- Home →
- Victor Olofsson
NHL Power Rankings: 1-31 poll, plus the player who leveled up for every team
How we rank: The ESPN hockey editorial staff submits selections ranking teams 1-31, and those results are tabulated to the list featured here. Teams are rated through Tuesday night’s games, taking into account overall record, recent success and other factors such as injuries. Last week’s rankings Note: Standings point pace is based on games through […]
Continue readingNHL Awards Watch: Hart Trophy race even more chaotic with one month left
Recency bias is very much a thing, considering that the ballots aren’t sent out until near the end of the season and the votes are sent in right up until the first game of the playoffs. This is especially true of the Hart Trophy race, for which players such as Taylor Hall, Corey Perry and […]
Continue readingFantasy hockey: Top ten things you need to know this week
Turns out it’s not as bad as all that after all. Shea Weber is officially expected out four to six weeks with an ankle injury, not forever, as implied by some social media musings. Still, that spells the rest of the season from where I’m sitting, unless the Habs make a miraculous push and find […]
Continue readingThe cases for, against every top NHL MVP candidate
In the eyes of many, you need to be on a good team. But the team can’t be too good, or you risk being docked points for receiving too much help. Nikita Kucherov bucked that trend with his preposterous 128-point 2018-19 season, but it certainly played a role in the 2017-18 race, when Taylor Hall […]
Continue readingNHL trade deadline preview: Possible moves, latest rumors, what to watch for all 31 teams
Now that the 2020 NHL All-Star Weekend is in the rearview mirror, the league’s trade season is underway in earnest. The next several games for each team will be pivotal, as general managers decide whether their teams should be buyers, improving their chances for the Stanley Cup playoffs, or sellers, perhaps accelerating rebuilds. Get caught […]
Continue readingFantasy hockey rankings update plus players on new lines
In order to catch up on some teams limping along with relatively new scoring lines, here are some of the players forcing themselves onto the radar due to injuries to their teammates. Dominik Kubalik, W, Chicago Blackhawks: Even before Dylan Strome was sidelined, the Hawks have been tinkering with a Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews […]
Continue readingFantasy hockey: Power play sleepers to pick up now
Team power play success rate since Dec. 1: 26.8% Ilya Kovalchuk, LW/RW, Montreal Canadiens (rostered in 19.2% of ESPN.com leagues): The inspiration for this week’s column, Kovalchuk is off to a quick start in wooing those supporting the blue, blanc et rouge with three assists in two games, including one with the extra skater. While […]
Continue readingMidseason fixes for NHL teams in the playoff hunt
Given how tightly packed the standings are thanks to the number of loser points being handed out on a nightly basis, there’s an opportunity cost in procrastinating until the Feb. 24 deadline. Each passing day makes it that much more difficult to gain ground in the standings, meaning even more value for shrewd general managers […]
Continue readingNHL Rookie Rankings: Rangers’ Adam Fox gaining ground in defense-loaded rookie group
Fox was the flashy offensive defenseman who led Harvard in scoring and was one of the final three Hobey Baker finalists last season. His production made him the big name. Marino, was right behind him on the depth chart but made a much bigger defensive impact for the team. Marino’s career high in points with […]
Continue readingNHL Awards Watch: Nathan MacKinnon has Hart; new Jack Adams leader
Here’s the NHL Awards Watch for January. Again, this is a prediction of how I expect the voters would consider the current candidates, as well as a look at their merits. Keep in mind that the Pro Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) votes for the Hart, Norris, Calder, Selke and Lady Byng; broadcasters vote for the […]
Continue reading