This week, we asked our panel: “We’ve seen a lot of serious injuries so far this season. Who’s absence is going to most negatively affect his teammates’ statistics?” Here’s what the panel had to say on the matter:

Last season, the Boston Bruins held the best record in the Eastern Conference. They were the second-highest scoring team and owned the fourth-ranked Power Play. This season, they are 26th in offensive and their PP ranks 27th.

At quick glance the loss of Phil Kessel via trade and Milan Lucic to injury appears to be the issue, but it’s the injury to Marc Savard that has hurt Boston and his teammates’ stats the most.

The leading scorer on the Bruins is Patrice Bergeron with 10 points in 16 games. At that pace, he would end the season with 51 points. The other top scorers on the team aren’t exactly on pace for banner years, either: Michael Ryder (31 points) and Blake Wheeler (41 points). Zdeno Chara has had a slow start but is on pace for 46 which is not far behind his 50 from last season. The biggest area of concern is the +/- as Bruins led the league last season in this category.

Upon Savard’s return, I would expect to see the Bruin offense pick up dramatically as the team was only able to pick find the back of the net four times in five games last week. Savard is the driving force behind their offense and if the Bruins are unable to sign him this offseason I would be looking to quietly shop anyone in a Bruin jersey in your keeper leagues not named Chara or Tuukka Rask.

Marcus Schalle, dobberhockey.com

The plus/minus was already a disaster before Ward was accidentally cut in the leg by Rick Nash’s skate. But any savvy Fantasy owner should know that Manny Legace is not an upgrade in net, meaning that the frigid plus/minuses of Joe Corvo (-9), Joni Pitkanen (-10), Aaron Ward (-12), and even former Selke Trophy winner Rod Brind’Amour (-13) will not improve anytime soon.

Staal’s absence means that oft-injured regular linemate Erik Cole is practically worthless in Fantasy leagues this season (one point in seven games). Heck, if Jussi Jokinen (10 points in 17 games) is your leading scorer, you know that your team is in big trouble.

Ian Gooding, fantasyhockey.com

Andrei Markov’s injury will also have severe implications on his team, as we have already seen.

Kevin Orris, FantasyPros911.com

I think Marian Hossa’s absence is really hurting the Blackhawks.

How can his absence have impact if he’s never played a game for them?

No one on the team has more than six goals. Jonathan Toews has just two. This is a team that’s lost a little bit of its swagger. Hossa in the lineup will equal almost instant confidence.

On a more strategic level, Hossa in the lineup draws attention from opposing defenses. And that lack of attention on Toews and Patrick Kane should translate into more goals.

Plus, when he wants to be, Hossa can be quite a playmaker. We didn’t see it too much in Detroit last season, but he put up two 50+ assist seasons in Atlanta and there’s no reason to think he can’t revert to that dishing style in Chicago.

Steven Ovadia, RotoRob

This week’s Fantasy Hockey Roundtable asked “Is Craig Anderson Vezina Trophy material, or is he nothing more than fool’s gold for the rest of the season?”

Find out what what the panel had to say about this issue.

Honestly? I’m a little in love with Anderson, a player featured prominently in Friday’s edition of Ice Chips.

This week’s Fantasy Roundtable is up! Your lovable panel was asked: “Which NHL rookie has impressed you the most so far this season?”

There’s a whole lot of answers that rhyme with Smell Hotto. I’m just saying…

Check it out!

This week we asked the Roundtable “Who is your earliest pick that you have already dropped from your Fantasy roster?” Because, honestly, I was feeling a little guilty about some recent moves.

I subscribe to the philosophy that the Fantasy hockey season is a marathon, not a sprint, so I don’t get too concerned about statistics from the first two weeks. By sticking to that philosophy, I know that I have now officially missed the boat on early-season waiver wire gems like Michael Del Zotto. But at the same time, I am patient to wait it out with players struggling early on like Roberto Luongo, Ryan Getzlaf and Pavel Datsyuk, meaning that I don’t even consider trade offers for those players from other owners looking for a buy-low opportunity.

Being patient over the first month means that the earliest pick that I have already dropped is likely a later pick than most of the other guys. But that pick is Filip Kuba, picked 159th overall in the Yahoo! Experts League. Kuba has been sidelined day-to-day for the past couple weeks, and the Senators have not placed him on IR even though there is no targeted return date. My defense on that team needs a significant upgrade, so I can’t afford to wait it out with Kuba any longer. Other players that I have dropped from other teams include Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Bryan Little, Johnny Oduya, Matt Niskanen and James Wisniewski, all for various reasons.

Ian Gooding, fantasyhockey.com

The NHL season is only three weeks old and many GMs panic and drop their early/mid round picks for the streaky FA. I tend to be very cautious when it comes to dropping players on my roster that are off to slow starts. However, I’m usually very active in rotating my last starting D in leagues that include four or more starting D.

My first drop was Brent Burns, two and a half weeks into the season. Since then I have rotated the spot with Marc-Andre Bergeron and Jason Demers. I will continue to cycle this position unless Burns becomes a valuable Fantasy asset again.

Marcus Schalle, dobberhockey.com

I tend to be cautious about panicking too early in the season (see my recent article here on the annual early-season panic). However, I have just recently dropped Brent Burns, who I had hoped was going to have a solid year (still possible), but obviously something is not right in Minny (maybe the new coaching style), but I just couldn’t live with a league worst -10.

I have also dropped Loui Eriksson at LW, not because he has had slow start (he’s doing pretty much what most folks thought he was going to do), but more as a reflection of some interesting opportunities at LW that became available in my league (like Patrick O’Sullivan, who I highly recommend as a LW2 or 3 if you can still pick him up off the wire).

Brent Lemon, dobberhockey.com

I haven’t had any big let downs yet this year, and plus I think it’s a little early to be dropping guys that have proven themselves in years past. There’s no reason to drop any player that’s healthy if drafted in the top six or eight rounds at this point, but injuries are another story.

The best player that I’ve seen dropped is Johan Franzen because of the torn ACL that will keep him out for months, which is a huge dent in a league that doesn’t allow an Injured Reserve spot. I did see Marc Savard dropped in one league after suffering from a broken foot that will keep him out for over a month.

I highly recommend keeping an eye on the transaction history of your league on a daily basis to make sure that you can capitalize on other owners mistakes, like dropping Savard.

Kevin Orris, FantasyPros911

I dumped Christopher Higgins, who’s been struggling for the Rangers. He’s got no goals and just two points and seems to be losing confidence by the day. But even more damaging, his coach, John Tortorella, seems to have lost confidence in him. And it seems like Higgins will be relegated to the bench in a manner of days. You picked him because you thought he would finally hit that 30-goal plateau, especially playing on a line with Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan. Now, it looks like he’ll be lucky to pick up 10 goals this year.

This week’s Fantasy Hockey Roundtable, hosted by FantasyHockey.com, asked: Which player do you think will experience the highest single-season gain in points over last season? Which player will experience the greatest drop (not including injured or retired players)?

The answers just might shock you.

