FANTASY FRIDAY: Career Ressurection

Forward- Buy Low

Thomas Vanek has resurrected his career in Detroit, as he has registered 20 points in 25 games and has helped Detroit stay out of the bottom of the league. He is just getting off an injury that sidelined him, but he hasn’t missed a beat since returning. He is shooting at just over 11% which is bellow his career average of 14.3%. He seems to have found chemistry with Henrik Zetterberg, as they are both producing at around a 60-65-point pace. Which is tremendous at their age. He is a low risk high reward option for your fantasy team.

Defenseman – Buy Low

Dmitry Orlov has been a steady point producer for the Washington Capitals. He is playing behind bigger names like Matt Niskanen and John Carlson, which is why he is overshadowed most of the time. He has 15 points in 34 games which is on pace to break his career high. He is shooting at 1.8% which there’s a possibility where it goes up, especially if he starts to see an increased role on the power play. On average his shooting percentage is 5.9%, so look for an increase in points as his shooting percentage increases. He is a valuable pickup in Fantasy Leagues that have lots of players involved and your looking for a depth pickup.

Goalie-Buy Low

Andrei Vasilevskiy

Andrei will be looked to play some valuable minutes for the Lighting as Ben Bishop recently suffered an injury that will see him sidelined for 3-4 weeks. With a very good Lightning team in front of him he’s worth taking a chance on if your suffering in the goaltender position. In 16 games his record is 9-5-2. He has a GAA of 2.57 and SV% .915. Stellar numbers for a young and promising goalie, who has the potential to play well with Bishop hurt and carry the load when he gets back as well. He is a valuable option for those struggling in the goaltending department.

Buyer Beware

Kevin Hayes-Forward

Kevin Hayes has 27 points in 38 games and which is on pace to shatter his career high and is shooting at 17.2% which is unrealistic for him to keep it up. He is a player that could have a career year but is over producing by a lot now and if you have him in fantasy should try and move for an upgrade while you can.

Nick Holden-Defenceman

Nick Holden is the definition of overachieving. He has 20 points in 38 games which is on pace to obliterate his career high, but has lots to do with the Rangers outstanding offensive start to the year. Holden is shooting at 21.2% while his career average is 9.1%. He is bound to go down and would not be worth trading someone for him who holds significantly more value because of Holden’s point totals now.

Chad Johnson-Goaltender

Johnson was on a hot streak for a while there but has seen his ice time decrease and has fell back down to earth recently. He will be on lots of fantasy peoples radar as someone you could swap and gain some value in the trade. Thanks to the points he picked up during his hot streak earlier this month which helped the Flames get back into contention in the Western Conference. Johnson is someone that is a big risk and you should try to move ASAP.

Waiver Wire

Matt Murray-Goaltender

Murray has been put onto the IR with a week to week injury but can be a steal because he will be back in the crease for the defending Cup and has put up great numbers this season.  Murray sits fifth among NHL goaltenders with a 9.28 save percentage and ninth in GAA. Murray is worth waiting on and could pay diligence in the long run.

Garyn S

Writer - OILERS INSIDERS

How Much Better Are The Edmonton Oilers Heading into 2017?

With just one game remaining before the start of the New Year the Oilers are 18-12-6 and sit ahead of NHL powerhouses like the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. For the first time since 2006 Edmonton Oilers fans are finally able to continue to hold onto playoff hopes, as they cheer on their team going into the new year. In years past, fans of the Oilers have stopped looking at the standings by the time they turned their calendars to the month of November. This year looks like the team has finally made the change in competitiveness that fans have been desperately waiting for, as the team sits 2nd in the Pacific division heading into 2017 and shows signs that they are really for real...for real. Let’s take a look at how much have the Oilers have improved going into the 2017 half of the season compared to the 2015/16 season.

