NOVEMBER 18, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Slumping Red Wings plan to treat Sharks as 'very, very big game' The Detroit Red Wings are in dire need of turning the corner when they visit the San Jose Sharks on Monday.The Red Wings arrive in San Jose...
Jan Rutta - Cold on offense Rutta was held off the scoresheet for the 18th game in a row in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Impact Rutta had a helper in the season opener and hasn't picked up a point since. He's added 17 shots on net, 16 PIM, 21 hits, 34 blocked shots and a minus-5 rating through 19 appearances this season. As a veteran on a fairly young blue line, Rutta's playing time appears to be secure, but it'll likely be in bottom-four minutes with no power-play time. That kind of role on a bottom-dwelling team like the Sharks makes the 34-year-old a no-go for the vast majority of fantasy formats.
NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Jake Walman - Draws helper in return Walman posted an assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Impact While he was listed on the third pairing, Walman saw a team-high 24:55 of ice time in his return from a five-game absence due to an upper-body injury. The defenseman has been one of the bright spots for the Sharks this season, though that light may be dimmed if he remains on the second power-play unit. He has 10 points, 37 shots on net, 24 blocked shots, 16 hits, 12 PIM and a plus-3 rating through 14 appearances.
NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Ty Dellandrea - Lends helper in shootout loss Dellandrea logged an assist, four shots on goal and three hits in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Impact Dellandrea snapped an 11-game drought with the helper. He missed four contests in that span due to a hand injury. The 24-year-old forward has been a middle-six regular when healthy, but he has just two points to go with 16 shots on net, 42 hits and a minus-5 rating over 15 appearances. That's not enough offense to justify a roster spot on most fantasy squads.
NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Will Smith - Manages power-play assist Smith produced a power-play assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Impact Smith has been limited to two assists over six outings in November. The 19-year-old has also moved to the wing with the Sharks healthy down the middle. Smith has four points, 18 shots on net and a minus-10 rating through 15 contests. He'll likely continue to see middle-six minutes when in the lineup. Smith is probable to sit out a game this week, as the Sharks have a road back-to-back in Dallas on Wednesday and St. Louis on Thursday. He has yet to play both halves of a back-to-back this season.
NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Mikael Granlund - Scores in shootout loss Granlund scored a goal on two shots and blocked three shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins.
Impact Granlund got on the board against one of his former teams. He's produced three goals and three assists over seven contests in November. The 32-year-old center continues to thrive in less-than-ideal circumstances as a top-six option for the Sharks. He's up to eight goals, 11 helpers, 66 shots on net, 17 hits, 14 blocked shots and a minus-4 rating over 19 appearances. Granlund had 12 goals on 134 shots over 69 outings last season, but it appears he's set for larger production as a finisher thanks to increases in both efficiency and volume.
NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Owen Pickering - Earns helper in debut Pickering logged an assist in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Sharks.
Impact While it was a fairly tame first assignment, Pickering was able to handle third-pairing duties in the absence of Kris Letang (illness). It didn't take long for Pickering to earn his first point, as he helped out on a Jesse Puljujarvi tally in the first period. Pickering won't solve all of the Penguins' defensive problems, but he has a chance to make a push to stick around after failing to make the team out of camp. The 20-year-old blueliner is unlikely to be a future fantasy stud, but he's a heady player who should be a benefit in his own zone now and in future seasons for Pittsburgh.
NOVEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
