Frozen Fantasy: Brand-New Superstars

There have been plenty of surprises so far this season. The Oilers are more horrendous than anyone could have imagined. The Flames have not only removed themselves from the Connor McDavid Sweepstakes to date, but could even be challenging for a playoff berth. And Jakub Voracek is challenging Sidney Crosby for the league lead in scoring (and crediting sushi in the process).

#nhlMiracle.

But some of the biggest surprises this season have come on the back on some impressive rookie performances. So good, in fact, that we might be witnessing the emergence of not one, but two superstars.

Are we witnessing a changing of the guard?

This year's rookie class has some impressive names with big games. Johnny Gaudreau is a water bug on ice. Jake Allen and Michael Hutchinson both have a chance to be good NHL starters. Jonathan Drouin is coming around after an injury-plagued start. Even Josh Jooris has looked sharp. And Andre Burakovsky, Tanner Pearson and Damon Severson show promise, but have all slowed after super-fast starts to the season.

But Filip Forsberg and Aaron Ekblad? They're studs. Just don't hashtag that word. Trust me -- you'll see things that'll burn your retinas.

But I digress.

Forsberg has slowed a bit, but he's still top-15 in league scoring heading into action on Monday. And he's still sporting the NHL's best plus/minus (plus-21 in 26 games). Ekblad, who looks like a man among boys, is on pace for more than 50 points. As a rookie blueliner. Delish.

I don't know about you, but I didn't see either one of these guys emerging this fast. Forsberg had a career minus-13 rating coming into this season. And Ekblad is just 18 freaking years old. Sure, he's had a beard since he was 12, but he's ONLY 18.

Both are remarkably sound in their own zone. And for me, that's the telltale sign that dominance is in their future -- if they're this good defensively already, then…

You get my point.

Sure, Forsberg only has three points in his last eight. But he's still bolstering that plus-minus, even with the depressed scoring. And Ekblad? He's already doing what Seth Jones of Nashville was supposed to have delivered (and still hasn't…if you're keeping score).

Now let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.

Jonas Brodin, D, Minnesota (5 percent Yahoo! owned): Brodin is like Bondo for your lineup -- an honest and reliable patch for a dent caused by injury. He's producing even under the increased pressure that has come with Ryan Suter's mumps. He snagged a goal and assist Friday night, and is also plus-5 with eight shots on net in his last four games. Yeah, he might be boringly reliable, but that's what Bondo is all about. And his Bondo comes cheap. Apply the patch to your lineup, especially if you need a plus-minus boost.

Brett Connolly, RW, Tampa Bay (1 percent Yahoo! owned): Connolly has been an elite talent since his junior days. But there's always been something that has stopped him from showing that off. Injuries have been a big part, but so was the lost season he spent as a teenager in the NHL. There's no use crying over spilled milk, but where might his development be if he'd spent that time in the Western Hockey League? Last Monday, he finally snapped some necks back in amazement, especially with his double-dangle undressing of Marc Staal on his first of two goals that night. Sa-weet. He picked up another goal Thursday night, so he has three snipes in his last four games. He might surprise…that is, if he can keep his name off the IR list.

Scott Darling, G, Chicago (4 percent Yahoo! owned): Put this guy on your roster now. Seriously. Open another tab and go grab him. I'll wait. Corey Crawford is hurt, so the blue paint for one of the league's best teams is up for grabs. And Saturday night, we got to see Darling throw down the gauntlet to Antti Raanta. Darling's 32-save effort got him a win over none other than Pekka Rinne and he earned the game's second star. He's actually looked better in relief of Crawford than Raanta has, and you and I both know the Hawks don't really care about pedigree when it comes to their twinetenders. The backup job might be his when Crawford returns. He has bounced around the minors and ridden buses for a very long time. He may even have a little Tim Thomas in him -- that guy booted around a long time before his big break. Roll the dice. What's it going to hurt?

Tomas Fleischmann, LW/RW, Florida (1 percent Yahoo! owned): Yawn. Fleischmann carried last year's struggles into this season and he quickly found himself in the press box. Or on the fourth line. But this past week, the Kitties decided to put him beside Jonathan Huberdeau and Nick Bjugstad, and a miracle occurred -- he actually started to score. He has a goal and two assists, and a plus-3 rating in his last two outings, and that line has been the team's best. Hey -- even sidekicks are worth something in fantasy. Go get him. He might not be the real deal, but those other two are. And worst case scenario, they'll put the puck in the net off his backside. Remember -- it doesn't matter how they go in, they still count the same at the end of the day.

