Latest news with #JacksonBlake
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fantasy Hockey Risers and Fallers Heading into 2025-26 Season
The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features. Subscribe now to view the full THN Archives here Also, go to to subscribe. Pressure makes diamonds, and there is no bigger pressure cooker than the Stanley Cup playoffs. The months-long quest weeds out the pretenders from the contenders in a test more daunting than the Grail Knight's final challenge in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. With the 2024-25 season now over, fantasy managers will immediately turn their eyes to 2025-26 – we're an unhealthy, obsessive bunch – and take note of players whose fantasy values have shifted based on their playoff performances. Jackson Blake's Contract Extension Signals Potential Fantasy Breakout Carolina extends Jackson Blake's contract, showing confidence in his upcoming breakout. TRENDING UP Evander Kane, LW, Vancouver Kane has missed nearly half of Edmonton's regular-season games since he signed with the team in January 2022 (129 of 290 games), including all 82 in 2024-25. Despite undergoing multiple pre-season surgeries, he was a popular bench stash due to his rare 20-goal, 200-hit potential. Only five players (Will Cuylle, Vincent Trocheck, Eeli Tolvanen, Tom Wilson and Brady Tkachuk) accomplished that feat this season, putting Kane in rarefied air in 'banger' leagues. Though stashing him didn't pay off this year, Kane is firmly back on the fantasy radar for 2025-26 after making a successful playoff return, ranking top five on the Oilers in goals and hits. He'll get even more opportunities in Vancouver after being traded to the Canucks in late June. Jackson Blake, RW, Carolina Blake's ice time per game overall (16:55) and on the power play (3:59) ranked fifth and fourth among Canes forwards in the playoffs, and he was the second option behind Seth Jarvis on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov during the regular season. That puts Blake in a great spot to score points and increase his fantasy value. Logan Stankoven, the prized piece from the Mikko Rantanen trade, was often used in a matchup role with veteran checkers Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook. Stankoven's line played slightly fewer minutes at even strength (54:49) than the top line of Blake, Aho and Svechnikov (62:28), but Blake's line generated far more shot attempts (95 to 52, per If Blake consistently features on the top line, he's a potential 25-goal, 50-point sleeper who's worth drafting in the late rounds. Thomas Harley, D, Dallas Harley led Stars defensemen in playoff scoring with 14 points – no one else had more than four – and he finished seventh in Norris voting in just his second-full NHL season. The Stars have stubbornly stuck with Miro Heiskanen on the power play, and it wasn't until an injury to Heiskanen that Harley got a chance, even though Harley always looked better as their top PP quarterback. Harley's performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off and in the playoffs should prove to the Stars that they should give him the bulk of the power-play minutes. There's no debate: if given the minutes, Harley is a top-tier fantasy D-man and leapfrogs Heiskanen in fantasy value by a significant margin. Bookmark The Hockey News Fantasy site to stay connected to the latest news TRENDING DOWN Auston Matthews, C, Toronto There may not be another player whose fantasy value dips more following July 1. Longtime running mate Mitch Marner is set to leave Toronto, breaking up the highest-scoring pair of teammates in Leafs history. Matthews, hampered by injuries this season, scored at a 40-goal pace following a brilliant 69-goal 2023-24, and he'll be in tough to reach his high-water mark again without Marner's playmaking ability. Following another ugly playoff exit, the Leafs will continue shaping their new identity – one potentially more focused on the defensive side of the puck, with more structure and less emphasis on scoring. If Matthews doesn't score at a 60-goal pace, it becomes more difficult to justify him as a top-10 pick. Jonathan Drouin, LW, Colorado Throughout his career, dating back to his days in the QMJHL, Drouin has always been more productive when playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon. Drouin's point-per-game average with the Avs (0.76) is far higher than what he managed with the Habs or Lightning (0.58 with each), and he was an inexpensive option for fantasy managers looking for points in the late rounds. But Drouin's future in Colorado is in doubt with his contract expiring, and he had a poor playoff showing (three assists and minus-6 in seven games) with significantly reduced minutes. The return of Gabriel Landeskog creates a logjam of wingers, and Drouin has little value, real or fantasy, playing lower in the lineup. A potential move and a lengthy injury history push Drouin off the fantasy radar as he enters his 30s. Darcy Kuemper, G, Los Angeles Kuemper was fourth in quality start percentage among goalies with at least 30 regular-season starts, per but he posted a save percentage of .900 or better in just three of six playoff games and finished with a 3.74 goals-against average, worst among post-season starters. He's not solely to blame – the Kings allowed the second-most shots per game in the playoffs after allowing the second-fewest shots during the regular season. Granted, they were facing Connor McDavid, but which version of the Kings will show up next season? L.A. was a defensive juggernaut even with missing Drew Doughty for their first 52 games, but by the end of their playoff run, that identity was shattered. If the Kings can't re-sign Vladislav Gavrikov, the blueline will be thin and will rely far too much on a 35-year-old Doughty. It's worth noting Kuemper has struggled with year-to-year consistency, and without an elite defense, his numbers will surely dip. Oilers' Isaac Howard Tops List As Fantasy Hockey's Top Sleeper Pick Edmonton's Isaac Howard appears best Fantasy sleeper puck of 2025-26 season
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Life Has Changed For Jackson Blake In A Big Way
Hard work pays off in the case of Jackson Blake. The Carolina Hurricanes rewarded Blake with an eight-year, $45 million contract after an impressive rookie season in the NHL. Last season, Blake was fighting to make the Hurricanes' opening-night roster, and now, he's in a much better and more secure position with the organization. 'A year ago today, I probably would have told you you're crazy,' Blake said via Kurt Dusterberg of "It's been an absolute whirlwind. I'm not going to lie. I didn't know if I was going to make the team last year, and then to play on the team the full year and now have this long-term deal with Carolina, it's pretty surreal.' The 22-year-old forward recorded 17 goals, 17 assists, and 34 points in 80 games while averaging 13:51 minutes. It was playing in a truly unique Hurricanes system, and specifically under head coach Rod Brind'Amour that allowed Blake to truly flourish. Brent Burns Reveals Why He Didn't Retire Former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns will embark on a new opportunity at 40 years old. 'Obviously, Rod did a good job with me,' Blake said. 'He knew maybe playing less minutes in the first half – seeing the game and developing me that way. When he thought I was comfortable and ready to take that next step, he gave me that opportunity and I took advantage of it. Playing with Sebastian and some of those guys was huge for my confidence to grow into the player I believe I can be.' With a new contract in hand, expectations are certainly higher for Blake, who also has high expectations for himself going into his second season in Carolina. 'I would have expected more from myself regardless of the contract or not for this year,' said Bake. 'I thought last year was pretty good, but I always strive for better in every single area.'