This week’s Roundtable question was designed to challenge conventional wisdom. Is there room for whimsy in Fantasy hockey? I sought to find out by asking the following to this week’s panel: Who do you predict will be the top three scorers this season and the highest scoring defenseman (overall points)?

The same goes for last season’s top-scoring defenseman, Mike Green. Although his defensive shortcomings during the playoffs were well-documented, Green is in a class of his own as far as scoring goes. It’s rare to see a defenseman crack the 30-goal or 70-point mark unless their name is Bobby Orr or Paul Coffey, which is why one could justify drafting Green in the first round. Other top-scoring defensemen like Nicklas Lidstrom, Scott Niedermayer and Sergei Gonchar won’t add to their point totals given the stage of their careers, but we may not have seen Green’s best years yet.

Ian Gooding, fantasyhockey.com

But as far as the next three are concerned, there is less agreement. Joe Thornton is a name that has often been associated with the top scorers’ list, but this year his appeal seems to be waning, perhaps due to continued lackluster playoff performances.

Instead, folks seem to be looking at Ryan Getzlaf, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Zach Parise as the number four, five and six scorers.

Of those three, I’d be most wary of Parise. While he’s clearly developed into an elite scorer, it’s unclear how the coaching change in New Jersey will affect Parise and the Devils. Jacques Lemaire is notorious for his defensive style of play. Scoring may take a dip as a result.

For defensemen, I like Mike Green as the top-scoring blueliner. Most other would agree I think.

Again, asking the question of who’s next after Green is perhaps more useful to readers looking for an edge this year.

I like Dion Phaneuf as the next leading defensive scorer. Mike Keenan was not good for the Flames, and I believe that the coaching change will be well received in Calgary. After a significant dip in his numbers last season, I think Phaneuf is hungry for a comeback year, especially with the extra incentive of the impending Olympic team selections.

Brent Lemon, DobberHockey.com

So let’s take a look at four through six, where things are a bit tougher to gauge.

4. Joe Thornton: It wasn’t long ago (2006-07) where Big Joe put up 114 points, second only to Crosby. JT is known for being a one-dimensional player, but in a points-only league where goals and assists are equally weighted I’ll take 90 assists and 10 goals over 60 goals and 20 assists 100 per cent of the time. JT has seen his value drop after a disappointing 86 points last season, but let’s not forget he has averaged 97 points the last four seasons, which is highest average not including the big three. This was all accomplished without an elite winger; factor in the addition of Dany Heatley and you have an easy pick.

5. Ilya Kovalchuk: Scoring 91 points playing with Todd White/Rich Peverly as your centre is quite the feat. This year, Kovalchuk will have Nik Antropov, who — when healthy — is not the best option, but an upgrade nonetheless. Kovalchuk is in a contract year and will most likely be the top UFA next season. Look for him to put up big numbers as he tries to secure a long-term deal.

6. Ryan Getzlaf: A steady progression of 39, 58, 82 and 91 points over his first four years makes Getzlaf a great candidate to hit 95+ this season. The line of Corey Perry-Getzlaf-Bobby Ryan clicked well last year and with a full season of Ryan on the top line, the chemistry should continue. Finding a player who can break the 90-point mark is rare and, at such a young age, Getzlaf has many more successful seasons ahead of him.

Other candidates: Heatley, Datysuk and Jarome Iginla.

Green has a chance to hit the 80-point mark if he doesn’t get injured. After Green, the next best defenceman will be in the 60-point range.

Andrei Markov is the popular choice here, but with a defensive coach and a lot of turnover on their roster, it will take time for the Canadiens to find chemistry and thus I expect a drop in Markov’s points. [Editor's note: After this was submitted, Markov tore a tendon on opening night, requiring surgery and sidelining him for up to four months.]

Mark Streit: He’s not a popular pick, but the Swiss Captain put up 56 points in 74 games last season on a horrible team. I was under the belief last season that he would not be Fantasy worthy after leaving Montreal, but he proved me wrong. Streit will have John Tavares and hopefully a healthy Kyle Okposo to help improve on his numbers, so 60 points is within reach.

Other candidates: Dan Boyle.

Marcus Schalle, dobberhockey.com

Top Scorers

• Rick Nash: This poor kid has been waiting for a decent centre since he got to Columbus. He seems to finally have one in Derick Brassard. That’s going to be huge for him. His 40 goals last season? Add another 10 or so on to that.
• Marian Hossa: I don’t think anyone is avoiding Hossa, but he’s not a slamdunk player because he’ll miss some time because of rotator cuff surgery. But the guy has a lot to prove. A lot. He has to justify a huge contract. He has to justify leaving Pittsburgh to win a Cup, only to lose to Pittsburgh in the finals. Hossa has a lot going on, but he’s going to be playing with a very talented team that might be better suited to his style of play than Detroit was. Don’t count Hossa out.
• Ilya Kovalchuk: Atlanta is trying to get faster and Kovalchuk and Nik Antropov will be a great combination. Kovalchuk will see a lot of tough matchups, but he’s trying to play his way onto a better team next year, so I don’t imagine that there’ll be much that can stop him.

Defenseman: Forget Mike Green. Do you know what number he wears? It’s number bullseye. As in, he has a giant bullseye on his back and all anyone cares about is shutting him down. You saw it in the playoffs and you’ll see it this season. Teams know they can’t stop Alex Ovechkin, so they’ll focus on Green, whom they can stop. My top scoring defenseman? The underappreciated Mark Streit. He’ll have some more scoring options this season and solid goaltending, which the Islanders should have, will make a world of difference. Streit actually had to focus on defense last season. I think he’ll have a permanent green light in the offensive zone this season.

This week’s Fantasy Roundtable, hosted by Fantasyhockey.com, examined Fantasy-worthy rookies.

Representing RotoRob, I went all-in for John Tavares. You can read the rest of the Roundtable here.

Next week’s Roundtable will actually be hosted here at RotoRob, which will make for a very convenient commute.

To supplement the 2009-10 RotoRob NHL Draft Kit, some of our hockey writers are participating in Fantasy Roundtables that are being organized by Kevin Orris at Fantasy Pros 911.

The Roundtables consist of writers from several noted Fantasy sites piping in with their opinions on various questions facing owners for the upcoming NHL season.

For the first edition, the writers were asked which goalies they planned to steer clear of on draft day. Steven Ovadia was representing RotoRob.com and he identified Marty Turco as someone he wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole.

Here is the complete Roundtable for your reading pleasure.

The 2009-10 RotoRob NBA Draft Kit rages on with yet another team preview.

The Knicks were bad last season. They were trainwreck bad. They were so awful and so ill-conceived, that I would watch games just for the sheer comedy of it all. What’s not to love about a slow, plodding team with no shooters playing an uptempo offense and very little defense?

Still, everyone had big dreams for the Knicks in the offseason. The thought was that there was some talent available that would improve the team while keeping them under the cap for 2010 cap, the season that the Knicks can make a serious run at LeBron James, if he’s available.

