Olli Maatta is healthy again for the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Wire Troll: Olli Maatta Returns Just in Time

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After five seasons of declining offensive production with Tampa Bay, Stralman signed as a free agent with the other Florida team last summer. And while he’s been quiet on offense lately, he does have 10 points already, putting him on pace for his highest scoring season since 2015-16. As usual, Stralman is logging heavy minutes, at 21:11 per game, even more than last season. With 41 blocks, 30 hits and 19 takeaways, he’s on pace to top his numbers from last season across the board, making him a nice deep league consideration.

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Lars Eller seems to keep getting better for the Washington Capitals.

The Wire Troll: Tyler Toffoli on the Trade Block

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Eller has been hot lately, racking up five points over his last five games, while going +2 with 10 shots and one short-handed marker. He slipped a tad offensively last season, but with 10 points in his first 14 games, he could he headed for a career best. Eller was seeing time on the second line earlier this season, but he’s now spearheading the third line.

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The Wire Troll: Goaltending Help For the Second Half

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Starting back-to-back games this week, Nilsson showed a bend but don’t break mentality, giving up plenty of juicy rebounds, but only two goals allowed on 67 shots faced over the pair of contests. Recently traded from Vancouver, he now has a chance to play more often and is taking advantage so far, with a 2.25 GAA since joining the Sens. And for what it’s worth, both Nilsson’s Corsi For and Fenwick For percentages have risen since heading east.

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The Wire Troll: Alexander Edler Active on Power Play

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A couple of weeks ago, the Jets brought up Appleton from the AHL, and while he’s yet to light the world on fire (one assist through his first eight games), we like his long-term prospects. Currently playing on the Jets’ fourth line, he’s not seeing much ice time, but he has managed shots in each of the last two games. Given what Appleton did in the AHL as a rookie last season (66 points) and this season (nearly a point per game), he’s clearly a dude to keep an eye on.

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The Wire Troll: Joel Edmundson Offering Across the Board Help

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Komarov seems to have rediscovered his game since signing a four-year deal with the Isles last summer. On Thursday, he ripped a goal (the game-winner, to boot) and an assist, while recording a +3 with a pair of blocks and five hits. You’ve got to love that physicality! On Tuesday, he dished out another four hits with an assist and he’s on pace to match his personal best with 36 points.

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The Wire Troll: Robert Hagg Racking Up the Hits

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Backes is off to a simply horrific start, having gone scoreless in 10 games with a -1 rating. But he’s way too good a player to be held down for long, right? We’re talking about a dude that’s topped 30 assists five times in his career, and with Boston in need of secondary scoring, he’ll get his chances. Backes is headed back to the wing on the fourth line, and taking away those defensive responsibilities may be just what the doctor ordered to get him going. It’s worth a shot to see if he can get going, as we find it hard to believe that he’s done like dinner.

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