We’re finally here, just hours away from launch of this unprecedented 2021 NHL season. Restart your league, create one, or enter the live draft lobby today to grab your team all week.
Despite blowing the doors off this year’s World Junior Championship, young Trevor Zegras will not make his NHL debut with the Ducks opening week. The team is instead opting to first send him down to the AHL for some weathering. As is routine, the 19-year-old’s length of stay with the Gulls is likely to be determined by how well he manages. As such, for now, the dynamite dynasty asset loses some shine in current redraft leagues.
Philipp Grubauer is the No. 1 goaltender for the Colorado Avalanche. Coach Jared Bednar said so on Sunday. But fantasy managers should feel ready to pounce on Pavel Francouz – available in 67% of ESPN.com leagues – should Grubauer fall hurt, as he has in seasons past.
Kirill Kaprizov appears to be the real deal. Skating on a Wild top line with Zach Parise and Nick Bjugstad, the former KHL standout is already earning high praise from coach Dean Evason (paraphrasing: oh-so-skilled, battles hard etc.) An early Calder favorite on this website, the 23-year-old has point-per-game potential and merits all kinds of attention in ESPN deeper leagues.
As far as coach Bob Boughner is concerned, Evander Kane is going to play in 2020-21. The Sharks coach said as much Tuesday. There was concern the 29-year-old would sit out the season after filing for bankruptcy. Kane registered 26 goals, 21 assists, 18 power-play points, 216 shots, and 122 penalty minutes though 64 games in 2019-20.
Forward Mike Hoffman is tapped to make his Blues debut on a second scoring line with young center Robert Thomas and winger Jaden Schwartz. This is great news for Thomas – rostered in only 10% of ESPN.com leagues – who was already pegged to enjoy a breakout season. That trio should make plenty of productive noise for the Blues in 2020-21.
According to coach Pete DeBoer, playing time will be split between goalies Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury to start the season. The Knights open with a pair of matches against the Ducks, followed by a string of four games versus the Coyotes (neither an offensive powerhouse). Unless Lehner or Fleury runs with the gig early on, Vegas could continue to take a tandem approach to the position. Which may surprise some fantasy managers who considered Lehner – rostered in 96% of ESPN.com leagues – the club’s top option.
The odds of Martin Necas breaking out this season have conceivably improved by way of his latest turn on a second scoring line with Andrei Svechnikov and Jordan Staal. Throw in some time with the extra skater, and the 21-year-old could turn heads this campaign after averaging 0.56 points per game his rookie season. He isn’t getting enough attention in deeper, keeper leagues.
In his return to the NHL, camp notes indicate forward Mikhail Grigorenko is earning a shot on a Blue Jackets’ top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Oliver Bjorkstrand. A disappointment in his first tour of the league, the 12th overall draft pick (2012) appears to have matured the past three seasons in the KHL. If he has finally figured it out, and can stick on a top-six line in Columbus – if not with Dubois, then maybe aside new center Max Domi – the 26-year-old could evolve into an intriguing fantasy asset indeed.
After sitting out all of training camp – without the Panthers offering much in way of explanation – Sergei Bobrovsky isn’t likely to play against the Blackhawks on Sunday. Tuesday’s second tilt with Chicago doesn’t feel all that probable either. Until Bob is back to business, fantasy managers are advised to bench him without reservation. Hopefully this situation is resolved shortly. Backup Chris Driedger presents as a reasonable Daily Fantasy option in the meanwhile, particularly against the beat-up Blackhawks.
With Nikita Kucherov sidelined all of 2020-21, the Lightning are putting additional pressure on Anthony Cirelli to contribute more offensively. That’s the message from coach Jon Cooper himself. After collecting 44 points in 68 games this past campaign, Cirelli enters this season as the club’s second-line center between Alex Killorn and Mathieu Joseph. The 23-year-old is also member of Tampa’s secondary power play.
