Don't be afraid to deal a young player, as so many poolies fall in love with a youngster who seems to have come out of nowhere. Most fantasy players don't give their drafted team a chance to play through a slump, and there usually are plenty of players available who you would have drafted high but are off to slow starts. It's a couple of months into the NHL season, and players like Brayden Point and Cutter Gauthier are at the opposite ends, meaning Point is off to a slow start, but is an established star, while Gauthier is off to a great start for the first time in his career.
Best of luck with your trades this week.
TRADE FOR
Brayden Point, C, Lightning (93 percent rostered)
Point returned to action Monday after missing seven games. While he was held off the scoresheet Monday, Point had a goal and an assist Tuesday in a 6-1 win over Montreal. Point is off to a slow start this season with four goals and 13 points in 23 games. He had 95, 90 and 82 points in each of the last three seasons. While he likely won't hit those heights, Point should get to 70-plus points this season, making him a stud the rest of the way.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Point and an eighth-round pick for Kevin Lankinen and a sixth-round selection. (If you can make this trade, do it ASAP. Point is a star, while Lankinen is a backup goaltender once Thatcher Demko [lower body] returns to action Thursday.)
Victor Hedman, D, Lightning (97 percent rostered)
Hedman got hurt again Tuesday and that could hurt his value. The 34-year-old rearguard had 12 assists in 18 games this season but, once he gets healthy, he should quarterback the first power play, where he has had at least 22 points in eight out of the last nine seasons.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Hedman and Frank Nazar for Nico Hischier. (Hedman is still a stud blueliner and Nazar is a nice forward to have on your team. Hischier is a nice player, but will lose some value once Jack Hughes returns to the New Jersey lineup.)
Tim Stutzle, C, Senators (98 percent rostered)
Stutzle had a goal and an assist Tuesday, giving the German 12 goals and 26 points in 29 games. He is breaking out of a slump that saw him pick up one assist in his previous five contests. Stutzle needs to skate with better players than Fabian Zetterlund and Nick Cousins. Stutzle picked up both his points Tuesday on the power play and could get another boost in points if Brady Tkachuk ever returns to his wing in even-strength situations, rather than just on the power play.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Stutzle and a 15th-round pick for Filip Forsberg and a 13th-round pick. (I'm not a huge fan of Forsberg, especially since Nashville is such a poor playing team, and Stutzle is a superior player in my opinion.)
TRADE AWAY
Cutter Gauthier, RW, Ducks (94 percent rostered)
Gauthier is having a fabulous season with 16 goals and 18 assists in just 30 games. He managed 20 goals and 24 helpers in a full 82-game schedule and has taken a huge step forward this season. I wouldn't trade him in dynasty leagues unless you get an offer you can't refuse, but I would deal him in redraft pools as I don't think he can keep up anywhere close to this pace the rest of the season.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Gauthier for Nikita Kucherov. (The only way this trade makes a semblance of sense is in a keeper league and Kucherov is on a dead contract. Otherwise, a good, young player like Gauthier is no match for a superstar like Kucherov, who has led the NHL in points in each of the last two seasons.)
Dan Vladar, G, Flyers, 48 percent rostered)
Vladar is having a stellar season to date, posting an 11-5-1 mark with a 2.50 GAA and a .908 save percentage, but he has never been a starting goaltender in the NHL and has had a save percentage above .900 only once in five previous NHL seasons. He will likely hit a wall at some point this season, especially since he is probably headed to the Olympics with Czechia and won't get a two-plus week break from regular-season play.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Vladar for Jesper Wallstedt and Bryan Rust. (While Vladar is having a strong start to the season, Wallstedt has been even better – albeit as a backup goalie with Minnesota. Rust is a strong forward who plays with Sidney Crosby, which spells success for any player, especially one as good as Rust.)
Darren Raddysh, D, Lightning (53 percent rostered)
Raddysh had a pair of goals Tuesday, giving the defenseman five goals and 20 points in 24 games. That is phenomenal, but with Victor Hedman returning – Raddysh had no points in the first two games of Hedman's return and only scored the pair of goals once Hedman left Tuesday's tilt with an undisclosed injury – Raddysh's value will plummet. That's why you should deal him now, at the height of his fantasy value.
Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Raddysh and a fifth-round pick for Jake Sanderson and an eighth-round pick. (Raddysh will eventually be just another defenseman this season, while Sanderson is one of the best young blueliners in the NHL.)
