This just in: it is still raining outside. At last check there was about five inches of rain or more depending on what part of the Tri-state area you are from. Even if you are not, that is a ton of rain. On the bright side, things are not flashing and the lights are staying on. This is essential to try to accomplish some writing assignments and such. I think it is comical that the wind was blowing so hard for a while there that you thought it was a tornado blowing in. I can assure you that it was not and that power is restored at least here.

So what needs to be done here is to give you three players you may be able to pick up in the first round of your playoffs or last week of your regular season (whatever the case may be). At any rate here are our three. Hide the women, children, and maybe the men as well.

Rainy Day Three

Pascal Dupuis, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins: This is a bit of a risk because Dupuis is owned by so few owners in Fantasy leagues, but this is the time of year where this type of player is essential to your team’s crunch time success. The ice time he’s getting is not impressive, but lately it’s been a bit over 15 minutes which is progress and with the unfortunate slide of Max Talbot, this is Dupuis’ time to shine. I also like the six points in six games. Expect a bit more of that as the season winds down and Dupuis gets more time with that Sidney Crosby fellow. Dupuis is a very easy claim out there as honestly no one is really paying attention.

Manny Malhotra, C, San Jose Sharks: Here is another guy who honestly just gets little credit, but in deeper leagues is a nice third or fourth centre on your team. The 28 points in 55 games do not seem like much, but that +17 ranking and the occasional offensive outburst is enough to at least take a look and maybe even take a gamble at adding a guy like Malhotra. He plays almost 16 minutes a night so, again, you would have to cover a bit and find a guy that plays a bit more. When Maholtra is healthy, he is the type of player that can provide an unexpected spark for your team. You could do worse, but Malhotra is definitely not worse.

Chad LaRose, LW, Carolina Hurricanes: Really? Yes. LaRose was a very solid player in 2008-09, but injuries this season really derailed him badly. It seems those issues are long gone now and he has the ability to be a surprise on your Fantasy team. Granted, we dug really deep here as LaRose is owned by very few Fantasy leagues owners (less than 5 per cent), but his potential — especially on a team that is making a playoff push — should catch your eye. He even played over 20 minutes a couple games ago which is a sign that his stamina is 100 per cent at last. That is important and add in the fact that he is fresh, it makes him a viable pickup that no one will notice. Stash LaRose on your bench and sneak him in a few nights. It will surely pay some dividends for your Fantasy roster.

Next week we go for the jugular and point out some players that you should have added on your Fantasy team sooner, but may still have a chance to acquire. See you then.

You are now in the final week of your H2H Fantasy league and you are dead straight on the playoff bubble. Your opponent is not only just as active as you, but he also scours that waiver wire every day. Trade deadlines have passed so that option is also not available. Injuries may be mounting for your team as well. Do you have Denis Grebeshkov on your team? Well, he is out for a while after having testicular surgery (ouch). What if you have Mike Cammalleri? Well, he is out at least another week. It seems like you are going through the motions with no end or solution in sight. We take a quirky yet quick look at three players that may surprise this week in The Wire Troll.

Three To Please

Peter Mueller, C/RW, Colorado Avalanche: People will laugh some at this but Mueller fits in with what Colorado is trying to do and that is score more. He does not have to play a ton of D and all he has to do is pile up points like he did in his rookie season in Phoenix. It really is the perfect setting for a guy like Mueller. He is getting second line time and that PT could increase some this week. Those five points in four games so far is definitely a boon to his confidence along with the 15 to 17 minutes of ice time a night he gets now as opposed to being a healthy scratch in Phoenix. Expect more good times ahead for this youngster and get him now. To think Mueller is available in 95 per cent of leagues across the board — sheesh, what are you waiting for, people?

Dustin Byfuglien, LW, Chicago Blackhawks: This guy is playing for his contract, so to speak. Any guy that is this big and can create so much havoc should have a few more points. The middle part of the season was a dire struggle for Byfuglien (pronounced BUFF-len). However, if he ever figures out how to put the puck in the back of the net with putting a lot of shots on said net, then look out. Byfuglien does average nearly 16 minutes a night and when the opponents and games get larger, so does his intensity. Some may not like that, but I do. Especially this week, where for some this is a winner take all scenario. Win and you are in. When you are facing that situation, I want guys like Dustin Byfuglien on my team and not Ryan Whitney (powderpuff), for example.

Tyler Bozak, C, Toronto Maple Leafs: This is the why not of the week for you Fantasy owners. Yes, he is just a rookie, but his 13 points in 20 games screams “hey, take a flier on me.” You know he is going to get minutes (averaging over 18 a night) and is going to get to play on the first and/or second line. Nick Kulemin and Phil Kessel are no pushovers to play with. I particularly enjoy Bozak’s presence on the ice and his exuberance. Add in the ability to pass the puck and an above average wrist shot and you have the makings of a surprise pickup for the next few weeks as the NHL regular season winds down, but he could also be someone that surprises many that you play against in your Fantasy pools. If you have to take a gamble this week, why not take it on Bozak because honestly you could do much worse.

Next week we get you ready for the playoffs with an upside down edition of The Wire Troll. You will really have to see it in order to believe it.

Okay, so you were playing a variety of Fantasy Olympic Hockey leagues that were out there. Maybe it was Rinkotology or one of those DobberHockey leagues. Either way, it is pretty much time to get back into the stretch run that is the last six weeks of the Fantasy Hockey regular season. Remember just two weeks ago when we went on our little vacation? Well, that time is over and quick. I have to admit it was nice to have a couple weeks off…sort of. What did I do on my vacation? Well, here is some of what was actually accomplished.

I did manage to grout some tile in the bathroom that needed it. Also, I went down the Jersey Shore and shoveled enough snow to fill a soccer field, or at least it felt like it. Then I shoveled a couple times at the house as well. I think that was just to get an extra workout in or maybe Mother Nature was seriously ticked off. There were even some killer meals made that were purely homemade. Legend has it, baked ziti, stuffed eggplant parmigiana, and several other high quality meals were cooked. Saturday, however, was a simple pizza and beer night to get ready for the Fantasy stretch that awaits us all.

It is not the normal six week dash that comes March 1 every year now. With the Olympics, the schedule is condensed tighter than any can of sardines ever could be. You will see some teams play 15, 16, even 17 times in the month of March. Add in the Trade Deadline on Wednesday and literally you go from Olympics to a ton of changed lineups faster than a Corvette goes from zero to 60. There is seemingly too much to digest just this week alone for the Fantasy hockey GM. However, let’s not try to worry about that outside stuff and concentrate on those players who you may be able to nab off the wire this week. Maybe we’ll fret over some of the player upheaval next week.

Pre-Trade Deadline Waiver Pickups

Raffi Torres, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets: He will not be in Columbus after Wednesday and if he is, I will be very shocked. Torres may only have 99 shots on goal but he has 19 goals (almost a 20 per cent success rate). Honestly, that is hard to pass up and, really, he is the perfect second tier trade for teams to make. A contender could squeeze another 10-to-12 goals out of him and that may be enough to give you that final push in your league. Torres has seven goals on the man advantage which is another good selling point. He is also available in at least 90-to-95 per cent of leagues and as many as 97 per cent in ESPN leagues. Go out there and get this guy before Wednesday because someone will and it might as well be you.

T.J. Galiardi, LW, Colorado Avalanche: He will still be on the first line when the Avs come back to play this week, so you may want to get him now before others realize this. Yes, his season has been a bit up and down, but you have to expect that from youngsters. Playing with Paul Stastny cannot hurt, however. Hey, the 26 points in 51 games is decent for someone that has only been picked up in 2-to-5 per cent of most leagues and as low as 1-to-2 per cent in ESPN leagues. The reality is you could do worse and Galiardi is a perfect fill-in for a third or fourth left winger as he is relatively off the radar. The next guy we look at may not be quite as much.

Alexander Steen, LW, St. Louis Blues: I keep waiting for this guy to truly break out as he has all the potential in the world to do so. So what happens? The St. Louis Power Play goes MIA for most of the season which has undoubtedly hurt Steen’s production some, or at least I think it has. Twenty-eight points in 48 games is pretty decent and his availability is high. A 90-to-95 per cent availability rate means he is out there if you are persistent. This is the type of player you want for March as I think he could score another eight or nine goals before the end of the year, maybe more. The Blues usually put a push together before the season ends and I think this year will be no exception. While they may not make the playoffs, I think Steen will be a main contributor. It is time for him to step up for Fantasy GMs everywhere.

