This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
With few games on Sunday, we can look at a broader issue in hockey. Are we seeing the end of the heavyweight fighter, or enforcer, in the NHL? The Globe and Mail's James Mirtle asked and investigated this question on Saturday, noting that fighting is down and that 70% of games were played without a fight in 2013-14. Mirtle points out that a number of players who have occupied the "enforcer" role in the past are without contracts as the season opens and concludes that "the reality is that most of the survivors are either middleweights or bring some offensive ability to the table... a heavyweight who rarely scores and whose team is typically outshot heavily when he's on the ice is an easy target for any analytics department [to weed out]."
What (if anything) does this mean for fantasy players? True enforcers are not usually a big part of fantasy rosters, but there could be a couple of useful takeaways. It could make PIM both a more interesting, and endangered, fantasy category. It will be harder to hold one player who generates a significant number of PIM and owners will need players who contribute broadly to all categories, including PIM. It could also diminish the total number of fighting majors that tough skilled players take. In the long run, if fighting is down and gaining a foothold in PIM takes too much away from contributions to other categories, there could also be a movement away from including it among common fantasy categories. Finally, if enforcers are less a part of NHL rosters it could open room for new skilled players to emerge, which would enrich the hockey landscape in real life and fantasy.
Some people will lament the diminishment of the "noble enforcer" while others will cheer the rise of more skilled skaters. The game will keep evolving regardless.
Now, onto the preview of Sunday's games.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Toronto Maple Leafs (James Reimer) at New York Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist*), 7:00 PM
Winnipeg Jets (Michael Hutchinson) at Los Angeles Kings (Martin Jones), 10:00 PM
*Confirmed Starters
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Toronto Maple Leafs
David Booth, LW - The Maple Leafs placed Booth on IR on Monday, James Mirtle of TSN reports. (10/6/2014)
Cody Franson, D - Though he was activated from injured reserve earlier in the day, Franson (knee) didn't take part in pregame warmups and looks prepared to sit out Saturday against the Penguins, David Alter of Sportsnet reports. (10/11/2014)
Frederik Gauthier, C - Gauthier has a cracked rib, Jonas Siegel of TSN Radio 1050 reports (9/26/2014)
New York Rangers
Dan Boyle, D - Boyle broke his hand blocking a shot Thursday and will miss four-to-six weeks as a result, Steve Zipay of Newsday reports. (10/9/2014)
Derek Stepan, C - The Rangers placed Stepan (leg) on LTIR on Monday, Andrew Gross of the Bergen Record reports. (10/6/2014)
Kevin Hayes, RW - Hayes (shoulder) could dress for Saturday's tilt in Columbus, Andrew Gross of The Record reports. (10/10/2014)
Winnipeg Jets
Patrice Cormier, C - Cormier took a stick to the eye in Monday's preseason game against the Oilers, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports. (9/30/2014)
Eric O'Dell, C - O'Dell was waived by the Jets on Wednesday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports. (10/8/2014)
Evander Kane, LW - Coach Paul Maurice said Saturday that Kane (knee) would be reevaluated after two weeks, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports. (10/11/2014)
Los Angeles Kings
Jake Muzzin, D - Muzzin said he expects to miss a few more games as a result of his undisclosed injury, Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports. (10/9/2014)
Trevor Lewis, C - Lewis (upper body) will not play Saturday against the Coyotes, Jon Rosen of LAKingsInsider.com reports. (10/10/2014)
Andrew Bodnarchuk, D - Bodnarchuk (knee) will start the season on the injured list, LA Kings Insider reports. (10/5/2014)
Hot
Radim Vrbata, RW – Vrbata has three 20+ goal seasons in his last five and has moved to Vancouver where he have the chance to ride shotgun with the Sedins, easily the most talented linemates he has had in some time. He has started off the season with goals in consecutive games and putting the puck on net freely. At 33 years-old, he is no spring chicken, but he a safe bet for more than 20 goals with little risk.
Rick Nash, RW – Seemingly on cue, Nash is Nash-ing with three goals and an assist in his first two games to start the year. Perhaps most importantly, he seems healthy and has generated a completely healthy eight shots. Nash's game has always been filling the net and after he put up 26 last year in a down season it is reasonable to think he still has the skill and drive to get back above the 30 or even 35 goal plateau.
Cold
Slava Voynov, D – It's only two games, but the champs got drubbed by the Sharks on opening night and lost their second game to Arizona on Saturday. Voynov was not great in either game, registering a minus-2 and putting only one shot on net. Voynov is only 24, and he improved his point, shot, and hit totals each year he has been in the NHL. He isn't a stud for fantasy, but he is solid and will be again this year.
Jonathan Bernier, G – You can't read too much into two games, but Bernier is off to a tough start, which in Leaf land is worth noting. Bernie has allowed a surprising nine goals on a whopping 73 shots in his first two starts (87.7% save percentage). James Reimer will likely start Sunday and it doesn't take much to start a goalie controversy in Toronto, especially with Reimer having asked for a trade and coach Randy Carlysle in a weak position.
Recommended Pickup
Morgan Rielly, D – Rielly is a known quantity in and around Toronto, but in many fantasy leagues the 20 year-old may still be under the radar. He put up a respectable 27 points in 73 games last year, but was seeing just 17:38 of ice time. His ice time is up to more than 19 minutes early in the season and he has put up points in the Leafs' first two games with six shots on net. He is going to be a very good defenseman in fantasy and real life and, especially in keeper/dynasty leagues, is someone to make sure is owned.
