Fantasy Hockey Outlook: Championship Week

Story posted March 30, 2023 in CommRadio, Sports by James Morrison

It is championship week in fantasy hockey and there are a few players that can help in terms of short term fixes that can help push a team over the edge.

Jakub Vrana has been really good in St. Louis ever since he was traded from Detroit and could be a difference maker down the stretch.

Vrana is currently playing on one of the Blues’ best lines alongside Brayden Schenn and Brandon Saad and has nine goals in seventeen games.

The Flyers will not make the playoffs but that does mean that young players like Owen Tippett and Morgan Frost will be getting a lot of ice time.

Tippett is the leading point getter on the first line that also features Joel Farabee meanwhile Frost is centering the second line and leading that line in points.

Ryan Hartman had a really good season last year but has not put up the same production this year but it looks like he is turning it around as of late.

Hartman plays on the first line with Mats Zuccarello who has been one of the top point getters on the team and Hartman is averaging .63 points per game.

Tom Wilson is back after a torn ACL and he is back to his normal form after getting back up to speed.

Wilson is currently slated on the first line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome who have the most points on the Capitals this season.

Mikael Backlund has been an anchor in the Flames lineup for a while now and he has been one of the main players leading the charge to push the team into the playoffs.

Backlund plays with wingers Jonathan Huberdeau and Blake Coleman so there is a lot of offensive potential there.

On defense, Travis Hamonic has picked up his play as of late as the Senators look to make a late postseason push.

Hamonic is playing alongside former first round pick Erik Brannstrom and could easily move up to play with Calder Trophy contender Jake Sanderson on the first line.

Although he has struggled in the past few games another strong addition could be Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm in hopes that he picks up the pace.

This could either be a dud pick or one that could bring a team to the championship and with the offensive and defensive talent around him, there is just too much potential to pass up on.

A deep sleeper pick would be Coyotes defenseman Juuso Valimaki who has been solid for Arizona this season.

Valimaki leads all Coyotes defensemen in points and while there is not much to play for for Arizona this season but Valimaki is playing for a roster spot on next years team.

For goaltenders Joonas Korpisalo has stepped up for the Kings ever since the trade and will look to provide stability to the goaltending situation.

Pheonix Copley remains an option to start but the fact that the Kings traded for Korpisalo makes it seem like they would want him to start.

James Morrison is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jpm6920@psu.edu.