They call me Bob

The NHL seasoned opened today in a dramatic fashion. The first game in Finland, first game in the new Console Energy Center, first OT game, first shut-out, first games for the tremendous trio in Edmonton and first win for Bob.

Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 29 shots and allowed 2 goals as he backstopped Philadelphia to their first win of the season and his first NHL victory in his first NHL start. He is now worth taking a flyer on in keeper leagues as he should get ample starts to prove his value.

The line of Malkin, Comrie and Tangradi combined for 9 shots but were held off the score sheet because of the strong play of Bobrovsky. Malkin played an outstanding 23:05 and Crosby 24:42. Keep an eye on Comrie and Tangradi. It may be just a matter of time before they start racking up the points.

Brandon Sutter netted 2 goals and Carolinas defence corps added 5 points in the contest. Sutter is a great option for a depth center in your pool as he is already playing 17:00 plus minutes a game.

The Avs and Hawks competed in a in the league’s first OT game with Colorado coming out on top. With a total shot count of 79, Anderson and Turco were very busy and looked very sharp all night. Patrick Sharp, Hossa and Kopecky all had 2 points and 15 of the 38 shots on the night. Keep an eye on Kopecky as he is skating on the top 2 lines and getting PP time.

JS Giguere made some huge stops as time ran down to give the Leafs their first win of the season. The Kessel, Bozak and Versteeg all played over 20 minutes, while Komisarek only played 12 minutes. Clarke MacArthur played 14 minutes, 3:33 on the PP, had 4 shots and scored 1 goal. He is worth watching in deeper leagues.

The young Oilers were led to victory by the 37 year old ‘Bulin Wall’. Turning aside all 37 shots from Calgary, Khabibulin looked unstoppable. Combine that with the youth and skills of Hall, Eberle and Paajarvi, Edmonton will be one of the best teams to watch. All 3 should be taken in all keeper pools but Khabibulin will experience growing pains this season, keep an eye on how he does before relying on him to get you wins.

Mark

Just Fantasy Hockey: Week 12 Forecaster

With half the league playing a busy 4 game week there are lots of choices in leagues that offer only weekly roster changes. Unfortunately the NHL schedule makers forgot about the San Jose Sharks by slating them for only 1 game, so Nabakov, Thornton and Heatley owners will have to work the waiver wire a bit more this week. Let’s look at the week ahead at some of the more promising match ups.

4 Game Week: Atlanta, Buffalo, Columbus, Detroit, Florida, Montreal, Nashville, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Phoenix, St. Louis, Toronto, Vancouver

3 Game Week: Anaheim, Boston, Calgary, Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington

2 Game Week: Colorado

1 Game Week: San Jose

Vancouver: vs. Los Angeles, vs. Anaheim, vs. Washington, vs. St. Louis

Robert Luongo is 9-4-0 at home this year with a solid .922 SV% and 2.25 GAA. With 4 home games this week Luongo can be relied upon to post similar numbers. Also, the Canucks offence is second in the league in goals per game at home and fair well against some of the defences they are facing.

Fantasy Spin: The Sedin twins and Luongo are extremely solid plays in week-to-week leagues and are a definite must starts this week. Ryan Kesler has seen hits point total dip with the return of D. Sedin and should be considered as a number 3 fantasy center now.

Atlanta: @New York Rangers, @ Florida, vs. Dallas, vs. New Jersey

Atlanta has had one the most potent offences season and currently sit third in goals per game. The Thrashers offer one of the most balanced attacks in the NHL, as proven when when their number one point producer Kovalchuk, went down to injury. Until they show signs of slowing continue to dress your Thrashers.

Fantasy Spin: Kovalchuk continues to be a must play in standard hockey leagues, but in deeper leagues Peverly, Antropov and Afinogenov can be relied upon for consistent numbers.

Chicago: vs. St. Louis, vs. Boston, vs. Detroit.

The Blackhawks are tied with the Devils with a leagues best 2.14 GAA. With 3 home games against team in the bottom third in total offence, it is a perfect match-up for owners of Black Hawk goaltenders. Chicago continues to tinker with their offensive lines to try and find a second line center after Toews. Sharp looks to have developed some chemistry with Hossa and Eager on a line, something the Hawks have been looking for all season.

Fantasy Spin: With no back to back games this week Huet should get all 3 starts and should be started in any league this week. Toews, Keith and Hossa are solid plays this week even though they play only 3 games. Keep an eye out for an injury update on Kane as he went down in the game against the Lightning before your line-ups set.

Detroit: vs. Phoenix, vs. St. Louis, @Dallas, @ Chicago

Detroit has been hit by the injury bug all season and have tightened up defensively as a result. Allowing just 9 goals over their last 5 games, this veteran group of players are playing a defence first style of play to . Phoenix and St. Louis sit 28th and 29th in total offence and are great match-ups for Detroit early in the week.

Fantasy Spin: Jimmy Howard has allowed just 4 goals over his last 3 games and will likely get the majority of starts in net. Todd Bertuzzi has 4 goals in his last 2 games and may be worth a look in deeper leagues as he is hot right now.

Brian

Fantasy Boom or Bust Review - Eastern Conference

The Easternce Conference now hosts the team with the most points, the league leader in scoring and best goaltender. One third of the way in, Just Fantasy Hockey examins the Booms and Busts so far in the East.

Atlanta – The Thrashers made great strides in the off-season to sign players and make a return to the playoffs. They are currently sitting in a play-off position, however the ongoing contract discussions between Kovalchuk and management aren’t progressing.

Boom – M Afinogenov – Second in team scoring, Max has found a new lease on life playing with countryman Kovalchuk. A steal of a signing, Afinogenov has played primarily on Atlanta’s top line all season.

Bust – B Little, T White & S Kozlov – It appears playing with super sniper Kovalchuk will elevate anyone’s stats. In this case all three players have played on the second and third lines and have struggled mightily. Don’t expect a turn around anytime soon, it’s time to look elsewhere if you own the players.

Boston – The Bruins are suffering from a relapse after a deep playoff run. With injuries taking a toll early on, they are finally turning it around and contending for a playoff spot. With the core of the team signed long-term, the Bruins should challenge for the division lead.

Boom – P Bergeron – With the large amount of injuries in Boston, Bergeron was thrust into a number one role at the start of the season. Leading the Bruins in scoring with 23 points, Bergeron has increased his fantasy value once again and looks to have fully recovered from his injury from years ago.

Bust – T Thomas – The defending Vezina winning goalie has fallen back down to mediocrity. Boasting a 7-7-3 record with a 2.48 GAA, back-up Rask has outplayed him this season.

Buffalo – The Sabres goal this year is to return to the playoffs. Ryan Miller leads all NHL goaltenders in GAA and Save % and is the catalyst of the team. Coach Ruff has the team playing a disciplined but low scoring brand of hockey which is hurting their fantasy values.

Boom – T Myers – The 6’8” rookie has made an immediate impact with the team. Constantly compared To Zdeno Chara, Myers is a less physical, more mobile d-man. With 15 points in 27 games, he is having an excellent start to the season.

Bust – T Vanek – The Austrain winger is a wizard with the puck.A traditional slow starter, Vanek has only 18 points in 25 games and has more assists than goals. Be patient fantasy owners, he should break-out sooner rather than later.

