21 Nick Cousins C

Cousins recorded his first point in a Predators uniform with a third-period assist in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Cousins expects to be a fixture on the Preds' third line this season, so his point totals this season probably won't end up turning too many heads. Still, he's been averaging roughly three more minutes in ice time compared to last season (16:40 vs. 13:31), including a healthy 2:30 on the power play, so you never know. He's worth a look in deeper formats.

Cousins signed a two-year, $3 million deal with the Predators on Friday, Frank Seravalli of TSN.ca reports.

Cousins scored 25 points last season with Vegas and Montreal and tallied another five assists in 17 postseason contests. The 5-foot-11 forward should immediately improve the Predators' center depth after the departure of Nick Bonino and Kyle Turris this offseason.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, Cousins won't receive a qualifying offer from Vegas, so he'll become an unrestricted free agent Friday.

Under normal circumstances, the Golden Knights definitely would have qualified Cousins, but they're already in cap trouble after re-signing Robin Lehner, and won't be able to climb out of it without moving Marc-Andre Fleury's contract, so they need to save money wherever they can right now. Cousins shouldn't have any trouble finding a new team this offseason as a capable bottom-sixer that put up 10 goals and 25 points in 65 games split between Montreal and Vegas last season.

Cousins is not dressed for Game 2 against the Stars, Owen Newkirk of Dallas Stars Radio reports.

Cousins was a healthy scratch for the first time in the postseason in Game 7 against Vancouver, but he re-entered the lineup in Game 1 versus Dallas in lieu of the suspended Ryan Reaves. With Reaves having fulfilled his one-game ban, Cousins is the odd-man out once again.

Cousins posted an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Sunday's 5-0 win over the Canucks in Game 1.

The assist gave Cousins five points, all helpers, through nine postseason outings. The 27-year-old forward has added 16 shots on net and 19 hits during the playoffs. He's mostly played in a third-line role with additional duties on the second power-play unit, where he's produced one of his five assists.

Cousins has a chance to establish a new career high in points if the 2019-20 campaign ultimately resumes; he's produced 10 goals and 15 assists between the Canadiens and Golden Knights.

Cousins' role hasn't changed since Montreal traded him to Vegas at the deadline, as he's still averaging over a minute of power-play ice time to complement his third-line duties at even strength. The Golden Knights also sit atop the Pacific Division, which further suggests that Cousins has plenty of peer support in his new digs. We wouldn't expect him to suddenly emerge as a fantasy hockey darling, but Cousins checks out as a solid, budget-friendly flier to consider if and when the season picks up where it left off. He needs just three points for a new career high in points.

Cousins snagged an assist and doled out three hits in Friday's 4-2 win over the Sabres.

Cousins has a point in each of his two games with the Golden Knights. The 26-year-old has 24 points, 81 hits and 108 shots through 60 appearances. He's serving in a third-line capacity with his new team, but the Golden Knights' offense has run deep enough to make him productive -- Cousins may be worth a look in deeper formats.

Cousins scored a power-play goal on three shots and added two blocked shots in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Oilers.

Cousins' tally at 5:44 of the third period stretched the Golden Knights' lead to 2-0 at the time. The 26-year-old appears set to receive at least an opportunity on the second power-play unit with his new team. He's at 10 goals, 23 points, 78 hits and 108 shots through 59 appearances this year. Cousins could be a good roster-filler in DFS given his slightly physical edge and potential man-advantage time.

The Golden Knights acquired Cousins from the Canadiens for a 2021 fourth-round pick on Monday.

Cousins had a solid season with the Canadiens, recording 22 points -- four on the power play -- and 105 shots on net through 58 games, and he'll add depth up the middle for Vegas. The Golden Knights have a powerful power play, so Cousins isn't a lock to work with the man advantage. The 26-year-old is set to be a restricted free agent in July,

Cousins scored a goal in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Dallas. He had one shot, one hit and one blocked shot over 11:49 of ice time.

