Several weeks ago, I bemoaned my decision to draft Steven Stamkos over Erik Karlsson. I still stand wholeheartedly by that regret, but it's been soothed slightly over the last 10 days or so. Karlsson is still in another world (two more assists Sunday), but the Tampa Bay star has five goals and a helper over the last four games. Owners of Stamkos wouldn't mind a few more assists from their underproducing first-round pick, but Stamkos has been delivering recently amidst a storm of trade rumors and his allegedly imminent departure to Toronto.
Those five goals ended a stretch in which Stamkos didn't find the back of the goal for 10 games. Yes, 10. You don't often see a player of his caliber have a barren stretch (just five assists) that long. Heading into his walk year, Stamkos is in the midst of one of his worst offensive seasons, while the Bolts are looking to claw their way back into the playoff race. He's a buy-low candidate at his current production levels. Conversely, maybe another big game or two this week will make it the perfect time to get a decent return.
An underproducing first-round pick is an albatross. Stamkos conceivably could end the season on a tear and return to his former productive self, but will he? Depending on the shape of your roster, how long can you wait for your first-round pick to pan out?
For all the discontent over Stamkos, he's tied for third in the league in power-play points and sixth in goals heading into Sunday. Until Stamkos either re-signs with Tampa Bay or starts producing at his normal rate, rumors about his next destination(s) will continue teeming about Channelside.
Of course, the Canadian media is trying to sell the story that Stamkos wants to come home and play in Toronto. In case you weren't aware, Stamkos signing with Toronto will guarantee the Leafs the next several Stanley Cups. Plan your availability for the parades accordingly.
Millennium Faulk-on
Hockey fans are seeing the breakout of the next great American offensive defenseman in Raleigh. At just 23, Justin Faulk continues to be a force for the scrappy Hurricanes, as he potted his 13th and 14th goals in consecutive games this weekend, adding an assist for good measure. Faulk's numbers are even more staggering when you consider that up until his snipe against New Jersey on Saturday, all 12 of his season's goals came on the power play. Those are 1998-99 Adrian Aucoin numbers ñ for those of you who don't remember that season, Aucoin scored 23 goals, 18 of them on the power play.
Back in the present, Faulk has been a steal for owners this season, having been available at a very reasonable draft-day price. He's on a clear pace to surpass 20 goals and possibly challenge 30, thanks to an uncanny ability to find shooting lanes on the power play. Faulk has developed a feel for the offensive zone like few other blueliners his age.
Faulk is arguably Carolina's best offensive player even with young standouts Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm feeding him the puck. And after another goal in Sunday's win over Chicago, Faulk is one of four defenders with 30 points or more, trailing only Karlsson, John Klingberg and Brent Burns. Come next fall, he will be a top-five defenseman in drafts, possibly higher.
Return of the Jedi?
Few players in the NHL have lived off their reputations coming out of juniors more than Buffalo's Ryan O'Reilly. A naturally talented, gritty two-way center, O'Reilly's name outweighed his production during his final season in Denver, and he was dealt to Buffalo this past summer for former first-round picks Nikita Zadorov and Mikhail Grigorenko. The Avs are going to be good for several years to come and might even make some noise close to the playoffs, but O'Reilly gives the Sabres a great 1-2 punch down the middle with prodigy Jack Eichel. The 24-year-old owns 14 goals and 32 points through 35 games following a three-point effort in Saturday's win over Boston. He's already is a mere three goals away from equaling last season's total of 17 and should easily surpass his career-best 28 from 2013-14.
O'Reilly has 13 points on the power play, putting him in a tie for fifth in the league. His 21:48 of ice time per game leads all NHL forwards heading into Saturday, and he's going to keep getting chances to score for the resurgent Sabres.
The Phantom Menace
The Stars are still scoring goals in bunches, averaging close to 3.5 per game after Sunday's 3-0 shutout over St. Louis. If the Stars start playing better defensively, it will be difficult to beat them come springtime. Dallas has scored 19 goals in the last five games, and budding star defenseman John Klingberg has factored into just one. Klingberg has points in just three of the Stars' last 13 games, with five assists over that span, three of which came in one game. He hasn't scored a goal since Nov. 28, but is seeing plenty of power-play time. Prior to this barren stretch, Klingberg put up 27 points through 24 games, making his case to be considered among the top blueliners in the game. He still should challenge 50 points this season, especially considering that he gets to dish the puck to Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