	2015/16 Oilers	2016 Oilers	Difference
Winning %	.427 (Rank: 29)	.583 (Rank: 12)	+ 0.156 (Rank: +17)
GF/GP	2.43 (Rank: T25)	2.86 (Rank: 8)	+ 0.43 (Rank: +17)
GA/GP	2.95 (Rank: 27)	2.64 (Rank: 13)	- 0.31 (Rank: +14)
PP%	18.1 (Rank 18)	21.2 (Rank 8)	+3.1 (Rank +10)
PK%	81.1 (Rank: 18)	82.0 (Rank:13)	+0.9 (Rank +5)
Shots/GP	29.1 (Rank 22)	30.7 (Rank 7)	+1.6 (Rank +15)
SA/GP	31.1 (Rank 26)	30.3 (Rank 17)	-0.8 (Rank +9)
5v5 CF/60	54.19 (Rank 18)	55.46 (Rank 12)	+1.27 (Rank +6)
5v5 CA/60	56.92 (Rank 25)	53.23 (Rank 11)	-3.69 (Rank +14)
OZFO%	30.25 (Rank 27)	33.29 (Rank 12)	+3.04 (Rank +15)
DZFO%	33.01 (Rank 24)	30.19 (Rank 8)	- 2.82 (Rank +16)

All stats found on NHL.com and Puckalytics.com

Glossary of all stats used can be found on Puckalytics.com

What It All Means

The 2016 Oilers cleared the board for literally every stat. A look at the numbers really shows how much this team has improved in 2016, and why they will be fighting for their first playoff berth since 2006 in the New Year. While the Oilers have improved on every single statistic I used in this article, there are three that stick out to me that help explain why the team has massively improved their winning percentage 2017. Goals For/GP, Shot/GP, and Offensive Zone Faceoff Percentage. These three stats show how much more time the Oilers are spending in the offensive zone, compared to years past.

The Oilers have went from being a bottom 10 team in 80% of the categories in 2015/16, to being a top 15 team in 90% of the categories in 2016. This shows that this team is ready to contend every single night and are a legitimate playoff team. Oilers fans should get ready because this team is going to be in it for the haul this season.

Adam Girard

Founder/Writer - OILERS INSIDERS

Bold Moves -Part Two

 Bold Moves -Part Two

     Since taking the helm as both the General Manager and President of Hockey Ops of the Edmonton Oilers since April of last year, I think it would be safe to say Peter Chiarelli has made some "Bold Moves." (-as a former Oiler GM would put it..) Some seen to be good asset management and helping to improve the team. While other trades have been the subject of some controversy. In todays post, we will continue to look at the trades Chiarelli has made in his time with the Oilers and grade them:



Trade: Philip Larsen for 2017 5th Round Pick
Grade: Neutral
Comment: Good asset management here. Oilers still held the rights of Larsen and got something for him, however that 5th round pick has little chance of having an impact.

Trade: Justin Schultz for 2016 3rd Round Pick
Grade: Loss
Comment: Schultz has played really well for the Penguins as of late, but it was clear his time in Edmonton was done. Peguins got a player with still some promise for a bargain of a deal.

Trade: Teddy Purcell for 2016 3rd Round Pick
Grade: Win
Comment: Purcell played poorly for the Panthers in their playoff push, was sent on waivers (and cleared) by the King this season. This deadline sell looks like a win.

Trade: Andres Nilsson for Niklas Lundstrom, 2016 5th Round Pick
Grade: Neutral
Comment: Nilsson ended up not working in Edmonton. Didn't give much up to get him, and the value in return then was the same.

Trade Martin Gernat, 2016 4th Round Pick for Patrick Maroon
Grade: Win
Comment: Really good deal, Maroon has been a welcome addition to this Oiler team. Not to mention the Ducks are retaining 25% of his salary..

Trade: Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson
Grade: Loss
Comment: Here it is- The long awaited trade to solidify the defence. And it was definitely underwhelming. If we got a 2nd Round Pick in the deal as well (we lose ours to Boston for compensation) I think it would be more reasonable.

Trade: Nail Yakupov for Zack Pochiro, 2017 3rd Round Pick*
* Pick becomes a 2018 2nd Round Pick if Yakupov scores 15 or more goals in the 16-17 season.
Grade: Win
Comment: like Schultz, Nail's time here was up, and he is a healthy scratch more then he plays in St. Louis. Huge fall for the former first rounder.