Jesse Puljujarvi is rebooting his NHL career on a bottom-six line with center Kyle Turris – at least to start. Fantasy managers who optimistically (and not unreasonably) selected Puljujarvi in hope of seeing him on a top unit with Connor McDavid may choose to bench the 22-year-old for now. But it may only be a matter of time before the 2016 fourth-overall draft selection earns that coveted opportunity.
The Canadiens’ most fascinating line, from a fantasy view, remained intact through camp. That’s a promising sign. The combo of former Blue Jacket Josh Anderson, Sophomore center Nick Suzuki, and winger Jonathan Drouin is one to watch closely from the fantasy stands. All three remain available to varying degrees in ESPN.com leagues.
WJC sensation Tim Stutzle skated on a top-six line with Derek Stepan and Evgenii Dadonov on Monday. The German skater is an undeniable dynasty-league gem. But to expect productive fireworks from the teen – celebrating a 19th birthday this week – his first NHL season might be asking a bit much. A lot will depend on where Stutzle consistently slides into the Senators’ lineup.
It’s well recognized by now that Joe Thornton is getting his first taste of life as a Maple Leaf on a top line and power play with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. This early, it’s difficult to predict how long the gig lasts, and what the veteran forward makes of the opportunity. But it’s worth keeping in mind that Thornton remains overwhelmingly available in ESPN.com leagues. Perhaps not for long.
While insisting one isn’t initially favored over the other, Canucks coach Travis Green hints he’s open to the better netminder eventually earning more time, based on quality of play. Considering Vancouver’s hectic January start – 11 games in 18 days – we’re sure to see plenty of both Braden Holtby and Thatcher Demko out of the gates. After that, it’s up in the air. Fantasy managers shouldn’t count on a heavy workload for either.
The Jets’ new second line – Kyle Connor, Paul Stastny, and Patrik Laine – sports plenty of scoring potential. Connor scores lots of goals. As does Laine. Suggesting Stastny could be in for a fruitful season in the assists department. The veteran center is available in nearly 88% of ESPN.com leagues.
As it happens, Brad Marchand isn’t expected to miss time for the Bruins after all. Recovering on good pace from offseason shoulder season, the Bruins’ top left wing is pegged to skate opening night against the Devils. What’s more, David Pastrnak might not be far behind, anticipated back as soon as early February following late-summer hip surgery. Between now and then, Jack Studnicka could serve as a valuable low-cost Daily Fantasy sleeper as Pastrnak’s replacement alongside Marchand and Patrice Bergeron.
The formidably-sized Tage Thompson – not Victor Olofsson, as many projected pre-camp – skated on the right side of Jack Eichel and Taylor Hall ahead of Thursday’s opener versus the Capitals, leaving Olofsson to accompany Eric Staal, and Sam Reinhart on the second line. Fantasy managers might notice that, for now, Jeff Skinner no longer appears to fit in Buffalo’s top-six mix. Mind you, this only applies to even-strength play; Olofsson projects to rejoin Eichel and Hall on the Sabres’ power play.
Forward Jack Hughes is earning the chance to put last year’s mediocre campaign quickly behind him. With Nico Hischier still listed as day-to-day with a leg injury, Hughes is launching 2021 on a Devils’ top line with Kyle Palmieri and/or Nikita Gusev. A strong showing from the 2019 first-overall draft pick in that spot could convince coach Lindy Ruff to eventually shuffle Hischier in at center elsewhere.
Unsurprisingly, Semyon Varlamov has been tapped as the Islanders’ opening night starter against the Rangers. While backup Ilya Sorokin will get his chances, there’s no sense in overloading the KHL export unnecessarily. The Islanders’ first back-to-back set doesn’t fall until the end of January. Depending on how Sorokin manages in his first NHL turn, Varlamov could find himself one of the league’s busier goaltenders.
In recovery from COVID-19, Mika Zibanejad missed much of camp and could sit out Thursday’s opener versus the Islanders. Under the circumstances, a more sluggish start than usual is expected from the Rangers’ star forward. Once ready to go, Zibanejad is again slated to center linemates Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich.
