This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
Being a successful NHL franchise and being a successful fantasy owner both require patience. In particular, judging how long to be patient with young players is a key in both games.
In a recent column over at Yahoo's Puck Daddy Jen Lute Costella uses fancy stats to look at the progress of some of the NHL's young wingers – specifically whether Nail Yakupov is a bust and whether Vladimir Tarasenko really came out of nowhere? Her analysis is interesting in part because I think it makes clear Tarasenko has been brought along intentionally slowly on a very deep Blues team, which is a luxury the Oilers have never had with Yakupov (or Taylor Hall who is also discussed). Yakupov has warts, but it's probably worth showing more patience with him both in real life and fantasy. He seems to be pointed in a better direction this year and results should follow.
Her column is also well timed as another highly touted young player had a tough week. Evgeny Kuznetsov was a healthy scratch Friday for the first time in his short career. Kuznetsov arrived in Washington last March (after being a 2010 first round pick) with a ton of hype, but it seems like some of the shine has already rubbed off the youngster. Is it warranted? Let's use his countryman, Tarasenko, as a counterpoint to look at Kuznetsov's development. They both came to the NHL after success as youngsters in the KHL. Tarasenko was 20 when he made his debut, whereas Kuznetsov was 21, but they are both 22 years old this season. So what's the tale of the tape? In 17 games last year Kuznetsov had nine points; Tarasenko put up 12 points in his first 17 games. Through 29 career games Kuznetsov has 15 points, whereas Tarasenko had 17 points. Kuznetsov hasn't been a great possession player in his short career, although he has bumped his Corsi% up to 56% from 45% last year. Tarasenko has been at or above 60% every year since entering the NHL, which is quite impressive. The Caps have protected Kuznetsov some by giving him minutes against weaker competition and usually starting him in the offensive zone, but that said he has done what you would expect of a skill player in that position and put up nearly 2.5 points per 60 minutes of ice time. Tarasenko started at about the same level of production before jumping up to more than four points per 60 minutes, but he has also done so against stronger competition, which is why he's a beast. Now none of this is to suggest that Kuznetsov is going to follow Tarasenko's path (that's tough to do), but it's also too early to write him off. He's a young guy with a lot of talent who needs time to develop and reach his potential. In that respect he is like Tarasenko.
Now, onto the preview of Sunday's games.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Tampa Bay Lightning (Ben Bishop) at Detroit Red Wings (Jimmy Howard*), 6:00 PM
Edmonton Oilers (Ben Scrivens) at New York Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist*), 6:00 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs (James Reimer) at Ottawa Senators (Robin Lehner), 6:00 PM
San Jose Sharks (Antti Niemi) at Chicago Blackhawks (Corey Crawford*), 7:00 PM
Vancouver Canucks (Ryan Miller) at Anaheim Ducks (Frederik Andersen), 9:00 PM
*Confirmed Starters
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Tampa Bay Lightning
Brett Connolly, RW - Connolly (lower body) has begun some light skating on his own but still isn't considered close to a return, Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reports. (11/5/2014)
Alex Killorn, C - Killorn (upper body) didn't take part in line rushes at morning skate and isn't expected to play Saturday against the Blue Jackets, Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune reports. (11/8/2014)
Victor Hedman, D - Hedman (hand) may not be ready to play until early December, Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune reports. (11/6/2014)
Detroit Red Wings
Jonas Gustavsson, G - Gustavsson is expected to miss about two months with a dislocated shoulder, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports. (11/7/2014)
Anthony Mantha, LW - Mantha (leg) has been cleared for drills in practice and may be back playing in a few weeks, the Detroit Free Press reports. (11/4/2014)
Stephen Weiss, C - Weiss (groin) hopes to be available for the Red Wings in their Nov. 14 game against the Blackhawks, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports. (11/8/2014)
Pavel Datsyuk, C - Datsyuk (groin) will not play Sunday against the Lightning, MLive.com reports. (11/8/2014)
Edmonton Oilers
Taylor Hall, LW - Hall was moved to injured reserve on Sunday. (11/3/2014)
New York Rangers
Dan Boyle, D - Boyle (broken hand) said he is targeting a return to the lineup at some point next week, Andrew Gross of the Bergen Record reports. (11/7/2014)
Ryan McDonagh, D - The Rangers placed McDonagh (shoulder) on IR on Monday. (11/3/2014)
Brady Skjei, D - Skjei suffered a lower-body injury while playing for the University of Minnesota last week and he is expected to be sidelined for at least a few weeks. (11/7/2014)
Toronto Maple Leafs
Joffrey Lupul, LW - Lupul (hand) skated on his own Saturday, Mark Masters of TSN reports. (11/8/2014)
