‘We’re going to make a playoff run’: How the Diamondbacks are learning to contend

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2 years ago

September 13, 2023

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Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterSep 13, 2023, 07:00 AM ET
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AS THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS began a recent meeting signaling the start of a new series, one of the few veterans in a clubhouse filled with young players came forward to address his teammates getting their first taste of playoff race baseball.

“Don’t take this for granted,” third baseman Evan Longoria told the team. “Playing in September, with something to play for, is why you show up in February and March.”

The Diamondbacks team that is taking the field this September has a far different feel than the one that showed up at spring training with hopes that the future would soon be brighter coming out of a three-year rebuild, but questions about whether they were ready to compete in a loaded National League West.

“When I chose to come here, that was part of the reason,” Longoria told ESPN recently. “I wanted to be around a youthful group that had the ability to do what we’re doing right now.”

What the Diamondbacks do best right now is tailor-made for the style of play that MLB’s new rules have fostered in 2023. They run, they field, they cause havoc all over the diamond. That athleticism — along with two aces at the top of their rotation — has propelled Arizona into the wild-card race, where it currently owns the third spot in a crowded National League postseason picture.

“We play fast. We play with a sense of creating chaos on the bases,” closer Paul Sewald said. “We just go, go, go.

“It brings me back to the 2021 Mariners team [that I was on]. The industry didn’t think we’d be great. Then we made a run. Maybe it’s a year early, but we don’t care, we’re going to make a playoff run.”

THE DIAMONDBACKS DIDN’T so much emerge as contenders ahead of schedule as they emerged as contenders when Corbin Carroll arrived.

After keeping pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers in April, Arizona caught fire in May and June, taking control of the NL West race with its 23-year-old Rookie of the Year favorite leading the way at the plate, in the field and on the basepaths.

“I enjoy it,” Carroll said of the Diamondbacks’ style. “I’d say that’s part of our game. There’s a bunch of different ways to beat teams. That’s how we win. It’s well balanced.”

Over the past weekend in Chicago, the D-backs showed that the style of play that fueled them early in the season can still be dangerous this month — and perhaps next. As the weather changed to fall at Wrigley Field, Arizona turned the series into a small-ball showcase. Carroll swiped six bases while he and his teammates forced bad throws, wild pitches and general chaos in taking three of four games against a fellow NL wild-card contender.

“He’s so fast,” Cubs starter Jameson Taillon said of Carroll. “We’re so aware of how he is on the bases. We try to make the perfect play and the ball ends up in CF. He gets to third twice.”

Carroll is on pace to become the first rookie ever to hit 25 home runs and steal 50 bases and has immediately become the face of a franchise that took a chance by signing him to an eight-year, $111 million deal just 32 games into his major league career.

“When an organization rewards him and shows faith in a guy with a contract extension like they did that early, I figured he would be a pretty tough out,” Taillon said.

While Carroll’s game garners the most headlines, he is joined by fellow recent top prospects Gabriel Moreno, Alek Thomas and Geraldo Perdomo, who have all turned into key performers for a team that got even younger when it called up 21-year-old Jordan Lawler last week. The front office believes its young players are ready for prime time and the numbers bear it out as Arizona ranks second in the NL in stolen bases and leads the majors in outs above average.

“You appreciate teams that play the hard 90,” veteran Tommy Pham said. “It reiterates certain things as a player. It makes me play better.”

THE FORMULA THAT carried the Diamondbacks to the top of the NL West stopped working for a bit midway through the season as the team went just 8-16 in July and lost their first nine August games.

As the losses piled up, the veterans in the clubhouse knew it was their time to come to the forefront to help steady a group experiencing its first growing pains in a season that now had the pressure of expectations.

“There wasn’t any real panic,” starter Merrill Kelly said. “Some of the young guys were pressing just because of the nature of the beast. Everybody was trying to be that guy to push us back on track. That might be why that skid lasted longer than maybe it should have.”

While Kelly helped stabilize the rotation, Longoria leaned into his 16 years of big league experience to guide the lineup through the struggles.