So with the trade deadline coming up Wednesday, there are some very attractive players to keep an eye on. Will Tomas Vokoun be somewhere else and better yet, how about Carey Price? There are many questions this trade deadline considering the most valuable piece of the pie (Ilya Kovalchuk) was traded it seems like months ago. Hopefully you can digest all the movement and keep an eye on it because it may affect your Fantasy team as well.  Until then, see you next week and welcome back to Fantasy Hockey.

This is not going to be your normal Wire Troll. Yes it is Valentine’s Day (well, it was when I wrote it, but RotoRob was too busy making sweet, sweet love yesterday…err, onanism counts, right?). With a little bit of love and maybe an ounce of prevention, we will help you avoid the landmines that you should stay away from come March 1. In a twist, these are the players you may want to stay away from if you see them on the waiver wire. Do not be tempted by the Olympic Break either. Some of these players may be freshly placed on your local waiver wire as well.

Now our short and sweet three.

The Landmines

Stephane Robidas, D, Dallas Stars: Up until December 31, it looked so good. Robidas had potted 10 goals up until then and it looked like he was having a great season. But there is one problem. He has not found the back of the net since and has no points and a -5 in his last six games. Now I know his 33 points is going to look attractive, but even his ice time has decreased by two to three minutes a night since his pre-2010 levels. Rumours from Dallas suggested he might even be a healthy scratch before the Olympic Break in an effort to try to maybe shake him up a bit. Either way, come March 1, there wil be better options out there. Do make sure you weigh all options before settling on Robidas.

Cam Barker, D, Minnesota Wild: Yes, he was traded last week for Nick Leddy and Kim Johnsson. Barker was a salary cap casualty, but the reality is he vastly underperformed in Chicago this season. Fourteen points in 51 games is not really all that great for someone who had higher expectations thrust upon him. Minnesota will expect him to take on more of a scoring role and he may play more, but will he really improve that much offensively? In the short term it may be a struggle and unless you can wait until your Fantasy playoffs, Barker may be someone you should stay away from. If he plays 15 or 16 minutes a night, that still just is not worth it for you Fantasy owners out there. Seek other options if you can ASAP. Do not be sucked in.

Dainius Zubrus, C, New Jersey Devils: I know it will be tempting to pick him up since he is paired with Ilya Kovalchuk, but steer clear of Zubrus for now. Zubrus really is feast or famine and it usually is more famine than feast for his owners. The potential is there and his body is tailor made for a team that can use a power forward, but for whatever reason Zubrus just can never produce enough. The key is that there are better options you can trade for — especially during the break. For example, see if you can sneak an Andrei Markov on your team. He has about the same point per game production as Zubrus, but once he gets going, look out! With Zubrus, on the other hand, what you see is what you get, unfortunately.

On behalf of yours truly, I wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day and of course President’s Day on Monday. See you next weekend with more shenanigans and Fantasy hockey advice here on The Wire Troll.

Next Sunday will the final day of games before the Olympic Break. Sometimes you just think you will never get there, but the reality is it is only a week away. This will be a nice easy column as we prep the next week for the Olympics and Opening Ceremonies on Friday. The strangest thing this time of year is that most Fantasy owners are looking at NHL trades and not the waiver wire. That is reality, my friends. Looking at a lot of teams, they are hitting some kind of wall that cannot be explained this week. I noticed offense is down and numbers are down in general.

Simply, these are weeks that try everyone’s soul. Your mettle is tested as a Fantasy hockey owner. As a side note, it’s nice to see that the Caps and Pens are playing today, but at least offering an option for another game. Think of how crippled that city is from nearly 20 inches of snow with probably even more in the suburbs. Throw us a bone, Capitals brass if you please. At the very least this important game will be played and able to determine some outcomes. Imagine losing a week because you have Alexander Ovechkin and he did not play. I can comprehend the outrage as a Fantasy hockey owner because I had it happen to me a couple years ago when a hockey game was moved from a Sunday to a Monday.

Better yet, a break like that could affect a player you picked up off the waiver wire just for Sunday. Sure, it is kind of bush league in a sense, but it is a lot more common than people think. If you ever wondered why some leagues like ESPN and even Fanball put in weekly transaction limits for commissioners, that is why. Keep aware out there and watch your opponent’s transaction count if your league has a limit. Occasionally, you may be able to pick up someone they cannot.

Now our focus this week is the Olympic Break freeze on February 12. Why? Simple. Expect more trades that could affect waiver wires. A guy like Alex Tanguay could have relevant Fantasy value if he is traded in the coming week. There are other guys that you may want on your team. Now these are the type of players you may not expect, so here are our quick three for the road. I do think at least two of the three may be traded either before the “Break” or the Trade Deadline itself come March 3.

Happy Trails?

Alex Tanguay, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning: Tanguay has points in three straight games and as long as Vincent Lecavalier picks his play up, Tanguay will feed off of it. Tanguay needs an elite first line player with him to produce nowadays, but in the right situation, he will thrive. Talk is he could be traded before February 12. I still think he is too young to have gone this far off kilter. There is hope for him and I do think a change in scenery to a contender will not only do him some good, but even merit him being picked up. You might even take a gamble and add him right now if injuries have you down.

Raffi Torres, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets: Torres is another guy who should have more shots, but at least he has more than Tanguay. Torres scored his 17th of the season Saturday, but the fact that he’s getting less than 14 minutes of ice time a night screams trade candidate. I do think Columbus is kind of misusing him to a point, but that is balanced out by some of his questionable decisions on the defensive side of things. Torres is not Rod Brind’amour bad there, but still not all that good. The key here is to hope he ends up with a good second line situation if indeed he does change addresses. I do think Torres is a wildcard player that you want to keep one eye on.

Steve Reinprecht, C, Florida Panthers: For my money, Reinprecht is the perfect player to acquire for the Trade Deadline and I do think Florida may be tempted to entertain some offers for him. His 33 points are not overly impressive until you look at how feeble the Panther offense can be at times. I think they may score more off the ice than on truthfully. Now, Reinprecht has no points in his last 10 games, but this is a serious case of buying low. Florida may unload him and considering that he can win some clutch faceoffs, you may be on to something if you can get him before other people do so. What would be an ideal place for him to be dealt? Back to Phoenix may be a slightly intriguing concept. I am sure Shane Doan would love to have him back.

Next week look for a nice Valentine’s Day edition of The Wire Troll. We will give out some love and some advice too. Until then, enjoy the last full week of Fantasy hockey for a while.

I can hear it now. People will ask just what in the wide wide world of sports is a Mooby? It is a made-up award name for Waiver Wire Pickup Of The Year. Yes, if you watched Clerks 2, you will also know it from there. At any rate, there were some excellent candidates for this award in the early part of the season and with February starting on Monday, now is as good a time as any to do this. When we looked around, several candidates immediately popped into our minds, but readers were kind enough to point out a few we forgot along the way.

After considerable thought, we narrowed this down to our three best choices and ultimately came up with a winner for this semi-prestigious award. There were problems in doing this, but after much thought and foresight, it can now be done. Below I present the nominations for the first ever Mooby for Best Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year.

Our Nominees

Matt Moulson, LW, New York Islanders: Moulson literally came out of absolute no man’s land. People kind of chuckled when I first put him on The Wire Troll months ago, yet he is still the gift that keeps on giving and really has helped the Isles in their quest for a playoff spot in ways that the team’s brass could never have envisioned. This ninth round pick (263rd) has 20 goals on the year already, 33 points, and a +2. Playing with guys like John Tavares and Kyle Okposo have helped, but Moulson has a knack for hitting the back of the net. If only Los Angeles had held on to him a bit longer, but then again one man’s trash is sometimes another man’s treasure. Just think what could happen in his second year on Long Island, but then again Moulson will not be on many waiver wires next season.

Patric Hornqvist, RW, Nashville Predators: This time, it’s a seventh round pick who did little if anything, who makes our nominations. Honestly, he started off kind of inauspiciously as well. With only five goals in the first two months, no one saw the breakout coming except maybe for some really devoted Nashville fans. Sure enough December hit and Hornqvist started to take off. Ever since, he has 16 goals and like Moulson, he just seems to find the back of the net. The nice bonus is that he has a whopping 55 shots on goal in January. Hey, that would put him on pace for top five in the league if he fired pucks like that for the entire season. Hornqvist will be on many radars next year and really it was all because of a little extra boost in confidence (apologies if that sounds like one of those Enzyte commercials). I can see the trouble I am going to get into for that one.