Carolina – The worst team in the league doesn’t have a lot going for it at the moment. With injuries to Staal and Ward, their complimentary players just aren’t enough to keep the team a float. The clock may be ticking on coach Maurice.

Boom – R Whitney – This ageless wonder is leading the struggling Hurricanes in scoring. With 20 points in 27 games, 37 year old is prime trade bait as he is a UFA in the off-season.

Bust – The rest of the team – The Hurricanes are the worst team in the league and things are not looking up. Staal and Ward are the leaders of the team and have both been injured for long periods of time. Fantasy owners should not expect an outpouring of offence in Carolina but a look for Staal to rebound from a slow start.

Florida – After a horrible start to the season, The Panthers have turned it around as of late and are now only 4 points out of a playoff spot.

Boom – N Horton – After a slow start to the season, Horton has has turned around his game. Leading the Panthers in scoring with 25 points in 30 games, he is finally rewarding fantasy owner with an all round effort.

Bust – D Booth – This season is a season that Booth will want to forget. After receiving a vicious hit from Mike Richards that left him with a concussion, Booth is still not able to skate and is suffering from post concussion syndrome. Fantasy owners that drafted Booth early know the skill he possesses but will have to wait until next year to get rue value from him.

Montreal – The Habs face pressure on a nightly basis from fans, press, coaches and themselves. Few players have shown up on a nightly basis and the Habs get outshot routinely. Goaltender Carey Price has elevated himself and has carried the club most nights, now if he could only score goals.

Boom – T Plekanec – Playing for a new contract, Plekanec is leading the Canadiens in scoring and has been one of the teams highlight players this year. Look for Plekanec to continue playing at a point per game basis as he is the top pivot in Montreal.

Bust – S Gomez – At 7.5 Million dollars a season, you would expect you would be getting a player that leads your team in scoring. In 27 games, Gomez has managed 15 points and continues to disappear on a routine basis. He should no longer be looked at as a number one centerman in any fantasy format.

New Jersey – Many thought with the addition of Jaques Lemaire as coach would end the Devils ability to score, the opposite is holding true. The Devils lead their division and have many players scoring at a point per game rate.

Boom – M Brodeur – It’s hard to argue that there is any better Devil than one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. Playing on a nightly basis, Brodeur is showing no signs of slowing at 37. Fantasy owners should not worry about him fading away or retiring until the ink is dry on his retirement papers.

Bust – D Zubrus – At 31, Zubrus has never had a season with over 60 points. He currently has 7 points in 20 games and is nursing an injury. With a lot of fellow Devils scoring at a point per game pace, Zubrus has once again fallen behind the pack.

NY Islanders – Rookie John Tavares and goaltender Dwayne Roloson have turned the Islanders into a legitimate NHL team again. Sitting 3 points out of a playoff spot, the Islander will continue to push all season to get back into the big dance.

Boom – M Moulson – Fantasy owners are still wondering where this kid came from. Second in team scoring, Moulson has a propensity for scoring goals and compliments Tavares nicely.

Bust – S Bergenheim – Lightning fast, Bergeheim is struggling to keep up with the other young Islanders. With 11 points in 29 games, he is top 5 on the team in shot but just can’t seem to find the back of the net.

NY Rangers – The Rangers are only as good as Marion Gaborik. The leading scorer in the league, Gaborik is dynamic and finally healthy. However, if Gaborik goes down, so does any hopes of the Rangers making the playoffs.

Boom – V Prospal – The good season, bad season trend continues for Prospal. He is having a amazing start to the season playing alongside Gaborik. With 26 points in 28 games, he is one of the few productive Rangers this season.

Bust – H Lundqvist – Still an elite goaltender in the league, Lundqvist started the season on a hot streak but has fallen on tough times lately. Still possessing a winning record, 12-11-1 2.64 GAA, he should be able to return to fine form as the the season grinds on.

Ottawa – The surprising Sens are a hard working club that are in the game most nights. Currently sitting in 7th in the East, Ottawa will have to find the secondary scoring to be able to stay there for the rest of the year.

Boom – M Fisher – The 29 year old centerman has never been a scoring force in the NHL. Second in team scoring, Fisher has 23 points in 29 games and is outplaying top pivot Jason Spezza. Fisher may not continue scoring but keep an eye on his progression as he may very well become Ottawa’s top center.

Bust – J Spezza, A Kovalev & J Cheechoo – The high priced talent just isn’t pulling their weight. With a combined total of 38 points in 82 games, this trio just aren’t getting it done. Fantasy owners should expect them to continue to struggle all season as the chemistry doesn’t seem to be prevalent in Ottawa.

Philadelphia – The Flyers were favourites heading into the league but their struggles with injuries and scoring have found them on the outside looking in. With so much talent on one team, it is only a matter of time before they get it together again.

Boom – J van Riemsdyk – A Calder candidate, JVR has fit in nicely on the Flyers top 2 lines. With 19 points in 25 games, JVR should continue putting up good numbers when Philly snaps out of their slump.

Bust –Coach J Stevens – The first coaching change of the season, Stevens was supposed to lead the Flyers straight into the Cup final, instead he lead them into a 5 game losing streak and 10 place in the Eastern Conference. Look for the Flyers to rebound now that Laviolette is in charge.

Pittsburgh – The Penguins got hit by the injury bug hard and were able to stay afloat thanks to Sid the Kid. Now that the majority of the Pens are healthy, they have returned to their championship form and are a force to be reckoned with.

Boom – A Goligoski – With all the injuries in Pittsburgh, Goligoski has quietly become the Penguins leading defensive scorer. With 16 points in 21 games, he has become yet another weapon for the potent Penguins.

Bust – K Letang – With the emergence of Goligoski, Letang has struggled statistically. Suffering an early injury, Letang has 10 points in 22 games after a stellar Stanley Cup run. Hold onto Letang as he may still put up points in the latter half of the season.

Tampa Bay – The Lightning are feeling better about where they are this year. With a young and competitive hockey team, Tampa sits 2 points out of a playoff spot and are getting production from sophomore Stamkos.

Boom – S Stamkos – In his second full year in the league, Stamkos is emerging as a force in Tampa. He is leading the for the Lightning in goals and points and has meshed well with Marty St. Louis. If this is a sign of how good he could be in the future, the Lightning have drafted a gem.

Bust – A Tanguay – After suffering a series of injuries in Montreal, Tanguay joined the Lightning late in the off-season. Tanguay may very well still be recovering from the injuries as he is playing as a shadow of his former self. With 17 points in 29 games, he should not be relied on as a top number 1 winger in fantasy pools.

Toronto – The Jekyll and Hyde Maple Leafs have looked impressive as of late. With sniper Kessel back in action and Kaberle making that all important first pass out of the zone, the Leafs are only as good as their goaltending.

Boom – T Kaberle – Second in defensive scoring in the league and leading the Leafs with 28 points in 29 games, Kaberle is having an outstanding season. With the ability to thread the eye of a needle with his passes, Kaberle will continue to post great numbers all season.

Bust – J Blake – A player that takes as many shots on goal as Blake does should result in far more goals. After taking 92 shots so far this season, he only has 4 goals. The aging winger has tremendous speed but lacks the finishing touch he had as an Islanders 4 seasons ago.