Boone Jenner, LW/C, Columbus (7 percent Yahoo! owned): Jenner has a bright future as Ryan Johansen's wing man, but right now, he has found a fit with Cam Atkinson and Kerby Rychel. And that has delivered a goal-a-game for his last three contests. There's no dazzle or juke in his game -- he just blows straight through guys and goes right to the net. This no-nonsense forward will be notching goals and laying hits for years to come. You might as well enjoy the ride right now. Hey -- he might even cross the line and end up slathered in PIMs. I know that sounds bad, but it's in his game. He walks that thin, thin line between legal and flat-out dirty. And there's something to be said for the non-pylon approach to standard Yahoo! sin-bin categories.

Brayden McNabb, D, Los Angeles (5 percent Yahoo! owned): Soooo, hands up if you think Buffalo is regretting the decision to move this kid? I have to think they gave up on him because he's always been a bit overaggressive. But like the Kings' GM Dean Lombardi, I would much rather "tame a lion than paint stripes on a kitty cat." That's a real Lombardi quote; I didn't make that up. McNabb has been seeing solid ice time of late, what with the combination of injuries and Slava Voynov's suspension. And he has responded in a huge way -- he has seven assists, 27 hits and 16 PIM in his last nine games. That's more than any Sabres defender has delivered all season. All season. Hudson Fasching? Nicolas Deslauriers? The Sabres overpaid to get them, but you don't need to do the same for McNabb. He's available in a whole lot of leagues.

Kyle Quincey, D, Detroit (1 percent Yahoo! owned): Quincey eats up plenty of ice time, which has always struck me as odd, particularly given his uniform. Detroit values -- no, covets -- consistency and Quince is consistent in just one thing -- inconsistency. He has three points, including a goal, and a plus-6 rating in his last three games after putting up just three points in the first 21. He'll drive you nuts with the slumps, but he can give you depth production, at least in the short term, in really big leagues. You can always drop him if he goes back into the deep-freeze.

Brad Richardson, RW/LW, Vancouver (3 percent Yahoo! owned): He's been on this list before, so I won't waste much time on him. Other than to say pick up his arse. He's had a fantastic road trip -- try three goals, four assists and plus-5 in six games. He won't keep up that kind of pace (he had but a single point in the 12 games before that). But he could deliver some production in the short term.

Kerby Rychel, LW, Columbus (0 percent Yahoo! owned): Rychel is a can't-miss prospect with solid bloodlines and a deft touch. He's not the best skater, but he's tenacious and he has great hands. He doesn't miss when he finds the puck on his stick in the slot. And he picks up helpers because he creates space for his teammates or knocks the puck loose in the offensive zone. He'll never make his own offense, but he will complement the right linemates, in a Chris Kunitz kind of way, but with a bit more grit. He's a natural fit with the diminutive Cam Atkinson and that has delivered him three assists in his last three games. His ice time is limited and he will likely be sent back down soon enough. But he's still delivering. He might as well be doing it on your roster than on the wire.

Mike Santorelli, C, Toronto (7 percent Yahoo! owned): That sizzle you hear in Toronto isn't Phil Kessel's frustration -- it's the sound of pucks touching Santorelli's twig. This guy has been the hottest Leaf on ice of late -- his five-game, nine-point scoring streak was snapped Saturday night. But he's so more than this streak -- he has 18 points in 26 games overall. That's a near 55-point pace! There's no reason for him to be available in 93 percent of leagues…other than perception. Don't be that guy -- go get him.

Back to Forsberg and Ekblad.

I'm lucky to own Forsberg in one of my big leagues. It'll take a deal and a half to pry him away from me. But I'd consider it for sure. But Ekblad? I'm targeting him (and then some).

Remember -- P.K. Subban only had 38 points in his rookie year. None of today's top defenders had rookie seasons like Ekblad is weaving.

I can even say I saw him play in OHL. Look out, Shea Weber -- there's a new defender after my heart.

Wow -- it took a lot for me to say that. But hot damn, Aaron Ekblad is worth it.

Until next week.