This week, we learned that Edmonton Oiler forward Connor Brown will be able to return for Game One of the Finals; Jake Oettinger expressed surprise and embarrassment when he was pulled in Game Five of the WCF; and Florida forwards Eetu Luostarinen and Anton Lundell will both be good to go for the Finals. Other Fantasy hockey stories we’re tracking include…

Detroit’s Extended Playoff Drought

We’re in a break between rounds in the NHL playoffs, so this gives us an opportunity to take a look at where the Detroit Red Wings are in their seemingly ill-fated Yzerplan. Last season Detroit continued to progress, raising its point total for the fourth straight season while finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2015-16.

Yet, while the Red Wings only missed bagging the second wild card spot by a tiebreaker, they still missed the playoffs for an eighth straight season.

This season, the Wings got off to an awful start, costing coach Derek Lalonde his job. And while Todd McLellan helped turn the team around, the hill was too big to climb and they once again sat out postseason play.

This current run is a bitter pill to swallow for a team with as rich a history as the Red Wings. Consider that only Montreal has more streaks of winning Stanley Cups in at least two straight seasons than Detroit.

Looking forward, Detroit could definitely benefit from more scoring and a true No. 1 goalie, but could also use an upgrade on the blueline. After all, this is a team that employed defenseman Justin Holl as a full-timer this season despite the fact that he’s proven to be a substandard player throughout his career.

Sure, the offensively-challenged Holl somehow managed a goal and two helpers over the last three games of the season, but his play-driving metrics have always been poor since he became a full-time NHLer in 2019-20. Small wonder Detroit is considering buying him out this summer.

From a Fantasy standpoint, Holl was among the most undesirable assets in the league considering how few hits he layed out, although he did manage nearly 80 blocks, so that’s something. Obviously, even in the deepest of formats, you’re not counting on him to provide much offensive contribution to your team, although, every now and then, he does something like this…

But 66 giveaways and a 39.1 per cent goal rate (even with a bit of bad luck with that percentage)? Of course Detroit wants out from the final year of this contract.

Could John Farinacci Help Boston?

Speaking of Original Six teams falling on hard times, how about the Boston Bruins?

After 17 straight winning seasons, Boston managed just 76 points and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16.

Sure, things could change based on free agency and the draft, but with Boston finally leaning into a rebuild, it’s no surprise that only six teams currently have longer odds to win the Stanley Cup in 2025-26 than Boston (+12,000 as per FanDuel).

The Bruins traded away several key forwards (Brad Marchand, Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic), so their depth up front could use a boost. Don’t be shocked if they send out an offer sheet or two at an RFA.

But maybe Boston has found something useful in C/RW John Farinacci. A third round pick by Arizona in 2019, he played out his college career at Harvard (acting as captain in his senior season) before opting to not sign with the Coyotes, thereby becoming a free agent.

The Bruins pounced and signed him to an ELC in mid-August 2023, and after a decent pro rookie season in the AHL in 2023-24 and an even better campaign in 2024-25, Farinacci was rewarded with a look in the Bruins’ season finale and all he did was score a goal on his only shot in his first NHL game.

He’ll be an RFA this summer, but certainly hasn’t done anything to suggest Boston won’t re-sign him. Nothing in Farinacci’s NHL Edge stats jump out, but there’s really not much to glean from one game of data. Still, given Boston’s needs, he’s a name to track this offseason as a potential sleeper for 2025-26.

Waiver Wire Pick of the Week

Jack Quinn, RW, Buffalo Sabres (ESPN: 2.5 per cent; CBS: 18 per cent): Quinn is a dude that hasn’t really popped up much on the Fantasy radar, but the eighth overall pick from 2020 is coming off a career season, making him an intriguing dynasty league add. Okay, so maybe he didn’t have the true breakout many projected as his play driving metrics regressed, but 15 goals and 24 assists through 74 games was a good step forward for a kid who won’t turn 24 until training camp. Bear in mind that Quinn – still getting over an Achilles’ injury — got off to a really crappy start with just five points through the first two months, but then posted a point per game in December before cooling slightly in January. He really picked things up in March (11 points in 15 games) and as an RFA this summer, he may not have earned himself more than a bridge deal, but there remains tantalizing upside here.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

American country singer Lynn Rene Anderson performed simply as Lynn Anderson. She had a huge hit in 1970 with her cover of “Rose Garden,” and the B-Side was “Nothing Between Us.”

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