Washington –The flashy Capitals are deep in talent and are leading the league in scoring. With many questions surrounding their goaltending to start the season, Both Varlamov and Theodore own winning records and have helped the Caps lead the league in points.

Boom – B Laich, T Fleischmann & B Morrison – The Caps now have the ability to count on someone other than AO for scoring. With the emergence of these players, Washington is now deep, young and primed for a long playoff run.

Bust – M Nylander – The enigma that is Michael Nylander continues to haunt the Capitals. Not having played a game all season, and eating a cap hit of 4.875 Million, the Capitals cannot find a home for him.

Mark

Just Fantasy Hockey: Week 11 Forecaster

We are officially entering the half way point in most fantasy league schedules. The NHL has seen its first major move in the firing of John Stevens. The Olympics are only 67 days away and the trade deadline will be here before you know it. Before we get too far forward, let’s look at the week ahead.

4 Game Week: Atlanta, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Montreal, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Washington

3 Game Week: Anaheim, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Nashville, New York Islanders, Ottawa, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Jose, Vancouver

2 Game Week: Boston, New York Rangers

Buffalo Sabres: vs. New Jersey, vs. Washington, vs. Chicago, @ New York Rangers.

There seems to be no stopping Ryan Miller this year, as he has all but locked up the starting role for the U.S at this year’s Olympics. Washington is the only opponent this week that could throw a hammer into the works, but it’s hard to question not playing a hot goalie. The Buffalo offence sits 25th overall in goals for and have no players playing at a point per game pace.

Fantasy Spin: Miller remains a must start in all fantasy formats as he boasts the best GAA in the league. Roy, Connolly, Pominville, Vanek and rookie Tyler Myers are leading the charge for the Sabres offensively, although they still struggle at times.

Toronto Maple Leafs: vs. Atlanta, vs. New York Islanders, @Boston, vs. Washington

Toronto possesses the NHL’s worst home offence. In 12 homes games so far this season, the Buds have only scored 22 goals. They lead the league in shots per game with 34.2, but that doesn’t amount to anything more than padding opposing goalies SV%. Kessel has been the only source of reliable Leafs offence since his return.

Fantasy Spin: Kessel has 10 goals in his 16 games this season, but only has 1 goal in his last 4 at the ACC. If your league has shots as a category, he is a must start. Kaberle leads all Leafs in scoring but owns a -7 plus/minus rating.

Philadelphia Flyers: @Montreal, vs. New York Islanders, @ Ottawa, vs. New Jersey

Since returning from their 5 game Western road trip, the Flyer offence has disappeared.
Recording 4 straight losses, two of which were shut-outs, the Flyers decided it was time for a change by firing their head coach. Philadelphia has extremely high expectations this year after trading for Chris Pronger in the off-season to mesh with a highly potent and young offence. They started the season off well, but have fallen on hard times as of late.

Fantasy Spin: This team has a ton of young offensive talent and are a tempting fantasy bunch, but until they find their way with coach Laviolette, they remain risky additions to your line-up. Richards, Carter and Pronger are guaranteed to continue to eat up ice-time regardless of their level of play. Be confident that the Flyers will snap out of this spell at any time and make an impact soon.

Washington Capitals: @Tampa Bay, @Buffalo, Carolina, @Toronto

The Capitals lead the league in goals per game and have the league’s best power play unit at a 24.3%. The Lightning, Hurricanes, Leafs and Sabres sit among the worst in the league in penalty minutes per game so far this year. With Ovechkin back from his two game suspension and Semin returning to his fine form the Capitals should be set for another huge offensive week.

Fantasy Spin: The Capitals offer a wealth of stars and some players on the rise. Activate all Capitals including Laich and Fleishmann as they continue to offer secondary scoring on the best offensive team. Theodore and Varlamov should split duties this week, each having two starts, dress them accordingly.

Brian

Fantasy Boom or Bust Review - Western Conference

With approximately one third of the NHL schedule complete, Just Fantasy Hockey is taking a look at some of the fantasy booms and busts from the first 27 games. We will start our focus on the Western Conference.

Anaheim – The Ducks continue to struggle and look better on paper than they are actually playing. With weaker than average goaltending, the Ducks continue to trim the fat by waiving the dead weight.

Boom – C Perry – Leading the charge with a 19 game point streak, Perry is a fantasy treasure.

Bust – S Koivu & J Lupul – With only 10 points in 20 + games, they are offering no secondary scoring.

Calgary – Tops in their division, Calgary offers a defence first approach that finds them on the right side of winning most nights.

Boom – R Bourque – Averaging a point per game pace, Bourque has added much needed secondary scoring. Look for Bourque to continue putting up good numbers all season when he returns from his injury.

Bust – D Phaneuf – 2 seasons removed from a 60 point season, Phaneuf’s name is stronger than his play. Still a hard hitting d-man, he may no longer be the big point and PIM guy he once was.

Chicago – The Blackhawks are primed to make a deep run in the playoffs and have showed a combination of speed and skill this season. A wealth of fantasy options are to be had on this team.

Boom – D Keith – On the verge of announcing a long-term deal in Chicago, Keith has played his way into consideration for team Canada and has produced at close to a point per game status.

Bust – C Barker - The young rearguard bust into the league last season recording 40 points in 68 games and was a threat on the powerplay. This season, Barker has quietly fallen into anonymity in such a star studded Hawks team.

Colorado – The Avalanche have surprised the entire league. With a young and aspiring team, Colorado is in the playoff hunt and gives an all around effort most nights.

Boom – C Anderson – The main reason the Aves are in the position they are in now is because of Anderson. He has single handily led Colorado into a respectful team when most people never gave him a chance. Look for Anderson to continue to play over his head for the rest of the season.

Bust – M Svatos – Once looked at as a sniper, Svatos’ injury problems and inability to finish has killed his fantasy value. A change of scenery would benefit Svatos.

Columbus – Once thought of as a defensively tight, the Blue Jackets have become as porous as a teenager. Fantasy owners are feeling the pain of owning Calder winner Steve Mason and are left wondering if it will last all season.

Boom – A Vermette – Never regarded as an offensive threat, Vermette is hovering at a point per game rate and a plus 2 on the season. He is proving to be a sleeper fantasy option.

Bust – D Brassard – Oozing with potential, owners of Brassard were expecting an outpouring of offense. Pegged as Nash’s centerman, Brassard has struggled thus far netting 16 points in 26 games.

Dallas – The Stars have returned to respectability after an injury plagued season last year. Staying healthy and having their young players develop quickly has allowed the Stars to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Boom – J Neal – Neal has managed to avoid the sophomore slump so far. With 22 points in 23 games, 11 of them goals, Neal is second in Stars scoring and has be a pleasant surprise to fantasy owners.

Bust – M Niskanen – Hoping Niskanen would be their powerplay quarterback, he has statistically disappeared. With 8 points in 26 games, Niskanen has taken a step back and is not a fantasy option any longer.

Detroit – The defending Western Conference champions look to be finally coming back down to earth. The loss of key components, injuries and father time not on their side, Detroit will continue to struggle.

Boom – H Zetterberg – Locked up long-term, Zetterberg is the only Wing to be playing at a point per game basis. It’s hard to deny his talent and Zetts should continue scoring, even if no one else is.