Craig Anderson, G, Colorado Avalanche: To be fair, not a lot of people drafted him because they figured Colorado would be near the bottom of the league, but we were pretty much proven all wrong when the Avalanche stormed out of the gates and Anderson had 10 wins before most goalies could breathe. There was a little lull around Thanksgiving and part of December, but Anderson has a 26-13-5 record with a 2.45 GAA and a .924 save percentage with five shutouts. I guess getting shellacked with shots in Florida can really translate into wins in the right environment. Now he will definitely be picked higher in drafts next year and it’s safe to say won’t have a 5 per cent ownership rate like he did in the preseason. We almost put Antti Niemi from the Blackhawks here, but the platoon situation with Cristobal Huet made Anderson an easier choice on the palate.

So who won you may ask? Well thanks to Twitter, we did a tough unscientific poll on this one and believe me there were quite a few players named not on this list. What to do? What to do? Well, it was a very close vote and there will be some protest I am sure, but our winner overall was Moulson. Congrats to Moulson, who has been consistently good all year, and though Hornqvist was a very close second, Moulson was just a hair better and the fact that he was a ninth round pick is just icing on the cake.

Next week we welcome the second month of the year and start the process of working the wire for the Olympic Break. Until then, hopefully your teams are hanging in there and if you have any questions, do not hesitate to fire away. You can contact us through the handy “Fantasy Question” link in the left hand column.

For all the Marty Turco fans out there, we get it that you are very sad. Alex Auld has taken the reins for now and who knows when or if Turco will get the starting job back. These are the times that try Fantasy owners and their souls. Remember when J.S. Giguere lost his job to Jonas Hiller last year? I know you do. When these type of adverse situations hit, how do you react? Depending on how you react, you can actually cause further Fantasy damage than you could ever, ever imagine.

This can also happen any time a first line player gets demoted to third or fourth line status. The very impatience of Fantasy hockey owners is what bites them in the caboose later. What becomes worse is those dreaded platoon goalie situations that every owner also dreads. However, what seems like one person’s pain can be another owner’s gain. There is nothing more satisfying than to steal someone’s damaged goods and watch them blossom. It is like the gift that keeps on giving.

So is there any potential signs of players that could be lurking out there on waivers in one of these situations? Well, here are a few to think about on your next extended visit to The Wire Troll. Do not forget to leave a tip where the tip jar once was. Someone stole it!

Players Taking Advantage Of Others’ Shortcomings

Benoit Pouliot, LW, Montreal Canadiens: It seems funny that a guy who could not crack the top six in Minnesota goes to Montreal and turns into a scoring machine. But that is exactly what has happened with Pouliot. He has 11 goals in 15 games as a Hab and that is more than noteworthy, that is impressive. Though Pouliot has only three assists, he is someone you could pick up if in desperate need of goal scoring. Until he develops a more rounded game, the ice time may not increase for a bit, but 15 minutes a night is not bad for him. Keep Pouliot on the radar as some forward options dwindle away. Frankly, you could do much much worse.

Mathieu Garon, G, Columbus Blue Jackets: Yes, Steve Mason is damaged goods this year. I said it. Sometimes I get these things right and if you listened to me, you did not draft Mason in your Fantasy hockey league. Garon’s 2.80 GAA and .904 save percentage is not that impressive, but is effective. Mason owners who cannot handcuff with Garon are going apeshit in some cases because this is the time of year where pickings are slim for netminders. Columbus should ride this wave of consistency while it can because in the Ken Hitchcock realm, you are only as good as your last save at times. Look out below…err…above?

Jochen Hecht, C, Buffalo Sabres: We chose Hecht for our final pick of this week because finally he is getting a little more ice time. His average is up to nearly 17 minutes a night and his 11 points in the last 11 games is a big boost to Buffalo’s balanced attack. My podcast co-host, I am sure, is so happy to hear this as Hecht is streaky. We know this. However, Hecht’s line has gone under the radar all month and they can keep it going while the top line struggles a bit. Expect him to stay on this roll until possibly the Olympic break. Take a look at players like this when shaping your Fantasy team going forward.

What we are going to do next week is very important as we break down our three best Fantasy waiver wire pickups of the year. Right now it is a dogfight between a player from Long Island and a player from the Music City. See next week who they are in The Wire Troll.

Monday being Martin Luther King day and all, I figured there had to be some way to tie this into Fantasy hockey. I know this sounds crazy, but undaunted, what we are going to try to do this week is take a look at those who have fulfilled our dreams this season and maybe those who we dare to dream will do bigger things in the last part of the season before the Fantasy playoffs start.

We’ll look at a pair of players who have fullfiled our dreams but are on the wire first.

The Fulfillers

Steve Downie, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning: It is rare to see an enforcer do so well offensively, but Downie is a player in the Sean Avery mold, yet he’s even even more of a loose cannon if that’s possible. However, Downie has finally found a home to be a pest and score a bit in Tampa. The 10 goals are quite a shock, but the five tallies on the man advantage is just downright insane. The buzz is increasing on Downie as he is one of the hottest players on the waiver wire in the last two weeks. Also, he’s still a tough customer with 117 PMs, which makes him a great fit on your Fantasy team especially in leagues where ATOI (Average Time On Ice) does not count or you can put a minute hogging defenseman in to supplement. Downie has only been picked up in 10-to-15 per cent of leagues and is at least worth a shot.

Jason Chimera, LW, Washington Capitals: Chimera started off very slowly with the Columbus Blue Jackets and, well, anything there seems to be an ill fit aside from Rick Nash lately. Chimera was dealt to the Washington Capitals between Christmas and New Years and a recent four-game point streak (he’s scored five points during this stretch) has his owners buzzing and waiver wire folks starting to take some notice as he’s a physical winger with a knack for finding the net or the open guy. His ice time is also up to almost 15 minutes a night for the season, a sure sign that the Capitals really are appreciating the effort and execution. Chimera also has 75 PMs and is being increasingly relied upon by the Caps as a quasi-enforcer of sorts. Needless to say, if you are desperate for help on the wing and you need it now, Chimera has only been taken in 1-to-3 per cent of Fantasy hockey leagues.

The Ones We Need to Dream Harder

Cam Barker, D, Chicago Blackhawks: Thirteen points in 40 games for a defenseman is not always so bad, but people had high hopes for Barker at the start of the year. He basically has gone from a 20-to-22 minute a game defenseman all the way down to 13 a night. Somehow he is still owned in 80-to- 90 per cent of Fantasy leagues out there. Why? We have no clue. If there ever was a player that needs to find a way to step up, it is him. Yes, Barker has been injured, but think of what Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook have done this year. ’Nuff said!

Petr Sykora, RW, Minnesota Wild: Why is Sykora here? Simple — because there was so much more expected in Minnesota. Granted, he has been injured more often than Peter Forsberg, but Sykora’s production value has been null and void. He started out the year owned in almost 90 per cent of Fantasy leagues and now has dropped to just below 30 per cent. And Sykora is still dropping. By the way, he’s been a healthy scratch in his last six games. Maybe the first thing Sykora owners can dream of is him just getting some playing time. Then, hopefully, some point production of any kind would be somewhat of a bonus, I guess.

We indeed hope that everyone enjoys the holiday and a day off. More importantly, remember the message of Martin Luther King and that it can even apply to Fantasy owners everywhere.

People often ask me ‘hey did you see that, or did you go to that game?’ Well, Sunday night was one of those rare instances that I got to see something people do not see very often. This was a resumption of a hockey game that had been suspended because the arena circuit breaker blew. The Devils were nice enough to compensate fans who were at the original game with tickets to another game on top of honouring their tickets to Friday. About 3,500 brave souls went to this “abbreviated” game where the final 29:12 was wrapped up. The Devils were down 3-0 at “halftime” and lost 4-2. They did come close, but as you know, close is not good enough (except in horseshoes and nuclear war).

So what did we learn from this game, that technically lasted a little over two days? Well, quite a bit, honestly. Most Fantasy leagues can have this feeling where the week goes for far longer than it should (or at least it feels that way). Even for me, this week is going to feel like a 10-day marathon, even though I know it’s only seven days. Anytime you play an opponent that you know is superior to you always makes a person feel that way. However, there are some things you can do to ease the pain. There are not that many quick fixes on the waiver wire, but there may be a few that could at least aid in your quest.

