The Tea
The Trade Barrier Has Been Broken
Week 11 had everything: a top score that felt personal, a heavyweight clash at the top, a goalie deciding an entire matchup by himself, and most importantly the first trade of the season, which means we've officially moved past "waiver wire curiosity" and into "emotional goodbyes".
By Nina Rivera • Staff Writer
The Matchups
Don't Trust Aho (145.0) def. Stay in the Net (101.5)
This was the loudest score of the week, and it wasn't close.
Don't Trust Aho cleared 145 points, with Nugent-Hopkins (11.5), Sebastian Aho (11.4), and Macklin Celebrini (11.3) all doing their part. Jake Oettinger added 12.2 goalie points, which is usually enough to tilt a matchup by itself.
Stay in the Net didn't play badly. Fabian Zetterlund (12.4) and MacKenzie Weegar (10.9) showed up. The problem is that when your opponent hits 145, your "solid week" becomes a footnote.
Verdict: Sometimes the other team just hits every button at once.
My Little Kraklings (118.6) def. Tkachuk Around and Find Out (111.1)
This was the game of the week, and it lived up to it.
TAFO put up 111 points, including MacKinnon's 13.5 and Logan Thompson's 10.6 in net. In most weeks, that's a win.
Not this week.
My Little Kraklings countered with Leon Draisaitl (13.6), Emil Heineman (9.8), and a steady spread of production that kept the pressure on all week.
Verdict: Not a collapse, just a reminder that the margin at the top is thin.
Hughes Your Daddy (104.4) def. Net Results (84.3)
This matchup was decided almost entirely by one man: Thatcher Demko.
Demko dropped 18.0 goalie points, which quietly erased any chance of a comeback. Net Results got reasonable nights from Robert Thomas (9.9), Panarin (7.6), and Trocheck (7.0), but no one went nuclear, and the goalie gap did the rest.
Verdict: One goalie can still flip a whole week, whether you like it or not.
Honorable Mentions (a.k.a. Games That Still Mattered)
What's Dunn is Dunn (120.5) over Strome Alone (104.6): McDavid put up 22.3 points and still lost. That's the tweet.
Candy Canes (107.4) over The Em-VPs (88.3): Calm, efficient, mildly disrespectful.
Smashville (96.5) over Teenage Mutant Ninja Hertl (89.9): Ullmark's 20.2 goalie points did most of the talking.
Papi's Princesses lose by 2.4 points to Nose Face Killah Crew: This one was painfully close. Close enough that a single blocked shot, secondary assist, or goalie sneeze would've flipped it.
Team of the Week
Hughes Your Daddy earns it this week for a clean win, smart goalie deployment, and not relying on one skater to save them.
Coldest Team of the Week
Delaney's Daring Team sadly holds the title for another week. Please approve all of our trade requests, Delaney.
Transactions & Trades
FIRST TRADE OF THE SEASON
Papi's Princesses ↔ McDaddy Issues
Papi's receives: Nick Suzuki
McDaddy Issues receives: Tom Wilson
Papi's Princesses officially sent Tom Wilson on his way with a respectful farewell, noting that "Tom has shown up for us in countless ways" and wishing him well with McDaddy Issues. It was gracious, appreciative, and very "thank you for your service," which feels right for a player who brought both points and vibes.
McDaddy Issues, meanwhile, did not hide the emotional complexity of the move. Management acknowledged that "it's always gonna be hard to part with a guy like Nick," especially one who's been there since day one and consistently showed up for the team. That said, they were clearly ready to turn the page, expressing confidence in the move and excitement about what Suzuki brings to Papi's Princesses.
As for Tom Wilson, McDaddy Issues didn't hide what drew them in, openly looking forward to his "banger style play" and what he adds to the lineup in a game like this.
Yes, I vetoed it. Yes, I'd do it again. Call it a ceremonial veto. Every first trade deserves one.
Translation: feelings were acknowledged, roster needs were prioritized, and both teams walked away believing they won, which is exactly how trades are supposed to work.
Around the league, waiver activity stayed busy, and notably, the teams near the top are still making moves. As usual, that's not an accident.
League Landscape After Week 11
My Little Kraklings and Tkachuk Around and Find Out remain tied at the top at 9-2, clearly separating themselves as the teams to chase.
Candy Canes sits right behind at 8-3, while a crowded middle tier; Don't Trust Aho, Net Results, The Em-VPs, Smashville, and What's Dunn is Dunn, all sit at 7-4, making every matchup matter.
Below that, the margins get thin fast. A couple of wins could still change everything, but the runway is shrinking.
Around the league, waiver activity stayed busy, and notably, the teams near the top are still making moves. As usual, that's not an accident.
Moral of the Week
Depth wins weeks, trades fix margins, and vetoes are just for fun.
Haiku of the Week
First trade hits the app
Someone vetoes for the bit
Chaos feels correct
Current Standings
East Division
Tkachuk Around and Find Out
9-2-0
Don't Trust Aho
7-4-0
Net Results
7-4-0
The Em-VPs
7-4-0
Smashville Puckheads
7-4-0
What's Dunn is Dunn
7-4-0
DeMan DeSmith DeLegend
6-5-0
The Spoked Bae
3-8-0
Papi's Princesses
2-9-0
Delaney's Daring Team
1-10-0
West Division
My Little Kraklings
9-2-0
Candy Canes for Hurricanes
8-3-0
McDaddy Issues
7-4-0
Teenage Mutant Ninja Hertl
6-5-0
Stay in the Net
6-5-0
Strome Alone
5-6-0
Lachimolala
5-6-0
Hughes Your Daddy
3-8-0
Nose Face Killah Crew
3-8-0
Panarin Bread
2-9-0