Frozen Fantasy: Trade Deadline Tension

The NHL trade deadline is upon us. It's great for fans and flat-out sucks for fantasy.

Yes, sucks.

Anyone waiting for former top-six pivot Derick Brassard's return saw his fantasy value dissolve Friday night with his move to Pittsburgh. It's one thing to be behind Matt Duchene on the depth chart. It's another to be behind Sidney Crosby AND Evgeni Malkin.

Ouch.

Sure, Brassard will likely get a bit of second unit power-play time. But his fantasy potential sure takes a hit.

Teams driving hard for the postseason make moves to shore up depth. They look for cheap, but high-value acquisitions that won't kill their cap or handcuff them for the future.

And they play them down the lineup. Gulp.

Trades right now will result in a blow to your fantasy success, Petr Mrazek aside. And Erik Karlsson, if that miracle was to happen.

So, while the Pens now look like the team to beat in the East (barring a move by Tampa), Brassard's owners are looking for a replacement. Or they risk a slip in the standings.

It's a scenario destined to repeat itself several times between now and Monday afternoon. Better to be ready than caught unaware, I guess. Still sucks, though.

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

Nick Bjugstad, RW/C, Florida (4 percent Yahoo! owned) – This riddle wrapped up in an enigma has warmed up of late … to the tune of eight points (two goals, six assists) and 29 shots in 10 games leading into Saturday night. He has all the parts to be dominant, but unlike Aristotle, Bjugstad just can't add them up. He can't even be Jordan Staal-lite. Be happy with his run, but be ready to ditch his gangly butt when his math skills get even worse.

Justin Braun, D, San Jose (2 percent Yahoo! owned) – Braun isn't sexy. He doesn't stand out. But he's exactly the kind of guy you need to win. Braun has six points in his last six games and 26 points overall. Fantasy owners who keep guys like Oscar Klefbom's 17 points (43 percent owned) are asleep at the switch with Braun out there.

Connor Brown, RW, Toronto (3 percent Yahoo! owned) – Brown is a coach fave because of his industrious approach – the guy doesn't take a millisecond off. He's now on the top line in Toronto with William Nylander as his center. Brown's speed and drive should result in small offensive boost. You might as well be poised to take advantage.

Ryan Carpenter, C, Las Vegas (2 percent Yahoo! owned) – Carpenter is living the dream. He played 28 games over three seasons with the Sharks before heading to the strip this season. And those 24-hour lights are shining bright for this hard-working bottom-six pivot. He won't get power-play time, but who cares? Hammer n'Nails has nine points, including six snipes, in nine games heading into Friday night. Add him to your crew.

Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg (21 percent Yahoo! owned) – Connor stood out Friday night, but then again, he's been standing out for a while now. He has six goals and four assists in his last 10 games and he's making a late run to be noticed in the Calder race. Connor won't get a sniff, but over the next few years, he could challenge Brock Boeser for the best sniper from this year's rookie class. Right now, I'm scooping up Connor where I can – the Jets are hot and I need to squeeze every hot streak I can to make a late run.

Kevin Hayes, LW/C, NY Rangers (13 percent Yahoo! owned) – The Rangers are playing out the string and Hayes is finally showing off the skills that netted him 49 points last season. He needs to prove that production was for real, so he can prove he's part of the future. And he's doing that. Hayes has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last eight games. And four of those points, including three goals, have come on the power play. That's real value for needy fantasy owners right now.

Christopher Gibson, G, NY Islanders (0 percent Yahoo! owned) – Take a flyer on this guy. It can't hurt. Gibson has been solid in the AHL this season and he's now the backup with the big club. The Isles' team goaltending is the worst in the NHL, yet the team remains within reach of the postseason. That's a testament to the talent in their forward ranks. Jaroslav Halak has been porous at times in 2017-18, so coach Doug Weight may toss Gibson into the blue paint soon enough. And if Gibson has success, we might be looking a decent short-term fantasy play.

Sami Vatanen, D, New Jersey (19 percent Yahoo! owned) – I added Vatanen on Friday night. I had games to spare on the blue line and I also needed assists. Win-win. Vatanen has seven helpers, including two on the power play, in his last seven games. He's going to help me steal a point away from a higher placed team in the Yahoo! Friends and Family league. Can he do the same for you?

Back to the deadline.

The real opportunity – at least in my eyes – lays in those guys that backfill the dearly departed. You need to be quick and you need to take calculated risks.

Like Olli Maatta. Will he fill Ian Cole's shoes? Who knows, but he's now on my roster, just in case he does.

I still have 14 moves to make before season's end, even after turning over 60 percent of my blue line.

I'm going down swinging.

Before I go, I will give a tip of the hat to the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team and both the American and Canadian women's hockey teams. The best teams in each of those games won. Sure, I would have loved double gold for Canada, but best is best. Well done to all.

Until next week.