Here Comes Relief

Steve Downie, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning: I never thought I would see this day, but it has happened. Downie has some actual Fantasy relevance and not just for fighting. He has nine goals on the season but a surprising five of them have come on the Power Play. Many scouts did say that Downie had a knack for the net and if he could just stay out of the penalty box a bit, he could prove it. Well, now he is. A bonus is that even though Downie’s ATOI is not stuff of legend, at least his 92 PMs are an added assist to your Fantasy hopes. Some will say that he is just two seconds from exploding in the wrong direction, but with waiver wires becoming desolate for talent lately, you could do much worse.

Tom Poti, D, Washington Capitals: Here is another player I did not think would wind up in this column. Out of nowhere, Poti has a five-game point scoring streak and is worth a look in deeper leagues where literally everything is cleaned out. The ice time has also bumped up to an ATOI of 21:11 which is respectable for a Capital defenseman not named Mike Green. Washington has a pretty beneficial schedule and with an offense that is amongst the tops in the league, all Poti really has to do is feed the puck near the net and rack up the assists. Seven points (one goal, six assists) in his last five games is testament to that very fact. You could really steal him cheap as he is owned in only 2-to-3 per cent of all Fantasy leagues.

Miroslav Satan, RW, Boston Bruins: I know this one is a gamble. But Satan was working out all year for an opportunity like this and Boston needs goal scoring. The marriage is perfect really, and as Satan gets in better game shape, the results will start coming. Yes, he only has one goal in his first three games, but the time to pick him up is now. Most owners are kind of asleep at the wheel thinking Satan will not produce, but once Boston gets healthy, everyone knows he will. Do you really want to be left off the boat here? Okay, Satan is no Phil Kessel replacement, he will fill a void on your Fantasy team — especially if it’s decimated by injury.

Now just step back a little and take this all in. Next week, The Wire Troll is going to have some fun help you fish for goalies. With the few that are still left, this could take a while. Good luck this week, everyone. Battle on.

It may be time to turn your back on Niklas Backstrom.

Dear RotoRob,

I have eight wins and six losses in my 10-team Fantasy hockey league, putting me in fifth place. Categories include goals, assists, plus/minus, PPG, PPA, hits and blocked shots.

Can you please check out my team and tell me any moves you think I should try to make?

Here’s a link to my team.

Jason

Good morning Jason,

I took a good deep look at your team and league and believe you have the framework for a very nice team. The first thing I noticed was that PIMs do not count in this league and that was a very pleasant surprise. I am probably one of the few that think this category does not have that much of a place in Fantasy leagues — much like +/- at times. But enough of that; let’s tackle your issue.

The question is what you can do to tweak your Fantasy hockey team. The good news is that there are no real major overhauls needed here. However, there are some cold realities that need to be addressed: for instance, Niklas Backstrom has been decent, but not spectacular this season for Minnesota. In a league like this, you seem to have wins pretty well covered with a guy like Jonathan Quick, but your highest save percentage is with Cristobal Huet at .911 and that is hurting you a little bit.

Jimmy Howard (yes, that Jimmy Howard) is very quietly putting up a sweet .923 save percentage and he is on the waiver wire. Now, I know he does not have Backstrom’s 18 wins and does not face quite as many shots, but that .016 difference is a pretty glaring one to pass up. You can always trade for a goalie that racks up wins later if that category become a bit of a problem again. But I think once Detroit gets healthy, Howard will start earning more wins.

I also saw that you only have one player (Dennis Seidenberg) who has 100+ hits and 100+ blocks. There are a couple ways to go here. You could pick up a guy like Andy Sutton (108 hits, 107 blocks); honestly, why trade too much for a guy proficient at these categories when you can go to the waiver wire? 

To me, the other categories seem to be just a question of players getting hot at the right time. Trading now would not really solve anything as you currently seem to be kind of entrenched around the fourth or fifth spot. Now is the time for small tweaks and not major shakeups. Besides, something tells me that come February or March, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby will come around (even on the man advantage). Hang in there, Jason.

If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask. The best part of Fantasy hockey for me is comparing teams and stats with other Fantasy hockey owners. I hope this helps and good luck with your Fantasy league.

Chris Wassel
RotoRob.com

Have a question you’d like answered by a real, live Fantasy expert? Use our handy ‘Fantasy Question?’ link in the left column. You may even wind up in the next Dear RotoRob column.

World Junior Update

Chris will be live blogging the Canada-US Gold Medal game Tuesday at 8 p.m. EST at Fantasypros911.com. Drop in for some live chat while you watch what will be a true classic. The chat opens at 7:45 p.m.

By Andy Holloway, Chris Wassel and RotoRob

Fantasy Stud of the Year

There is no longer any debate about who the biggest star in the NHL is.

Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals: During Ovehckin’s first three years in the NHL, there was a legitimate debate about who was the league’s best player. Sidney Crosby perhaps. Joe Thornton? Evgeni Malkin? But there was no debate in 2009. Whether wowing fans at the All-Star game in Montreal (and not always with his on-ice flair), scoring while flat on the ice or setting up a teammate with the kind of artistry not seen since Mario Lemieux, the swaggering Ovechkin is the No. 1 draw in the NHL and clearly its most exciting player. He’s near the top of the leader board this season despite missing 11 games to injury and dirty play, and will likely win the Hart and Maurice Richard trophies again at year-end, and maybe even the Art Ross, which has oddly eluded him. One trophy the all-kneeing player won’t win is the Lady Byng, given out to the league’s most gentlemanly player. But no one cares about that.

Honourable mention: Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton. — AH

Fantasy Dud of the Year

Vesa Toksala’s five-hole is almost big enough to let our award through.

Vesa Toskala, Toronto Maple Leafs: Let’s make it clear that no one but a diehard Maple Leaf fan should have ever willingly picked Toskala in any Fantasy draft, no matter how many rounds your league has. But a half-decent 2007-08 may have convinced some that the Finn would continue his swim upward into a mid-tier starting goalie. Instead, Toskala floundered, ending 2008-09 as perhaps the worst goalie in the NHL. The start of this season has only seen his already-poor stats decline even further. In 19 games this year, Toskala has posted a gaudy GAA of 3.76 and a scintillating save percentage of .869, the worst of any goalie who has played at least 10 games.

Honourable goalie mentions: Pascal Leclaire, Martin Biron and Jean-Sebastien Giguere. — AH

Fantasy Rookie of the Year

It took a while for him to get going, but Steven Stamkos emerged as the year’s best freshman.

Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightining: As the No. 1 draft pick of ’08, Stamkos entered the league under huge pressure to return the Tampa Bay Lightning to its winning ways. He didn’t. Indeed, Stamkos was a bit of a bust at the outset of his first NHL campaign. But the centre played up to expectations the rest of the way and has played his way into serious contention for a spot on the Canadian Olympic team. He has scored almost as many goals this season as he did all of last year, cementing his reputation of having a canny knack for finding the back of the net. Without him, the Lightning would be battling the Hurricanes for the rights to the next top draft pick.

Honourable mentions: Drew Doughty, Bobby Ryan, John Tavares. — AH

Fantasy Comeback Player of the Year

Dustin Penner’s comeback shocked us all.

Dustin Penner, Edmonton Oilers: Look, we all thought the Penner deal was a bust. Admit it. Raise your hands because it is okay. I did too. However, 38 points in 39 games this year signifies a significant comeback — and one no one saw coming even with Craig MacTavish out as Coach. Yes, Penner has gone a bit cold along with the Oilers, but if you predicted this reemergence, well then I would pay you a million dollars…right now. [Note from the editor -- RotoRob.com is not responsible for paying off Chris Wassel's debts.]

Honourable mention: Marian Gaborik, Martin Brodeur, Tomas Kaberle. — CW

Moron of the Year

Keith Ballard’s medication ran out shortly after this picture.

Keith Ballard, Florida Panthers: There is little in Ballard’s history to suggest that he is one of the all-time maroons in professional sports. Oh sure, his penalty minute totals indicate he’s not one to shy away from the rougher side of the game, but no one would ever have suspected that he would go postal and slash his own goalie across the head after giving up a goal – a goal, it should be pointed out, that was pretty much all Ballard’s fault. But within minutes of Ballard’s hack job on Tomas Vokoun on November 30, the video evidence of his temporary (?) insanity was splashed all over the web. Thankfully, Vokoun wasn’t seriously injured, but if you watch closely at the end of the video, you can see Ballard give the post a good whack as if disappointed he didn’t completely KO his teammate. — AH

Best Bongo Player of the Year

Forget his play at right wing, Alexander Semin plays a mean bongo drum.