“It’s very hard if you haven’t been through it, not to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Longoria said. “‘Man, is this ever going to end?’ Same with hitting. It can seem like you’re never going to get a hit again. But once you go through it, and come out the other side, it’s just part of the game.

“Winning is a skill as much as anything that we do.”

Then, at the Aug. 1 trade deadline, Arizona added another veteran hitter in Tommy Pham, who has already emerged as a go-to voice in the clubhouse during his brief time with the Diamondbacks.

“Guys ask me questions and I tell them my thoughts,” Pham said. “As an older guy, I reiterate why we do certain things every day. We’re all excited to be in the race. Guys know this team hasn’t played meaningful baseball in a minute.”

As the games become even more meaningful over the final weeks of the regular season, even just watching a 10-year veteran’s approach to key moments provides a valuable learning experience for his teammates going through their first postseason race.

“He’s the guy we lean on for a lot of different reasons.” Lovullo said. “It’s the stability of the at-bat. It’s the stability of the conversation. It’s the professionalism he walks around with every single day.”

LIKE JUST ABOUT every team in baseball, the Diamondbacks have their own ways to celebrate home runs and wins. First, they broke out the Homer Snake then added the Victory Vest, courtesy of another veteran, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. But Longoria didn’t think it was enough. For a team not used to winning, he thought they needed more.

“We weren’t really doing anything in the clubhouse afterwards to celebrate wins,” he said. “Now we’re doing that in here. I think that’s a big part of coming closer as a group. Celebrating the big moments. We’ve had a lot of guys have firsts because we’re so young. You become closer and learn something about them.”

The latest celebration came after Lawler’s first hit last week in the first of three straight wins at Wrigley Field. The volume in the clubhouse after each victory seemingly increased.

“We’re starting to enjoy wins around here,” Sewald said. “This team was used to losing games in August and September and we’re starting to win games now. It’s a reminder that wins matter.

“When you’re rebuilding, you take them for granted, because it’s not that important. You’re not going to make the playoffs. But in a postseason run, every win matters. Guys are starting to get excited about that possibility.”

The combination of young and old has meshed as well as any team could hope, with the youthful energy even rubbing off on the team’s more seasoned veterans.

“It’s like a bunch of Labrador retrievers chasing frisbees around the beach,” Lovullo said with a smile.

Led by an emerging core riding its youthful exuberance into new territory and a small group of veterans becoming adept at picking the right moments to take charge, the Diamondbacks are focused on playing meaningful baseball deep into the fall.

“If you have a chance, you go for it,” Pham said. “You just have to get in. We saw that last year with Philadelphia.”

“Winning baseball is fun baseball.” Carroll added. “That’s all I care about. That was goal No. 1 coming into this year. Nothing else matters.”

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Leafs’ Matthews (lower-body) could miss week

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25 mins ago

November 14, 2025

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Leafs' Matthews (lower-body) could miss week

Kristen ShiltonNov 13, 2025, 11:55 AM ET
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Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews could miss up to a week of action with a lower-body injury, coach Craig Berube confirmed on Thursday.

The forward’s status was up in the air after he exited in the second period of Tuesday’s game against Boston following a hit from behind by Bruins’ defenseman Nikita Zadorov. Toronto hosts the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

“[Matthews] may be back sooner [than a week],” said Berube. “One of those things [where] he could come in a couple days from now feeling a lot better and [we’re] hopefully he’s good to go. But we’ll see. Could be as long as a week.”

It was midway through the second period on Tuesday when Matthews was knocked into the boards, and he immediately sought to retaliate on Zadorov with a hit of his own against the blue liner. Matthews didn’t take another shift and left the Leafs’ bench at the next TV timeout. He did not return for the third period.

There was no penalty called on the play, something Berube didn’t agree with.

“I think it’s a penalty, personally,” he said on Tuesday. “I don’t like it; I don’t like the hit [from Zadorov]. [Matthews] was in a vulnerable position.”

This will be Matthews’ first injury-related absence of the season after he was sidelined for 15 games last year. The three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner has nine goals and 14 points in 17 games this season.

