Week 2 Fantasy Stockwatch

Our Michael Hurcomb surveys the early landscape in the Fantasy Hockey world, touching on a potential renaissance season for Keith Tkachuk and more in his Fantasy Stockwatch.

By Michael Hurcomb

Oct 14, 2008 at 4:38 am ET • 4 min read

Every week our Fantasy staff will evaluate the landscape around the NHL and how it pertains to Fantasy owners in Fantasy Stockwatch.

	Brandon Dubinsky, C, N.Y. Rangers New York is riding high at 5-0 and Dubinsky has been the surprise offensive star of the early season. During training camp it appeared as though he was destined for a job centering the third line, but the Rangers realized he was top-six talent and opted to move Chris Drury to the right wing on the top line to free up space for Dubinsky. It has paid off in a big way. After a 40-point rookie season, Dubinsky has three goals, four assists, a plus-2 rating and 11 penalty minutes in the first five games.
	Kris Letang, D, Pittsburgh The second-year defenseman moved up everyone's Fantasy draft board after Ryan Whitney (foot) and Sergei Gonchar (shoulder) both went down with long-term injuries. Letang was pinpointed as the new defensive star for the Penguins and everyone felt he would be able to pick up the offensive slack. That hasn't been the case. Despite logging more than 25 minutes per game, Letang has been shutout in the team's first three games and has a minus-2 rating. He has taken just four shots as well.
	Keith Tkachuk, LW, St. Louis Usually a demotion is never a good thing, but in Tkachuk's case it has sparked his game. The arrival of rookie centers Patrick Berglund and T.J. Oshie forced Paul Kariya to the left wing and bumped Tkachuk down to the third line. All he has done is post four goals in the first three games and has shown flashes of his former 40-50-goal self. He doesn't have an even-strength goal, but has four power-play scores and could get near 30 goals for the first time since 2003-04.
	Mike Knuble, LW, Philadelphia Knuble might as well have his bags packed because it appears as though he could be close to his way out the door in Philadelphia. Knuble has long been rumored as trade bait because the Flyers need depth along the blue line. It doesn't help his cause that Knuble was taken off the team's top power-play unit in the midst of the team's opener and replaced by Scott Hartnell.
	Tomas Holmstrom, LW, Detroit The 12-year veteran was lost in the mix on Detroit's top line coming into the season as all eyes were on new acquisition Marian Hossa and how he would gel with Pavel Datsyuk. But it has been Holmstrom who has stolen the show. He is the guy responsible for pushing Henrik Zetterberg down to the second line, and he has made head coach Mike Babcock look like a genius with three goals, including two power-play scores, in his first three games. Babcock likes Holmstrom on a line with Datsyuk and that duo could spend a lot of time together in 2008-09.
	Jack Johnson, D, Los Angeles The former Michigan Wolverine and No. 3 pick in 2005 was looking to erase some awful rookie moments from 2007-08 with a fresh start in 2008-09. Those plans are now scraped after Johnson suffered a serious shoulder injury Sunday against the Sharks and will now miss 2-3 months. The Kings' blue line was already razor thin with Johnson, who had just 11 points in 74 games last season, and now rookie Drew Doughty might have a much faster learning curve.
	Simon Gagne, LW, Philadelphia Just two games into his 2008-09 season and Gagne looks like the 40-goal scorer of old. The Quebec native missed all but 25 games last season while dealing with concussion symptoms and his offensive prowess was a huge loss not only for Philadelphia but for Fantasy owners as well. Gagne went through rigorous offseason conditioning to get back into prime shape and the results have been great. He has a goal in each of his first two games and is gelling nicely with Mike Richards and Daniel Briere.
	Rick DiPietro, G, N.Y. Islanders DiPietro missed most of the preseason while recovering from offseason knee surgery and when he finally got onto the ice he allowed six goals in his only preseason game. That prompted New York to sit DiPietro to begin the season and Joey MacDonald has made three starts in his place. The Islanders continue to say DiPietro is not out because of the knee injury, but if he were at 100 percent, there would be no reason not to start their franchise goalie.
	Ilya Bryzgalov, G, Phoenix There was some concern along the Phoenix blue line heading into the season after the Coyotes dealt Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard to Florida to land center Olli Jokinen. They traded defense for offense, and Bryzgalov lost two key contributors in front of him. Well, two games into the season and it doesn't seem Bryzgalov is suffering too much. He has victories over Columbus and Anaheim with a 1.50 GAA and .953 save percentage. He has allowed just three goals in two games and has made 61 saves.
	Fabian Brunnstrom, F, Dallas The Stars won the bidding sweepstakes for the Swedish transplant and many thought he would be an instant hit with Dallas. Not so fast. Brunnstrom has been a healthy scratch for the first two games after a so-so training camp and he continues to be treated as a game-to-game candidate. He still could be a sleeper candidate for the Calder Trophy, but he will soon lose that tag if he can't get on the ice.

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