But the Knicks couldn’t find a way to upgrade while maintaining their cap space. So they basically did nothing and are hoping some existing players decide to step up. You have to love that kind of optimism. In fact, you can’t help but picture Knick President Donnie Walsh in the ocean, surrounded by sharks, saying ‘Don’t worry. I’m sure they’re not here to eat me. They probably just want to rescue me and maybe loan me some money.’

Projected Starting Lineup

PG: Chris Duhon
SG: Larry Hughes
SF: Wilson Chandler
PF: David Lee
C: Eddie Curry

Key Bench Players

Jordan Hill, Danilo Gallinari, Darko Milicic, Al Harrington

Position Battles

The Knicks are startling thin in the backcourt, especially given how important guards are in coach Mike D’Antoni’s system. The only battle will be between Duhon and exhaustion.

One of the big forward battles will occur off the court; can the Knicks get Lee signed before training camp? Lee, a restricted free agent, has refused to sign anything, even as every other NBA team has shown no interest in the double-double man who has zero impact on the game.

Gallinari, coming off back surgery, will fight for a starting spot, and could push Chandler into a guard spot.

Knicks fans want to believe the newly healthy Curry will be able to move up and down the court without getting winded, but if he can’t, Milicic could step in, looking, as always, to erase the dud reputation that follows him like a bad smell.

Stud

Chandler finished last season very strong and seems to be improving very quickly. That’s saying something, given he’s come up in the volatile Knick organization. Entering his third NBA season, Chandler is getting bigger, smarter and better. He’s one of the few genuine bright spots in blue and orange.

Dud

Nate Robinson, like Lee an unsigned restricted free agent, will get a one-year deal from the Knicks, but the team seems pretty done with him. He picks up technicals on the court. Off the court, this summer he was arrested for driving without a license. There’s just nothing about Robinson that guys like D’Antoni or Walsh like.

Expect Duhon to once again wilt under a massive workload. He’s a fine point guard, but he’s not a starter. And he’s not a starter in a system with no backups. Duhon will be crushed unless someone helps out or the Knicks figure out a way to bring in help.

Sleeper

If Gallinari is healthy, this could be the season he shows the NBA what he’s capable of. He’s got moves and he’s got grit. Gallinari is a huge Fantasy risk, but on a team devoid of talent, a guy like him can really put up numbers.

Rookies to Watch

The Knicks have always done better with lower, throwaway picks than with high ones. Having said that, Hill, the eighth pick overall, is a big man who shoots well, something that D’Antoni is a fan of. If Curry and Milicic don’t pan out, it’s not inconceivable to imagine Hill as an undersized centre.

Fantasy Stories to Watch

The big, immediate Fantasy story will be if the Knicks can get Lee and his double-double self signed. Lee isn’t good for much help for a team, but you have to love his numbers in a Fantasy league.

Curry will also be worth watching. Last year was an embarrassment and he could be looking to show everyone up. He came to Summer League in incredible shape. Let’s see if he can maintain that into the start of the season.

Do you know how you can tell a Knick fan?

Listen carefully. In quiet moments, the true Knick fan will start to quietly chant “2010″ in times of stress and hopelessness.

This has been an especially brutal summer for Knick fans as the team was totally unable to sign any free agents. In fact, all of the interested free agents seemed to be using the Knicks as leverage with the teams they truly wanted to sign with. Witness Jason Kidd turning some Knick interest into a huge re-signing with the Mavs. Witness Grant Hill magically turning a Knick offer into a Phoenix offer. Heck, even Andre Miller walked away from New York, choosing instead to try his luck in Portland. Most impressively of all, Steve Nash used the notion of a possible Knick offer to get an extension from the Suns.

And so New York heads toward the start of the regular season appreciably comparable to last season.

Point guard Chris Duhon will once again have the fate of the Knicks heaped upon his shoulders, unless the Knicks can finally pull one out of the bag and sign Ramon Sessions away from Milwaukee, something they are apparently working on. However, the Bucks are likely to match any offer — which would be appropriate given the Knicks’ other scorned advances. Duhon started last season strong, but quickly burned out under the extraordinary number of minutes he had to play for a team with no other PG option.

The Knicks have reportedly retained Nate Robinson for another year (however, he could still leave in a sign-and-trade scenario), but he is streaky and a defensive liability. At best, he’s a good shooting guard off of the bench. Rookie Toney Douglas showed some promise during the summer league, but he’s very much an unknown quantity. The team loves him, however, and is hoping by 2009-10 that he can replace Duhon.

If the Knicks guard situation is still frighteningly bad, the frontcourt situation is a bit more upbeat. Centre Eddy Curry, his bloated contract and previously bloated belly, showed up to summer league having lost a lot of weight and seemingly ready to run in coach Mike D’Antoni’s speed-intensive system. Just two years ago, Curry seemed ready to erupt as a legitimate NBA big man. Then, Isiah Thomas traded for Zach Randolph, the paint got too crowded, and Curry receded and regressed. Then, under D’Antoni, Curry was simply never in good enough condition to play. To be honest, he didn’t look in good enough condition to change out of his clothes.

Danilo Gallinari and his fragile back are expected to make more of a contribution this season, too. Don’t sleep on this guy; he can still be a huge part of the Knicks’ future. If New York manages to retain restricted free agent David Lee (doubtful given all the rumours of him being dealt), the double-double machine who has no impact on games and interests no one else in the NBA, the Knicks could look good upfront for the first time since Patrick Ewing patrolled the Garden.

Factor in Darko Milicic, the centre who is, unfortunately, best known for being picked before Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and others in the deep 2003 NBA Draft, but who could finally become a monster along the boards; Wilson Chandler, an important team building block who took a major step forward last season; and Jordan Hill, who’s biggest crime is that he isn’t Stephen Curry, but will turn Knick fans in time — and you can see that the Knicks may actually have some talent up front. Which is pretty funny, since D’Antoni’s run-and-gun system hinges on talented guards and doesn’t require much size.

So going into the season, so far, the Knicks have size they don’t need and still require better guards. The odds of anyone coming in aren’t great as the Knicks are firmly committed to clearing as much cap space as possible for the 2010 free agent class — a class that might not ever see free agency. After all, why would LeBron James leave Cleveland for a team without a genuine NBA point guard?

So we have a big Knick team playing for a small-ball coach waiting to sign players who might not ever be available.

Sigh. When does Kobe Bryant hit free agency?

By Steven Ovadia and RotoRob

With the 2009 NHL Draft going down this weekend, we present our take on all the players taken in the first round.

