Fantasy Hockey News

The Nashville Predators traded star defenseman P.K Subban to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Steven Santini, prospect Jeremy Davies and two draft picks. (Source: Tsn.com)

Fantasy Impact: the rumors have been swirling for weeks now and the Predators finally pulled the trigger on the deal. Most believe that the move is to mostly to clear up cap space to sign coveted free agent Matt Duchene, whom many believe the Predators are favorites to land. Losing PK is a big blow to the defense, but also with the young stud Defensemen Dante Fabbro joining the roster, it made a defensemen expendable and PK was the most valuable chip.

The San Jose Sharks and Erik Karlsson finally came to terms on an eight-year $92 million deal. (Source: SJSharks.com)

Fantasy Impact: The Sharks were able to lock up Karlsson before July 1 which is when the free agent market opens up. The contract is good until he turns 37, so the Sharks have secured him for the remainder of his prime years. Karlsson only played in 56 games this past season due to injuries, but during that time he produced 45 points for the Sharks' offense. He will look to use the offseason to his advantage and recover from any lingering issues he may have before the 2019-20 season begins.

Jordan Binnington yielded 32 out of 33 shots faced to help seal a 4-1 Game 7 victory over the Boston Bruins Wednesday night.

Fantasy Impact: Just a rookie goaltender, Binnington has already won his first career Stanley Cup. Not a bad start to what looks like a very promising NHL career. He will conclude the playoffs with a 16-10 record, 2.46 GAA, and 0.914 SV%.

Zach Sanford potted his first ever career playoff goal for the Blues during their 4-1 Game 7 win against the Bruins.

Fantasy Impact: Sanford and his teammates will now enjoy what they were able to accomplish after a hard-fought championship. He will finish this years postseason with a goal, three assists, and a plus-four rating through eight games played.

Blues captain Alex Pietrangelo scored a goal to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead with eight seconds remaining in the first period of Game 7 Wednesday night. He even provided an assist on Ryan O'Reilly's first period goal as well.

Fantasy Impact: Pietrangelo became the first captain in Blues history to ever hoist the Stanley Cup over his head. After 771 games played both regular season and playoffs combined, Pietrangelo has finally been able to capture that once elusive championship in his career.

Jaden Schwartz provided assists on Alex Pietrangelo's goal, and Brayden Schenn's goal to help the Blues capture their first Cup in 51 years Wednesday night.

Fantasy Impact: Schwartz was a major factor in St. Louis' postseason success as he tallied 12 goals, and eight assists in 26 games played. It wasn't easy but now he and the Blues sit atop the NHL mountain with the Stanley Cup at last.

Brayden Schenn scored a goal midway through the third period in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals Wednesday.

Fantasy Impact: Schenn will complete this postseason with five goals, seven assists, and a minus-two rating through 26 games played.

Ryan O'Reilly won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the St. Louis Blues earned their first ever Stanley Cup championship in franchise history.

Fantasy Impact: O'Reilly scored a goal during the Blues' 4-1 Game 7 win over the Boston Bruins Wednesday. His Conn Smythe Award is definitely well deserved as he finished up the postseason with eight goals, 15 assists, and a plus-two rating in 26 games played. O'Reilly turned out to be a major 2018 offseason acquisition for the Blues and it really helped them turn their team around significantly this year.

Tuukka Rask allowed four goals on 20 shots faced as the Blues defeated the Bruins 4-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals Wednesday night.

Fantasy Impact: Rask had a performance he would most likely want to forget Wednesday night. It could not have come at a worse time in a do or die situation for Boston. Rask will wrap up the playoffs with a 15-9 record, 2.02 GAA, and 0.934 SV%. Earning redemption from that Game 6 collapse against Chicago in 2013 will not come to fruition for Rask this year sadly.