Before 2009 was out off its training wheels, Alexander Semin showed off his rather unique pugilistic abilities, playing a bizarre form of bongo drugs on New York Rangers Marc Staal’s head. I’m not sure what I like better — those flailing arms or that percussive technique — oh, what pure majesty. If you haven’t seen it, you haven’t lived. So do yourself a favour. — RR

The Lead Weight Award

Can you believe +/- dud Rod Brind’Amour is a two-time Selke winner?

This award goes to the player who literally cannot play D worth a crap. Needless to say, it does not have to go to a defenseman necessarily and, sure enough, this year’s recipient is Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes. If you thought last year’s -31 thru 61 games was bad, take a look at this year’s horror show. In just 38 games, the old iron horse himself is a -22. No, this is not a misprint. Ever since his knee surgery before the 2008-09 season, Brind’amour has not been the same player. Carolina is much worse off this year and a turnaround is really not in the cards. It may be time to retire, ol’ No. 17. — CW

The Jesus Award

New York loved what it saw of Marian Gaborik in Minny, so it went out and got him.

This award is given to the player who best carries his team on his back. Originally named the Jaromir Jagr award, but there had to be a minor adjustment here since he went to the KHL. This year’s recipient of The Jesus Award is Marian Gaborik. All Gaborik has done is score 26 of his team’s 105 goals. Now, I am not a math major (nor I claim to be one) but that is just about 25 per cent of the team’s total output in the goal department. With busts like Chris Drury, Wade Redden, etc., on the roster, the Rangers have been a true disappointment since their 7-1 start. However, Gaborik continues to lead the way much like Jaromir Jagr did in those dark years. When the spread in goals between first and second on your team is 17, there is a serious issue. Oh, poor Jesus…oops…I mean Gaborik. — CW

The Absent-Minded Netminder Award

Did Vesa Toskala’s brain turn to marbles when Maxim Lapierre landed on his head or when the RotoRob hardware did? (AP)

This one given to the goalie who I’m confident has marbles for brains. This year, that award goes to Vesa Toskala, whom we’ve already determined is a serious dud (see above). Of course, there’s the classic 200-foot goal he gave up against the Islanders, but this recent one against Buffalo is up there as well. Now, I understand Toronto makes you go criminally insane when you are a netminder, but even Toskala’s numbers this year border on insanity. His Goals Against Average and Save Percentage rank last in the league for anyone who has more than 10 decisions. I understand Toskala’s injury issues and his fear of being hurt again, but the lackluster play literally screams “go to Europe!” Let us hope and pray that the Leafs figure this out before it’s too late. Oh wait…this is Toronto we’re talking about…never mind. — CW

They Call Me Annie Oakley (Best Shootout Player Award)

Need a shootout goal? Call Jussi Jokinen. (AP)

This is my favourite award of all, and this year we give it to Jussi Jokinen. Did you know that Jokinen has a 73 per cent success rate (this calendar year) in shootouts? The former Bolt was truly given a new lease on life when he waived by Tampa and picked up by the Hurricanes. Jokinen is also good very late in games when you need a goal to tie or win a game. Just ask the New Jersey Devils; when Jokinen tied or won the game in three of the seven games in that series. If you want a sharpshooter and time is short, Jokinen is your guy. — CW

There are just four days until Christmas and your Fantasy team is in the crapper. What do you do? I repeat. What do you do? Today, we simplify things and give you three reasons not to totally give up hope on your team. The ideal premise here is the weather and your team may be downright frightful, but there is always hope.

Consider that December 21 is the longest night of the year. After that, it stays lighter for each day for the next six months. That is pretty comforting. Well, at least I think so. It is time to give out these three presents to the masses before the gifts all get wrapped and the holiday is ready to truly roll.

Our Three Gifts This Holiday Season

Michal Rozsival, D, New York Rangers: Look, he is not going to set scoring records on fire, but he is a veteran and is starting to see more Power Play time. Rozsival has played well in his last two games and the Rangers have a schedule that favours a veteran presence on the blue line as opposed to a guy like Michael DelZotto. With the uncertainty that is Wade Redden on the Rangers, you could do much worst at this point with other lesser defensive players and pick Rozsival as a good fourth or fifth defenseman in deeper leagues.

Dan Sexton, RW, Anaheim Ducks: On the surface, seven points in eight games is just okay, but considering that Sexton gets almost 15 minutes of ice time as a rookie speaks volume about to his talent. He is also a +3 on a team littered with minus players. While Sexton’s time on the Power Play may be low, just be patient. He averages over three shots a game and will start hitting the net with regularity, especially if he starts playing with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry again. Even if that does not happen, Sexton has a knack for playing hard and getting to the net. That usually results in goals and assists. He is still only taken in about 2 to 5 per cent of Fantasy leagues. Get on it, people!

Nigel Dawes, RW, Calgary Flames: Dawes is another one of those are you kidding me type guys at first glance. However, take a deeper look and this guy has the makings of breaking out even bigger in the New Year. Of his 10 goals, three are on the Power Play and he constantly works the net and corners hard. That will generally get you ice time with the likes of Jarome Iginla. I hear he is pretty good. The bottom line is Dawes’ 56 shots is very encouraging as he has 29 of those in his last 12 games (almost 2.5 per game). His ATOI is up to 15:35 as well. This is going to turn into another one of those cases where the New York Rangers let a guy get away and he turns into Fantasy gold in time. You would have thought they would have learned their lesson after Marc Savard? I guess not, ladies and gentlemen.

I wanted to humbly wish everyone that reads RotoRob.com and writes for the site a Merry Christmas and a hope that you truly do get everything you wanted under the Christmas tree on Friday. See you next week with some of the best Fantasy impact players from 2009. Stay warm out there!

As many hockey fans know, this weekend is the start of the Christmas Roster Freeze. Simply put, it means players cannot be moved (via the trade or waiver route) until after December 25. There are players that are probably sitting on your waiver wire and you are mulling whether or not to pluck them. Well, this is a very good question that many are pondering this time of year. Keep in mind that in the case of public leagues, you really (in most cases) do not know who you are playing. However, most times you do know your opponents or have an idea about their strategy. If the latter is the case, then follow this simple mantra: “Be quick or be dead.”

I know this sounds vicious, but it rings true in any Fantasy league. The goal this time of year is to be just that much quicker than your opponent. There is still hope for anyone that is closer to the bottom than the top, as in most cases (in Head-to-Head Leagues), there is about three months to go in the regular season. Think of it this way: Do you really want the top guys to benefit from players you may be able to get that will actually help your team? Personally, I have come back from almost dead last several times to win leagues.

Usually, a hair above .500 can sneak you into a playoff spot. From there, it is an even game. I really do wish more people would realize this. Now, it does not matter if you are in a free or money league…advice is advice. Keep in mind that what we write is only based our own personal experience. There are some who have been in even more wars than I (Darryl Houston Smith, for example). “Black Moses,” as he is called, has proffered this advice to me many a time, and now I am passing it on to you: Take advantage of the holidays in your Fantasy leagues.

It cannot be emphasized further! Jimmy, who had a bit too much to drink, may make a trade with you that is not too outrageous, but may be something he regrets later. Also, you may be able to pick up that guy that no one can get because they are too busy stuffing their faces with food. It does happen — I kid you not.

So now Freeze or Take Off the Waiver Wire

This is the question…time to go over these players three and see what they can or cannot do for thee.

Dan Sexton, RW, Anaheim Ducks: In just three games, Sexton has become a sensation on waiver wires everywhere. Keep in mind he was undrafted, but now this 22-year-old is on a line with Bobby Ryan and Saku Koivu. These are guys that can surely play in the NHL. Clearly, Sexton is there to shoot the puck. He has 18 shots on goal in his last four games (keep in mind he has only played five in total). That may be the only buyer beware with this kid. But five points (four goals, one assist) in five games screams immediate pickup. So what does the jury say on Mr. Sexton? Simple. Take off the waiver wire.

Gilbert Brule, C, Edmonton Oilers: His 3 per cent ownership rate in ESPN, Fantrax, and Yahoo! might scare off people, but he still does have 21 points in 29 games — not half bad. Sure, Brule’s 54 shots on goal could be higher, but have you seen Nik Antropov’s shots on goal? Yes, I thought so. Oh wait, here is the red alert: Brule has no Power Play goals. Uh oh! That can be trouble, especially considering most leagues (last I checked) count PPGs as a major Fantasy category. This becomes a tough one for the jury as I talked to three Fantasy experts. We had one guy say take him and one guy say freeze. I also say freeze; none of his numbers are really that eye-popping, so unless you have a temporary hole to fill, Brule is not really worth it.