1. John Tavares, C, London Knights, New York Islanders: The buzz started when Tavares was given an “exceptional player” exemption that allowed him to play in the OHL at the tender age of 14. I went to see him play with the Generals shortly after he had turned 15, and filed the following report back in November, 2005:

“Now that Sidney Crosby is in the NHL, who’s the next big thing? Yesterday afternoon, I got a chance to see him and his name is John Tavares. He created waves when earlier this year he fought for and ultimately gained a special exemption to be drafted into the Ontario Hockey League at the age of 14. The Oshawa Generals were only too happy to snap him up with the first overall pick and are definitely reaping the benefits. Tavares, who turned 15 three days before his junior debut, is more than just holding his own (better than a point per game) playing against competitors as many as five years older than him. He’s clearly the most creative and talented, if somewhat raw, player on the ice. He has tremendous ice presence and surprising size, but is knocked off the puck fairly easily (of course, given the attention his plight to gain entry into the league caused, he may as well have a bulls eye on his back). That will change as Tavares fills out. He showed his range of skills on a variety of plays; one particular give-and-go was just stunning and a move he made behind the net that turned an opposing defenceman inside out left the crowd gasping in awe. Tavares seemed to generate a scoring opportunity every time he was on the ice. He’s very good on his feet in traffic, reacting to the play quicker than anyone on the ice, can move very well and has a very strong skating stride. As Tavares gets stronger and gains more experience, he will continue to improve. He looks like a shoo-in for OHL Rookie of the Year, and it wouldn’t shock me if he’s the best player in the league within a year and a half. At this point, Tavares would have to be the favorite to be the first pick in the NHL draft in 2009. Yes, he’s four years from being drafted, but owners in keeper leagues that can hoard juniors would be well-advised to tuck this kid away.”

Anyone who saw Tavares, 18, dominate the 2009 WJC knows that this kid is capable of one day bringing the Islanders back to their glory days in a similar manner that Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have done for the Penguins. – R.R.

2. Victor Hedman, D, Modo (Sweden), Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa was so shorthanded on defense last season, it had to bring Marek Malik back to the NHL. The buzz on Hedman is that he’s NHL ready, and for that reason alone, Tampa was psyched to get him. But Hedman should blossom into a high-quality defenseman. And hopefully he’ll work out better than Steve Stamkos, not that Stamkos sucked, but he did take some time to find his groove before turning in a pretty darned good rookie season. — S.O.

3. Matt Duchene, C, Brampton Battalion, Colorado Avalanche: It’s ironic that in a season when this franchise had this high a pick for the first time since 1995, it picked a kid that many compare to Joe Sakic, the greatest player in the history of the team and the team leader who is expected to retire this summer. Duchene, 18, used his great hands to score 31 goals and 79 points last season, adding 14 goals and 26 points in just 21 playoff games. – R.R.

4. Evander Kane, C, Vancouver Giants, Atlanta Thrashers: The Thrashers have had their share of high-flying offensive geniuses like Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa, and for whatever reason, it’s never worked out for the team. So lately, they’ve become attracted to more rugged, two-way players. Kane is a player in that mold, and will be even more rugged once he has some AHL seasoning. – S.O.

5. Brayden Schenn, C, Brandon Wheat Kings, Los Angeles Kings: Schenn will trade in his Wheat Kings uni for an LA Kings one. This 18-year-old is a great playmaker, having logged 56 assists in 70 games in the WHL last season. LA is really stockpiling some great young talent, and it got a great one in Schenn, a player the Leafs coveted and had hoped to draft to team up with his older brother, current Leaf Luke Schenn. – R.R.

6. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D, Leksand, Phoenix Coyotes: Phoenix is trying to transition into more of a finesse offense game and Ekman-Larsson, an offensive defenseman, seems to be the kind of player who can thrive in that kind of system. While the Nicklas Lidstrom comparisons might be a little premature, he should be a solid offensive presence on the blue line. – S.O.

7. Nazem Kadri, C, London Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs: Shut out in their bid to trade up and draft either Tavares or Schenn, the Buds settled for Kadri, an 18-year-old who potted 25 goals in just 56 games in the OHL last season. He’s a tremendously gifted offensive player who should soon take his place among the top two lines in Toronto. He’s an intense player, and the fact that he’s of Lebanese decent could generate interest in the Leafs among the city’s Muslim community – not that Leaf Nation isn’t already busting at the seams. – R.R.

8. Scott Glennie, C, Brandon Wheat Kings, Dallas Stars: A solid goal-scorer, Glennie should eventually give Dallas the offensive punch it’s lacked for the past few seasons. – S.O.

9. Jared Cowen, D, Spokane Chiefs, Ottawa Senators: He’s immense (6’5”, 218) yet mobile, but unfortunately, Cowen’s 2008-09 season ended early thanks to an ACL injury. A true defensive defenseman, Cowen required reconstructive surgery and won’t be able to begin skating until late August. But the Senators don’t believe this will affect his ability to have a long NHL career. Still, picking a one-dimensional defenseman this early in the draft raised some eyebrows — especially considering this class was littered with defense prospects. – R.R.

10. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, LW, Timra (Sweden), Edmonton Oilers: Paajarvi-Svensson is all about the speed. His lack of defensive responsibility could cause fits for defense-minded assistant coach Tom Renney, should Paajarvi-Svensson wind up playing with the Oilers next season. Odds are, he’ll need to flesh out his game a bit more. – S.O.

11. Ryan Ellis, D, Windsor Spitfires, Nashville Predators: Ellis is a gifted offensive defenseman who proved at the WJC that he can be a dominant force on the power play. The fifth OHL product among the top 11 picks, this 18-year-old scored 89 points this season, adding an eye-popping 31 in just 20 playoff games. Ellis is small, but should soon be part of a phenomenal young collection of Predator defensemen that already includes Shea Weber and Ryan Suter at the NHL level, with Cody Fransom and Jon Blum not far behind. – R.R.

12. Calvin de Haan, D, Oshawa Generals, New York Islanders (this pick was acquired by the Islanders from Minnesota for picks 16, 77 and 182): de Haan is a solid, if unspectacular defenseman. The big hook for him is that he’s played with top pick Taveras, and therefore had his game elevated by the top pick. Using the two of them together on a five-man unit could be a huge offensive boost for the Islanders. – S.O.

13. Zack Kassian, RW, Peterborough Petes, Buffalo Sabres: The OHL’s domination of this draft continues with the selection of Kassian, a player with a great blend of size and skill. This power forward is not afraid to use his size to his advantage and that helped him dramatically increase his output last season. The Sabres need a player that is capable of being a presence in front of the opposition’s net, and Kassian fits this bill perfectly. – R.R.

14. Dmitry Kulikov, D, Drummondville Voltigeurs, Florida Panthers: Kulikov is a solid defenseman who could be ready for the NHL as soon as next season. He won’t replace Jay Bouwmeester, but he might learn a lot from Jordan Leopold. – S.O.

15. Peter Holland, C, Guelph Storm, Anaheim Ducks: At one point Holland was ranked near the ISS’s top 10 prospects, so Anaheim was undoubtedly quite pleased to land him at No. 15. The 6’2”, 190-pounder is coming off a season in which he logged 39 assists and then ripped four goals in just four playoff games. Holland — one of five Storm players taken in this draft – is part of an impressive project by the Ducks of retooling while remaining competitive, highlighted by the immense booty they received when they dealt away Chris Pronger. – R.R.

16. Nick Leddy, D, Eden Prairie, Minnesota Wild (pick acquired by Islanders from Columbus, along with the 77th pick, for No. 26, No. 37, No. 62 and No. 92; the Isles then dealt this pick to Minny as discussed in No 12 above): The Minnesota native was drafted by his hometown team. He’s got a reputation as an offensive defenseman who knows how to do the right thing in his own end. A player like that will fit in anywhere, but the pride of playing for his local NHL team might give his play an emotional edge. – S.O.