Bust – The rest of the team – Owners of Red Wing players have lived through many fantasy rich seasons. With Lidstrom, Rafalski, Osgood and even Datsyuk struggling, owners are left holding their breath waiting for them to snap out of it. It can’t go on forever right?

Edmonton – With coach Quinn at the Helm, things looked bright for the Oilers early on. That was until the wheels fell off and injuries had decimated the club. Quinn has the young Oilers playing well but are mired in a deep slump.

Boom – D Penner - This could be Penner’s year to finally reach his potential. With 30 points in 27 games, 15 of them goals, Penner is a fantasy option once again.

Bust – S Horcoff – Pegged as the number one center, Horcoff has 11 points in 23 games and is a horrendous -10. He should only be considered as a reserve player in the deepest of leagues.

Los Angeles – The Kings have pieced together an impressive group of talented youth and veterans. Poised at making a playoff run, the Kings need to learn how to break out of a scoring slump that has hit them since Smyth’s injury.

Boom – R Smyth – Never shying away from a physical game, Smyth has ignited young sniper Kopitar and is playing at a point per game pace as well. Look for Smyth to continue playing well once he returns from is injury.

Bust – A Frolov – Not a favourite of coach Terry Murray, Frolov has been in and out of his doghouse all season long. With 18 points in 27 games, Frolov has played on all three lines and has failed to find chemistry with any of them.

Minnesota – Fans in Minnesota were excited to learn about the new direction that the team was going to go in the off-season. A high tempo, fast paced and less trapping game has left fans scratching their heads wondering what went wrong.

Boom – A Brunette – An always consistent Brunette is once playing close to a point per game pace. With 21 points in 26 games, he is one of the few Wild players playing well.

Bust – M Havlat – With 9 points in 21 games, a – 16, and injured again, Havlat may just be the biggest bust in the entire league. Jump ship now on Havlat as it appears he will not get any better.

Nashville – One of the lowest scoring teams in the league, Nashville is as only as good as their goaltending. The Predators could use a goal scorer to add feeble scoring, so until they can get a scoring boost they will be a hot and cold team.

Boom – JP Dumont – Has always been a silent scorer, Dumont leads the Preds in scoring with 19 points in 21 games. A brief injury sidelined the winger for a bit, nut he has returned and is consistent.

Bust – M Erat – Never a high scoring threat, Erat has always been a decent depth player, until now. With 10 points in 24 games, Erat has fallen down the Predators depth chart and most fantasy rosters.

Phoenix – The turn-around from one of the worst teams in the league to respectability is under way. Even though the fans aren’t coming out, the Coyotes currently sit 7th in the West and should challenge for a playoff spot all year.

Boom – I Bryzgalov – The lifeline for the Coyotes, Bryzgalov has an impressive 14-8-1 record with a 2.12 GAA. He is a must have on any fantasy roster if he can remain white hot.

Bust – P Mueller – With only 4 points in 24 games, Mueller could use a change of scenery. Even though he had loads of potential, Mueller offer little in the way of fantasy value.

San Jose – The President’s Trophy winners last season are up to their same old tricks. The high flying Sharks are deep and dangerous. The young prospects have played well thus far and the veterans are tops in the league in scoring.

Boom – P Marleau – After being stripped of his captaincy in the off-season, Marleau has rebounded and is off to an incredible start. With 33 points in 29 games, he leads the team in goals scored.

Bust – ME Vlasic – With a dismal 9 points in 29 games, Vlasic has lost powerplay time and confidence along the way. On pace for 25 points, Vlasic should not factor in as a fantasy option this season.

St. Louis – Possessing a wealth of potential doesn’t always equate into winning hockey games. The Blues are loaded with very talented young players and key veterans that do not seem to be finding chemistry yet.

Boom – E Johnson – Healthy once again, Johnson leads the Blues in scoring and averages 22 minutes of ice time a games. Johnson should continue to be in the top 10 of defensive scoring.

Bust – P Kariya – Although none of the Blues players are living up to potential, a healthy Paul Kariya was supposed to offer up somewhere close to 7o points. With 11 points in 25 games, he will be lucky to hit 50 points.

Vancouver – The injury bug hit the Canucks hard already this season. Welcoming back their injured stars will help Vancouver shoot up the standings and become a force once again in the West.

Boom – M Raymond – With this being his third season with the Canucks, Raymond is already close to surpassing his 23 points he scored last season in 72 games. The speedy winger is proving to be a great depth player for Vancouver and your fantasy team.

Bust – K Bieksa – The hard hitting, oft-injured Bieksa has seen his point totals drastically slashed this season. With Ehrhoff and Edler getting the majority of the powerplay time, Bieksa still offers PIMs as a fantasy upside.

Mark

Just Fantasy Hockey: Rookie Report

It's been a few weeks, lets take a look at how the NHL's top rookies are impacting your fantasy leagues.

James van Riemsdyk (RW), PHI - 18GP, 6G, 12A, 18P
JVR is now the only rookie averaging at least a point per game. The 21 year-old has however slowed down of late and he may be starting to tire from the pace of the NHL. Remember, this kid just spent 3 years playing college hockey and isn't used to a full NHL schedule. He has just 1 point in his past 3 games and played only 11:13 against Colorado.

Fantasy Impact:
If you have JVR, I would recommend trading him to an owner who buys his impressive start. He'll struggle with the grind of the NHL season and may even see a late-season demotion to the AHL. Sell High and get an asset that will help you all season.

John Tavares (C), NYI - 24GP, 9G, 10A, 19P
Tavares has struggled of late with no points in his last 3 games. His ice-time in those games had fluctuated from 15 minutes to 21 minutes. When this kid is going, he is gonna get the ice-time and with ice-time comes points. Tavares will continue to have hot and cold stretchs throughout the year but will get to play through the tough times. The Islanders are investing in this 18 year-old and fantasy owners can feel comfortable doing the same.
Fantasy Impact:
Try to jump an a Tavares owner during one of his dry spells. This kid is for real and should have a Stamkos-type finish to the season. Grab him off an impatient owner if you can.

Artem Anisimov (C), NYR - 23GP, 5G, 6A, 11P
Okay, the numbers still aren't great but it is the ice-time that encourages us with Anisimov. He is on an upward trend and played 16:45 against Columbus -puttinh up 1 goal and 2 assists. He also saw some time playing with Marian Gaborik. We have been telling you about this guy for a while and if you don't act soon, you may lose out on an impactful rookie.
Fantasy Impact:
Grab him off waivers if you can, he is the rookie that may have the biggest upside the rest of the year - outside of Tavares.

Ryan O'Reilly (C), COL - 24GP, 4G, 13A, 17P
As we speculated earlier in the year, O'Reilly has come back down to earth. He was never a big scorer in junior and anyone expecting him to be a point-per-game NHL rookie had another thing coming. O'Reilly has 3 assists in his past 7 games, but more importantly, his ice-time has been on a downward spiral - averaging just 13 minutes over the past 2 games. He is a good two-way forward but he could very well struggle to post 45 points this year and is no where near being a point-per-game player.
Fantasy Impact:
If you haven't already, trade O'Reilly to an owner who hasn't noticed the recent slide in points and ice-time. O'Reilly's overall numbers are still good so he should remain marketable for a little while longer.

