undoubtedly will undergo some chilly stretches as nicely, however the important thing with him is getting in on the bottom flooring for one in every of his sizzling streaks. 

5. The common season concludes on Thursday, and until you’re in a roto league, your fantasy marketing campaign might be over, however it’s value noting Los Angeles and Detroit are the one groups that play 3 times subsequent week. For those who’re nonetheless including gamers, look of their path. 

6. The Florida Panthers have been lacking a ton of key gamers over the previous couple of weeks. Some have accidents, and a few are simply getting a relaxation from put on and tear, in order that’s why I at all times like ending any head-to-head fantasy leagues within the week previous to this one. NHL playoff races are dwindling, too, and as groups have much less and fewer to play for, they’ll begin resting extra gamers. 

7. I bear in mind folks saying to not overreact to the 2 video games Lane Hutson performed on the finish of final season when he seemed very spectacular. Now he could very nicely win the Calder. We must always get an extended take a look at Ivan Demidov, who has a ton of hype round him proper now, with the Montreal Canadiens doubtless heading to the playoffs. Submit-season utilization and the way Demidov performs in these video games may give you a good suggestion of how Montreal will doubtless plan to deploy him subsequent 12 months, however both method, I believe he’ll get drafted so much sooner than folks anticipate in one-year leagues.

8. Zayne Parekh is one other identify to keep watch over. He posted a whopping 107 factors in 61 video games in junior as a defenceman this season and now joins the Calgary Flames to shut out their marketing campaign. With Zeev Buium doubtless heading to the Minnesota Wild as nicely, there at the moment are a handful of younger gamers to look at within the remaining video games of the common season and into the playoffs which may be belongings in fantasy. 

9. Karel Vejmelka has now made an unbelievable 23 begins in a row. His numbers have been very up and down, however his worth most likely lies within the roster flexibility he provides you. Vejmelka might theoretically be the one goalie you roster full time, given how typically he performs, after which you may simply spot begin others as wanted, whereas leaving extra room for skaters. 

10. It’s protected to say that the bounce-back marketing campaign by no means got here for Matty Beniers. The extra I watch him, the extra I’m wondering if he finally ends up being a strong two-way participant that has extra worth to the Seattle Kraken than he does to the fantasy hockey world. 

11. One participant I’m focusing on subsequent 12 months in drafts is Cutter Gauthier. I used to be impressed with how the Anaheim Geese ahead performed within the second half of the season and Gauthier began to look an increasing number of snug because the marketing campaign went alongside. Gauthier has tallied 21 of his 43 factors this 12 months prior to now 24 video games and has scored 5 occasions prior to now three. 

12. Don’t look now, however the Buffalo Sabres have change into a wagon down the stretch. Winners of eight of their previous 11 — together with victories over the likes of Carolina, Tampa, Washington and Winnipeg — the Sabres are instantly filling the web and have 47 objectives over this stretch. This has all include James Reimer getting a bunch of taking part in time, and he’s received seven of his previous eight begins, with spectacular numbers general. To place that into perspective, Reimer had simply two wins all season previous to this run. 

13. Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek made their returns from damage this week and feasted on the San Jose Sharks, however sadly, it was doubtless too late for many fantasy leagues. It’s been a irritating 12 months in relation to each, however particularly for Eriksson Ek. The Minnesota Wild ahead has solely performed 45 video games this season and has spent a number of stints on the injured reserve. The multi-cat star by no means actually obtained going this 12 months. 

14. It feels like Brock Boeser is unlikely to return to the Vancouver Canucks. A change of surroundings could or will not be to Boeser’s profit, relying on the place he lands, given all that’s gone on in Vancouver this 12 months. Boeser by no means obtained near the 40 objectives he sniped final 12 months, as J.T. Miller was traded away throughout the 12 months and Elias Pettersson struggled with consistency and accidents. A best-case situation for Boeser can be to affix a squad with a dependable No. 1 centre. 

15. Kiefer Sherwood goes to complete with greater than 450 hits and presumably 20 objectives. Watch out of overdrafting subsequent fall, because the offence might come down due to a better capturing share than regular for Sherwood. Hits are more durable to foretell 12 months over 12 months, however Sherwood ought to nonetheless be among the finest in that space even when his totals drop barely from the astronomical quantities he delivered this season. 

16. I discussed keeping track of Andrei Kuzmenko a few weeks in the past when he picked up a number of factors, however I didn’t assume he’d be this productive. Kuzmenko is now as much as 16 factors in his previous 12 video games and has actually discovered an ideal spot with Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar. As talked about earlier, the Kings are one in every of solely two groups that play 3 times subsequent week, so seize Kuzmenko if he’s nonetheless out there. 

17. We most likely aren’t giving Darcy Kuemper sufficient reward for the best way he’s performed. It’s not simple becoming a member of a brand new staff as a goalie at age 34 and performing nicely, even one as sturdy because the Kings, however Kuemper has simply exceeded expectations. He simply went 15 video games with out permitting greater than two objectives, and he owns the third-best save share within the NHL.

18. The place do you draft Matthew Knies subsequent season? He has an opportunity to complete with near 30 objectives and 200 hits on the 12 months, and there simply aren’t that many gamers like him. Loads will depend on what occurs in Toronto this summer season. If Mitch Marner stays and that prime trio sticks collectively, Knies shall be somebody to focus on excessive in drafts for leagues that rely hits. We’ve seen gamers be productive subsequent to Marner and Auston Matthews however none that convey the physicality and have the ceiling of Knies. 

19. For those who’re somebody already making notes for subsequent 12 months, put Marco Kasper in your radar. He’s doubtless going to be a mainstay within the Detroit Purple Wings’ prime six sooner or later, has notched 18 objectives this season as a 21-year-old and is piling up the hits. Kasper is just scratching the floor. 

20. It was superior to see Gabriel Landeskog again in motion this week. We nonetheless don’t know the place that is going to steer or if Landeskog goes to finally make it again to the NHL full time, however this was an incredible first step. The dedication to work himself again after nearly three years is kind of one thing. Right here’s hoping we see him within the Stanley Cup playoffs this spring.