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carolina Taking Risk, Setting The Standard With Jackson Blake Signing
The Carolina Hurricanes have become known for thinking outside of the box, doing things their own way and even playing a brand of hockey that is unique to their team. So when they announced the eight-year extension of Jackson Blake, a rookie last year with 34 points in 80 games, there were eyebrows raised throughout the hockey world. When everyone took a step back and broke things down, the deal was viewed as a long-term value play despite the $5.117 AAV.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Carolina Taking Risk, Setting The Standard With Jackson Blake Signing
The Carolina Hurricanes have become known for thinking outside of the box, doing things their own way and even playing a brand of hockey that is unique to their team. So when they announced the eight-year extension of Jackson Blake, a rookie last year with 34 points in 80 games, there were eyebrows raised throughout the hockey world. When everyone took a step back and broke things down, the deal was viewed as a long-term value play despite the $5.117 AAV.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What To Expect From Jackson Blake In Year 2?
Fresh off of becoming a $45 million man, it's clear that Jackson Blake isn't a rookie anymore. No, Blake, just a couple days away from his 22nd birthday, is looking more and more like he's going to be a relied upon piece of the Carolina Hurricanes for years to come. So what can we expect from the kid after a 17 goal, 34 point inaugural season? In year one, Blake really did have one of the most unpredictable runs we've seen in a while. Fresh off of a standout sophomore season at the University of North Dakota that saw him as a Hobey Baker finalist, Blake had a memorable training camp and preseason that just left the staff too impressed to leave him off the roster. "It was just his play," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour had said at the time. "It was obvious that he belonged. He made mistakes like everyone else, but I just felt like with what he showed, we wanted to see more. That's why the decision is what it is." Every game he played, Blake just got better. He's not the most explosive skater, nor does his talent really jump off the page, but he's just such a smart player and one who works so hard too. He's the kind of player who more often than not, finds himself in the right spots and doing all the right things that really tilts the ice in his team's favor. And I will say, his poise with the puck on his stick and then the ability to win pucks back where well above the expected levels for a rookie. He also demonstrated an ability to play with high-end talent on both the Canes' top line (Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov) and on the team's top power play. Brind'Amour always commented on how consistently Blake was amongst the best players on the ice and for a team that's been as consistently good as Carolina has been, that says a lot. Blake led all Hurricanes forwards in Corsi For (61.23%), expected goals for (60.52%) and actual goals for (58.46%) in the regular season. Even if he wasn't always on the scoresheet, he was always around it. Blake isn't the biggest guy, but he was never afraid to go into the corners or battle in front of the net. He was always willing to give that extra effort and that's what the Canes like about him. So what more can Blake bring in year two? The 21 year old was almost always a driver on his line, but he had a penchant to pass off a bit too much. Blake was at times a bit too timid of a shooter, with just 6.44 shots on goal and 12.16 individual chances per 60, both in the bottom half amongst Canes forwards. However, when he did shoot, it was primarily between the circles and closer to the net, so he knows and goes to the spots on the ice where he needs to to score. If he just starts to trust a little more in himself, I think it will go a long way. That and another year growing into his body will be huge for Blake. The 5-foot-11 winger is in the lower portion of the league in terms of size, but he plays bigger than he is and adding more muscle to his frame will just allow him to do just that much more on the ice. The Hurricanes obviously see Blake as a huge part of the team moving forward and if he can continue to build on his promising start, their bet is going to pay off immensely. Recent Stories • 'I'm Very Excited About The Team In Carolina': Nikolaj Ehlers On Signing In Carolina• Hurricanes Target Positional Depth In Opening Days of Free Agency• Where Have Last Year's Carolina Hurricanes Ended Up?• Carolina Takes Big Swing On Talented New York Blueliner• Who Will Quarterback PP2 For Carolina Next Season?• 'The Last Two Years, It Wasn't Easy For Me Mentally': Dmitry Orlov Voices Potential Displeasures With Carolina After Signing In San Jose• Carolina Hurricanes Release 2025-26 Schedule Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