Michael Del Zotto (D), NYR - 23GP, 5G, 11A, 16P
Del Zotto continues to impress on the Rangers' blueline. He has 3 points in his past 5 games and is still among the offensive leaders on Defence. Importantly, MDZ is averaging close to 20 minutes as the season progresses. The rookie is being trusted in more situations which should only help with his development. He has shown that he is more then just a PP specialist and should continue to blossom.

Fantasy Impact:
Now would be a good time to acquire the young rearguard. His insane production to start the year has expectantly cooled off but he is still a fantasy-worthy rearguard. See if you can get him off a foolish owner who thinks MDZ is regressing.

Chris

You Rub My Back, I'll Rub Yours.

Montreal trades Guillaume Latendresse to Minnesoa for Benoit Pouliot.

A good deal for both teams as they swap once-promising youngsters in the hopes that a change of scenery will ignite a fire.

Fantasy Breakdown:

Guillaume Latendresse:
Latendresse stormed onto the scene in 2006-2007, scoring 16 goals as a 19 year-old. A big winger with good speed, Guillaume used his size to bang bodies and create space for him and his linemates. Latendresse has since battled injuries and hasn't progressed from that impressive rookie year. He has struggled this year with just 2 goals and 1 assist in 23 games averaging just 11:23 of ice-time a night.

Advice:
The change of scenery should help as he will no longer have to play under the microscope of Montreal. Watch him over the next few weeks to see if he can regain his confidence.

Benoit Pouliot:
The 2005 4th overall pick has developed at a snail's pace. Pouliot was tabbed as a poor man's Vincent Lecavalier in his draft year, a lanky, skilled centre that just needed to add some muscle. Although he never scored more then 65 points in the OHL, Pouliot was viewed as a late-bloomer who projected well as an NHLer. Since the draft, he has struggled to put up points at any level. Benoit had his best year statistically in the AHL last season with 24 points in 30 games. He earned a regular spot with the Wild this year but has struggled to take advantage of the opportunity with just 4 points in 14 games - averaging a mere 6:58 of ice-time.

Advice:
A quick start in Montreal could save his career, but we're betting against it. Keep an eye on Pouliot but he should be in the AHL by January.

Chris

Nikita Filatov: Russian Off to KHL

Coach Hitchcock strikes again.

Columbus Blue Jackets' winger Nikita Filatov has been loaned to CSKA of the KHL. The 19 year-old scored just 2 goals in 13 games this year for the Jackets, averaging a mere 8:07 minutes of ice-time a game. Columbus did the same thing to the young Russian last year, as he saw limited action in just 8 NHL games while spending most of the year in the AHL - though he did net his first NHL hat trick.

Notorious for bringing along young talent at a snail's pace, Coach Ken Hitchcock refused to give Filatov big minutes to show what he can do - evidenced by his season-high of 14:06 in a 9-1 loss to the Red Wings. Filatov was often lining up on the 4th line and receiving minimal powerplay time. Hitchcock does not like to expose his young talent to big minutes until he feels they are responsible in all three zones. Second year winger Jakub Voracek seems to be miles ahead of Nikita in this field as he is playing in all situations. Hitchcock did the same thing to another teenage star in Gilbert Brule which stunted his offensive development before trading him to Edmonton in the off-season.

Fantasy Impact:

If you own Filatov in a keeper league, this is actually good news. He will go to Russia and get the ice-time he needs to develop his elite offensive skills. Remember, coming out of the 2008 Draft, Filatov was thought to have as much offensive upside, if not more, as #1 pick Steven Stamkos. Filatov will also likely play for Russia at the upcoming WJHC in Saskatoon and should be one of the more dominant players. Lets face it, his game was not developing while getting limited ice-time under Ken Hitchcock. The Jackets realized it and so should you. Hold onto this kid, he could regain his confidence and end up beign the rookie of the year next season.

Chris

Just Fantasy Hockey - Between the Pipes - Week 7

There were a couple of major moves with Hiller and Ward falling out of the top five this week. Both Ward and Hiller are on struggling teams right now which is softening their fantasy value. All three new entries to the top 20 are goalies which have strengthened their hold on the majority of future starts for their respective teams.

Let’s check out the rankings and see who made the biggest jumps and falls.

(Ranking system is based on expected performance in standard fantasy hockey league categories including Wins, Shut Outs, GAA and SV %)

Goaltender - Current Rank - Last Week Rank
H. Lundqvist - 1 - 1
R. Luongo - 2 - 2

E. Nabakov - 3 - 4
T. Thomas - 4 - 7

M. Brodeur - 5 - 8
M.A Fleury - 6 - 6
R. Miller - 7 - 10
N. Backstrom - 8 - 9
I. Bryzgalov - 9 - 12
J. Hiller - 10 - 5
C. Ward - 11 - 3
C. Anderson - 12 - 14
R. Emery - 13 - 17

N. Khabibulin -14 - 11
P. Rinne - 15 - 20
T. Vokoun - 16 - 19
C. Osgood - 17 - N/R

M. Kiprusof f - 18 - 16
C. Huet - 19 - N/R
S. Varlamov - 20 - N/R

Cam Ward - His value just keeps on slipping. Posting a awful GAA of 3.62 and .863 SV% over the last 6 starts with 0 wins he is no longer worthy of a top 5 spot. To make matters worse, Carolina’s offence ranks dead last in the NHL. Unless Ward can start to steal some wins, he will continue to fall.

Tim Thomas - Thomas’ owners are finally getting what they paid for at the beginning of the season. He seems to have “righted his ship” with posting a GAA of 1.99 and a SV% of .929 over his last 5 starts. However, he only had 2 wins over that same span, but that and extensive injuries, has contributed to the Bruins struggling offence. When Savard and Lucic return to action they will bolster the offence and it will give Thomas some much needed support.

Craig Anderson - The Avalanche seem to be hitting the wall after their hot start. Anderson last week had 2 starts with zero wins with a GAA and SV% of 3.04 and .909 respectively. He is still a good fantasy option, but he will be subject to hot and cold streaks on a young up and coming team.

Chris Osgood - Osgood is on pace to start 63 games this year, that’s a far cry from the 46 and 43 games he started over the last two years, which has limited his fantasy value. Howard’s ineffectiveness has only increased Osgood value.

Pikka Rinne - Rinne now has the firm hold of the starting job in Nashville. His time share scenario with Ellis has handcuffed Rinne’s value. Look for Rinne’s value to rise if he can show that he is up to the challenge of being a starter once again. Last week he had 2 wins in 2 starts, a shut out, a GAA of 1.01 and GAA of .961.

Tomas Vokoun - Vokoun was scorching hot last week posting 2 shut outs in two games, which came at the hands of Carolina and St. Louis, which rank 30th and 23rd respectively in total offence. Until he can prove he can play better against more potent offences, he will stay in the 15-20 range at year end.

Brian

Just Fantasy Hockey - Week 6 Rookie Report

Time for our weekly segment that takes a look at the movers and shakers in this year's Freshman Class.