17. David Rundblad, D, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden), St. Louis Blues: This kid can skate, and he’s got coast-to-coast ability thanks to some superb puck-handling skills. Don’t expect him to have a legitimate chance to win a job in St. Louis until at least next season, but add him to the growing pile of prospects the Blues are stockpiling – they now have 17 players who were picked in the first three rounds between 2006 and 2009 either already with the team or who still have a chance to play in the NHL. – R.R.

18. Louis Leblanc, C, Omaha Lancers, Montreal Canadiens: Leblanc is a physical forward who’ll be playing for Harvard next year, but you have to wonder if the college game will impede his development. While some Harvard players, like the Moore brothers, have succeeded in the NHL, it’s not the best breeding ground for two-way talent. – S.O.

19. Chris Kreider, C, Andover, Ma., New York Rangers: The highest-ranked high school player, Kreider finished 14th overall in the rankings, but slipped a few spots to the Rangers. A gifted skater, Kreider is headed to Boston College next season after piling up 56 points in just 26 games in his final season of high school. His selection continues a trend towards top talent heading to US colleges; all told seven current or future college players were taken in the opening round. – R.R.

20. Jacob Josefson, C, Djurgarden (Sweden) , New Jersey Devils (picks acquired from Calgary for picks No. 23 and 84): You know Josefson has upside if the Devils are drafting him and he’s not an American. Hell, they even traded up to get him. elHell, He’s supposedly skilled, but not much of a finisher. But if the Devils see something in him, you can bet the finishing touch will emerge soon. – S.O.

21. John Moore, D, Chicago (USHL), Columbus Blue Jackets (pick acquired from Anaheim for picks No. 26 and 37; this is the pick that Anaheim originally acquired as part of the Pronger trade): Moore has committed for 2009 to Colorado College, a school that’s known for its hockey program. Yet another offensive defenseman in this draft, Moore could be the best skater available this season. Even though the Jackets traded up to get this pick, they were still picking later than they ever have in their history. Given the plethora of young talent they’re hoarding – and you can now add Moore to this mix – the Blue Jackets won’t be getting any high draft picks again for quite some time. – R.R.

22. Jordan Schroeder, C, University of Minnesota, Vancouver Canucks: Schroeder is aa talented forward with a very complete game for someone so young, but the big knock on him is that he’s undersized (5’8”, 165). But as more and more players in the new NHL will tell you, size isn’t everything. – S.O.

23. Tim Erixson, D, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden), Calgary Flames: The son of former NHLer Jan Erixon, Tim was actually born in New York, but he played professionally in Sweden. Another offensive defenseman, Erixson went right about where expected in this draft. His selection by the Flames signals a change in their drafting philosophy – picking a skill player as opposed to a grinder. — R.R.

24. Marcus Johansson, C, Farjestad (Sweden), Washington Capitals: Johansson is fast and a bit of a playmaker. The Capitals are probably imagining an older Johansson playing next to Alexander Ovechkin, dishing the puck and, hopefully, burying the puck when Ovechkin creates time and space. But is Johansson big enough for the NHL at 5’11”, 180? — S.O.

25. Jordan Caron, C, Rimouski Oceanic, Boston Bruins: Caron developed into a much bigger offensive force in his third QMJHL season, potting 36 goals and 31 assists in 56 games, but the fact that he snuck into the first round was a bit of a surprise, as most experts had him projected as an early second round selection. The native Quebecer is likely headed back to Rimouski next season, and with the Bruins already overflowing with young talent, there’s no reason to rush him. — R.R.

26. Kyle Palmieri, RW/C, USA-18, Anaheim Ducks: This pick was also a bit of a surprise, given that Palmieri’s reputation is more checker than scorer. Obviously, the Ducks see some kind of potential, but it’s hard to know what it is. No one projected Palmieri as a first-round pick. — S.O.

27. Philippe Paradis, C, Shawinigan Cataractes, Carolina Hurricanes: Paradis showed more offensive touch in his second season in the QMJHL last year, potting 19 goals with 31 assists for 50 points in 66 games. The 18-year-old Quebec native also contributed six goals and six assists in 21 playoff games. No, those numbers aren’t really that impressive, and this was another pick that raised some eyebrows as most projected Paradis as a second or even third rounder. But he’ll bring the size (6’2”, 197) and grit that the Canes need. — R.R.

28. Dylan Olsen, D, Camrose Kodiaks, Chicago Blackhawks: A big defenseman (6’2”, 195), Olsen might develop more of an offensive game with some time in the minor leagues. This is seemingly a good long-term investment for Chicago. — S.O.

29. Carter Ashton, LW, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning (pick acquired from Detroit for picks No. 32 and 75): The son of Brent Ashton, a journeyman who played almost 1,000 NHL games, Carter had a bigger role for the Hurricanes this past season, scoring 30 goals with 20 assists for 50 points in 70 games. The 6’2” winger is just one of many kids who went in this draft that have some kind of NHL bloodlines. — R.R.

30. Simon Despres, D, Saint John Sea Dogs, Pittsburgh Penguins: Like Olsen, Despres is a big defenseman (6’4”, 215) with a hint of offensive potential. We might not see Despres in the NHL for a while, but when we do, he could make an impact. — S.O.

Home teams sure are doing well in the playoffs.

Detroit won the first two games in Detroit while Pittsburgh has taken the last two in Pittsburgh.

Evgeni Malkin has been a dynamo, as he’s been for long stretches of the postseason. Sidney Crosby scored his first goal of the series in Game Four. And Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, famous for disappearing in the postseason, has literally not been a factor, scratched due to a foot injury.

Home has been such a huge storyline in the playoffs because of matchups. In Detroit, where the home team had the last change, the Wings were able to get Henrik Zetterberg’s line out against Crosby. In Pittsburgh, where the Penguins have the last change, it’s been easier for Crosby to avoid Zetterberg. Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has helped things by mixing and matching Crosby with various wingers — none too tremendous success. Luckily, Crosby-friendly officiating hasn’t made the Finals too taxing for him. In fact, sources have told Ice Chips that Crosby is about to sign an endorsement deal with bubble wrap.

Still, the Penguins were down 2-0 and now the series is tied. Those flightless, waddling birds must be doing something right.

NHL Notes

There’s been some speculation that the Tampa Bay Lightning would entertain the possibility of dealing the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft, and everyone knows that the Leafs covet that pick, as they desperately want John Tavares (who, of course, may very well go first overall to the Islanders). But the Lightning recently brought the top three prospects — Tavares, Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene — to town for private workouts. This suggests that Tampa Bay plans to use its pick, or at least, that it’s going to take a king’s ransom to pry it from them. Conventional wisdom indicates that the Lightning will wind up with Hedman, a smooth-skating 6′6″ defenceman who could anchor the team’s defence corps for years to come. With the draft coming in just three weeks, we’ll try to get a primer out in the next little while.