Forward Jakub Vrana continues to skate on a Capitals’ scoring unit with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson. Before laboring during summer’s playoff run, Vrana enjoyed a nice breakout campaign in 2019-20, scoring 25 goals and 27 assists in 69 games. Competing full-time with Kuznetsov and Wilson, and on Washington’s secondary power play, the soon-to-be RFA should take another step forward in his fourth full year.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Restricted free agent forward Isaac Okoro has agreed to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.
Okoro’s new deal is worth $38 million, according to the person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed or announced by the team.
ESPN.com first reported the agreement, citing Okoro’s representation.
The fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft, Okoro is Cleveland’s best perimeter defender, often drawing the assignment of guarding the opponent’s top scorer. Okoro also has worked to improve his offensive game.
The 23-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 69 games — 42 starts — last season for the Cavs, who beat Orlando in the opening round of the playoffs before losing to eventual champion Boston.
Okoro shot a career-best 39% on 3-pointers, forcing teams to come out and guard him.
His agreement caps an extraordinarily busy summer for the Cavs that began with coach J.B. Bickerstaff being fired and replaced by Kenny Atkinson. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, $150 million extension in July, ending months of speculation that he wanted out of Cleveland.
Also, power forward Evan Mobley signed a five-year, $224 deal and center Jarrett Allen signed a three-year, $91 million extension.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Canada’s Marina Stakusic fell 6-4, 6-3 to Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the quarterfinals of the Guadalajara Open tennis tournament on Friday.
The 19-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., won 61 per cent of her first-serve points and broke on just one of her six opportunities.
Stakusic had upset top-seeded Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (0) on Thursday night to advance.
In the opening round, Stakusic defeated Slovakia’s Anna Karolína Schmiedlová 6-2, 6-4 on Tuesday.
The fifth-seeded Frech won 62 per cent of her first-serve points and converted on three of her nine break point opportunities.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Alejandro Kirk’s long single with the bases loaded provided the Toronto Blue Jays with a walk-off 4-3 win in the 11th inning of their series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
With the Cardinals outfield in, Kirk drove a shot off the base of the left-field wall to give the Blue Jays (70-78) their fourth win in 11 outings and halt the Cardinals’ (74-73) two-game win streak before 30,380 at Rogers Centre.
Kirk enjoyed a two-hit, two-RBI outing.
Erik Swanson (2-2) pitched a perfect 11th inning for the win, while Cardinals reliever Ryan Fernandez (1-5) took the loss.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman enjoyed a seven-inning, 104-pitch outing. He surrendered his two runs on nine hits and two walks and fanned only two Cardinals.
He gave way to reliever Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a one-out homer to Thomas Saggese, his first in 2024, that tied the game in the eighth.
The Cardinals started swiftly with four straight singles to open the game. But they exited the first inning with only two runs on an RBI single to centre from Nolan Arendao and a fielder’s choice from Saggese.
Gausman required 28 pitches to escape the first inning but settled down to allow his teammates to snatch the lead in the fourth.
He also deftly pitched out of threats from the visitors in the fifth, sixth and seventh thanks to some solid defence, including Will Wagner’s diving stop, which led to a double play to end the fifth inning.
George Springer led off with a walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on Nathan Lukes’s single and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. knocked in his 95th run with a double off the left-field wall.
Lukes scored on a sacrifice fly to left field from Spencer Horwitz. Guerrero touched home on Kirk’s two-out single to right.
In the ninth, Guerrero made a critical diving catch on an Arenado grounder to throw out the Cardinals’ infielder, with reliever Tommy Nance covering first. The defensive gem ended the inning with a runner on second base.
St. Louis starter Erick Fedde faced the minimum night batters in the first three innings thanks to a pair of double plays. He lasted five innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
ON DECK
Toronto ace Jose Berrios (15-9) will start the second of the three-game series on Saturday. He has a six-game win streak.
The Cardinals will counter with righty Kyle Gibson (8-6).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