James van Riemsdyk (RW), PHI - 10GP, 2G, 11A, 13 PTS
We have a new leader in the Rookie scoring race as JVR put up 6 points over his past 3 games. While he is averaging a mere 13:01 a game, the Flyers are ensuring that when he is out there, he has some skill to play with. A natural goal-scorer, JVR should start finishing more as his confidence grows.
Fantasy Impact:
JVR is having a very productive start to his career and his ice-time should gradually grow as the season progresses. That said, this is a talented team that is fighting some injuries. Expect his production to slow down as he hits a wall or two throughout the year. He should finish near 60 points and have a strong shot at the Calder.


Semyon Varlamov (G), WSH - 5GS, 5W, 3.20GAA, .895SV%
Varlamov is a perfect 5-0 to start the year, but his peripheral numbers leave much to be desired. After an outstanding stretch in last year's playoff run, Varlamov was one of the most hyped picks at fantasy drafts this September. Expected to assume the #1 job in Washington for the next decade, Coach Bruce Boudreau broke camp by stating he would split starts with Varlamov and incumbent Jose Theodore. In fact Theodore started the first game and had been the better goalie up until last week.
Fantasy Impact:
Look for Varlamov to slowly grab more starts and his numbers should improve - slightly. He will finish the year with a ton of wins but don't expect great GAA and SV% numbers with that suspect Caps' defence. Owners invested too much in Varlmov at the draft so they won't be selling anytime soon.

Tom Wandell (C), DAL - 14GP, 2G, 4A, 6PTS
Wandell has emerged over the past week with 3 points in his past 2 games - including playing a career-high 19:23 against the Panthers. The Swedish Centre is developing nice chemistry with hyped phenom Fabian Brunnstrum on the Stars 3rd line. Wandell was a late pick in the 05' Draft and put up 41 points in the SEL last year. He is averaging 15:19 a game and the Stars coaching staff are impressed with his overall game.
Fantasy Impact:
Keep an eye on Wandell. No one in your league will know him but he could be a valuable depth centre on your fantasy squad with decent upside - a classic late-bloomer.

Artem Anisimov (C), NYR - 15GP, 3G, 4A, 7PTS
Anisimov continues to produce with minimal ice-time - averaging 9:45 a game. Out of the top 10 rookie scorers, Anisimov is averaging at least 3 minutes less of ice-time a game...and he's 7th in scoring by the way. It should be noted that Anisimov played a career-high 16:20 this week against MIN - a game Marian Gaborik missed due to injury.
Fantasy Impact:
As we have stated all along, Anisimov will produce with limited minutes but will be the main beneficiary of the first long-term injury to Marian Gaborik. It will happen and when it does, grab Artem before a rival GM does. He should finish with 45+ points.

Jonas Gustavsson (G), TOR - 4GS, 1W, 3.21GAA, .892SV%
OK, the numbers don't look great and the team isn't winning but trust us on this one. "The Monster" has already wrestled the #1 spot away from incumbent Vesa Toskala. Gustavsson seems to be getting more confident with each start and Toronto's D will only get better. He has a huge frame and lightning quick reflexes.The Monster should spend more time in net then out of it this year and challenge Varlamov for top rookie goaltender honours.
Fantasy Impact:
Again, this is a buy-low situation. The Leafs are a decent team, despite their horrendous start. They will play .500 hockey the rest of the way and Gustavsson will get the majority of starts. Grab him now and you could have yourself a solid #2 Fantasy Goalie for a cheap price.

Chris

Just Fantasy Hockey - Week 6 Forecaster

After a busy week 5, things slow down a little in week 6. With only a handful of teams playing a busy 4 game fantasy week, many teams play a standard 3 game schedule. It’s key for owners to maximize their line ups with teams with favourable match-ups.

4 Game Week: Atlanta, NY Islanders, Phoenix, Tampa Bay.

3 Game Week: Anaheim, Boston, Buffalo, Calgary, Carolina, Colorado, Columbus, Dallas, Detroit, Edmonton, Florida, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Jersey, NT Rangers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Jose, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington

2 Game Week: Chicago, Minnesota, Nashville, Ottawa

Teams to watch

Philadelphia: Tampa Bay, @Buffalo, St. Louis
The Flyers should capitalize as all three opponents rank in the bottom half of goals for. With the Flyers potent offence which ranks 4th overall, look the Flyers to have an extremely strong week.
Fantasy Spin: Play all your healthy Flyers with confidence. Gagner and Briere remain out with injuries for this week. Ray Emery should continue his strong play of late with the possibility of Boucher getting his second start of the season against the Blues.

Washington: @New Jersey, @Florida, Florida
The Caps have a tough challenge to start of the week with a match against the Devils, but they should finish off strong. AO and company are 2nd in the league in goals per game, while the Panthers are 2nd worst. The goaltending scenario seems to be getting clearer with the edge going to Theodore.
Fantasy Spin: With Ovechkin’s injury status unknown going into Monday, fantasy owners should consider him day to day and dress the super-star for the week. If he misses the game against the Devils and returns for the back to back against the Panthers, he should still have a very successful week. Look for Laich, Semin and Fleischmann to contribute while AO is out.

Phoenix: Los Angeles, @Colorado, Chicago, @Anaheim
The on ice success of the ‘Yotes this year has surprised most people, especially after all the off ice turmoil that surrounds the team. Phoenix continues to play well and there is no reason why the leagues number one defence shouldn’t continue. Phoenix currently sits 21st in scoring and will have a tough week against Colorado and Chicago who sit 2nd and 5th respectively in team GAA.
Fantasy Spin: Find better options for your Phoenix forwards, but Bryzgalov is a must start every game this week.

Atlanta: @Montreal, Columbus, @New York Islanders, St. Louis
The Thrashers, on paper, have the most favourable match-up for any team playing four games this week. The Canadiens, Blue Jackets and Islanders all sit in the bottom third in Team GAA, and with Kovalchuk out, the question is can the leagues 6th overall offence keep on clicking.
Fantasy Spin: With Kovalchuk out, the play of Rich Peverly has contributed to the Thrashers success. Goaltender Ondrej Pavelec’s strong play continues to give the Thrashers a means to win night in and night out.

Nashville: @Anaheim, @ Los Angeles
The Predators offence sits dead last in total offence and the only real fantasy story going on in Nashville is between the pipes. Rinne recorded a shut-out in week 5 and looks to have taken the lead for the number one goaltending spot.
Fantasy Spin: Rinne has outplayed Ellis of late and with a light schedule may get both starts this week. Strong play from J.P. Dumont and Shea Weber are Nashville’s primary fantasy weapons right now.

Chicago: @Phoenix, @ Colorado
Jonathan Toews should not factor back into the line-up this week after he continues to suffer from concussion like symptoms. Huet has played strong of late, which provides the Black Hawks with the confidence needed to excel at their offensive style of play.
Fantasy Spin: Patrick Kane and Sharpe continue to lead the Hawks in the stat department with Barker and Keith leading the d-men in points. With the defensive systems that Phoenix and Colorado play, look for the games to be low scoring and tightly played.

Brian

Players to Watch - Week 6

Tomas Fleischmann (C) – Washington
Has seen time on the top powerplay unit since his return.

Steve Reinprecht (C) – Florida
One of the only Panthers consistently producing at the moment.

Daniel Winnik (C) – Phoenix
The young center has 6 points in his last 5 games.