“We played last year without [Matthews] for a while, and it’s just next-man-up mentality [again],” said Berube. “Guys get a bigger bite here, a bigger role. We need a better team game.”

Matthews wasn’t the only one who was forced out of Tuesday’s contest. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz also left after the first period, during which he allowed three goals on 10 shots. Berube said on Tuesday he didn’t think Stolarz’s issue was serious and declared on Thursday he was day-to-day. The netminder is 6-5-1 this season with an .884 SV% and 3.51 GAA.

Dennis Hildeby is expected to start for Toronto against the Kings. The Leafs recalled goaltender Artur Akhtyamov from the American Hockey League on Thursday to back up Hildeby. They also placed forward Scott Laughton on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

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Marchand reaches 1,000-point milestone in win

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25 mins ago

November 14, 2025

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Marchand reaches 1,000-point milestone in win

Associated Press

Nov 13, 2025, 10:05 PM ET

SUNRISE, Fla. — Brad Marchand remembers a conversation he had with the Boston Bruins early in his days as a pro, and how some scouts there told him that getting to 400 games would signify having a pretty good career.

He’s done far better than that.

Marchand became the 102nd player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points, reaching that milestone on Thursday night with a pair of assists in the Florida Panthers‘ 6-3 win over the Washington Capitals.

“It’s something I’m definitely proud of,” Marchand said. “And I hope there’s many more.”

Marchand came into the game with 998 points. Point No. 999 was an assist on a goal by Seth Jones midway through the third period, and the 1,000th came on an empty-netter by Eetu Luostarinen with 1:30 left.

The Panthers swarmed the ice after the milestone, surrounding Marchand in celebration.

“It was awesome. It was special,” Jones said. “You know, we’re a tight group in here, and he’s had an amazing career so far – and it feels like he’s got a lot left in the tank the way he’s playing for us this year, so that was pretty cool.”

Marchand got the first 976 points of his career with the Boston Bruins. He joined Florida in a trade that shocked many – especially given how the Bruins and Panthers had developed a playoff rivalry in recent years – late last season. The Panthers went on to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup, which was the second Cup of Marchand’s career as well.

“He’s unstoppable,” Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe said earlier Thursday. “I mean, I don’t know how he does it. Every game, he’s to have that kind of motor and be going every night. I mean, it seems like everything he shoots, it’s amazing. He’s such a great player and you can the energy he brings every night to us. He’s a huge reason why we are where we are.”

Marchand was the 71st pick in the 2006 draft, taken by Boston. A total of 29 teams all passed on drafting Marchand at least once that year – and in a bit of irony, Washington, the Panthers’ opponent for the milestone game, passed on drafting him five times that year. The Capitals had five picks in the top 70 of that draft.

Marchand becomes the third player from that class to reach 1,000 points, joining Claude Giroux (taken by Philadelphia at No. 22) and Nicklas Backstrom (taken by Washington at No. 4). And no player in that draft class has more goals than Marchand’s 435; Phil Kessel, who was taken at No. 5 by Boston that year, is second on that list with 413 goals.

“He’s been so prolific over his career,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “And it’s good for him to kind of have an experience at home. I think that’s really nice that he gets to have the fans appreciate it, celebrate it with him. It’s great.”

The Panthers will further commemorate it at a pregame ceremony that has yet to be scheduled.

This season, at 37, Marchand has been the leading scorer so far for a Florida team that is playing without captain Aleksander Barkov and star forward Matthew Tkachuk, among others. But the Panthers clearly believe Marchand still has plenty left to contribute, as evidenced by them giving him a six-year contract this past summer.

“I’ve always loved hockey,” Marchand said recently during an in-game interview with Scripps Sports, the team’s broadcast partner. “It’s been my biggest passion. And when you’re at the rink, when you play this game, you just feel like a kid.”

His leadership has been valued as well – maybe as much as the scoring.

Panthers defenseman Donovan Sebrango – basically a rookie, since he appeared in only two NHL games before this season – told a story of how Marchand took him out for dinner on a recent road trip. Sebrango has been one of Florida’s most consistent players since.

