Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey Podcast · Apples & Ginos Fantasy Hockey

What to Do With the MOST Puzzling Players in Fantasy Hockey - Week 16

·1 hr 2 min·5 clips
Why Artemi Panarin's trade rumors could skyrocket his fantasy value to a 100-point pace.
This episode features host Nate Groot Nibbelink analyzing fantasy hockey's most confusing players based on community submissions. Nate, creator of the Apples & Ginos platform and the Zergy Draft Strategy, provides actionable advice for managers navigating mid-season dilemmas. He directly addresses listener questions from the Discord server, offering data-driven insights on player performance and trade value. Nate examines San Jose goaltender Magnus Chrona, noting his shaky play in a poor defensive environment but predicting he maintains a 50% share as the team's future. He compares Clayton Keller's strong underlying stats and 77-point pace to Adam Fantilli's promising deployment under new coach Rick Bowness. The host advises dropping Nazem Kadri for Elias Lindholm in points leagues and expresses skepticism about Noah Hanifin's value despite a recent hot streak. Nate discusses the high trade likelihood for Artemi Panarin, speculating on potential destinations like Colorado or Washington. He analyzes Mika Zibanejad's hot streak, fueled by a 16% shooting percentage, and Vincent Trocheck's potential move to a worse situation. For Jack Hughes, Nate points to six assists in five games but concerning dips in individual shot and expected goal metrics. He remains optimistic about Jesper Bratt's rebound despite unlucky on-ice shooting percentages. The host also evaluates Patrick Kane's reduced role if James van Riemsdyk retains the top power-play spot. A surprising claim is that Filip Forsberg's recent slump may have been illness-related, and his five points in five games signal a turnaround. Nate asserts he would not trade Artemi Panarin due to rumors, as his potential post-trade upside exceeds likely trade return. He reveals Matty Beniers' underlying stats perfectly match his current 54-point pace, making him a pure streamer. The host admits he would take Valeri Nichushkin over Mason McTavish but calls it a choice between two underwhelming options. Nate suggests a first-place team should avoid trading Zach Hyman for Matthew Tkachuk, as it introduces unnecessary variance. He believes Elvis Merzlikins could reclaim a 50% share in Columbus under the new coach's "fresh slate." The tone is analytical and conversational, blending live game reactions with deep dives into advanced metrics like shots per 60 and on-ice expected goals. Nate's style is educational and responsive, directly engaging with listener questions and league-specific contexts. The episode is structured as a rapid-fire advice session, moving efficiently between players and categories. Fantasy hockey managers struggling with underperforming stars or trade deadlines will find this episode invaluable. Listeners who enjoy data-driven analysis mixed with immediate lineup advice will appreciate Nate's direct approach. Those seeking long-form narrative or entertainment-focused content might find the rapid, stat-centric format less engaging.

As heard by us

A practical fantasy hockey discussion of puzzling players and possible Panarin destinations.

This episode delivers fantasy hockey value in a compact, practical way. A Discord-picked pass through the league's most puzzling names turns roster frustration into decisions that feel immediate, with Nate Groot-Nibblink keeping the focus on what role, market, and deployment…

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Why you'd press play

When your roster is full of annoying what-do-I-do-here names, press play.

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