Martin Erat, RW, Nashville Predators: The dilemma with Erat is that you never know which Erat you are going to get. He always has those two or three hot flashes a year (and no, I don’t think it’s male menopause). Erat is definitely riding one of those hot streaks now, especially after the hat trick against Vancouver. The problem is he often chills off as fast as he heats up. The four PPGs looks pretty attractive, but realize that two came in the same game. People have picked Erat up as his ownership rate goes anywhere from 7 to 10 per cent right now depending on the site. However, the bottom line still rings true for this guy. He still cannot do this in the NHL consistently. Once you get that rap most times you cannot go back. The jury ruled unanimously: freeze.

Next week we will reveal our three Christmas waiver wire presents that may look not so great on the surface, but with a deeper look can unleash some pretty big dividends. See you then.

With just a little over two weeks until Christmas, we figured it would be time to announce some returns that may be on your Fantasy waiver wire. Some are going to generate a considerable amount of controversy while others will just be good to have back. Imagine the Fantasy owner who has seven or eight guys on the IR and their joy to see one or even two guys coming back. The thrill of being able to get a full roster to go to war for you even for a night or two can be a bastion in a very long Fantasy season.

Time to get the circus warmed up because this first potential return may cause a real dizzying experience for Fantasy owners. This one almost gets the entire column this week just for the repercussions.

Circus Show Returns To Long Island

Rick DiPietro, G, New York Islanders: Yes indeed, the circus is about to come back to town. The oft-injured goalie who may be easy on the eyes, but not easy on your roster is rehabbing with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL). Now, what will this ultimately mean for Dwayne Rolosson and Martin Biron? For one, it will mean a lot of sleepless nights for Rolo and probably a new address for Biron. Do not feel too sorry for Biron as, honestly, he is just not getting the goal support from the Islanders. His record is 2-8-2 with a 3.04 GAA and .907 save percentage in just 12 starts. Keep in mind that DiPietro is on a two-week conditioning assignment and more than likely will be brought up before the Christmas roster freeze.

However, from the looks of DiPietro’s first start, he has a long way to go in the conditioning department. At least the reflexes appear to be there. DiPietro played 40 minutes in a 7-3 win over the Springfield Falcons and gave up three goals on 13 shots (all the goals came in the second period). Look, I know they say December 15 is the target return date for DiPietro, but if you are looking at him as a viable Fantasy option, you may just want to wait several more weeks or stash him on your IR until he can play consistently. Because, after all, the circus will be in town and who knows when the music will ultimately stop. The prognosis says he may become viable before the Olympic break.

More Returns…

Andrei Markov, D, Montreal Canadiens: Hey, he is already skating by himself. That is good news. Remember that it was feared that Markov would be out until at least the Olympic break in February. Those leg lacerations can be really nasty and, honestly, just to see Markov on the ice has to bring a smile to those who drafted him first amongst defensemen like so many did (myself included). Think of getting .75 points per game and think back to all those power play points you remembered so well. Now, back to reality! Markov is about four weeks from returning, but the reason for the heads up is that he is actually available in quite a few leagues. Now would be the time to snatch him up before it’s too late. In early drills, his skating looked pretty fluid, by the way. The conditioning and consistency will come in time.

Ryan Smyth, LW, Los Angeles Kings: At first, it was suggested that Smyth might be back as soon as Monday, but you may want to hit the old “not so fast” button. Rumour around the Kings is that they may not bring Smyth back until after the Christmas roster freeze which would be about two weeks after the original return date of December 14. Look at what his absence has done to a guy like Anze Kopitar (three points, -3 in eight games). Oh, and Kopitar has zero goals in that span (after potting 14 while Smyth was active). Clearly, Smyth has an impact on this King team (at least with the first line). So the Smyth situation is something to keep an eye on if you own either Kopitar or Alexander Frolov.

Paul Martin, D, New Jersey Devils: If he’s healthy and his head is now on straight, Martin may be a guy to look at when he comes back in the near future. The fractured arm has pretty much healed and now it is a question of how long it will take Martin to get back into game shape. The pressure is on him as a guy like Andy Greene (potential All-Star?) has absolutely blossomed while Martin was gone. Martin had two points and only nine shots on goal in nine games before his injury. Needless to say in a contract year the time is now or…well you know the rest, Fantasy owners. That urgency may be enough to make Martin a worthwhile pick upon his return which is coming in the near future.

Stay tuned next week as we have our own waiver wire freeze of sorts. We will select a few players and tell you whether you should let them stay on the waiver wire or pick them up. It should be fun. Until then, enjoy the hockey action and good luck with your Fantasy teams.

It comes to that time of year where we leave Thanksgiving and head towards Christmas. With eight Fantasy weeks in the books, it also gets down to that time where you have a pretty good idea of what your team is, what it is not, and maybe what it can be. Unless, of course, you have not been paying attention to your Fantasy hockey teams. The key is just to do a diagnostic check, if you will.

This week we are going to take a look at three players that might be able to give your team a better outlook or, in some cases, a new lease on life. Keep in mind that the Christmas Roster Freeze is a little over three weeks away. There may be some movement by then that also can make an impact. Now, here are their stories.

Three to Dream

Tyler Kennedy, C, Pittsburgh Penguins: Sure, he is the fourth-line centre, but he packs some pop on the offensive end. The six goals in 13 games is a total steal and if you can dismiss the Average Time On Ice category in some leagues then you are enjoying a nice little gold mine with the guy that really sparks this Penguin team. The ownership rates fluctuate from league to league with Kennedy. ESPN has him around 70 per cent owned while Yahoo! has him around 60 per cent, but some leagues have him at less than 50 per cent. All leagues have seen double-digit rises in his ownership rate since his return which means you should go get him now.

Anton Stralman, D, Columbus Blue Jackets: I somehow think people are not paying attention here, but quietly Stralman has 15 points on the season. I know about the -8, but his playing time is increasing and that +/- was in double digits for awhile there, but it’s improved. Oh and it does not hurt that Stralman is on the first power play unit with none other than Rick Nash. That will help your Fantasy value — all four of his goals are on the man advantage. So with the 20:05 average ice time and 40 shots on goal, it may be a great time to get Stralman while his ownership rate is only — yes only – in single digits. Buy in while you can!

Trent Hunter, RW, New York Islanders: Somehow I will take some heat for this, but the guy is producing at nearly a point a game rate (11 points in 12 games). Now, Hunter has been playing with some pretty good talent (Kyle Okposo, John Tavares and Matt Moulson), but he is a solid team guy who can put pucks in the net as evidenced by his five goals. Right now, he is owned in only 3 per cent of all Fantasy leagues and that is up two percentage points in the last week. I am thinking some more people could find a home for this talented right winger at some point. Don’t you think so?

For the dearly departed, we have two players this week that shall go to rest for the remainder of the season on the waiver wire. They shall never be picked up on teams again.

To Davy Jones’ Locker

David Jones, RW, Colorado Avalanche: It was sad to see him go, but a torn ACL spells the end of Jones’ 2009-10 campaign. His scoring (10 goals) will be sorely missed by a Colorado team that is losing its way in degrees. Jones will miss the next four-to-six months while he rehabs his knee and it’s strange to think that just Saturday morning I was singing his praises and by the end of that night he was getting ready for surgery. Something truly wicked this way comes, as they say.

Ales Hemsky, RW, Edmonton Oilers: This is another sad case as he’s a player who performs really well for Fantasy teams and is very important to his team. Hemsky provided more than just scoring, as he also was a good leader and solid all around team player. He will be dearly missed by his teammates and fans alike as shoulder surgery will keep him out for the rest of the season. See you in October 2010, sir.

Next week in The Wire Troll, we will dig even deeper and take a look at some returning players. See you later!

Greetings and sorry for the lateness…but The Wire Troll goes on this week. It has been a strange time lately to say the least, and there are also only a few days until Thanksgiving. I always have much to be thankful for. One thing is I am able to do this column on a weekly basis [Editor's note: Aww, Chris...no need to suck up to me!]. Also, it does not hurt that I am a little more healthy than last week. It was not so much that I was sick, but that so many family and friends were — I never thought I would have to disinfect a computer. These are some of the more odd things that you may have to deal with this time of year.

