Fantasy Hockey Quarter Point Trends and Pretends 7.0 (NHL Power Rankings)

We are just over 27% into the 2015-2016 NHL season.

Time to give those lower line guys some love. They aren't getting the minutes but they are making the most of what they get: (This list is mostly guys I haven't covered in previous articles).

1. Thomas Fleischmann - former, Capital, Avalanche, Panther and Duck now Canadien. He currently has 15 points in 22 games and is looking to be on pace to be back to 2011 pace when he had 61 points with the Panthers. He does this despite logging just 15 minutes per game. The reason - he ranks 4^th in the league right now in TA/GA ratio (Takeaway to Giveaway ratio) 7.5 he sits a solid 2.2 above the next closest player (Nick Spaling at 5.3). He is currently playing on the 3^rd line alongside David Desharnais (2^nd in the league in +/-) and Dale Weise. He has also been captain clutch for their team with 3 game winning goals.

2. Vincent Trocheck is on pace for a Career year! That's over 22 points. A third year Pittsburgh native and product out of the Little Ceasars league, he is putting up impressive, but not mind blowing stats across the board. He is 6^th in the league in TA/GA ratio at 4.5. He has 28 hits in 22 games,  he is scoring on average every 3 games, and all of this amid 16 min ATOI and centering the 3^rd line for the Panthers alongside Rocco Grimaldi and Reilly Smith. I'm most impressed that he's done this with his line situation.

3. Matt Martin -  The guy with 4 points in 21 games rocking the ferocious 3.7 shooting percentage (1 goal on 27 shots)?!? Um..yeah so he's not going to provide much in terms of point production BUT this guy lead the league in hit last year with 382 (alongside 14 points in 78 games) but this year he is on pace to have even more hits and might actually usurp 400 hits. If your league uses hits he's not a bad LW to help you dominate that category. Cal Clutterbuck is along the same lines only about 80% of the hits that Martin will give you.

4. Mikhail Grigorenko - averaging in the bottom 20 in minutes played for anyone over 10 games played. He has 17 games played and 8 points across that while playing a meager 10:57 per game. Having Jarome Iginla on the line might help a bit but he has been making the most of his situation. Without Iginla, his numbers might stumble.

5. J.T. Brown - currently averaging 10:39 per game he has a few things in his favor. A product of Minnesota-Duluth he is the LW on the third line for Tampa Bay right now. He has 32 hits in 20 games, he's won 77% of the meager 9 face-offs he's taken, he's a plus 5 which puts him amongst the higher in that category. Best of all 8 of his 9 points have come since November started putting him at 6 goals, 2 assists in his last 9 games.

6. 4 faceoffs specialists who add a small amount of points: Jean-Gabriel Pageau: 4 goals and 2 assists in 20 games, 168 Faceoffs won, 45 hits and 21 blocked shots. He is a 3^rd line center for Ottawa playing 15 minutes per game. Thomas Hertl is the 3^rd line center for San Jose playing 16 minutes per game. He has 2 goals and 7 assists across 21 games. he has 142 face-offs won, 30 hits and 22 blocked shots. Zach Smith - 4^th line center for Ottawa Senators. Rocking 4 goals and 1 assist in 19 games. He has 28 PIM (if your league rewards that) 91 faceoffs won and 35 hits. 1 of his points is short handed. Another faceoff talent is Erik Haula the 4^th line center for Minnesota Wild who has 2 goals and 2 assists as well as a plus 3 in 18 games. He has 88 face-offs won and 11 blocked shots. I'm not as optimistic on the last two long term.

7. At a combination of hits and Faceoffs - Adam Lowry for Winnipeg Jets. He is averaging 14 minutes per game and has 123 faceoffs won, 67 hits, 0 goals, 5 assists in 21 games. His major downside is the ugly -9 that he currently holds.

8. Scott Laughton -  third line center for the Flyers has worked for years to crack the lineup and it's showing. He has 3 goals and 3 assists in 20 games despite playing a meager 11:43. He has 34 shots, 62 faceoffs won and 24 hits.

9. On Defense: Roman Polak who is on Toronto's third defensive line. He has 37 blocked shots, 58 hits and is an impressive +2 for being on Toronto. He has 0 goals and 3 assist in 19 games.

10. One more defensemen: Eric Gryba is on Edmonton's third defensive unit. He has 26 blocked shots, 28 hits, 21 PIM and is a plus 1 which on Edmonton is impressive. He has 0 goals and 3 assists in 19 games amongst 17:45 ATOI.

NHL Power Rankings:

Some extra cheddar:
Rookie Rankings
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on-hockey/25382504/nhl-rookie-power-rankings-blackhawks-artemi-panarin-ascends-to-top

Rough Start for Crosby:
http://www.tsn.ca/talent/mondaymustread-crosby-struggles-kane-delivers-in-first-quarter-1.398374