“I believe that’s where the mentorship is so important,” Maurice said. “Donovan’s going to take somebody out for dinner 15, 20 years from now, right? And that’s how it gets paid forward. He’ll do something nice for a kid because it was done so well for him.”

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NHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, one fantasy add for each team

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25 mins ago

November 14, 2025

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NHL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, one fantasy add for each team

Sean Allen
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Sean Allen

Special to ESPN.com
Victoria Matiash
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Victoria Matiash

Special to ESPN.com

Nov 14, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

Another week of the 2025-26 NHL season, another Power Rankings top spot for the Colorado Avalanche according to ESPN’s panel of voters.

But beyond sorting out which are the best (and worst) teams in the league, let’s help out all of the fantasy hockey managers out there. This week, in addition to our 1-32 ranking, we’ve enlisted ESPN fantasy analysts Victoria Matiash (Western Conference) and Sean Allen (Eastern) to identify one player from each team that managers should consider adding to their roster.

Don’t worry if you haven’t signed up yet; it’s not too late to play ESPN Fantasy Hockey. Sign up and play for free today.

How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday.

Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Nov. 7. Points percentages are through Thursday’s games.

Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 80.6%

At minimum, Victor Olofsson serves as a viable streaming option if selected to jostle in for Valeri Nichushkin (injured) on an Avalanche scoring line, in addition to his spot on Colorado’s top power play. As it stands, while inconsistent, the 30-year-old is producing enough with the extra skater to make up for his fantasy-related shortcomings otherwise.

Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 16), vs. NYR (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 73.5%

Dawson Mercer has gone from third-line depth to top-six mainstay. He is pushing for the team lead in goals and delivering more across-the-board stats than most mid-tier forwards. Mercer grades as a top-50 fantasy skater this season.

Next seven days: @ WSH (Nov. 15), @ TB (Nov. 18), @ FLA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 67.6%

The Ducks are having fun. None more so than Beckett Sennecke, competing on a scoring line with Cutter Gauthier and Mason McTavish. Best suited to deep-league managers with a bit of patience, the 19-year-old tends to score sporadically. But it all works out in the long run.

Next seven days: @ MIN (Nov. 15), vs. UTA (Nov. 17), vs. BOS (Nov. 19), vs. OTT (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 68.8%

Many managers bailed on Nikolaj Ehlers early. Don’t be one of them. After a slow start, he has posted points in five straight games. He didn’t score a goal in October, but he’s producing now and remains available in far too many leagues.

Next seven days: vs. VAN (Nov. 14), vs. EDM (Nov. 15), @ BOS (Nov. 17), @ MIN (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 69.4%

This unproductive start is out of character for Tyler Seguin. It was only last season the experienced center scored 21 points in an injury-shortened 20-game campaign. At least keep Seguin on your fantasy radar in anticipation of more productive days ahead.

Next seven days: vs. PHI (Nov. 15), vs. NYI (Nov. 18), @ VAN (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 64.7%

Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes is still on the waiver wire in a third of leagues, which seems like a mistake. He has been a force in limited starts and is clearly separating from Sam Montembeault in fantasy value. Even if playing time isn’t steady yet, stash him now before it is.

Next seven days: vs. BOS (Nov. 15), @ CBJ (Nov. 17), vs. WSH (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 58.8%

Recovered from his ankle injury, Cole Perfetti is finally settling in on the second scoring line and No. 1 power play in Winnipeg. The perceived lineup replacement for a departed Nikolaj Ehlers will have his name on the scoresheet soon enough.

Next seven days: @ CGY (Nov. 15), vs. CBJ (Nov. 18)

Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 57.9%

Morgan Geekie deserves the spotlight, but a recovering Elias Lindholm has been just as impactful when healthy. Still week-to-week, he should soon rejoin Geekie and David Pastrnak at even strength and on the power play. Lindholm’s early-season production hinted at a bounce-back season.

Next seven days: @ MTL (Nov. 15), vs. CAR (Nov. 17), @ ANA (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 61.8%

Anthony Mantha‘s resurgence predates the team’s rash of injuries. He has scored eight goals and looks like the early-career version who flirted with 30. Injuries have shuffled roles, but Mantha’s form should keep him fantasy relevant even when the lineup stabilizes.

