Frozen Fantasy: #LoseforHughes

#LoseforHughes is in full effect. I just never imagined my Blackhawks or even the Kings would be honing in on the next young stud.

It's been an upside-down year.

Jack Hughes is the next one. And right now, both the Kings and Hawks have the best shot at having the lottery balls fall in their favor.

Hughes headlines the Team USA roster for the World Juniors. The 17-year-old has nine goals and 45 points in just 23 games for the U.S. National Development program.

And his 16 points in just four games at last month's U18 Four Nations tourney in the Czech Republic made him tourney MVP.

#LoseforHughes. I totally get it. The kid is tracking to break records set by Patrick Kane and Auston Matthews. He has a killer instinct that will make him a superstar.

But the Kings? The Hawks? I don't think anyone would have named them as the NHL's worst before the season began. And maybe they won't be in that class by year-end.

But maybe they will.

The Hawks should actually look at trading Patrick Kane and my beloved Jonathan Toews, and cut right back beyond the quick.

The Kings are abysmal. Ilya Kovalchuk was a mistake. Anze Kopitar is on the downside of his career. And Jonathan Quick is a shell of his former self. He's no longer among the NHL's elite.

Jack Hughes is pivot that skates and handles the puck like Patrick Kane. He creates offense out of thin air. He's already an elite playmaker whose hockey IQ ranks among the NHL's best.

It really has been an upside-down season so far. The weirdness that is Chicago and L.A. doesn't stop at their city borders. There are so many players and teams underperforming this year.

St. Louis. Anaheim. Florida. None may make the postseason. All may be part of the #LoseforHughes lottery.

I guess as a Chicago fan I have hope for the future. But it's going to be a long season.

Now, let's take a look at who caught my eye this week.

Pontus Aberg, LW/RW, Anaheim (18 percent Yahoo! owned) – Aberg's ownership rocketed 17 points overnight Thursday. This October waiver claim leads the Quacks with nine goals. And he had seven points, including three goals, in the five games heading into Friday night. Aberg is on the Ducks' top line and that's good enough for me. He's the one that got away for the Oilers. Don't let him get away from you, too.

Paul Byron, LW/RW, Montreal (8 percent Yahoo! owned) – Byron is back from the IR and already has four points in four games. He's not sexy, but he can score. Well, at least he is this season. Byron is certainly snaggable. Go grab him.

Andreas Johnsson, LW, Toronto (4 percent Yahoo! owned) – I thought Johnsson's hattie two Saturdays ago was a fluke. Nice game against a former teammate, but that was about it. But he has continued to score. Johnsson has five points in his last four games heading into the weekend. And he's still bouncing lines – he started Thursday beside Nazem Kadri , but finished with Auston Matthews. He's going to get his points.

Mathieu Joseph, RW, Tampa Bay (2 percent Yahoo! owned) – Joseph became a fantasy afterthought with just two points in his first 15 games. And six in 21. But this pesky speedster has turned on the jets in the last nine games. Joseph has seven points, including five goals, during that span. Just check out the speed on this goal from Tuesday night. Joseph remains on the Bolts' fourth line, but he's definitely delivering fantasy value for those in deep leagues.

Ondrej Kase, RW, Anaheim (13 percent Yahoo! owned) – Kase is the second of three Ducks on my radar this week. He had eight points (four goals, four assists) in nine games heading into Friday night. And 25 shots over that span. I like Kase's consistency, but I'll take Aberg (above) and Ritchie (below) ahead of him. There's a big difference in opportunity between the top and bottom lines. But if the other two guys are already gone, then Kase is the next-best thing.

Artturi Lehkonen, LW/RW, Montreal (3 percent Yahoo! owned) – Lehkonen is a typical Montreal lightweight, but he has strong instincts with the puck on his stick. And that has resulted in five points, including three goals, in his last five games. Lehkonen is on a line with Paul Byron (above) and the duo provides excellent support for rookie pivot Jesperi Kotkaniemi. This Finn is on pace to smash his career scoring mark and he might as well do it on your team.

Josh Leivo, LW/RW, Vancouver (7 percent Yahoo! owned) – Leivo has a new lease on life following the trade to the Orcas. The guy can score – he has 15 goals in 86 career games. And in Vancouver, Leivo will have a much-better chance to skate on a scoring line. In fact, he is already slotted beside Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson. Snap him up. This could be fun to watch.

Mike Matheson, D, Florida (17 percent Yahoo! owned) – Matheson has been untouchable in trade discussions and rightfully so – he's a steady, top-four performer who's on pace to hit the mid-40s this season. Heading into the weekend, Matheson is on a four-game, four-point streak (one goal, three assists). And two of those helpers have come with the man advantage. He's even picked up 14 PIM in his last 10 games. That makes him a strong multi-categorical play right now.

Ryan Murray, D, Columbus (6 percent Yahoo! owned) – Murray was an overdraft at number two – he's probably no better than a top-10 pick. Especially with his lack of offensive output. But this year seems different. Murray is quietly on a mid-40s pace and he has five assists in his last seven games. And a plus-8 rating. Murray won't give you power-play production, but no one's perfect. Points and plus-minus are good enough, particularly if you're lacking in those categories.

Nick Ritchie, LW, Anaheim (8 percent Yahoo! owned) – Ritchie is finally starting to live up to his first-round potential. The trick? Two things – he worked out like a fiend over the summer and shed his big-boy softness. And he's learned how to move his feet. And keep them moving. Ritchie is on the Ducks' top line with Ryan Getzlaf and has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his last 10 games. The pride of Orangeville could be a dominant Duck if he keeps this up. He's going on my roster.

Back to #LoseforHughes.

The NHL has changed hard and fast. Teams that seemed like they were still playoff worthy have fallen off the proverbial cliff.

With guys like Hughes, the upswing back to relevance will be accelerated. Just look at what Auston Matthews did for Toronto.

Speaking of Matthews. Hughes came within a point of tying Matthews' point-per-game record with the USNDP last season.

Except he was a full year younger than the Leafs' stud.

A full year.

I guess I'm OK if Chicago continues to fail. It gives me some hope again.

Until next week.