Mike Babcock is giving the phrase "bottom of the lineup" a whole new meaning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs head coach gave an anatomical answer when asked what allows smaller skaters like Trevor Moore and Dmytro Timashov - who are both listed at 5-foot-10 - to succeed with the team.
"They got big assess," Babcock told reporters, including TSN's Kristen Shilton, on Monday. "So they weigh a lot. You can laugh, but it's the truth. You can get under people, you can win retrieval races, you can own lanes. You have good balance."
Moore is in a five-way tie for second on the club with three goals to go along with two assists in nine games. Most recently, the 24-year-old has been playing on the Leafs' third line and second power-play unit.
Timashov has four points of his own and potted his first NHL goal in Saturday's victory over the Boston Bruins. The 23-year-old has been filling a fourth-line role after spending the last three seasons with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This week's edition focuses on Week 3. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Add James van Riemsdyk
Team: Flyers Position: LW Ownership: 33%
Van Riemsdyk has taken the most shots of any player in the NHL (32) who hasn't scored a goal this season, while the Flyers have played a league-low six games. JVR has fired off 24 shots alone in his last three tilts, but he isn't just shooting from anywhere. In fact, his 6.61 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes at five-on-five would be the highest rate of his career.
With first-line minutes and a spot on the top power-play unit, it's only a matter of time before a proven goal-scorer like Van Riemsdyk starts filling the net.
Drop Wayne Simmonds
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Team: Devils Position: RW Ownership: 36%
Even in banger leagues where Simmonds offers additional value with his physical play, the veteran winger can be dropped. He's coming off the worst season of his career, and with just a lone assist through eight games of 2019-20, he's not doing much to inspire faith in a bounce-back campaign.
Furthermore, the Devils will play just one game this week. If you really believe in a turnaround, Simmonds will probably still be available next week when New Jersey has three games on its schedule.
Add Alexander Kerfoot
Team: Maple Leafs Position: C/LW/RW Ownership: 20%
Kerfoot, one of the few players in fantasy hockey with triple position eligibility, will get an extended look in the Maple Leafs' top-six forward group while John Tavares is sidelined for at least two weeks with a broken finger.
Kerfoot centered the club's second line on Saturday against the Boston Bruins. In that game, he played with the emerging Ilya Mikheyev (also worth picking up at 18% ownership) at left wing while Mitch Marner and William Nylander rotated on his right side. That's a good spot, and the Leafs will play four times this week.
Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko, the top two picks in the 2019 draft, have come out of the starting gate slow to begin their careers. Hughes has been held to two points in eight games, while Kakko has just one point in six contests.
It's not uncommon to see supremely talented 18-year-olds struggle to start their rookie seasons, only to take off in the second half. Hughes and Kakko will have fantasy value eventually in 2019-20, and if you invested a draft pick in either one, you'll want to reap the rewards when they take off. Be patient.
Add Ilya Samsonov
Team: Capitals Position: G Ownership: 33%
It's quite surprising that Samsonov is still available in two-thirds of leagues. Capitals starter Braden Holtby has gotten back on track in his last two outings after a rough start to the year, but Samsonov has earned himself at least some regular playing time by recording a .933 save percentage and a 1.84 goals-against average in four games.
Holtby is in the last year of his contract and may not be brought back due to cap constraints. Samsonov, meanwhile, is a former first-round pick and looks like the organization's goalie of the future, which could happen as early as this season if Holtby struggles again. At the very least, Samsonov needs to be owned in all keeper leagues.
A tornado in the Dallas area caused significant damage to one of Tyler Seguin's properties Sunday night.
The aftermath was first documented by Jason Whitely of local station WFAA.
NEW: Before and after images of home near Dallas North Tollway and Royal Lane in North Dallas — that was badly damaged during the tornado tonight. #wfaaweatherpic.twitter.com/xGMLhg0TSU
Seguin later confirmed the house belonged to him but clarified that he was no longer living there and was unharmed.
Thanks to everyone reaching out about the news tonight, I am safe. Luckily this is my house for sale and I have moved into a new one. I just left the area and it is an extremely sad sight to see. Prayers to everyone affected by the tornado. https://t.co/wT6XlUBi8N
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Mikael Backlund scored with 11:03 left, Cam Talbot made 29 saves and the Calgary Flames rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.
Backlund got a pass from Matthew Tkachuk on a 2-on-1 rush after a neutral zone turnover and beat goaltender John Gibson with a snap shot from the right faceoff circle. It was his second goal in two games.
Talbot made his second start of the season and got his first win as he stopped a flurry of one-timers in the third period. Michael Stone also scored for the Flames, who snapped a three-game road losing streak.
Jakob Silfverberg scored for Anaheim, which lost for the first time in five home games. Gibson made 27 saves.
Silfverberg opened the scoring 12 seconds into the second when he beat Talbot top shelf from the left faceoff circle after taking the pass from Hampus Lindholm. Silfverberg - who has five goals this season - has scored in three straight games.
Stone tied it at 15:32 of the second with a one-timer from near the blueline for his first point. Gibson didn't get a clear look as Calgary's Sean Monahan and Anaheim's Michael Del Zotto were battling in front of the net when Stone's slap shot got through.
UP NEXT
Flames: Return home to face Washington on Tuesday.
Ducks: Hit the road for four games starting Tuesday at Nashville.
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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
"This feels great. I mean, it's awesome to have a win, especially at home, and now, coming back on Tuesday and playing another high-powered offense, we gotta make sure that we remember this feeling and make sure we want to get it back."
The Wild potted a pair of third-period goals to seal the much-needed victory after losing six of seven games to start the season.
"A win like tonight and the way we did it can really kind of boost your spirits a bit," forward Marcus Foligno added, according to the Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan. "The guys are happy again. It's good to see some smiles on guys' faces."
Zucker, who apologized for calling out head coach Bruce Budreau while criticizing his team's effort after a 4-0 loss to the Canadiens on Thursday, scored his third goal of the season and picked up an assist on Zach Parise's game-winner in the third period.
"You can talk and say the right things every day of the week, and until you come out and you play and you do those things, it doesn’t matter," Zucker said, per Russo. "We have great leaders from Mikko (Koivu) to Zach (Parise) to (Ryan Suter), all the way down the lineup to our younger guys."
The Wild will look to continue their winning ways when they host the red-hot Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.
The 34-year-old had conversations with multiple teams, but it's believed his preferred destination was Florida, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.
Boyle's deal will carry a cap hit of less than $1 million, adds McKenzie.
"With over 700 games played in the NHL and over 100 more in the playoffs, Brian brings a wealth of experience to our club," said Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Dale Tallon. "He adds versatility and character to our lineup."
