Fantasy Hockey News: Aaron Ekblad Suspended 20 Games; Alex Ovechkin Nearing Scoring Record

All right folks, we've got some breaking news and a progress report for you. Both are white hot stories in the NHL right now. 

I will give some fantasy outlooks on both of these and what it means for you and your roster.

20-Game Suspension

Arguably the Florida Panthers were among the winners of the trade deadline. (More on this in an upcoming article on winners, losers, and what's next). However those plans have taken a severe hit.

Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for 20 games for violating the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program.

In a post by the NHLPA, Ekblad released a statement on his suspension saying: “The news that I had failed a random drug test was a shock. Ultimately, I made a mistake by taking something to help me recover from recent injuries without first checking with proper medical and team personnel. I have let my teammates, the Panthers organization and our great fans down. For that, I am truly sorry. I have accepted responsibility for my mistake and will be fully prepared to return to my team when my suspension is over. I have learned a hard lesson and cannot wait to be back with my teammates.”

This not only came as a shock to Ekblad, but the NHL and the Panthers. Ekblad is a part of the blueline. He averages around 24 minutes per game and no defenseman has more elite deployment on the Panthers than him. He plays top pairing minutes, number one powerplay time, and number one penalty kill time. His loss is significant to the team's push for division title in the Atlantic Division.

Ekblad's role on the Panthers is significant, and while the team will get him back for the playoffs, you will not. With the Panthers having played 64 games, this suspension will take Ekblad two games into the NHL playoffs. 

If you are in a redraft league, sadly you are free to drop him as he would be a waste of a roster spot though fantasy playoffs, even through the final round. A devastating loss to your blueline. If you are in a dynasty league, you'll have to eat this as he is still definitely worth holding onto.

This season, Ekblad has three goals, 30 assists, and 11 powerplay points as a defenseman in 56 games played. He also has 106 shots on goal, 89 hits, and 64 blocked shots.

Nine Away from 99's 984

Wayne Gretzky. "The Great One." So many records nobody can actually name them all. Literally the greatest player of all time. Yet somehow, “The Great One” is about to have a record thought by some to be unbreakable forever... broken. By who?

Alex Ovechkin. “Alexander the Great”, “The Great 8”, or simply “Ovi.” This Russian goal scoring machine is not only now only nine goals away from breaking Gretzky's goal scoring record of 984 goals, but he is also doing it while battling father time. At 39 years old (or young), Ovi is scoring at an unrelenting pace of .7 goals per game played this year. At 39 years old. What?

Ovi is in his 20th season playing in the NHL, and in 19 of those seasons he has scored at least 30 goals. That in itself is an NHL record for most 30 goal seasons, ever. He has also won the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals scored in an NHL season nine times. That's also an NHL record, by the way.

Ovi is an absolute goal-scoring phenom. Did I mention he was 39 years old? Do you know what else he has done nine times? Had 50-goal seasons. You can't even make this up. He is that good.

Growing up watching his rivalry with Pittsburgh Penguins legend Sidney Crosby has been an absolute treat. These two franchise players changed hockey forever, and continue to make an impact. 

Between Crosby leading Team Canada to a gold medal victory at the Four Nations Face-Off this year, or Ovi being poised to break the all-time goal scoring record this season, it proves that these two, no matter how old, continue to be pillars in the hockey world.

This season, Ovi has 33 goals, 17 assists, and 15 powerplay points as a forward in 48 games played. He also has 183 shots on goal, 88 hits, and 11 blocked shots.

Why only 48 games played? Because Ovi broke his leg this year. He broke his leg, and was skating in two weeks, returned in five weeks, and scored in his first game back. What? Remember when I said he is a Russian machine? Tell me he's not. Go ahead, I'll wait for you to prove to me that he is not some sort of goal-scoring cyborg.

After last season having only 31 goals in 79 games, things were looking bleak, considering he had a really cold start to the season. This year he has become determined and all signs point to him breaking the record this year. 

His projected draft ranking for this year, as well as his value, absolutely tanked after last season's showing. Somehow, this year he has led his Washington Capitals, who are No. 1 in the league for points to a potential President's Trophy showing, the same year he is poised to make history. 

I would be hesitant that he can sustain this pace into next year or beyond though, so keep that in mind for next year's fantasy league drafts. Or he will have a repeat at 40 years old and I will look foolish, but I doubt it!

Either way, good for you Ovi! I hope you keep crushing it, and keep playing for as long as you can!