The NHL season has reached the first quarter, how is your fantasy team doing?
If you have a injury or a dud on your roster and you league allows player adds and drops with no commitment or penalty, this week’s waiver wire focuses on players who are currently hot and can fill a gap, but may not be a long term solution.
Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks – 64% Fantrax Owned
Over the last few seasons Versteeg has been in a decline and hit rock bottom in last season’s playoffs scoring three points in 15 games with a minus -5 where he no longer looked like an NHL player. What a difference a season makes as now he has played his way back up to the second line with Patrick Kane and has 16 points in 19 games. While he may never again be considered keeper quality, he is well worth the own right now.
Michael Hutchinson, Winnipeg Jets – 47% Fantrax Owned
The Jets goalie is posting some impressive stats this season with a record of 8-4-1-2 and a GAA of 1.56 a save % of .947 with one shut out. While both he and Ondrej Pavelec have been solid and are competing for playing time, Pavelec’s history of wild inconsistency make Hutchinson a more than worthy gamble.
Anders Lee, New York Islanders – 41% Fantrax Owned
The Islanders are a good team, they are scoring and winning and it is not with smoke and mirrors either. The play of Anders Lee is a part of why they are having success. While he failed to make the opening roster and missed the first six games he has now scored six points in 17 games including two goals in his last two games. Recently Lee has found himself playing on a line with Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome. While he is on that line he should continue to produce, but it is no guarantee he doesn’t end up on the fourth line again.
Ales Hemsky, Dallas Stars – 37% Fantrax Owned
Yes believe it or not, the streaky Ales Hemsky is flirting with a hot streak. After going a pitiful one point in his first 14 games Hemsky found himself in the press box for game 15. In the following seven games he produced five points. The Dallas Stars have also been hot of late scoring 15 times in their last four games. Add Hemsky to your roster for a good time, not a long time.
Stephen Weiss, Detroit Red Wings – 27% Fantrax Owned
Weiss was one of the players in my Under the Radar Players feature in the McKeens yearbook. I was beginning to regret that decision to include him but recently he has been proving me right. After missing almost the entire first quarter with injuries, healthy scratches and conditioning stints in the minors, Weiss now has five points in his last three games with three goals and two assists on a red hot line with Pavel Datsyuk and Daren Helm. Like I said in the Yearbook, he is a high-risk, high-reward player but one who could return to his 60 point form.
Calvin Pickard, Colorado Avalanche – 27% Fantrax Owned
With Semyon Varlamov struggling with a groin injury that may linger on and off throughout the season, Pickard will battle Reto Berra for the backup position. Pickard has only played in five games but has a respectable 2-3 record with a 2.25 GAA and a .933 save% in that time. While Berra has a contract that all things being equal would win him the NHL job, his 3.57 GAA and .883 save% may see him the odd man out.
John Klingberg, Dallas Stars – 65% Fantrax Owned
Finally, and last but not least we come to the legend of John Klingberg. Who the heck is this guy? If you drafted Klingberg you are either in a very, very deep league or a family member. Klingberg failed to crack the opening night roster and went pointless in his first three games since being called up. Since then he has a whopping eight points in six games. With the Stars recently trading away both Brendan Dillon and Sergei Gonchar and giving Kevin Connauton up to waivers, Klingberg stock has gone through the roof! At only 65% owned do not sleep on this player