Alas, now it really is time to see which players I have been thankful for on my teams. One or two of these guys may even still be available in your league. I saw a lot of players that are still on waiver wires that should not be this weekend. Maybe a blue light special from K-Mart is needed for everyone to alert them to the potential feast that is just waiting for them if only they would take a look.

Time to take that peak, ladies and gentlemen…

My Thanksgiving Picks

Dustin Penner, LW, Edmonton Oilers: Obviously Penner is not available in many leagues, but on ESPN he is listed as being available in 3.2 per cent of leagues. That is about one in every 32 or 33. It is not the 25 points or the +11 even that is the biggest surprise for Penner owners. It has to be the four PPGs and 77 shots on goal. These were things we never thought we would see in Penner again after Craig MacTavish played mind games with him. Yet under head coach Pat Quinn and assistant coach Tom Renney, Penner is not only earning his keep, but he is in the top 10 in scoring. I picked him up off waivers during the first week and have rode him to glory ever since. With Penner’s confidence at an all-time high, do not expect him to really cool off all that much. Add in the 20 minutes of ice time he’s getting per game and good times are still ahead.

Lubomir Visnovsky, D, Edmonton Oilers: Visnovsky has been lost in the shuffle a bit and riddled with injuries the past couple seasons. However, he is turning it around which is great for Fantasy owners. Visnovsky now has 16 points this season and is getting back to the type of production he put up in his days with the Los Angeles Kings. He is still only owned in about 60 per cent of leagues (Yahoo!, Fantrax, ESPN). Even PoolExpert has him down around 55 per cent ownership. Is Visnovsky benefiting a bit from the health issues of Sheldon Souray? Absolutely. On the other hand, he is racking up the points at almost one per game over that last 10 contests. Visnovsky may be 100 per cent healthy for the first time in two seasons, so it may be wise for you to go pick him up now as I have seen double-digit percentage point rises in his ownership the last two weeks. People are catching on. You should now as well.

Nik Antropov, C, Atlanta Thrashers: Antropov is another player that many did not know what quite to expect from. He has potential, but as one friend said to me, “He is so streaky that you wonder if a trail was left in his pants.” Maybe that’s a little graphic, but that is Antropov’s reputation. He did that in Toronto and in his short stay in New York. The funny thing is Antropov was more of a goal scorer, but now he has transformed into a poor man’s Joe Thornton…sort of. Antropov has 20 points in 20 games but, oddly, 19 of them are assists. He only has one goal, which I am sure drives many Fantasy owners batty, but he is still racking up points. Sometimes you take them anyway you can get them. The only concern is that Antropov has only taken 22 shots on goal in 20 games. He has an above average slapper, so he needs to start converting as opponents will take away the pass as time goes on. But so far, Antropov has been a nice fantasy surprise with the sixth-highest total of assists in the NHL.

Andy Greene, D, New Jersey Devils: So you were looking for a guy who could rack up minutes on D and could not find one. Well I found one and so are other Fantasy GMs out there. Look, Greene is not going to rack up points but he does have three Power Play tallies and since the injuries to Paul Martin and Johnny Oduya, he has played almost 25 minutes a night for New Jersey. Greene generates about 1.3 shots per game, which is better than most Devil defensemen. His ownership rate is around 20 per cent, but considering it was less than 3 per cent two weeks ago, that is a major increase. Even when the other players come back for New Jersey, Greene will see the ice time because he plays more within himself than the rest.

On behalf of my family and I, I’d like to wish all our American readers a Happy Thanksgiving. See you next week when we examine some of the leftovers on The Wire Troll. Until then, happy trails.

There are only 10 days until American Thanksgiving (well at Press Time, anyway). This week’s Wire Troll is a shortened, flu-ridden edition. I promise that what I type will not make you sick. Typing words from a keyboard here will not get you sick there. However, if you do not start picking up some of these guys to help overcome your injuries, you may feel more and more ill as time goes on.

You can think of it this way: there are always the glue guys or the “stuffing.” With mounting injuries this season, the waiver wires are now getting harder and harder to troll. So we found four players that could be worth taking a look at in your league. Our finds are based on Fantrax, Yahoo!, and ESPN leagues this week.

Our Stuffers

Marco Sturm, LW, Boston Bruins: He is available in most Yahoo! leagues, but not Fantrax or ESPN, however, the key is he is getting more and more ice time with each game. Sturm has averaged nearly 18 minutes a night in the last six games and that alone helps in the ATOI (Average Time On Ice) category that plagues so many. The points will come for Sturm, who is still finding his way a bit. Do not be alarmed by the mere two points he’s managed in the last five games either. The key is looking ahead and Boston plays a “meatier” schedule in the next month chalk full of Fantasy opportunity for a guy like Sturm. So far he has been healthy and — knock on wood — hopefully he stays that way.

Niklas Hagman, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: I know some owners are dropping him, but keep the faith. Four of his six goals are on the Power Play, so when Toronto gets PP chances, Hagman should start converting them. Also, the shots are definitely there at 49. I understand that other than the hat trick against Anaheim. he has not done much. But Hagman has potential and with guys like Phil Kessel as teammates, that potential could quickly turn into reality. Do you really want to miss the boat? I sure don’t. In some leagues, I learned that the hard way with guys like Dustin Penner and Tomas Kaberle that you do not wait around when the opportunity presents itself even if you go wrong with it.

Andy Greene, D, New Jersey Devils: Is this a homer alert type pick? No. Greene is only owned in 8-10 per cent in most leagues, yet he gets No. 1 or 2 type ice time for defensemen. That in itself is a stuffer you can use on your roster to rack up some points here and there plus some big ATOI numbers. It’s a no brainer. Add in the nine points he has, which leads Devil defensemen, and you really do have the makings of a feel good Fantasy hockey story from New Jersey not involving Patrik Elias, Zach Parise or Rob Niedermayer. Greene plays the game right and is a class act. He really has come a long way from his earlier stints with New Jersey. Pick him up today while you can.

Marek Svatos, RW, Colorado Avalanche: On the surface, Colorado was due for a bit of a reality check. After a shockingly good start, the team has struggled to a 2-4-1 mark over its past seven games. But the strange thing is that during this stretch, Svatos has finally woken up. Three goals and one assist in his last five games has Fantasy owners hoping for a season like he had when he potted 32 goals in 2005-06. That season wasn’t a fluke (don’t forget he also scored 26 times in 2007-08). The simple reality is that if Svatos shoots, he can score (one goal for every seven shots on goal). The two keys for him will always be shot selection and health. The talent is there and the fact that he’s owned in less than 5 per cent of leagues screams pick him up. Do it now before Colorado starts turning it around again.

Next week we will bring the turkey and all the trimmings with a special Thanksgiving themed edition of The Wire Troll. Until then, may all your Fantasy hockey ventures be successful this coming week.

Seeing strange players and a ton of callups that have you looking at your program like WTF is this? Well, you are not alone. A rash of injuries has plagued the NHL the likes of which I have not seen in a decade or two. Usually when you see injuries coming in succession you see it affect the second-, third- and even fourth-line players. However, this year the star is definitely feeling the injury bug and several are either currently hurt or have missed time this season. Guys like Evgeni Malkin, Alex Ovechkin, Jason Spezza and Roberto Luongo are all nursing the dreaded ouchies, although Spezza returned a few days ago. 

In all, there are now approximately 115 players in the NHL with some kind of injury that is keeping them out of the lineup. That is hair less than four players per team.

So what can you do to combat the crazy bug (bad pun)? Well for one, just hope your player also does not get the swine flu (right, David Krejci?). This is just nuts seeing all these players out of the lineup. Literally whole Fantasy rosters decimated by injuries.  I have seen cases of teams with six, seven, or even eight players on the IR, DTD, or out (O) of the lineup. Compounding the problem, this does not seem to be getting better but only worse. I have seen more AHL callups than I can count.

There was an estimate that roster moves are up almost 20 per cent from this time last year. Talk about insanity for the fans of teams…but for the Fantasy hockey fan, it is maddening.

For example, the Devils are already without guys like Patrik Elias, Jay Pandolfo and Johnny Oduya. Now you can add Rob Niedermayer and Colin White to the list as both are listed day to day. Even the innocent hit can be harmful. Just falling awkwardly is cause for panic. The hysteria has not even reached its apex.

No one knows what is next, but here are three players that you can get (one forward, one defenseman and one goalie) that may just help and they are likely on your waiver wire.