Conventional wisdom says teams get more defensive as they move deeper into the playoffs. But someone forgot to tell the Penguins and Hurricanes in Thursday’s Game Two. The two teams combined for 11 goals, with three coming from the recently unstoppable Evgeni Malkin.

Perhaps most miraculously, Penguin Chris Kunitz, without a goal in the playoffs, finally lit the lamp.

Obviously, it was a tough night for goalies Cam Ward and Marc-Andre Fleury, but one that kind of felt a long-time coming.

This was a pretty big loss for Carolina, so it’ll be interesting to see how/if it bounces back from the smack down.

Over in the Western Conference Finals, the big story is Pavel Datsyuk, who’s pretty much disappeared from the playoffs amid rumours that his alleged sore foot is actually a more serious injury. He’s no guarantee for Game Three Friday night, but Detroit has been handling Chicago pretty well, dominating through puck possession and team speed. Also helping things is Blackhawk defenseman Brian Campbell’s inability to keep the puck on his stick in overtime situations.

And still, despite two teams leading the Conference Finals two games to none, it’s still been great hockey. Unless you’re from North Carolina or Chicago. Then, it’s got to hurt.

NHL Notes

Erik Johnson has yet to live up to his draft status as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, and missing the entire 2008-09 season thanks to a golf cart injury did not help matters. The good news is he’s very close to being cleared and will soon be back on the ice fully healthy. We consider the Blues a serious team of the future, but toss a healthy Johnson and his puck moving ability into the mix, and St. Louis becomes a squad that must be watched very closely next season.

The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs has been great. One of the nice things about it is that players have been living up to their hype. The best example of this is Sidney Crosby versus Alex Ovechkin in the Penguins-Capitals series.

Crosby has four goals in the first three games while Ovechkin has five. Evgeni Malkin, who slumped badly in the series, came back big time in Game Three with a goal and numerous scoring chances in just under 30 minutes of ice time. Perhaps the only person in the entire series who hasn’t lived up to expectations (other than exiled Washington goalie Jose Theodore) is Capital defenseman Mike Green, who has just a goal and six assists in the playoffs. Teams are definitely playing him tightly, but he hasn’t found a way to get the space he needs and perhaps even more importantly, he hasn’t had the confidence to cheat on defense as he did during much of the regular season.

The Chicago-Vancouver series has also been great to watch. Basically, Chicago has continuously tried to bait Vancouver into a wide-open, run-and-gun game, and the Canucks have tried to resist, with occasional lapses. Game One was a microcosm of the series, with Vancouver taking the lead, only to let Chicago trick them into opening things wide up in the third. The Canucks came back and held the lead. With a goaltender as good as Roberto Luongo, Vancouver just needs to be disciplined, resisting the contagious, youthful joie de vivre of the Chicago Blackhawks. (Yes, I just used the term ‘joie de vivre’ in a hockey article; so sue me.)

Finally, are there two teams more completely devoid of post-season personality than the Bruins and the Hurricanes? They’re good, solid teams, but there is just no magic on the ice. Even watching Carolina’s Sergei Samsonov, long thought to be dead, burning his old team in overtime by setting up the game-winning goal, lacked a certain urgency. You don’t see anyone on the ice who would take an actual risk to win a game. It’s two teams of safe players playing good hockey, but not risky hockey. And risk is what makes the game exciting. Just ask the Blackhawks.

NHL Notes

The President’s Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks may have experienced another early demise from the NHL playoffs, but their Sharklings play on in the AHL playoffs. Worchester currently trails the Providence Bruins 2-0 in the Atlantic Division Finals, but it’s got to be great for San Jose to see the development of yet another young star in centre Logan Couture. The ninth overall pick in 2007 signed a deal with Worchester near the end of the season, and has been gaining valuable pro experience. Wednesday, he logged his first assist of the playoffs to go along with a pair of goals and a +3 ranking through eight games. This 20-year-old kid is a great two-way player who has drawn comparisons to Steve Yzerman. There’s a possibility he could make the parent club next fall as a couple of forward slots will likely open up.

The first round of the playoffs is usually more about who’s not around than who’s actually playing. Like a lot of people, I take a perverse pleasure in first-round eliminations.

For instance, what can you say about Montreal getting swept by the Bruins? The Habs managed just six goals, admittedly due to decimation-by-injury. The Bruins went to town, piling up 17 goals and 29 points in the series, with Michael Ryder and Phil Kessel each scoring four times.

The St. Louis Blues didn’t fare much better, getting swept by the Canucks. Vancouver had a very efficient 11 goals and 19 assists to the Blues’ anemic five goals and nine assists. Granted, St. Louis was a young team, also suffering injuries, and running on fumes after an exciting push into the playoffs. The most interesting statistic of the series, though, is the goaltending numbers. St. Louis’ Chris Mason put up a 2.34 goals against and .916 save percentage, which almost sounds like winning-team line. Of course Roberto Luongo put up a ridiculous 1.16 goals against and .962 save percentage. But Montreal’s Carey Price would have killed for Mason’s numbers. Price often looked like he couldn’t have stopped a beach ball with a bulldozer. Patrick Roy was glad he was alive, so he wouldn’t be turning in his grave.

Speaking of goaltending and Montreal ghosts, you have to be knocked out by the poise of Washington’s Simeon Varlamov, who’s posted a 1.01 goals against and .962 save percentage after one-time Canadien hero Jose Theodore imploded in Game One. Of course, you do have to factor in that Varlamov is playing against New York’s non-existent offense. The Rangers have seven goals, four assists, and a 3-1 series lead. Helping things for the Rangers is the fact that Alexander Ovechkin has just one goal in the series. And it took him until Game Four to score it.

The Wings had a fairly easy time sweeping the Blue Jackets. Columbus scored just two goals in their first three games — bothl by R.J. Umberger. Columbus goalie Steve Mason, so hot during the season, just could not handle all of that Detroit traffic in front of him. The Blue Jackets came to play in Game Four, erupting for five goals, but Detroit held on to win it with six.

Finally, many expected Philadelphia to succumb to Pittsburgh Thursday (except for diehard Flyer fan RotoRob, of course), but the Flyers found some life and managed to win Game Five dramatically with a shutout. Tough guy Arron Asham scored for the Flyers, telling you where their offense is right now. As for the Penguins, they need to follow the Flyers’ example and play with a bit more desperation, or else they may find themselves staring at a Game Seven real soon. It’s been 34 years since Pittsburgh last blew a 3-1 series lead, and I doubt it’s feeling nostalgic about that kind of disaster. Sidney Crosby got plenty of ice time in Game Five, but the Flyers made a point of targeting him with big hits all night long, and they succeeded in not only shutting him out for the first time in the series, but they hung a -2 collar on him and obviously Sid the Kid was getting seriously frustrated, taking a pair of penalties.

Let’s be honest. If your fantasy team isn’t working, it’s too late. The playoffs start next week. The season is pretty much over. But don’t despair. There’s still plenty to obsess over.

