Fantasy: 5 moves you need to make in Week 1
Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 1. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Add Victor Olofsson
Team: Sabres
Position: LW/RW
Ownership: 42%
Olofsson is seizing the opportunity of a lifetime. Skating on Buffalo's first line with Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, the 24-year-old rookie has two goals and an assist through two games.
The NHL sample size (seven points in eight career games) is awfully small, but Olofsson recorded 63 points in 66 AHL games last season and was a highly productive player in the Swedish league prior to 2018-19. Still owned in less than half of all leagues, Olofsson needs to be picked up ASAP.
Trade Connor Hellebuyck
Team: Jets
Position: G
Ownership: 93%
Anyone foolish enough to draft Hellebuyck prior to the season should be looking to part ways with him immediately. Winnipeg's defense was decimated in the offseason: Jacob Trouba was traded, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot departed as free agents, and Dustin Byfuglien is contemplating retirement. What was once one of the league's best blue lines is now arguably the worst.
Even with a strong team in front of him last season, Hellebuyck was just average. But, he started 62 games, making him a valuable commodity in a league with plenty of platoons in goal.
Head coach Paul Maurice's confidence in Hellebuyck could be waning after the netminder was lit up in the opener; Laurent Brossoit has started the last two games for Winnipeg.
Hellebuyck is not worth dropping in 12-plus team leagues, but start looking at swapping him for another goalie, or if you have enough depth between the pipes, a skater who can help your team.
Add Jaroslav Halak
Team: Bruins
Position: G
Ownership: 31%
It's quite surprising Halak is owned in less than a third of all leagues. While he didn't appear in the playoffs, the veteran netminder played in 40 games for the Bruins during the regular season, sporting a .922 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average.
It would be wise of Boston to limit Tuukka Rask's workload after a grueling postseason run, especially with a capable backup in Halak. Expect a near 50-50 split. Halak is already off to a hot start with a 35-save shutout in his first game.
Add Andreas Johnsson
Team: Maple Leafs
Position: LW/RW
Ownership: 38%
Johnsson hasn't recorded a point yet this season, but expect that to change soon. He's skating on a line with Auston Matthews and William Nylander, and serves as the net-front presence on Toronto's loaded No. 1 power-play unit.
The 24-year-old Swede is coming off an impressive rookie season in which he tallied 18 of his 20 goals and 40 of his 43 points in his final 55 games. He'll start filling the stat sheet in no time.
Don't overreact to early developments
If your team is taking a beating so far in your Week 1 matchup, or if your early-round picks aren't delivering, don't worry about it. It's a long season. There's no need to make irrational trades over one week. If you did your homework before your draft, trust the team you selected.
Dropping the players taken near the end of your draft in exchange for some of the aforementioned names is fine, but there's no need for a dramatic shake-up.