Will Marc-Edouard Vlasic get his revenge? (Dan Hickling)
This week, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s barn will now be called Benchmark International Arena; after enjoying a breakout season, Seattle defenseman Ryker Evans has been rewarded with a new two-year contract; and Ottawa has agreed to buy a plot of land at LeBreton Flats as it works toward building a new arena. Other Fantasy hockey stories we’re tracking include…
Will Marc-Edouard Vlasic Get Another Shot?
The San Jose Sharks enjoyed a modest five-point improvement last season, but remain deeply embroiled in their rebuild, having missed the playoffs for six straight campaigns.
The focus remains on adding young talent through the draft and that means aging veterans have little value for this squad. To wit, the Sharks made the difficult decision to buy out long-time defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic this summer.
The 38-year-old was a career Shark, playing in more games than anyone in franchise history besides Patrick Marleau. Vlasic has never been known his toughness (although he did periodically drop the gloves), and has seen his role reduced in recent seasons, and the fact that he missed over half of 2024-25 with various injuries didn’t help matters. Nor did plays like this…
Despite playing fewer than 30 games last season, he still managed to get to -10, which is not ideal. Still, Vlasic – not impressed with being cut loose by San Jose — plans to play on for a 20th season and prove that the Sharks made a mistake.
While no one has yet signed the free agent blueliner, a PTO from someone should be coming soon (perhaps Vancouver or Edmonton). No, Vlasic is no longer the universally underrated and steady minute-muncher he was last decade, but surely in a sheltered role he can he a solid No. 7 defenseman for someone. Fantasy value? Nope. But as a veteran presence on a team with young blueliners, he can be useful.
Vlasic’s departure should open up even more PT for Timothy Liljegren, who saw a nice spike in PT after being dealt from Toronto in November. In fact, Liljegren is likely to play on the top pairing with Mario Ferraro, so could return to or surpass his 2023-24 career season, even if PP time may be rare.
Keeping Kaprizov Healthy
Coming off back-to-back seasons of over 100 points and a run of four straight playoff appearances, the Minnesota Wild took a big step back in 2023-2024, losing 16 points in the standings and missing the postseason.
The club rebounded last season, gaining 10 more points and returning to the playoffs, albeit suffering yet another first round loss. It’s now been over a decade since Minnesota was able to get past the opening round of the playoffs.
This coming season, the Wild is very likely to again be a playoff contender, and while the odds of this team making a serious run at the Stanley Cup remain long, having its stars stay healthy would sure help… especially Kirill Kaprizov.
It’s been a few years now since getting the starting centre gig between him and Mats Zuccarello was a plum gig, and Kaprizov justified that perception by looking like the MVP of the league in the first half.
Unfortunately an LBI that required surgery cut a massive hole in his season from late-December on, limiting him to 41 games. Given that this is exactly half a season, it makes projecting the Russian winger’s totals for 2024-25 very easy: he was on pace for career-highs of 50 goals and 62 assists despite not being nearly as productive on the power play (the Wild dropped to 20th in PP percentage after finishing 10th the season before).
The 2020-21 Calder Trophy winner as top rookie has become an integral part of the Minnesota offense, so nailing down a long-term extension is so important for the club’s future. For Fantasy purposes, consider Zaprizov a solid mid-first round pick.
Waiver Wire Pick of the Week
Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche (ESPN: 44.3 per cent; CBS: 28 per cent): It made for an amazing story when Landeskog managed to suit up in the playoffs for the first time since 2021-22. Sure, he had gotten close to playing before, but to actually get into a game and do well – a goal and three assists in his first four games back – was remarkable. Given the health risk, Landeskog may fly under the radar somewhat, but this dude is a two-time 30-goal scorer and he did the trick in just 51 games before getting hurt in 2021-22. It’s hard to feel confident that he’ll be able to withstand the rigours of a full season, but as a late-round flier or early-season wire addition, he could prove very useful. This is high-risk/high-reward in its most extreme form.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
In 2008, original Black Rebel Motorcycle Club drummer Nick Jago left the band and was replaced by Leah Shapiro. Here’s “Salvation,” the closing track from the band’s debut album, B.M.R.C., released in 2001, an effort we immediately fell in love with.