NHL Today: Colorado Hits a Speed Bump

This week, Sidney Crosby wasted no time making an impact in his return from injury, potting a goal and an assist; the Hall of Fame has refused Jack Hughes’ request of getting the Golden Goal puck; and Cole Hutson scored in his NHL debut for Washington. Other Fantasy hockey stories we’re tracking include…

Scott Wedgewood Breaks the Mould

When we last checked in on the Colorado Avalanche in late-April, they looked like the top contender in the Western Conference, having won the opener of their series vs. Dallas. However, things didn’t play out that way as the Stars won four of the next six games to dispatch Colorado in the first round.

And despite a recent cold spell (three straight losses), the Avalanche looks like a team on a mission this season. This truly explosive club currently has the NHL’s best record and has posted its highest winning percentage since 2020-21. Colorado looks poised to bag a second Stanley Cup win in five seasons.

The biggest positive from Wednesday’s shootout loss to Dallas was goalie Scott Wedgewood’s strong bounce back game. On Monday, he was chased from the net in the first period after surrendering three goals on just five shots, so an effort that saw him stop 17-of-18 shots was very welcome.

About two and a half years ago, we recommended Wedgewood when he was still on Dallas, and the pick offered mixed results as he was inconsistent in the second half. All told, he wasn’t as good that season as he’d been in 2022-23, but he was relied on more. Since then, however, Wedgewood has taken his game to new heights, especially once he landed in Colorado after a brief, but ugly run in Nashville.

This season, he’s already shattered his personal best in wins (25) and tied his career high in shutouts. Wedgewood ranks 10th in the NHL in goals saved above expected, and really, since shedding his label as a career backup, he’s exceeded expectations. Consider him a top six Fantasy option down the stretch.

Not that goaltending proved Canada’s undoing at the Olympics, but Wedgewood would not have looked out of place on that team. He’s decently sized (6’2”, 201), with the flexibility goalies need (see video below), so it’s great to see him break the mould as a No. 2 who gets passed around from team to team.

Lightning Snap Slump

Gavin McKenna is currently the odds-on favourite to go first overall in the 2026 NHL Draft (-174 as per FanDuel), but among the teams we definitely know will not be getting a crack at him is the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After all, Tampa Bay traded its 2026 first round pick to Seattle at the trade deadline last season, and while the asset is top 10 protected, considering that the Lightning is currently sixth overall, there’s no way this draft choice isn’t heading to the west coast.

Last April, we noted how Tampa Bay had enjoyed a nice recovery, however they were knocked out in the first round for a third straight time. And while the Lightning has won its last two, it’s scuffled lately, falling four points behind Buffalo for the Atlantic Division lead (that feels weird to write) and now has to deal with Montreal, just four points below.

Among the players who have keyed the modest two-game streak has been centre Anthony Cirelli, with a goal and two assists in each win. Back in 2023-24, he emerged as a strong linemate, ultimately reaching 20 goals and 45 points for the first time that season, but he’s only taken that further over the next two seasons.

Last season, Cirelli had career highs across the board, and this season, had he not suffered an LBI that ultimately cost him a chance to play in the Olympics, he would have likely enjoyed his first 60-point effort.

He’s red hot now, having recorded points in six of seven games (2-9-11), and while he’s not playing as much as he did in the first half, the production remains impressive as he’s fifth in scoring on this powerhouse squad. And if your league tracks +/- figures, Cirelli’s +30 mark (the same as he had last season) is gold.

He’s easily a top 200 player for Fantasy purposes, but if Cirelli’s ice time returns to the level he saw in his previous two seasons, you can bump that ranking up closer to 150. Either way, if he’s somehow available, he’s a great add for the Fantasy playoffs.

Waiver Wire Pick of the Week

Connor Ingram, G, Edmonton Oilers (ESPN: 7.9 per cent; CBS: 33 per cent): Need goaltending help for your Fantasy playoffs? Well, Ingram isn’t exactly killing it lately, but he is now the No. 1 goalie in Edmonton and that should at least translate into wins. He’s never been a fantastic Fantasy option, but he has been better this season, and he’s turned things around after a tough February. Ingram only stopped 19 of 23 shots on Thursday, but was solid in his two previous starts. If you pick him up, note that he’s been much better on the road, so you may want to avoid his home starts.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

Chicago calls itself a rock band with horns, which is an oversimplification, but accurate assessment. In 1973, they released their fifth studio album, Chicago VI, which included the track “Critic’s Choice,” an answer to the band’s negative reviews.