Next seven days: vs. NSH (Nov. 14), vs. NSH (Nov. 16)

Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 59.4%

Riding shotgun to Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner, winger Ivan Barbashev is putting up even-strength points with aplomb. And unlike his prodigious linemates, Barbashev is largely available in ESPN fantasy competition. Grab him before competing managers become the wiser.

Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 15), @ MIN (Nov. 16), vs. NYR (Nov. 18), @ UTA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 61.1%

Turning back the clock in southern California, Corey Perry is clearly in a scoring mood. While the 40-year-old is unlikely to maintain a point-per-game pace all season, he certainly deserves a spot on your deeper fantasy roster at the moment.

Next seven days: @ OTT (Nov. 15), @ WSH (Nov. 17), @ SJ (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 56.3%

Trade target alert: Brayden Point. His scoring has been oddly cold, but the long-term numbers say it’s just variance. He ranks 19th among skaters in total fantasy production over the past seven seasons and 11th over the past three — this ideal trade window won’t last.

Next seven days: @ FLA (Nov. 15), vs. VAN (Nov. 16), vs. NJ (Nov. 18), vs. EDM (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 58.8%

Slump over! After a dry start to November, JJ Peterka is back to producing with his new squad in Utah. The second-line winger remains available in around third of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Next seven days: vs. NYI (Nov. 14), @ ANA (Nov. 17), @ SJ (Nov. 18), vs. VGK (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 58.8%

Playing with Connor Bedard provides its perks. Just ask forward Andre Burakovsky, who has 14 points in 15 games, including five with the extra skater. Yet, he somehow remains available in nearly three-quarters of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Next seven days: vs. TOR (Nov. 15), vs. CGY (Nov. 18), vs. SEA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 61.1%

Shane Pinto hasn’t cooled off — he has just shifted from goals to assists. His line with Michael Amadio and Claude Giroux is driving play, outscoring opponents 9-3 so far. Pinto remains a steady fantasy contributor, even if the production looks a little different.

Next seven days: vs. LA (Nov. 15), @ ANA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 59.4%

Dan Vladar has earned matchup-stream consideration after winning six of nine starts. The pace might slow, but he has been steady behind a more competitive Flyers squad. He’s not a set-and-forget starter, but he’s a worthwhile spot play in daily formats.

Next seven days: @ STL (Nov. 14), @ DAL (Nov. 15), vs. STL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 61.8%

In one of this season’s feel-good stories, Matt Murray is proving he can still perform, with three solid-to-great starts for the Kraken. The veteran could be a viable streaming option if he is able to muscle appearances away from Philipp Grubauer, even once starter Joey Daccord is healed up.

Next seven days: vs. SJ (Nov. 15), @ DET (Nov. 18), @ CHI (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 58.8%

Simon Edvinsson is a quietly useful depth defenseman. His mix of blocks, hits and modest offense keeps him fantasy relevant, and his pairing with Moritz Seider owns the NHL’s best shot-attempts percentage. He’s a sleeper pick for deeper formats.

Next seven days: vs. BUF (Nov. 15), @ NYR (Nov. 16), vs. SEA (Nov. 18), vs. NYI (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 50%

This is when Ovechkin heats up; he had seven goals in five games around this time last season. If history repeats, his slow start makes him a trade target. He’s 40, but the motor still revs.

Next seven days: vs. NJ (Nov. 15), vs. LA (Nov. 17), vs. EDM (Nov. 19), @ MTL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 52.6%

Forward Zach Hyman is back this week. Scoop him up before he starts scoring as a member of the Oilers’ top six and No. 1 power play. The 33-year-old winger won’t be available in more than half of ESPN leagues for long.

Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 15), @ BUF (Nov. 17), @ WSH (Nov. 19), @ TB (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 55.6%

Gabe Perreault debuted Monday on a scoring line and tallied an assist. After 10 points in nine AHL games, he could be the offensive spark New York needs. In deeper formats, he’s a solid speculative add while the Rangers search for secondary — or maybe just primary — scoring.