The Columbus Blue Jackets pretty much shocked the world by clinching a playoff spot. There are a couple of reasons. Literally, a couple. Forward Rick Nash, who put up 38 goals and the same number of assists, and rookie goalie Steve Mason, who was brilliant with a .918 save percentage, a 2.22 goals against average and 10 shutouts. Coach Ken Hitchcock’s defense-oriented system certainly helped things, but you can’t pick up coaches in fantasy leagues. Yet.

Columbus will face off against Calgary, who has five losses in its last eight games. Calgary’s leading goal scorer is Michael Cammalleri with 36. Worth noting, though, is that he has none in his last eight. He hasn’t scored since March 23. Cammalleri has picked a pretty bad time to go stone cold.

The Boston Bruins are back in the playoffs with the best record in the Eastern Conference. Interestingly, their leading scorer, Phil Kessel, barely made it past 30 goals, which is something to file away. Winning teams don’t necessarily have crazy fantasy numbers. Although you have to love Marc Savard’s 58 assists and the 50 helpers posted by David Krejci.

The Detroit Red Wings, the number two seed in the Western Conference, is the winning team that proves the exception to the Boston Bruin rule. The Wings have four players with at least 30 goals: Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Of course, despite winning the Stanley Cup last year, I still think of Detroit as a team that has trouble making it out of the first round of the playoffs. So we’ll see how that sick amount of talent up front can compensate for the Wings’ frequently erratic (and under-performing) goaltending. However, if it ends up drawing Anaheim for the playoffs, Detroit should be fine — Anaheim hasn’t beat Detroit in regulation this season.

The New York Rangers squeaked their way into the playoffs, managing to go an entire season without an offensive star emerging. Right now, the closest thing the Rangers have to a pure goal-scorer is Ryan Callahan, who has thrived under new coach John Tortorella. Callahan has three goals and four assists in his last six games. Shockingly, no one on the Rangers has even 25 goals. Their two leading goal-scorers (Nikolai Zherdev and Markus Naslund) have just 23 goals apiece. Watching the Rangers play the Bruins in the playoffs could be the cure for insomnia we’ve been looking for.

For the sixth straight season, the Phoenix Coyotes will be left howling on the sidelines as the postseason party kicks off. But that doesn’t mean the ‘Yotes can’t play some small part in determining how the playoffs shake out. Phoenix’s 4-1 win in San Jose Thursday night prohibited the Sharks from clinching the President’s Trophy for the NHL’s best overall record and the right to home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. You can thank rookie goalie Al Montoya for leading the way, as he made 40 saves to slam the door on San Jose. This kid has been splendid, and has proven to be a fine late-season pickup. In keeper leagues, Montoya is showing that he’s ready for prime time play and that’s great news for Phoenix next season as it looks to end the long playoff drought in the desert.

The playoffs start next week. Enjoy!

The playoffs are within our sight. They’re not in the sight of a lot of NHL teams, but that’s not really our problem.

The next week or so represents our last chance to save our fantasy seasons. It’s our last chance to break out into the league lead. And for some, I’m told, it’s the last chance to avoid the humiliation of finishing last.

Make no mistakes about it — this is a huge time of year for many of us.

For instance, a lot of people desperate for goaltending went after Toronto’s Martin Gerber, who many predicted would end the NHL season playing in Europe. But Gerber has been decent in Toronto, with a 2.89 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. Gerber was a nice pick-up. Until he shoved a goalie and earned himself a three-game suspension, that is. So now, in the twilight of our season, Gerber isn’t available.

One goalie who is flying a bit under the radar that could help you now, however, is Brian Elliot of the Senators. While his club rookie record eight-game winning streak came to an end Wednesday, Elliot still looked extremely sharp in that game, saving 28 of 30 shots directed at him. In a season that has been an unmitigated disaster in Ottawa, Elliot’s emergence has been a bright spot.

This time of year is like the final 15 minutes before last call. You’re going to grab what’s available and not ask too many questions. That’s why I suspect a lot of people who despise Sean Avery have claimed him for their teams. In 11 games for the Rangers, Avery’s put up four goals and four assists. He’s even a +1 for New York. They’re decent numbers. Decent enough that you can’t really afford to take a moral stand. Sloppy seconds it is!

And truthfully, I’m always surprised to see who’s available in certain leagues. Alex Tanguay is still on the wire in a lot of leagues. And he’s been hot lately, with three goals and five assists in his last four games. And really, isn’t it nice to see something going well in Montreal? Because this time next week, the Habs might not even be in the playoffs.

And how is Kris Versteeg still available anywhere? He’s in an awful five-game pointless streak, but he still has 49 points on the season. And the longer he goes pointless, the more you have to figure he’s due.

If you’re really desperate, I kind of like Tuomo Ruutu. He’s got 50 points on the season and while his reputation is more grit than finesse, he still manages to put up some numbers. And the numbers might be better than existing forwards on your roster.

The Week Ahead

• Saturday, Buffalo takes on Montreal. While a Buffalo win isn’t enough to propel the Sabres into the playoffs, it would certainly help their last-second push.
• Sunday, Vancouver plays Chicago. The winner of that game will probably still end up playing the loser in the first round of the playoffs. There’s a certain serenity to being the four/five seed.
• Monday, the Sharks play the Flames. It’s just a tune-up for the playoffs where I’m guessing both teams will go deep.

How tight are the Western and Eastern playoff races? It seems like the standings change nightly, and that much pressure forces players to perform.

The Rangers spent this week in and out of the playoff bubble, but new coach John Tortorella finally has the team’s big guns going. Scott Gomez, pretty much a fantasy dud all season, has four goals and four assists in his last five games. Chris Drury, also a fantasy disappointment, has two goals and three assists in his last five games. Obviously, these aren’t sick numbers, but at this point in your fantasy season, it’s a sprint, not a marathon.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has stormed its way back into the playoff picture and Bill Guerin, last seen languishing on the bench in Long Island, is finding out that playing on a line with Sidney Crosby does amazing things for your numbers. Guerin has a goal and five assists in his last five games. Compare that to all of January, when Guerin had two goals and three assists. Of course, this raises the issue of whether just about anyone can put up numbers on a line with Crosby. Like, could an enforcer put up these numbers? Could your grandmother? What about a toaster?

If you’re looking for a little more out of your defense, I’m going to suggest Edmonton’s Denis Grebeshkov, who has been quietly and steadily putting up decent numbers, including five assists in his last six games. With Edmonton barely holding onto its playoff position, Grebeshkov, who leads the Oilers with a +10 rating, might find himself taking more chances to help the Oilers put up some goals. Of course, that could end up killing his +/-. But for now, I’m really enjoying the cut of his jib. And slow and steady production is better than nothing at all.

Finally, a lot of Flyer-watchers have been bummed about the dramatic slowdown in the Jeff Carter-Joffrey Lupul-Scott Hartnell line. Things might be clicking again, though, as Hartnell put up two goals and two assists Tuesday night against Buffalo. Lupul had two assists and Carter had two goals. That’s pretty hot. You’re not going to find Carter available in any league, but you might be able to grab Hartnell. And odds are, you can have Lupul if you really believe in him.