Cousins snapped a five-game goal drought with his ninth marker of the season. The 26-year-old forward has appeared in every game since overcoming a back injury to start the season, skating mostly on the fourth line. If the Canadiens become sellers at the trade deadline (Feb. 24), Cousins could see an expanded role going forward, although the Habs may want to get prospects like Ryan Poehling and Jesperi Kotkaniemi back to the NHL for further development.

Cousins scored a goal on two shots in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout win over New Jersey. He added four hits and a five-minute major over 16:00 of ice time.

Cousins has notched six points over the last seven games while getting work in a middle-six role. The Canadiens are still dealing with injuries at forward, so Cousins, a fourth-liner to begin the season, is getting a chance to operate with more skilled forwards. With Jonathan Drouin (wrist) nearing a return, Cousins may soon be back on the bottom line.

Cousins registered an assist, three hits and two shots on goal in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Cousins is up to 18 points, 88 shots, 64 hits and a minus-1 rating in 48 games this season. He'll likely continue to feature in a bottom-six role, which will limit his fantasy usefulness to deeper formats only.

Cousins scored two goals in Montreal's 5-4 shootout win over Vegas on Saturday.

The 26-year-old has points in back-to-back games (two goals, one assist). It's a nice performance, but Cousins doesn't deliver enough to make him fantasy worthy.

Cousins has been fined for an incident that occurred during Tuesday's loss to the Red Wings, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.

The NHL fined Cousins $2,688.17, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for boarding Detroit's Mike Green. Cousins received a minor penalty for cross-checking when he hit Green from behind, sending the Red Wings defenseman hard into the boards. Cousins has a total of 10 minutes in penalties over 38 games.

Cousins had an assist, five shots, one hit and one blocked shot over 17:32 of ice time in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay.

Cousins assisted on Montreal's lone goal, which barely missed being a power-play score. He was given the first crack at replacing Brendan Gallagher (concussion) on the Canadiens' top line. Gallagher became the fifth forward to land on injured reserve, so Cousins should see a spike in ice time until the Habs hit their bye week beginning Jan. 19. Over the last two games, he's averaged 17:37, including 2:38 on the power play.

Cousins scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Canucks.

Cousins tallied the tying goal at 8:05 of the second period. The 26-year-old has three goals and a helper over his last six games. Cousins is up to 11 points, 58 shots on goal and 45 hits in 28 appearances overall. He's not always a consistent scoring threat, but he may be worth a look in deeper fantasy formats while he's relatively productive.

Cousins scored a power-play goal in Wednesday's 3-2 overtime win over Ottawa.

Cousins, who is averaging a career-high 1:39 of ice time on the power play, has two power-play goals and three points over the last four games. This nice stretch comes after the forward went 11 consecutive games without hitting the scoresheet. The 26-year-old Cousins has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 26 games.

Cousins had an assist with three shots on goal, one hit and one blocked shot in Friday's 2-1 win over the Rangers.

Head coach Claude Julien made some line adjustments following an injury to third-line center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (concussion) sustained in Thursday's loss to Colorado. Part of those adjustments was to promote Cousins from the fourth line to the third line, and he registered the primary assist on Nate Thompson's game-winning goal late in the third period. After a flurry of offensive activity when he first returned from a back injury, Cousins had a stretch of 11 games without a point, but he has rebounded with points in the last two games.

Cousins scored a power-play goal in the third period to make the game interesting, but Montreal fell 3-2 to the Avalanche on Thursday.

Cousins cut the lead to one early in the third period, but Montreal failed to score the rest of the way and has now lost eight of its last nine games. Prior to scoring against the Avalanche, Cousins had gone 16 games without a goal, his last one coming back on Oct. 30. Even in a power-play role, he is a risky play most nights in fantasy.

Cousins had two shots, two hits and a minus-1 rating over a forward-low 8:13 of ice time in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime loss to Ottawa.

Cousins has been a nightly starter and consistent producer on the fourth line since overcoming a back injury, but the 26-year-old forward has gone a season-high five games without marking the scoresheet. He should remain part of the active lineup as Montreal deals with injuries to Jonathan Drouin (wrist) and Paul Byron (knee), but an initial offensive spark (seven points in 11 games) has worn off.