Total Tally:
Win- 7
Loss- 4
Neutral- 3



Matt Chartrand 
Writer - OILERS INSIDERS

Bold Moves -Part One

Bold Moves -Part One

     Since taking the helm as both the General Manager and President of Hockey Ops of the Edmonton Oilers since April of last year, I think it would be safe to say Peter Chiarelli has made some "Bold Moves." (-as a former Oiler GM would put it..) Some seen to be good asset management and helping to improve the team. While other trades have been the subject of some controversy. In todays post, we will look at the trades Chiarelli has made in his time with the Oilers and grade them:

Trade: 2015 1st round pick, 2nd round pick for Griffin Reinhart
Grade: Loss
Comment: Yep, this was Chiarelli's first move with the the Oilers and results have been pretty underwhelming thus far. Giving up two tops picks in a deep draft for another left shot dman who has yet to assert himself as part of the team. Could Reinhart still turn into a legit NHL defensemen? Yes, dmen, like goalies take longer to develop and I recommend to stay patient with him. But regardless of Griffin panning out, this was an overpay and the Islanders got two really good players in the deal. (They flipped the second in a deal to acquire another first.) Interesting to note, Some believe this was the original package for Dougie Hamilton until the Bruins sent him to the Flames. Others say this trade has has the fingerprints of Lowe and MacT all over it; either way bad trade.

Trade: 2015 1st round pick, 3rd round pick, 7th round pick for Cam Talbot, 2015 7th round pick
 Grade: Win

Comment: This is more like it! Cam Talbot has finally been the answer to the Oilers long goaltending woes. Compared to other deals involving goalies at the time, Talbot was had for relatively cheap. Needless to say this is one of Chiarelli's best moves to date.

Trade: Martin Marincin, Brad Ross for 2015 4th round pick
Grade: Neutral

Comment: A fairly unremarkable deal that sent Marincin to Toronto for the pick that Chiarelli would flip for Gryba. It's a trade that hasn't been that altering to either team. Marincin has found himself a bottom paring role in Toronto, but would he have in Edmonton? Hard to say, but I would say no.

Trade: Travis Ewanyk, 2015 4th round pick for Eric Gryba
Grade: Win
Comment: Gryba has been a solid 6/7th guy on the Oilers back end, and has played well with Nurse and helping him develop. Gryba is also the ever so rare right shot defencemen on the Oilers blueline. Ewanyk was nothing special, a minor win for Chiarelli.


Trade: Boyd Gordon for Lauri Korpikoski
Grade: Loss
Comment: A misfire by Chiarelli here, trying to get some depth scoring in Korpikoski? It's not like Boyd Gordon was a big irreplaceable piece. Oilers ended up buying out Korpikoski while Boyd Gordon's deal expired. Add this to the loss pile.


Trade: Liam Coughlin for Andres Neilson
Grade: Win
Comment: While Neilson didn't end up working out and being later traded again, the Oilers didn't give much- or anything at all really for him in the first place. He had one good run in December last season and for that alone this will be considered a win.


Trade: Ben Scrivens for Zack Kassian
Grade: Win
Comment: While Ben Scrivens isn't even in the NHL anymore, Kassian has found himself a 4th line role with the Oilers and has contributed to the Oilers becoming a "bigger team" like Chiarelli envisioned. I believe both the management and coaching staff like this player, and he fits a niche role nicely.


-Continued in Part Two





Matt Chartrand 
Writer - OILERS INSIDERS

Calder Race Watch: Zach Werenski

This is a new segment that will be written every Monday and will feature a new rookie every week. The first rookie featured will be the 19 year-old defencemen Zach Werenski out of Columbus. He was born in Grosse Point, Michigan. Werenski has 21 points in 29 games and 11 of those being special teams points. He has helped the Blue Jackets power play maintain a 27.71 percent average, which is among the league leaders. He is 3rd among active rookies with TOI average of 21:36 per game. Werenski was just the piece the Jackets have been missing the last few years. He was drafted 9th overall in 2015 and looks like he could potentially be one of the top players picked in that draft class that was full of high end talent including Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel. The Jackets have increased there power play percentage from last years total of 17.34 and now have it at 27.71 percent, a big portion of that is because of Werenski Quarterbacking the Power Play. He is also proving to be a valuable commodity to fantasy owners as he has beeen a point producing machine from the Jackets blueline and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Werenski would be a worthy peice for all you fantasy owners to look at. We will see how he holds up for the entire year as he is use to a college schedule that is not nearly as compressed as the schedule of the NHL. In my opinion he has been the most impressive rookie this far, Let me know your thoughts in the comments below and which rookie has impressed you the most so far this season?