Next seven days: @ CBJ (Nov. 15), vs. DET (Nov. 16), @ VGK (Nov. 18), @ COL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 58.8%

Mathew Barzal, Kyle Palmieri and Emil Heineman are all viable adds from an offense that has been quietly consistent. Barzal is available in fewer than half of leagues, Palmieri in just more than and Heineman almost everywhere — all three offer scoring depth if you need it.

Next seven days: @ UTA (Nov. 14), @ COL (Nov. 16), @ DAL (Nov. 18), @ DET (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 52.8%

While we all “oooh” and “ahhh” (justly so) over what Macklin Celebrini is accomplishing in his second NHL season, know that a healthy-again William Eklund is also pitching in at a valuable pace. And, unlike with Celebrini, you might be able to snag Eklund off the waiver wire in your league.

Next seven days: @ SEA (Nov. 15), vs. UTA (Nov. 18), vs. LA (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 55.9%

The Stanley Cup-winning line is back together, and that’s great news for Eetu Luostarinen. He’s widely available, produces when flanking Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell, and adds extra value in hits.

Next seven days: vs. TB (Nov. 15), vs. VAN (Nov. 17), vs. NJ (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 50%

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is getting an extended look on the top power play. With the first unit still underperforming, he’s worth streaming in hopes that opportunity converts to points. Ride the role while it lasts.

Next seven days: @ CHI (Nov. 15), vs. STL (Nov. 18), vs. CBJ (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 55.9%

Adam Fantilli is an ideal trade target. His slow start hid his upside, but he’s heating up after moving alongside Kirill Marchenko. While the line with Sean Monahan had strong numbers and might tempt another shuffle, Fantilli is currently the top dog and trending up.

Next seven days: vs. NYR (Nov. 15), vs. MTL (Nov. 17), @ WPG (Nov. 18), @ TOR (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 50%

Back on Minnesota’s top line and power play after missing the start of 2025-26, Mats Zuccarello is already back to the business of regularly registering points. While the diminutive veteran isn’t all that flashy in the shallow-league fantasy sphere, he gets the job done in deeper leagues. Skating alongside Kirill Kaprizov helps.

Next seven days: vs. ANA (Nov. 15), vs. VGK (Nov. 16), vs. CAR (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 47.2%

All Kiefer Sherwood does is score goals, ranking among the league leaders thus far. The Canucks’ secret net-finding playmaker is also the league leader in hits, making the left wing a must-start in leagues that reward both categories.

Next seven days: @ CAR (Nov. 14), @ TB (Nov. 16), @ FLA (Nov. 17), vs. DAL (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 44.1%

The Blues don’t have to win another game for Justin Faulk to remain useful in fantasy competition that rewards production and defensive play; the veteran defender ranks second in St. Louis in points and blocked shots. That might partly explain why the Blues are ranked where they are.

Next seven days: vs. PHI (Nov. 14), vs. VGK (Nov. 15), @ TOR (Nov. 18), @ PHI (Nov. 20)

Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 41.2%

Don’t overlook Mattias Samuelsson‘s value. He has only six points, but his blocked shots and peripheral stats make him worth rostering. That kind of depth allows you to explore D-for-D trades knowing you have reliable replacement value sitting on your bench.

Next seven days: @ DET (Nov. 15), vs. EDM (Nov. 17), vs. CGY (Nov. 19)

Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 38.9%

Even before earning his first NHL hat trick, forward Matthew Wood was on a roll with three goals and three assists in six games. Considering how the season is unfolding (again) in Tennessee, it’s only a matter of time before the rookie earns more quality minutes. Add him before the next multigoal contest.

Next seven days: vs. PIT (Nov. 14), vs. PIT (Nov. 16)

Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 31.6%

It was only a few days ago that Jonathan Huberdeau was enjoying a six-game point streak prior to his current three-game pointless one. On the bright side, he’s still steadily shooting on net. If another productive run is just around the corner, the top-line winger might be worth a gamble in extra-deep fantasy leagues.

Next seven days: vs. WPG (Nov. 15), @ CHI (Nov. 18), @ BUF (Nov. 19)