We're trying something a little new here at EP Rinkside. Every few weeks, I'm going to open the vault and share some of the unfiltered fantasy hockey thoughts that dwell in that space to the Rinkside reading public.

These unfiltered fantasy hockey thoughts could look different from week to week, whether it's the format itself or the volume of players contained within the piece. We'll look at veterans on the downside, rookies on the upswing, prospects, the schedule, heaters and cold streaks, advanced stats, and deployment. All the fun stuff that goes into winning a fantasy hockey championship.

It may have the feeling of the ramblings of a not-so-mad man, but hopefully, the prevailing theme is that it will provide you with some tidbits necessary to help fantasy owners not only win their matchups but their championships as well. The goal is to assist you in your quest to maintain a sustained level of contention.

It's time for Fantasy Extra. Let's roll!