Every week our Fantasy staff will evaluate the landscape around the NHL and how it pertains to Fantasy owners in Fantasy Stockwatch.
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| | Jarome Iginla, RW, Calgary Iginla was cruising along the first three months of the season with 18 goals and 27 assists, but he has just one goal in January so far. Some Fantasy owners are getting worried about their top pick's production lately, but I think he'll pick the pace up again after the break and should be able to finish with somewhere around 47 goals. If you have bait to offer, you might be able to pry Iginla away from an owner if his team needs help in other departments. |
| | Zach Parise, LW, New Jersey While Parise is having himself a superb season so far, I just don't think he can keep up this pace for an entire campaign. Don't trade or drop him by any means, as I still see him finishing in the low 80s in points, but don't expect him to finish in the mid-90s he is on pace to end up with. One thing he should do is stay healthy, as he's missed just two games over his last two-plus seasons. |
| | Pekka Rinne, G, Nashville The Predators haven't been able to find a solid long-term goaltender since Tomas Vokoun skipped town for Florida. My colleague Michael Hurcomb thinks the Preds will still give Dan Ellis a ton of starts so they don't switch to what seems like their 20th No.1 goaltender in the past couple of seasons. I disagree, though, and looking at Rinne's stats in the first half (2.33, .916), I think he'll end up prying the top job away from Ellis in the second half. He could also pick up some wins if the Preds make a must-needed move for a goal scorer to help out their anemic offense. |
| | Nicklas Backstrom, C, Washington Backstrom was thriving when Washington was struggling with numerous injuries back in December, but the Swede's points have dried up in the last few weeks with guys getting healthy all around him. He has failed to record a point in six of his last seven games. He'll continue to feed off Alex Ovechkin on occasion, but I don't see him exceeding his 69 points from last season by more than just a few points. He remains a solid start in most formats, however. |
| | Jay Bouwmeester, D, Florida Bouwmeester's six-year spell in Florida could be coming to end before the Mar. 4 trade deadline, and you know plenty of contending teams would love to add this stud to their blue line for a playoff run. While the Panthers might wait until the deadline to make a move, which would be a disappointment for Fantasy fans, I think Florida will be out of the playoff race by mid-February and ready to make sure they get something for the All-Star defenseman. A move to a better offensive team would be a huge Fantasy boost for Bouwmeester, who is already a solid starter in all formats when he's playing well. |
| | Ryan Getzlaf, C, Anaheim With Teemu Selanne on the verge of returning, I think Getzlaf's numbers will take a slight hit over the next month or two. He'll still have his solid games now and again, but I can see his consistent production slowing down as he isn't a top goal scorer and Selanne will undoubtedly swipe some of his assists. Still, he remains a solid start in all Fantasy formats until his numbers actually take a dip. |
| | Mike Ribeiro, C, Dallas Ribeiro broke out last season with an 83-point campaign, but then appeared to be sleepwalking through the first couple of months this season with just three goals in his first 23 games. Now he has seven in his last 13 games, including a hat trick Wednesday, as the Stars look to push their way back into playoff contention. I can see Ribeiro having a nice second half and finishing with a point total in the mid-70s. |
| | Tomas Vokoun, G, Florida This selection goes back to my Bouwmeester up arrow above, but not completely. I watched Vokoun play in person twice this week, and was completely unimpressed at some of the weak goals he let in. Also, I think the Panthers have been playing out of their skin lately and are ready to come back down to earth with a bump after the break. They need a scorer desperately, but Bouwmeester is just too close to the end of his contract for Florida to get any superstar in return for him. With his best blue-liner gone, Vokoun will see more and more shots and less and less starts. |
| | Olli Jokinen, C, Phoenix Many Fantasy owners are a little down on Jokinen right now, and rightly so as he's played less than 17 minutes in his last three games and is way behind his usual pace. However, he does have three goals in his last five contests and I think coach Wayne Gretzky will realize in a few weeks or so that he needs to play Jokinen a little more if Phoenix wants to remain in the playoff hunt. I expect the center to pick up his play in February and should find his way back as a must-start Fantasy forward in a month or so. |
| | Ilya Kovalchuk, LW, Atlanta Kovalchuk was mentioned in trade rumors earlier this month, and Fantasy owners rejoiced as they salivated about the Russian star playing on any team other than the Thrashers. However, Atlanta management has decided to sit tight for now. He has been playing very well since the calendar turned to 2009, but I'm giving him a down arrow here simply because he's not leaving Atlanta. I can see him finishing in the high 70s. |
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