David Booth, LW - Though Booth (foot) skated Thursday morning, coach Randy Carlyle said the forward remains "a long ways from returning," Jonas Siegel of TSN Radio 1050 reports. (10/30/2014)
Daniel Winnik, LW - Coach Randy Carlyle said that Winnik (head) remains under the league's concussion protocol and will not play Saturday against the Rangers, David Alter of MapleLeafs.com reports. (11/8/2014)
Jake Gardiner, D - Gardiner (lower body) will be a game-time decision Saturday against the Rangers, Jonas Siegel of TSN Radio 1050 reports. (11/8/2014)
Carter Ashton, RW - Ashton has been suspended 20 games without pay for violating the NHL and NHLPA's Performance Enhancing Substances Program, Sportsnet reports. (11/6/2014)
Ottawa Senators
Chris Phillips, D - Phillips (lower body) isn't expected to play Saturday against the Jets, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports. (11/8/2014)
Bobby Ryan, RW - Ryan (upper body) will be a game-time decision Saturday against the Jets, Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports. (11/8/2014)
Marc Methot, D - The Senators have yet to set a target date for Methot (back) to return to the ice, Ian Mendes of TSN 1200 reports. (10/30/2014)
Chicago Blackhawks
Patrick Sharp, LW - Coach Joel Quenneville announced Thursday that Sharp (knee) will miss three-to-four weeks. (11/6/2014)
Daniel Carcillo, LW - Carcillo (knee) is expected to resume skating in the next few days, ESPN Chicago reports. (11/6/2014)
Teuvo Teravainen, LW - Teravainen missed AHL Rockford's game Tuesday due to a sinus infection, ESPN Chicago reports. (11/4/2014)
Vancouver Canucks
Brad Richardson, C - Richardson (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision Saturday against the Kings, Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province reports. (11/8/2014)
Tom Sestito, LW - Sestito was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. (11/4/2014)
Zack Kassian, RW - Kassian (leg) is expected to miss Saturday's game against the Kings, Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province reports. (11/8/2014)
Anaheim Ducks
Kyle Palmieri, RW - Coach Bruce Boudreau said Wednesday that Palmieri (ankle) could be ready to play in two weeks. (11/5/2014)
Cam Fowler, D - Fowler (lower body) could play Sunday against the Canucks, Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles News Group reports. (11/8/2014)
John Gibson, G - Gibson has been diagnosed with a groin injury, but has avoided any kind of tear, Curtis Zupke of NHL.com reports. (11/5/2014)
Francois Beauchemin, D - Beauchemin missed Saturday's practice with the flu, Elliott Teaford of the Los Angeles News Group reports. (11/8/2014)
Corey Perry, RW - Perry (illness) has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Canucks. (11/8/2014)
Mark Fistric, D - Fistric is day-to-day with a lower-back injury, Helene Elliot of the LA Times reports. (10/31/2014)
Hot
Filip Forsberg, RW – Some wag on twitter suggested the other day that Forsberg is trolling the Capitals with his play this year. It's tough to argue that it must hurt the Caps to watch as Forsberg has blossomed quickly into a force with 14 points in 14 games. Playing with sniper James Neal, Forsberg has been on fire lately with a five game point streak in which he's picked up five goals and eight points, including one of each Saturday.
Clarke MacArthur, LW – MacArthur has been one of Ottawa's best forward since singing as a free agent before last season. He scored 24 goals last year (his third 20-goal season in his last four) and he has seven in 12 games so far this year, including six points in his last five games going into Saturday's contest with the Jets.
Cold
Victor Hedman, D – Hedman isn't so much cold as he is injured. Unfortunately, according to a report tweeted earlier this week by Erik Erlendsson of The Tampa Tribune, Hedman may still be about a month away from making a return. This is tough news as the 23 year-old burst out of the gates this year with seven points in five games. His owners are no doubt waiting patiently for Hedman to return; now it looks like they'll need to wait just a bit longer.
Patrick Marleau, RW – The ageless Marleau is having a good start to the season overall with 13 points in 14 games, but he has managed just a single assist in his last four games and only three points in his last six. He will get back on track soon, but at age 35 he will also start slowing down soon. Bet against another 70-point season and move him before he hits the wall.
Recommended Pickup
Jori Lehtera, C – Lehtera is an unusual case as 26 year-old NHL rookies are rare. The Blues drafted him back in 2008 and he played extensively in both the Finnish Elite league and the KHL. He is also an unusual case, because not many rookies get to step onto a new team and play with, arguably, the team's most gifted offensive talent, but lucky Lehtera finds himself playing next to Vladmir Tarasenko. Lehtera found chemistry with Tarasenko in training camp and it has paid off so far with 10 points in his first 12 games. Lehtera is seeing nearly 17 minutes of ice time per game and more than two minutes on the power play. While he has only put 16 shots on net, that's probably less of an issue than it would be for some since he is feeding Tarasenko (55 shots) every game. Regardless, Lehtera seems to have the trust of his coach and he is on his way to a 50+-point rookie season.