Garyn Schmermund
Writer-OILERS INSIDERS

Early Look at Trade Deadline Targets

For the first time in a long...long...long time the Oilers find themselves in a position where they might be buyers instead of sellers at the trade deadline. Looking to give their team an extra push in order to get into the playoffs and maybe go on a decent playoff run. 
Our needs are nothing to break the bank on and are quite simple: a veteran winger who could play in a top 6 or top 9 role and a backup goalie who is anyone other than Jonas Gustavsson. The back up goalie position is one that honestly needs to be addressed now rather than at the trade deadline. Watching games that Gustavsson has started show why it is apparent the team does not feel confident starting him and why Talbot has played 29 of 33 games so far this season. 
Allan Mitchel wrote a very good article on OilersNation.com last week on the trade assets the Oilers could use as trade bait to acquire players come trade deadline. Now here are the players that could benefit the Oilers and address their lineups needs and should be targeted at the Trade Deadline or perhaps even earlier than that. 

Jarome Iginla

5,333,333 1 year remaining 

I would absolutely love for the Oilers to acquire this player. Jarome would bring passion, leadership, and a winning intensity to the Oilers which would be extremley valuable to a young squad if they were to find themselves in the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. The 39 year old is off to a rough start to his 2016/17 campaign with 4 goals and 4 assist in 30 games. However he had 22 goals and 47 points last season and could definitely find chemistry playing alongside Nugent-Hopkins, Draisaitl or perhaps even McDavid. The Avs are playing absolutely horrendous this season and after Joe Colborne was obliterated by Alexei Emelin with ten minutes left in a 10-1 game he was to defeated to even stand up and defend for himself. However there was one..ONE player on the Avs who went in and stood up for Colborne. That player was Jarome Iginla and that shows the character and intensity he would bring to this Oilers team, and how much value his presence would bring to a young team fighting in the playoffs.

Radim Vrbrata

1,000,000 1 year remaining 

Already has 8 goals so far this season after just 13 last year with the Canucks. Vrbrata is only two seasons removed from a 31 goal campaign and is a shot producing beast. Could be that perfect sniper to place next to McDavid. Only concern would be his speed, but with his goal producing and the amount of shots he puts on net the sky would be the limit when placed with an elite center like McDavid. Very low risk, high reward option here. 

Thomas Greiss

1,500,000 1 year remaining 

The New York Islanders have been a complete wreck this season. Greiss likely won't be available until closer to the Trade Deadline or maybe just after the Allstar break, as the Islanders are likely still holding on to hopes of turning their season around. Greiss had a save percentage of .925 last season and with the Islanders struggling this season it has dropped to a still respectable number of .912. Greiss has a career save percentage of .917 which is amazing for a backup goaltender. Acquiring Greiss would allow the Oilers to go with a 1A-1B tandem rather than our current situation of just having having Talbot play 90% of the games. Acquiring Greiss would also help give the Oilers a stronger goalie tandem than many of our competition and allowing Talbot more rest during the regular season could prove to be very valuable during the playoffs and in helping us get there.

