Week 5 Fantasy Stockwatch

Our Ross Devonport breaks down the latest happenings in his Week 5 Fantasy Stockwatch, including the status of Rick DiPietro and the struggles of Ed Jovanovski.

By Ross Devonport

Nov 4, 2008 at 12:43 am ET • 5 min read

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

	Devin Setoguchi, RW, San Jose Setoguchi was only owned in 23 percent of leagues to start this season, but he's now owned in 75 percent. The former WHL star put up a measly 17 points in 44 games last season, but is off to a superb start this campaign with 12 points in as many games. A point-per-game guy in the minors over the last few years, Setoguchi has two goals and two assists in his last two games and is getting plenty of time on the top line in San Jose. The scary thing is, the guy is putting up these numbers while only getting 15 minutes of ice time a game.
	Rick DiPietro, G, N.Y. Islanders OK, this is getting ridiculous now. DiPietro underwent two surgeries in the offseason that were supposed to clear up the problems with his knee and hip, but he wasn't healthy to start this campaign and made only three starts before getting hurt again. Now he's out 4-6 weeks after more surgery (on which knee, the Isles won't tell us), which just simply kills the thousands of people who took DiPietro in drafts this September, expecting him to produce as a No. 1 goaltender for them. He's still worth holding on to in deeper leagues simply because he's a very capable goalie when healthy, but his ownership percentage is down to 48 now, so a lot of people are giving up on him.
	Mike Van Ryn, D, Toronto Van Ryn started this season only owned in 11 percent of leagues, but he's up to 41 percent now thanks to six points this season. Van Ryn flew under the radar in drafts after only playing 20 games in 2007-08, but this is a guy that had back-to-back seasons of 37 points on either side of the lockout. A defenseman who can score in the high 30s and pick up penalty minutes on a decent basis is worth using in all leagues as a No. 2 or No. 3 option.
	Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, W, Chicago They might be fast on skates, but Andrei (pictured) and Sergei Kostitsyn are off to slow starts this season. Andrei, the older brother who had 53 points last season, has only three in eight games so far this campaign. He did miss a few games after being checked head-first into the boards, but his scoring was just as bad before that hit as it has been afterwards. Sergei, meanwhile, has failed to record a point in seven straight games and is stuck on the third line for now. They might get things going soon, but you’d be better off benching them until that happens.
	Zach Parise, C, New Jersey Any guy who has scored in six straight games is obviously playing well, but when you’re doing it for the offensively tame Devils, you're going above and beyond all expectations. Parise, who has scored in the 60s the past two seasons, is currently on pace for 113 points with 14 points in 10 games so far. While he's unlikely to keep this streak up for too much longer, you could do a lot worse than start Parise in most formats at the moment while he's this hot.
	Ed Jovanovski, D, Phoenix Whatever momentum Jovanovski had coming off his career-best 51-point year in 2007-08 has been completely erased by the fact he has yet to record a single point this season in nine games. But he's not the only the veteran blue-liner who's struggling in Phoenix -- the entire defensive unit has only scored one goal between them and the Coyotes have only managed 21 goals in nine games so far. Jovanovski will surely get things going at some point, but save yourself the headache for now and bench him in all leagues until he actually gets his name on the scoresheet.
	Mike Knuble, RW, Philadelphia Knuble has always been a decent power play guy for the Flyers, but he's really picked up his even-strength game this season as three of his five goals have come with 10 skaters on the ice. While it's always a disadvantage to play on the third line like Knuble does, the veteran has been taking full advantage of his limited offensive opportunities, as he is seventh in the league in shot percentage. He has been hovering around 55-60 points the last few seasons and should finish in that range again this year and is well worth starting in deeper leagues right now while he's playing well.
	Mathieu Garon, G, Edmonton Garon looked good earlier this season, winning his first three games, but he caught Calgary and Anaheim during their early funks and beat a very average Avalanche team. Now, the Chandler, Quebec native has lost three straight starts, while backup Dwayne Roloson started in back-to-back games over the weekend and won both, despite allowing four goals to Philly on Sunday. Garon is with his third NHL team and the Oilers didn't exactly give him a vote of confidence by keeping three goalies out of camp. He better shape up soon, or he will continue to lose starts to Roloson and Jeff Drouin-Deslauire.
	Slava Kozlov, LW, Atlanta Kozlov slipped off many people's boards after his 41-point output last season, but the departure of Marian Hossa has allowed the Russian to get off to a nice start in 2008-09 with eight points in his first 11 games. He also comes into Fantasy Week 5 (Nov. 3-9) with four goals in his last five games. Many people forget that Kozlov was an 80-point guy two seasons ago, so the offensive potential is still there for a monster year from the veteran.
	Mike Fisher, C, Ottawa With all the talent in Canada's capital, how anyone on the Senators top three lines doesn't have a point yet is just beyond me. Fisher is that one guy. The nine-year veteran, who has scored in the mid-40s his last three seasons, has a minus-five rating so far and has only 12 shots on goal through his first nine games. I'm not sure exactly why he has been struggling to get involved in the offense so far, but his owners will be hoping he starts to pick up the pace soon, otherwise he'll end up on waiver wires.

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