Phil Kessel (RW) - Toronto
Should make his Leafs debut this week providing some much needed finish to the line-up.

Erik Cole (LW) – Carolina
Returning from injury, hopes he can help jump start a stagnate Hurricanes offense.

Michael Grabner (RW) – Vancouver – 0G – 0A - 0PTS

Alex Goligoski (D) – Pittsburgh – 2G – 1A - 3PTS

James Wright (C) – Tampa Bay – 0G – 0A - 0PTS

Wayne Simmonds (RW) – Los Angeles – 0G – 0A - 0PTS

David Perron (LW) – St. Louis – 2G – 1A - 3PTS

Mark

Just Fantasy Hockey - Injury Update

Evgeni Malkin (C) Shoulder strain – Out 2-3 Weeks
Fantasy Spin: With Malkin out the Penguins will lean more heavily on Sidney Crosby. Look for Jordan Staal to be promoted to the second line and play a bigger role on the powerplay as well. Depth players such as Kunitz and Guerin will also benefit from Malkins absence.

Valtteri Filppula (C) Broken wrist – Out 6-8 Weeks
Fantasy Spin: With a lack of scoring depth on the Wings already, losing Filppula is yet another blow to the struggling team. Depth players suck as Bertuzzi and Cleary will have no choice now but to find their game as it is almost assured that Zetterberg and Datsyuk will have to be split up to get everyone’s games going.

Roberto Luongo (G) Hairline rib fracture – Out 1 week
Fantasy Spin: The Canucks will now look at under achieving Andrew Raycroft as a their main man between the pipes. Raycroft has already proven over the years that he is incapable of being a teams staring goalie. If he struggles, look for the Canucks to play Cory Schneider who has posted 6 wins in 9 games in the AHL.

Mark

Just Fantasy Hockey - Week 5 Goalie Report

HOT

Craig Anderson – Colorado
Leading the league in wins, Anderson is proving all doubters wrong. With 10 wins in 13 games, Anderson is posting a GAA of 1.97 and a save percentage of .940%. Fantasy owners should no longer be hesitant to start the budding star. If your league rewards GAA and Save % he is a high reward goalie at the moment.

Jose Theodore – Washington
Looking to rise above adversity, Theodore is proving he can still be a number one netminder in the NHL, and playing for the highly offensive Capitals doesn’t hurt either. Posting 3 wins in 8 games, Theo is also sporting a 2.47 GAA and a .922 save %. Even though is tandeming with Varlamov at the moment, he is still a must start in weekly leagues.

Ilya Bryzgalov – Phoenix
One of the biggest surprises of the year has been the play of the Phoenix Coyotes. Not one of the flashiest teams on the ice, their defense first way of playing is winning them games. Posting a league high 3 shutouts, Bryzgalov is one of the hottest goalies in the league. Owners should jump on him on the waiver wire if he is still available and ride him while he is hot.

Cold

Chris Osgood & Jimmy Howard – Detroit
The Red Wings have struggled early this season and their goaltending isn’t helping their cause. Allowing weak goals in the early minutes of games, both Osgood and Howard do not look like they are good enough to be number one goalies in the league. Until Detroit can start to shake the rust off and stop allowing early goals, keep the tandem on your bench and look elsewhere for goaltending help.

Roberto Luongo – Vancouver
The injury riddled Canucks can now add their all-star goalie to the injured list. Dealing with a hairline fracture to his ribs, Luongo is estimated out for a mere week. Even though he is a top flight goalie, Luongo has struggled this season posting 6 wins in 12 games and has a GAA 2.79 and a save % of .902. Look for Luongo to be on the shelf for more than a week and bypass Andrew Raycroft as a fantasy option.

Cam Ward – Carolina
After leading the charge to the Eastern Confernce finals last season, Ward has struggled early on this season. With 2 wins in 11 games, and posting a 2.83 GAA, fantasy owners are looking for other options. When on his game, Ward is a top goaltender in the league and should be played in all formats. Keep him in your line-up as he is bound to turn things around.

Mark

Just Fantasy Hockey - Injury Report

Anaheim
J-S Giguere (G) Groin - Questionable for Oct. 30 vs. Vancouver
Fantasy Spin: Jonas Hiller now becomes the default number 1 goalie in Anaheim until Giggy can get healthy. Anaheim is struggling but is should soon be able to turn around their game. Start Hiller in all formats.

Atlanta
Ilya Kovalchuk (LW) Foot - Out until at least mid-November
Fantasy Spin: With their leading scorer out for 3-5 weeks, Evander Kane has made the jump to the top line. Expect Atlanta to mix it up until they can find the right chemistry on the top 2 lines. Kane has limited value but may be worth look in deeper leagues. Peverly and Little should see a lot more ice time as well, don’t hesitate to play them.

Boston
Milan Lucic (LW) Finger - Out until at least late November
Marc Savard (C) Foot - Out until at least late November
Fantasy Spin: With 2 of the top Bruins out of the line-up for an extended period of time, the depth players must step up to carry the team. Krejci and Bergeron now become the top two centers, while Wheeler and Ryder will be looked upon to score the big goals. Look for more production from the defence during this time. Keep playing your Bruins as their potential on the ice far out-weigh them sitting on your bench.

Chicago
Jonathan Toews (C) Upper body - Questionable for Oct. 29 at Nashville
Fantasy Spin: Toews has started the season slow and this injury doesn’t help his case. Look for the Hawks to rely on Sharpe, Kane, Byfuglien and Bolland to step up while Toews clears out his cobwebs. Look for Andrew Ebbett, Troy Brower and Jack Skille to add depth with Toews and Hossa are out.

Colorado
John-Michael Liles (D) Shoulder - Out until at least late October
Fantasy Spin: Liles is skating and looks to return this week. That is great news for the Aves powerplay and owners of Wolski, Hedjuk, Stastny and Quincey. Activate Liles for your line-up next week.

Detroit
Johan Franzen (C) Knee - Out until at least mid-February
Fantasy Spin: Detroit is struggling to score goals and find the right line combinations to make an impact. Although it is not wise to sit players like Zetterberg and Datsyuk, think twice about starting Betruzzi, Cleary and Leino until the Red Wings get going.

Edmonton
Sheldon Souray (D) Concussion - Out until at least late October
Fantasy Spin: Still not skating, Souray is taking a very slow road to recovery. Gilbert, Grebeshkov and Vishnovsky are the direct beneficiaries of this injury. Having Souray’s booming slapshot from the point on the powerplay hurts the Oilers, keep him stashed on your IR until he hits the ice and plays a couple games.

Florida
David Booth (LW) Concussion - Out until at least early November
Fantasy Spin: Receiving a crushing blow, Booth was carried off the ice on a stretcher. With Booth out for an undetermined amount of time, look for Frolik and Olesz to benefit with more icetime. With Florida having the second lowest goals for, I would look at other players as fantasy options.

Minnesota
Pierre-Marc Bouchard (C) Head - Out indefinitely
Fantasy Spin: With Minnesota struggling to score goals, the injury to PM Bouchard truly hurts. A lack of secondary scoring has frustrated fantasy owners. Eric Belanger has been a clear beneficiary of the injury as he has netted close to a point per game. Don’t expect Sykora, Nolan and Sheppard to get going until Bouchard can return. Look for Koivu and Havlat to continue leading the charge for the Wild.