Matt Grzelcyk scored the only Boston Bruins goal during Wednesday's 4-1 Game 7 loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Fantasy Impact: After not playing since May 29, Grzelcyk finally returned to the starting lineup Wednesday night for a decisive Game 7 against St. Louis. He contributed with his fourth goal of the playoffs, but it was too little too late. The Bruins were already down 4-0 with almost two minutes remaining in the game. Boston would fall 4-1 as the Blues captured their first ever Stanley Cup Championship in franchise history.

Alexander Steen did not participate during Saturday's practice. (Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Fantasy Impact: Head coach Craig Berube stated that it was more of a maintenance day than anything else. This does not seem to be a cause for alarm and Steen should be good to go at the start of Game 6 Sunday.

Bruins veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara will see action this Sunday night for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. (Source: Boston Herald)

Fantasy Impact: After breaking his jaw earlier in the series, Zdeno Chara made himself available for Game 5 and he will do the same for Game 6 Sunday as well. The 42-year old veteran will look to keep his team alive in the series with a win in Game 6 and forcing a seventh game Wednesday night.

Noel Acciari has been cleared for contact in Game 6 after it looked like he may have sustained a concussion when he got tripped up by Tyler Bozak in the third period of Game 5. (Source: Boston Herald)

Fantasy Impact: The Bruins are in a do-or-do game situation Sunday evening as they are down 3-2 in the series. Boston will need as many of their role players present for Sunday's action if they are to force a Game 7 for Wednesday night. Acciari currently has four points and a plus-three rating through 17 games played this postseason.

New Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger claims he has been in contact with Jeff Skinner and is confident that they will come to terms on a new deal at some point this offseason. (Source: Buffalo News)

Fantasy Impact: Skinner finished the 2018-19 campaign with 40 goals and 23 assists during his first season in Buffalo. If he is to eventually resign, he will most definitely be one of their important pieces to build around as the Sabres look to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

The Winnipeg Jets have decided to trade away Kevin Hayes to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2019 fifth-round pick. (Source: Philadelphia Flyers on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: During 71 games played this year, Kevin Hayes recorded a career-high 55 total points with the New York Rangers and Winnipeg Jets. It will be interesting to see how Hayes produces as he will be reunited with head coach Alain Vigneault once again in Philadelphia.

Vladimir Tarasenko sniped his 11th goal of the postseason 15:30 into the first period to help the Blues claim a 2-1 lead in Game 4.

Fantasy Impact: Tarasenko has now scored a goal in four of his last five games played during the playoffs. He is in a groove right now during the most critical point of the playoffs for the Blues. If this type of play continues, it could spell trouble for the Bruins for the rest of this series.

Brandon Carlo scored a shorthanded goal 14:19 into the second period of Game 4 to knot things up 2-2.

Fantasy Impact: It was impressive to see Carlo score his first ever postseason goal on the penalty kill during Monday's 4-2 loss in Game 4. He also possesses a plus-eight rating during the playoffs, making him a very valuable asset on the back-end for the Bruins.

Charlie Coyle scored a goal 13:14 into the first period to tie up Game 4 1-1. Unfortunately for Boston, the Blues would come out victorious in the end with a 4-2 win.

Fantasy Impact: This was Coyle's ninth goal of the postseason and his third straight game with one as well. He will look to continue to produce in Game 5 at home this Thursday night.

Joakim Nordstrom provided assists on both Sean Kuraly's goal and Noel Acciari's goal during Boston's 7-2 Game 3 win over the Blues.

Fantasy Impact: Nordstrom is currently riding a three-game point streak and has produced five points in his previous five games played. Nordstrom has been contributing at an impressive rate lately and is becoming a fine role player as the Bruins are closing in on their second title within the decade.

Marcus Johansson joined in on the Bruins scoring frenzy with a goal and assist during Game 3 Saturday evening.

Fantasy Impact: Johansson had gone four straight games without a point prior to the start of Game 3 Saturday. It is encouraging to see he has some life in his offensive production for the Bruins. It remains to be seen if he will be able to build upon Game 3's performance in the near future.