SMC 1/8/2017 NEW BEGINNINGS! Good morning and welcome to the New Year!  Got my mug of hot coffee and ready to start 2017 with renewed energy! Looks like New York’s Michael Grabner also has found renewed energy with 4 goals and 3 assists in past 6 games.  As streaky as they come as he streaks down the ice in a flash. Nathan Beaulieu is excited to see 2017 with 1 goals and 5 assists in past 6 with some additional PP time added to his game. All the talk in Toronto and the NHL is Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, but don’t forget about Connor Brown.  6 points in last 6 games, 9 in last 8. Don’t hit Patrik Laine too hard because they will protect him as evidenced in Buffalo on Saturday. Mark Scheifele is rounding into true captain material, not only with his offensive capabilities but his standing up for future star Laine. Staying in Winnipeg, this Nikolaj Ehlers is a joy to watch.  Some fantastic goals this past week. Tampa Bay needs Ben Bishop back sooner than later as Anfrej Vasilevskiy has stunk up the joint in his absence. Philly, with 4 goals from their secondary scoring against TB, needs that to continue if they want to be a force in the playoffs this year. Minnesota is having a great season, but that wild, Wild West is tough to advance in come playoff time. Jeff Carter is less streaky this season, but in a good way.  36 points in 40 games. Where have you gone Anze Kopitar? I don’t think teams will be looking forward to playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the near future, if not already. Montreal prospect Nikita Scherbak scored his first NHL goal in his first NHL game.  Congrats! Alex Radulov means a lot to this Canadiens team even though it’s his first year with the team. Who shot JVR out of a cannon?  9 points in last 5 games. Braden Holtby with 2 consecutive shutouts.  He’s a beast on that Washington team that is picking up steam. I can see Pittsburgh faltering a bit as 2016 comes to an end.  It was some calendar year that’s for sure, but the New Year brings change. T-Rask doesn’t get the props he deserves of late but he is a top 5 NHL goalie for sure. Patrice Bergeron is starting to put points on the board more consistently now.  And he had 7 SOG in Saturday’s game versus the Panthers. Where is Colonel Klinkhammer? If the New Jersey Devils can make a bit of a run now, they can be a thorn in some team’s playoff sides. Rangers with a nice comeback win against Columbus going into their mandated break.  Columbus’ second half could possibly be a huge disappointment to fantasy fans after their stellar start. I feel a good stretch run by the Dallas Stars coming up.  They are just too good to be mediocre. The Islanders need WINS, not OT/Shootout losses.  Duh! Calgary making a run but played the most games of any NHL team. I’m used to seeing San Jose and Anaheim at the top of the Pacific Division, but the Edmonton Oilers?  It seems they have arrived. This Anthony Mantha is everything he was hyped up to be but his commitment was questioned during the 2014-2015 AHL after returning from a broken leg.  Glad I scooped him up back then. I don’t know if I want Vladimir Tarasenko or Connor McDavid to win the NHL scoring title this season. Have a great week and may all your fantasies come true!