Montreal
Andrei Markov (D) Ankle - Out until at least early February
Fantasy Spin: Adapting to life without their most productive defenceman has been difficult. With Markov out for an extended period of time, M-A Bergeron has been signed to fill the void. Bergeron has helped turn the Habs powerplay around by offering them another option from the point. Add Bergeron in all formats as he will eat up a lot of PP time.

Nashville
Jason Arnott (C) Arm - Out until at least early November
Fantasy Spin: With Arnott out, the Predators are finding it difficult to find the back of the net. The lowest scoring team in the league, the Arnott injury has affected the team’s fantasy value. It would be best to rest your Predators until they can get their game back on track with the exception of Weber and Suter.

New Jersey
Patrik Elias (LW) Hip, groin - Out until at least late October
Paul Martin (D) Arm - Out until at least late November
Fantasy Spin: With a November 4th date to return, the Devil’s will welcome back the veteran. Elias will take some time to get back into game condition so keep him reserved for the week he returns. Paul Martin has been a staple of consistency on the Devil’s blueline. With his injury, they have called up journeyman Cory Murphy. Murphy has limited fantasy value.

NY Rangers
Marian Gaborik (RW) Undisclosed - Questionable for Oct. 28 at N.Y. Islanders
Fantasy Spin: The Rangers are holding their breath hoping that Gaborik’s injury is not serious. The second leading scorer in the league, any injury to Gaborik will be a huge blow to the entire team. Keep him in your line-up until you hear differently. No news is good news.

Philadelphia
Simon Gagne (LW) Groin - Out until at least early November
Fantasy Spin: his will be a good test to see if Philadelphia can overcome a major injury. Expect Gagne to be out for an extended time and continue to struggle upon returning. Expect Briere, Giroux, Hartnell and JVR to step up and play the wings on the top 2 units.

Pittsburgh
Sergei Gonchar (D) Wrist - Out until at least late November
Fantasy Spin: The top team in the league has already shown they can do it with Gonchar out of the line-up. The main beneficiary of the injury will be Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski on the top powerplay unit. They have increased value now that Gonchar will be out for at least a month.

San Jose
Joe Pavelski (C) Foot - Out until at least late October
Fantasy Spin: Although he is skating, the timetable for Pavelski is still loose. An underrated fantasy player, Pavelski centers the Sharks second line when healthy. Patrick Marleau has thrived with Pavelksi on the sidelines.

St. Louis
T.J. Oshie (C) Appendectomy - Out until at least early November
Fantasy Spin: Struggling to find his game early in his sophomore year, Oshie will be sidelined temporarily. He offers little fantasy value at this point but has a bright future in St. Louis. Look for Boyes, Kariya and McDonald to continue to eat up the icetime for the Blues.

Toronto
Phil Kessel (RW) Shoulder - Out until at least early November
Fantasy Spin: With only 1 win under their belt, Toronto needs Kessel to come back to help lead their lousy offence. Aiming for a November 3rd return, he still has not been cleared for contact. Owners should expect Kessel to struggle when he does come back into the line-up. Keep him reserved until he has a week of game time under his belt.

Vancouver
Daniel Sedin (LW) Foot - Out until at least mid-November
Pavol Demitra (RW) - Shoulder - Out indefinitely
Sami Salo (D) Knee - Out until at least late November
Fantasy Spin: The infirmary is loading up for the Canucks. With 3 important pieces out of their line-up and Luongo struggling early, Vancouver has looked for rookies to help with the depth. Michael Grabner and Sergei Shirokov have been promoted from the AHL and may be worth a look in deeper leagues. Mathieu Schneider is back from an early injury and should be activated in all formats.

Mark

Just Fantasy Hockey - Week 5 Rookie Report

It's Tuesday, time for the JFH Rookie Report.

John Tavares (C), NYI - 10GP, 3G, 4A, 7PTS
Tavares has slowed down of late, going pointless in his past 4. The bad news for JT owners is that his ice-time has also decreased as he has averaged roughly 18 minutes on the ice over the past 5 games. That is down on his over 20 minutes from the first 5 games.
Fantasy Impact:
The 18 year-old has shown that he is human afterall. He'll have his ups and downs throughout the year, just don't get too high or too low on him and do something you'll regret. At the end of the year, 65-70 points is a strong possibility.

Ryan O'Reilly (C), COL - 11GP, 2G, 8A, 10PTS
The hottest of all the freshman, O'Reilly has 6 points in his last 4 and points in his past 7 games (9). His ice-time has also gone up and he played a season-high 20:13 on Saturday night. The Avs love the progress O'Reilly has made in transitioning to the NHL game and are giving him the opportunity to blossom.
Fantasy Impact:
While O'Reilly is red hot, he doesn't have a scorer's pedigree. His career-high in points with Erie (OHL) was 66 in 68 games. Hard to imagine him coming close to a PPG at the NHL level this year. Sell a fellow owner on O'Reilly's hot start and you'll be happy when he slows down in a few weeks.

Niklas Bergfors (RW), NJ - 9GP, 2G, 3A, 5 PTS
With 3 points in his past 2 games, Bergfors is showing the Devils why they drafted him 23rd overall in the '05 Draft. Niklas has spent the past 4 years adapting to the North American game in the AHL. He received over 17 minutes of ice-time in back to back games last week, showing that the Devils feel his game has finally matured enough to become a reliable NHLer. Playing on an effective line with Clarkson and Zubrus, the Devils are setting this youngster up for success.
Fantasy Impact:
Bergfors has great offensive instincts and can be a productive scorer if he sticks on the Devil's 2nd line. Not as heralded as some of the other rookies, Niklas could be just as valuable the rest of the way. If he is a FA, pick him up, especially in keeper leagues.

Michael Grabner (RW), VAN - 6GP, 2G, 3A, 5PTS
With injuries to Daniel Sedin and Pavol Demitra, Grabner is getting the opportunity to show his talent. The young Austrian has responded well with 4 points in his past 3 games. Playing on a lightning quick line with Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond, Grabner is making the most of his audition.
Fantasy Impact:
The 14th overall pick in the 2006 Draft, Raymond has high-end offensive skills and speed to burn. He could be a nice find for the Canucks, and your fantasy team.

Michael Del Zotto (D), NYR - 12GP, 4G, 8A, 12 PTS
While we thought Del Zotto would start to slow down, he has actually heated up. The 19 year-old rearguard has 7 points in his last 6 games and has seen his ice-time steadily increase, playing a season high 20:14 against NJ last week. His 12 points is tops among all rookies and tied with Dan Boyle for the league lead among all Dman.
Fantasy Impact:
We still think it will be impossible for Del Zotto to keep this pace up. That said, he may be more advanced than we thought. You may want to ride him out through his first tough stretch (it will happen) and see how he recovers. He could end up being a great keeper DMan by the end of the year.

Other notables:
A slow week for Dallas winger Jamie Benn with just 1 goal in his past 3. Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk has 4 points in his past 4. Rangers Centre Artem Anisimov has 2 goals in his past 2 games while continuing to get minimal ice-time. Pre-season sleeper LW Ville Leino has just 1 assist in his past 5 games with the Red Wings. TB D Victor Hedman is pointless in his past 4.

Chris