Niclas Bergfors, RW, New Jersey Devils: : He has slumped mightily and that has caused a lot of owners to cut bait and run. However, not so fast everyone! Bergfors has 43 shots in 13 games and three PPGs including two on Wednesday. He has a deceptively fast windup similar to Ranger star Marian Gaborik and eventually he was bound to start getting it behind the goalie and that happened Wednesday in a big way. As Bergfors finds his role with New Jersey a bit easier expect his scoring to go up. Honestly, you could do worse at this point. What? Wait for Olli Jokinen to break out? Yeah, that’s a good one!

Filip Kuba, D, Ottawa Senators: When Kuba is 100 per cent, he can get you 40-to-50 points. That is gold in these days and right now he is healthy. Defensemen usually do not score a point a game anyway these days (except for Mike Green last year). Kuba is the type of player who is ideal on the power play. His low, hard shot can set up easy rebounds for forwards and be an instant boost to your Fantasy team. Most leagues still have Kuba listed as quite available. Grab him now before any more defensemen get injured and not only will you not regret it but at the very least you will have a back-up plan in place in case any more guys go down. By the way, do not expect Anton Volchenkov to continue to lead the Sens in scoring from the blue line.

Ondrej Pavelec, G, Atlanta Thrashers: We’ve been saying for a while that if Pavelec could ever get over his “monthly,” he could be a starter. Now he gets his chance as Kari Lehtonen is out an additional 6-to-8 weeks after having back surgery. Pavelec can turn in 50-save stunners like he did against Ottawa, but he can also implode like an explosive cocktail we all know. However, with options dwindling fast and the fact that he is available in most leagues (at least for now) he’s a viable pickup. I firmly expect Pavelec to be the starter for most of the rest of the season. Get him now! Literally read this and see if he is available. If not, try to trade for him ASAP.

Next week we will have some fun and salute the vets…literally. Thanks again and enjoy the hockey-like weather.

An old wise man once told me that your Fantasy hockey team and real hockey team for that matter are only as good as your netminders. Laugh as you will, but this is something that is very true. October and November are often very nasty months when you think about it. This year is no exception. Add injuries and swine flu to the mix and one may have to dodge more minefields than they can handle in their quest to find good goaltending. Thankfully we have The Matrix in Craig Anderson. Obviously Neo is no relation, but Anderson best typifies the moves needed to play the net in this year’s NHL. Goals are going to go in. It is not your neutral zone trap early ’90s NHL anymore. Shots and goals are up by about 8 to 10 per cent this season. Sure, it is early, but expect this trend to continue to a point.

What I have listed below is not necessarily the best goalies in the league, but the ones that are going to make some saves that they not only have no business making but make them often enough in games to have a high save percentage. Here are their stories.

Craig Anderson, Colorado Avalanche: Imagine going from Florida to Colorado and realizing you are the starter on a team that absolutely stunk last year. Add in a few prospects and some aging players with no Joe Sakic and you have the recipe for disaster…right? Wrong! Now the 10 wins are great and the 2.11 GAA is nice too, but it is the .936 save percentage that jumps out. Even better is that Anderson has a .940 save percentage in the third period and beyond, and that figure leads the NHL. The OMG factor is the fact that Anderson faces about 35 shots a game in Colorado — about four less than he did in Florida. He had good practice and obviously has benefited well from the extraordinary high amount of activity.

Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres: The second best on this slightly unconventional list is where Miller ranks (now, that is if you really want to call this a ranking). When it’s Miller Time in Buffalo, opposing teams are really in trouble. Though slight in stature at about 173-to-175 pounds soaking wet if you will, Miller has an amazing ability to be flexible without looking flexible. I watched the game he had against the Devils last week pretty closely. He makes saves look quite easy, so it’s no wonder he has given up two goals or less against New Jersey in nine of his last 10 starts. Be aware that Miller has a tendency to get injured at times, but there are few better at his position when he is “on.”

Now for two more that could be on their way to this list…

Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes: There is no question that he is a good goalie with quick reflexes, but sometimes that is what gets him in trouble. The “moody Russian” as he was called many times in Anaheim has gotten a second lease of life in Phoenix this year. He has three shutouts already and a sparkling .927 save percentage to go along with the 1.88 GAA. Bryzgalov may think a bit too much, but his moves are almost as fast as his thoughts. The key will be how Coach Dave Tippett’s system helps him in the second half, which is when he tired last year under “The Great One.” Obviously a coaching upgrade in Phoenix will aid Bryzgalov and his body (plus an Olympic break). Now, that is a blessing for Phoenix fans.

Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins: Yes, he has won a Stanley Cup so stop gushing, Penguin fans. Fleury is quietly putting together a nice early portion of the season. He has always had the acumen to play brilliant between the pipes, but this year he is showing the consistency with the amazing saves. The new focus is not unnoticed on me. Sure Fleury only has a .916 save percentage right now, but expect that to go up when Pittsburgh is fully healthy. The scary thing is he has 10 wins already and has made two or three “Save of the Year” type stops. Keep Fleury in mind when again looking for save percentage along with the spectacular.

Mike Chen, currently caring for his beloved dog, should be back for the next edition of Ice Chips. In the meantime, this is Chris Wassel escaping before he gets the swine flu. Aloha.

We’ve got a shorter but sweeter edition for you this week. It is that time of year where already in H2H leagues the contenders are rising to the top? This early, you may ask? Yes, they are. Sure there are some surprises, but everyone is looking for those now like they have it on radar. People are being stalkers of the players that will put them over the top now instead of what may come later. I love those guys that come later. Those make the real difference. This week, I heard rumours that we have a few such guys that may be available come later in the season. Keep in mind that these guys are likely on other teams right now, but may be dropped as the season goes along.

Centre

Rich Peverley, Atlanta Thrashers: Look, he is going to cool off eventually. When he does, he will be dropped out of leagues faster than Elvis dropped dimes at diners. Seriously, it is nice that Peverley is averaging over a point a game now, but at some point that offense has to dry up some. I see a back and forth type of season from Peverley and come late in the season (when there will not be as much pressure), he will begin to thrive once again. It is okay. Do not be shocked. Some of these are going to ruffle feathers of Fantasy owners right now. That is the whole point.

Left Wing

Marco Sturm, Boston Bruins: Everyone is going to run and get Sturm right now because he is on the first line with all the injuries in Boston (Marc Savard, Milan Lucic, the Pope, etc.). The bottom line is Sturm will get you some points and the significant ice time that goes along with it. However, when the injured players come back, the party will stop! It really is like that jack in the box, folks. Now, as the season wears down to the end, however, you will want a guy like Sturm because of his career numbers. He had some god awful luck last year with injuries, but had 56 points in 2007-08. The potential is there at least.

Right Wing

Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings: Say it with m: When is the injury going to come? That is perpetually the question with Mr. Williams. Nine points in nine games is great, but let us have a little fun with the following list of injuries. Yes, we go next level here. Thank you TSN.

Basically, with Williams you should have one hand on your mouth and one on the mouse because, sadly, he is almost due to get hurt. When (not if) he does, people will drop him and then, when the time is right (and yes this is like playing Russian Roulette), grab him! He can clearly produce when healthy, a la Tim Connolly. The key phrase here is when he is healthy.

Defense

Jason Demers, San Jose Sharks: This kid is the real deal, but with defensemen galore in San Jose, he may fall a bit in the middle of the year. Demers has eight points in 10 games right now. Consider him a rookie that will hit the wall early and rebound later unlike Michael Del Zotto of the Rangers who will hit it much later with little or no time to rebound. That, my Fantasy owner friends, is the difference between being surrounded by really good defensemen and below average defensemen. It’s that simple. Demers will get picked up late in the season because of that reason. Time it right and you have a d-man on your bench that can get timely assists and solid +/- night in and night out.

Goaltending

Ondrej Pavelec, Atlanta Thrashers: He had a bad night on Thursday. Hey, everyone gives up a 190-foot bomb now and then. Eventually, Kari Lehtonen (back, groin, ego) will come back and play pretty well, but then get hurt again. At least Pavelec can stay healthy. His numbers are pretty solid (a .907 save percentage with a goals against just over 3.00). And that includes the Washington game where he gave up five goals on 14 shots. Do not sleep on this guy. He will be Atlanta’s starter again before the stretch run. Count on it and some more solid numbers on the way in. If someone drops Pavelec, keep an eye out.

Next week we will dig up some more waiver treasure. Do not forget to check at least every other day with the waiver wire. You never know what is lurking just waiting to be had. Bye for now.