The Week Ahead

• Saturday, the Flames take on the Leafs, a sweet reminder that the Canadian balance of hockey power has truly shifted to the west. Now, if we could just get the west in a better time zone…
• Sunday, the Islanders take on the Blackhawks, a noteworthy game only in that the AHL-stocked Isles play a shockingly uptempo, aggressive game. It’s not effective, but it’ll be great to watch against a slightly older Blackhawks team. But before we totally dismiss the Isles, it’s worth mentioning that youngster Kyle Okposo has potted goals in four straight games. Need some offense down the stretch? This rook is starting to light the lamp with greater frequency and he’s more than likely available in your league.
• Monday, Nashville plays LA, as the Predators try to hold onto and/or grab that last playoff spot and the Kings try to orchestrate a push into the playoffs. Non-traditional hockey markets represent!

The trade deadline (it’s Wednesday, so mark your calendar) can be great for fantasy teams, since sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery or a different situation to blossom. Sadly, trades often turn solid players into total duds. It seems that for every Joe Thornton to San Jose there’s a Sergei Samsonov to Edmonton. That’s just the way it is.

The first big deadline deal was Penguin defenseman Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for forwards Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi (a minor leaguer). Whitney missed the start of the season and never really found a rhythm. After putting up almost 100 points in the last two seasons, he has just two goals and 11 assists so far this year. A less prominent role in Anaheim might actually open up his game, although I’m not sure I would necessarily dump a successful player for Whitney. At least not yet. Kunitz has basically been a 20-goal scorer his entire career, but he already had accumulated 16 goals and 19 assists for the Ducks this season. If he winds up on a line with Sidney Crosby, which is expected, he could presumably end the season with 30 goals. He’s definitely worth a look if he’s available.

Of course, trades aren’t the only agent of change in the NHL. There are a lot of factors. For instance, the return of goalie Martin Brodeur to the Devils sent shockwaves through the fantasy world, as Scott Clemmensen, who filled in ably for Brodeur and as a fantasy goalie (2.39 goals against, .917 save percentage) was unceremoniously sent down to the AHL, ruining not just Clemmensen’s day, but also many rosters. Brodeur put up a shutout his first game back, so if he’s still available, you might want to mirror real life and use him to replace Clemmensen.

A new coach can also be a huge change. For instance, earlier this week the New York Rangers fired coach Tom Renney and hired coach John Tortorella. If you have any Rangers on your roster, you know they’re not scoring, which was a symptom of Renney’s hyperdefensive style. Now, with Tortorella, you can expect a much more aggressive, uptempo style with important players getting major minutes. Fantasy duds like Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, and Nikolai Zherdev might actually start performing. It won’t be instantaneous, but it’s worth keeping an eye on these guys to see how they do under Tortorella. And while you’re doing that, keep an eye on goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who should see a lot more action now that the guys in front of him won’t be playing five men back the entire game. His numbers might suffer because of it.

According to ESPN, Boston’s David Krejci, the NHL’s +/- leader, isn’t universally owned across leagues, so if he’s available, you need to grab him and his 20 goals and 39 assists.

Another guy that might not be owned is Jason Arnott, who, after potting two goals and an assist in the last two games, is on pace for his first 30-goal season as a Predator. He ripped home the game-winner Thursday as Nashville improved its playoff chances with a third straight win. The Preds are in 11th place in the West, but are just one point behind the Minnesota/Dallas/Edmonton/Anaheim logjam who are all tied with 65 points.

The Week Ahead

• Saturday, Anaheim plays Dallas, as the two teams fight to remain in the playoff picture. Anaheim is hoping Whitney will help, but it might need to make a few other moves to firm up a playoff position.
• Monday, the Avs play the Islanders. It just doesn’t seem fair that those teams have to play each other. It’s like making two sick chickens fight each other.
• Thursday, Pittsburgh plays Florida. The Eastern Conference playoff picture is so crowded, games like this — between teams that are so close together in the standings — are huge. So if you want to keep Crosby out of the playoffs, tune in and wish hard.

In the NHL, players will suddenly go very hot. In the fantasy world, the big question is always, how long will they stay hot?

Take Eric Fehr from the Washington Capitals. He’s got seven goals on the season, but four in his last five (plus two assists). Has the former first-round pick suddenly found his game? The Capitals have to be hoping so. He’s only got three goals in the previous three seasons, much of that spent in the minors. So is Fehr worth the risk? He’s certainly worth keeping an eye on.

Also, look for some great players to return to their lineups. A lot of times, players get injured and dumped out of fantasy lineups, and former owners forget to go pick them up. It’s like free money!

Pittsburgh defenseman Sergei Gonchar has been cleared to play, meaning he should appear in the Penguin lineup soon. While Gonchar will have to ease himself in (he hasn’t played all season), he’s a fixture on the Penguin power play — a unit that has really suffered without him. Look for Gonchar to see special teams time, if not regular even-strength minutes.

Also consider Andy McDonald from the Blues, who returned to the St. Louis roster Tuesday night. McDonald played on the wing instead of centre, but things still worked out, as he scored a goal and added an assist. Not bad, considering he hadn’t played since November 2008. The Blues just signed McDonald to a four-year extension, so if he’s good enough for them, he’s certainly good enough for your fantasy team.

The Blues also recently sent goalie Manny Legace down to the minors, so if he’s somehow on your roster, you might want to dump him. If New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur is available, grab him. He’s been cleared to practice and he could be back relatively soon.

If you’re looking for a slightly damaged goalie, Steve Mason from Columbus could be back Friday. He was out with mono. Don’t ask how he got it. Don’t even let your mind wander to the situations that could have caused it. Just think about his .923 save percentage and his 2.09 goals against. And in case you’re wondering, you can’t get mono through a waiver transaction.

And New York Islander Doug Weight is expected to be out six weeks with an MCL sprain. Weight’s numbers haven’t been great, but he seemed to be prime trade bait, and if he had been dealt, his numbers would presumably would have improved. I don’t see a team trading for him unless they really want to say “Wow. We really gained Weight this season.” And none of my uncles run NHL teams, so that’s not going to happen.

The Week Ahead

• Saturday, the Wild looks to get back on track against Ottawa. Minny is clinging to the final playoff spot in the West, but unfortunately the team has a date in Detroit next weekend — and that spells doom for the Wild. After Thursday’s 4-2 loss to Detroit, Minnesota is now 0-10-2 in its last dozen tries against the Wings. On the plus side, Brent Burns potted his first goal in almost a month. He’s been a real disappointment this season after enjoying a breakout campaign last year. He’s no longer a must-own fantasy defenceman.
• Sunday, the Sharks play the Devils in what could be a Stanley Cup Finals preview.
• Sunday, Colorado plays Detroit. For Detroit, it’s like when you see an old girlfriend on the street and she’s kind of let herself go, and you tell her she looks great, but she can tell you’re lying, and you just kind of stand there and then she bursts into tears.
• Monday the Rangers play the Blues. You have to hope the Rangers will tell John Davidson to stop running the team and go back to simply calling the games.