Outlook Frank Nazar
Nazar looks to generate secondary scoring against Canadiens at United Center
Latest News Frank Nazar
Outlook T.J. Hughes
Hughes seeks power-play upside as Avalanche host Lightning
T.J. Hughes and the Colorado Avalanche host the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight at Ball Arena in a potentially higher-scoring matchup where the Avs are slight home favorites. Hughes recently broke through with his first career NHL goal against Pittsburgh and has potted two goals on 10 shots over his last six games. While he is currently slotted on the third line alongside Fedor Svechkov and Jaden Schwartz at even strength, the 24-year-old rookie enjoys prime offensive deployment on Colorado's top power-play unit with Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Tampa Bay (7-2-0) presents a formidable test against Colorado (5-4-1), with Andrei Vasilevskiy (unconfirmed) expected between the pipes.
Our projection models see Hughes delivering ~0.5–1.0 point with ~1–2 shots on goal, along with a small goal chance and roughly 2.3 fantasy points. His fantasy viability hinges heavily on converting power-play minutes, as his bottom-six even-strength role caps his baseline production. Looking at Colorado's four-game weekly schedule, Hughes has just one matchup remaining after tonight, with our models projecting 3.9 total fantasy points for the week. While his PP1 placement offers intriguing upside in deeper formats, his limited floor makes him best deployed with caution in standard leagues. Today's action: Cautious Start.