Ondrej Pavelec

3,900,000 1 year remaining

Ondrej Pavelec is a player that is currently playing in the AHL and has no value to the Winnipeg Jets whatsoever. He could be had for dirt cheap and we could even get the Jets to eat some of his salary even though there is only 1 year left, in order to allow us to have room to still trade for a veteran winger. Pavelec has a career save percentage of .907 which is less than ideal. He also currently has a save percentage of .906 in the AHL, which is frightening. However, he is only one year removed from a .920 save percentage season and there is a chance he could find some of his old magic in a backup role with a new NHL team. This is a player we could trade for now and if it doesn't work out we could attempt to move him or bury him in the minors and call up Brossoit, or trade for a different backup goaltender at the deadline. With one year left on his contract there is virtually no risk and we could be bringing in someone who is potentially better than Gustavsson while still allowing our younger goalies like Brossoit and Ellis to further develop in the minor system.

Adam Girard 
Writer/Co-founder - OILERS INSIDERS

FANTASY FRIDAY: Weeee're Baaaack

After a while of being inactive I am glad to say that Oilers Insiders are back and plan on posting new blogs every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday! With Fantasy Advice every Friday!

Buy Low 

Forward: Anze Kopitar 

24GP, 3G, 12A, 15P

With 15 points in 24 games Anze Kopitar along with the Los Angeles are off to a less than ideal start to their season. However there are encouraging signs that Kopitars production will likely jump back to normal sooner rather than later. First off he's sitting at a basement low shooting percentage of 5.5% and has a career average of 12.2% which means his scoring is bound to increase. He's currently playing with Gaborik and Lewis so might see some more success if the lines gets moved around and finds chemistry with Pearson or other players. Kopitar is a player who also struggled early on last year but he's a beast and you can count on him finding a way to produce season after season.  Expect 60-70 points for Kopitar this season after having a strong campaign last year. 

Defencemen: Justin Faulk 

26GP, 4G, 8A, 12P

You may have missed your chance to buy low on one of the biggest stud point producing defencemen in the league after his 3 point 3rd period outburst against the Canucks Tuesday. The offensive gem is 10th among Dmen in SOG in 26 games played this season. expect atleast 45-55 points from Faulk this season.

Goalie: Pekka Rinne 

24GP, 12W, 1 SO

Is a solid goalie every year and Nashville showed signs that they could eventually heat up in Smashville after a 6-3 win against the Blues on Tuesday. Expect around 35 wins from Rinne. 

Sell High/Buyer Beware

Forward: Marcus Johansson

28GP, 12G, 10A, 22P

With 12 goals on just 50 shots this screams overpoducing. Mr.Game 7 is scoring at 24% shooting percentange so far this season compared to his career average of 13.7%. Sell high high high.

Defencemen: Alec Martinez 

30GP, 6G, 11A, 17P

Career high of 31 points maxes out at 35-40points this season. Likely to see a regression of points soon, is getting a decent amount of shots and good amount of icetime but could likely be swapped for a 45 point Dman. 

Goalies: Peter Budaj

26GP, 14W, 3 SO

LA is watching their season go down the drain with an AHL goalie defending their crease. High risk of them trying to bring in a rental (not at a high price) to help save their season. Hard to estimate due to many different factors and scenarios possible but don't see Budaj getting more than 20-25 wins. Could be swapped for an unproven goalie who is bound to own the crease the entire season. 

Waiver Wire

Forward: Sam Bennett

32GP, 7G, 9A, 16P

Is a hit or miss player who is currently centering Johnny Gaudreau. He's not generating as many shots as you'd like to see but take a risk on this guy, it could pay off. 

Defencemen: Justin Shultz

31GP, 5G, 12A

Yes I said it. Justin Shultz has 6 points in his last 5 games. He saw 27:00 minutes of icetime against the Kings in the 1-0 loss today. He ussually sits around 16:00 per game for the Penguins  and is proving to be a useful player who is pitching in offensively. The most surprising stat is his +/- of +18 so far this season.

Goalie: Antti Raanta

13GP, 8W, 2SO

If he can run with the job in  New York he is bound to put up wins as they are looking like a solid team so far this season. However there is a always a huge risk there when competing with King Lundqvist for the Job. Steve Mason a much safer option with the red hot Flyers is a much safer option if he`s available in your league.

Which players do you think are about to go on a tear,or which players would you have liked to see mentioned instead

Let us know on Twitter or in the comment section below!


Adam Girard
Writer/Co-Founder - OILERS INSIDERS