Morning Briefing - 09/29: Marchenko traded, Jarry starts, Rust out
TL;DR
- The Marchenko trade reshapes two top sixes. Kirill Marchenko lands on Toronto's top line and PP1; Matthew Knies does the same in Columbus. Our fallout and both new top sixes are below.
- Tristan Jarry is confirmed to start tonight vs Vancouver and is 12% rostered on ESPN. Edmonton sees Vancouver twice in three days.
- Rangers and Canucks open with 4 games in 6 days. Stack their skaters this week.
- Bryan Rust is out, and Tommy Novak takes his seat on Pittsburgh's top power play.
- Jake DeBrusk is questionable: Max Sasson took his PP1 spot at practice.
Trade fallout: Marchenko to Toronto, Knies to Columbus
ACT · TOR · CBJ
The number one story of the morning. Columbus sends Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins to Toronto (with salary retained) for Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a second-round pick. We re-ran every projection the night it happened:
- Marchenko: first line with Auston Matthews and Toronto's first power-play unit. 70.2 → 74 points.
- Knies: first line with Adam Fantilli and Columbus's PP1. 70.3 → 69 points, but power-play points rise from 16.3 to 21.
- Jack Roslovic: loses his PP1 seat to Marchenko. 35.9 → 33.5 points.
Toronto's likely top six
| Line | Player | PP | G | A | Pts | PPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auston Matthews | PP1 | 42 | 40 | 83 | 22 |
| 1 | Kirill Marchenko | PP1 | 30 | 44 | 74 | 24 |
| 1 | Jack Roslovic | PP2 | 17 | 16 | 34 | 4 |
| 2 | William Nylander | PP1 | 34 | 56 | 89 | 30 |
| 2 | John Tavares | PP1 | 33 | 38 | 70 | 21 |
| 2 | Gavin McKenna | PP2 | 17 | 41 | 58 | 12 |
Columbus's likely top six
| Line | Player | PP | G | A | Pts | PPP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Knies | PP1 | 26 | 43 | 69 | 21 |
| 1 | Adam Fantilli | PP1 | 29 | 36 | 65 | 13 |
| 1 | Kent Johnson | PP2 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 6 |
| 2 | Valeri Nichushkin | PP2 | 22 | 29 | 51 | 7 |
| 2 | Sean Monahan | PP1 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 12 |
| 2 | Conor Garland | PP2 | 18 | 26 | 44 | 12 |
Projected 2026-27 totals over each player's projected games. Every projection is on the projections page.
Jarry confirmed for the opener, and Vancouver twice in three days
ADD · EDM · G
Tristan Jarry will start tonight against Vancouver, per head coach Mike Babcock (via Bob Stauffer). He is only 12% rostered on ESPN, and Edmonton plays the Canucks again on Thursday in Vancouver: two starts against a weak opponent in three days. See every start on the Goalie Grid.
Rangers and Canucks: 4 games in 6 days
STREAM · NYR · VAN
New York plays Tue Sep 29 @ BOS, Thu Oct 1 vs TBL, Fri Oct 2 @ DET, Sun Oct 4 vs UTA. Vancouver plays Tue Sep 29 @ EDM, Thu Oct 1 vs EDM, Sat Oct 3 vs CGY, Sun Oct 4 vs VGK. Four games in six days to open the season makes any Ranger or Canuck with a role worth a streaming slot. Our picks are in this week's Top Adds.
Rust out, Novak up to the top power play
ADD · PIT · C
Bryan Rust is on IR with an upper-body injury, expected out until at least October 5. Tommy Novak takes his seat on Pittsburgh's first power-play unit with Crosby, Malkin, Rakell and Karlsson, which makes him a short-term add while Rust is out.
DeBrusk questionable as Sasson takes his PP1 seat
WATCH · VAN · LW
Jake DeBrusk is questionable for the opener. Max Sasson took his net-front spot on Vancouver's top power play at practice. If DeBrusk sits, Sasson is a deep-league flier with four games this week.
Granlund joins Carlsson and Sennecke on Anaheim's top line
WATCH · ANA
Mikael Granlund opens on the Ducks' first line with Leo Carlsson and Beckett Sennecke, all three on the first power play. Rookie Nikita Klepov moves to the second line.
Injury and availability notes
- Connor Bedard (CHI) is travelling with the Blackhawks but will not play. He is on IR, expected out until at least November 7.
- Mathew Barzal (NYI) and Seth Jarvis (CAR) open on non-roster IR. Hold both in an IR slot.
- Dylan Larkin (DET) is practising but still not taking power-play reps. Do not expect him back until he is on the power play at practice.
- Brady Tkachuk (FLA) is healthy and ready for tonight's opener at Carolina.
- Jake Sanderson (OTT) should return to practice today.
- Damon Severson (CBJ) is on IR, expected out until at least October 9.
- T.J. Hughes (COL) made the Avalanche roster and is officially available to add in Yahoo leagues.
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