Can Gaborik Remain Healthy?

Marian Gaborik was a wild card coming into this season for fantasy owners. The Rangers have a rich history of signing high profile free agents who don’t produce on the ice.

So far, Gaborik is answering the bell for Ranger fans and fantasy owners. We are only seven games into the season, but there is reason to be excited about Gaborik’s play.

Here are the numbers: 7 games, 4 goals, 6 assists, +/- 7

Gaborik’s health seems to be the obstacle he’ll face. There isn’t much in his past that suggests he will in 76 plus games in a season. Since the 2003 – 2004 season, Gaborik has only once suited up for more than 65 games in a season.

The season, in which he did play in 77 games, he also earned a career high in goals (42), assists (41), and points (83).

Waiver Wire Adds: March 29th Edition

The Fantasy Hockey Playoffs have started in most if not all leagues by now, so finding productive players has never been more important. Here are some of the hottest players from the last month to help you on your quest for a title:

RW Kyle Okopso: Owned in 8% of Yahoo Leagues. Last Month: 14 points (5G, 9A, +3) In just his first full season, Okposo is starting to play like the star he seems certain to become. He’s scored at least 1 point in 9 of his last 10 games, and should continue to be a great source of points down the stretch.

C Mikhail Grabovski: Owned in 8% of Yahoo Leagues. Last Month 15 points (5 G, 10 A, 0+/-) Grabovski has been on fire lately scoring in 5 straight and tallying 13 points in his last 7 games. He’s worth a pick up if you’re in need at center.

C Matthew Lombardi: Owned in 5% of Yahoo Leagues: Last Month 11 points (5 G, 6A, +4) Since coming to Phoenix in the deadline deal with Calgary, Lombardi has been very productive for the Coyotes. Since the trade, he’s scored 9 points in 12 games, is logging more ice time, and is taking more shots. He could be a solid contributor for the remainder of the season.

LW Nick Foligno: Owned in 3% of Yahoo Leagues: Last Month 11 points (6G, 5A, +7) Foligno has at least 1 point in 5 straight games skating with Ottawa’s second line. As if that weren’t good enough, Foligno was recently moved up to the first line. Skating with Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson will only help to ensure that his solid play continues.

D Sami Salo: Owned in 11% of Yahoo Leagues: Last Month 7 points (1G 6 A, +7) Salo has played well enough over the last month to be useful in many leagues. If you’re lacking a 3rd or 4th defenseman, you could do worse than Salo.

PIM specialist: RW Colton Orr: Owned in 1% of Yahoo Leagues. Last Month 0 points, -2, 46 PIMs. Orr's been a brusier all season, and is currently second in the NHL penalty minutes season with 191. He should continue to be a good source of PIMS, but only PIMS, down the stretch.

Good Luck in the Week Ahead!

Waiver Wire Adds: March 15th Edition

Beware the Ides of March! Not so much because members of the Roman senate are plotting your demise, but because we’re about a month away from the end of the NHL regular season. Time is short for you to make improvements. For those of you in head to head leagues, the playoffs will be starting soon (Playoffs in my league start Monday the 16th). For those of you in Roto leagues, it’s not too late to improve your standing in the…umm… standings. Without further adieu, here are some of the hottest players that are also available in most leagues:

RW Jason Williams (owned in 7% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month: 12 Points (4 G, 8 A, +4, 10 PIMS). Williams has played well (19 points in 26 games) since coming to Columbus from Atlanta in Mid January. He’s been particularly hot lately with 7 points (3 G, 4A) in his last 6, and seems comfortable playing on a line with Antoine Vermette and R.J. Umberger. Expect his solid play to continue.

LW Alexander Ponikarovsky (owned in 17% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month: 13 points (3 G, 10 A, +3) Ponikarovsky has been a solid but unspectacular contributor so far this season. However, after exploding for 4 points (4 assists) in Saturday’s game against Calgary, he seems poised to finish the season strong. With 48 points, Ponikarvosky has already surpassed his career high in points for a season, and could offer even more in his final 12 games.

C Patrice Bergeron (owned in 18% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month: 11 points (3 G, 8 A, +3) Thought Bergeron has struggled to stay on the ice, he continues to show that when fully healthy, he is a very productive player. Bergeron is skating with Boston’s 3rd line, but has points in 6 of his last 8 games. He could be a productive add for the last weeks of the season.

D Anton Babchuk (owned in 10% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month 10 points (5 G, 5 A, +12) Babchuk only has 22 points on the season, but 10 of those points have come in his last 15 games. In addition, he’s a +12 in his last 15 games to boot. If you’re desperate for a defenseman, Babchuk would be a nice addition.

PIM specialist: D Jim Vandermeer (owned in 1% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month 2 points (0G, 2 A, +6, 48 PIMS) Vandermeer has earned PIMs in 6 of his last 9 games, including 17 PIMs in March 6th, and 14 on March 12th. He won’t help anywhere else, but if you’re in need, Vandermeer could give a late boost to your PIM totals.

Best of Luck in the week to come!

Waiver Wire Adds: March 7th Edition

The big news in the NHL this week wasn’t quite as big as many had hoped. Several deals were made that could be important, but the big names that had been mentioned in trade talks ended up staying put. Many NHL teams may have missed an important opportunity to improve. Of course, the fantasy trade deadline in many leagues has passed as well, but that doesn’t mean that you also missed a chance to improve. Here are some of the hottest players on the free agent wire that can help your team right now:

C David Legwand (owned in 7% of Yahoo Leagues): Last Month-13 points (8G, 5A, +5) Legwand has picked up his scoring, with 7 points (5 G, 2A) in his last 5 games along with a fantastic +8. He’d been pretty disappointing up until this recent stretch, but could be a good source of points down the stretch.

C Todd White (owned in 35% of Yahoo Leagues): Last Month- 13 points (3 G, 10 A, +4) White has been steady all season, but has been very productive of late with points in 8 of his last 9 games. Of course, skating on a line with Ilya Kovalchuk has a lot to do with that success, but White has certainly taken advantage of the opportunity. A poor plus minus rating hurt White’s value earlier in the season, but even that number has improved of late. White’s a great player to add if you’re in need.

C Andy McDonald (owned in 27% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month- 12 points (4 G, 8 A, +1). McDonald has been hot lately with 12 points 12 games since returning from an ankle injury. Prior to the injury, McDonald had 18 points in 16 games, so it’s not out of the question that he could sustain his point per game pace.

C Rich Pevereley (owned in 5% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month- 11 points (6 G, 5 A, +9) Peverley started the season with Nashville, but was put on waivers and picked up by Atlanta in early January. Since joining the Thrashers, Peverley has 22 points (9 G, 13 A) in 22 games. He’s scored 6 points in his last 5, and should continue his strong play through the end of the season.

C Manny Malholtra (owned in 2% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month- 13 points (4 G, 9 A, +2). Malholtra has been playing very well on Colombus’s top line along side Rick Nash and Kristian Huselius. He has 12 points (4 G, 8 A) in his last 10 games to go along with a +2 rating.

RW David Moss (owned in 5% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month- 10 points (4 G, 6 A, 0+/-). Moss was playing pretty well in his own right of late (he had a hat trick on March 3rd), but would get a nice bump in value if he ends up on the same line as the recently acquired Olli Jokinen .

LW Curtis Glencross (owned in 4% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month- 9 points (2 G, 7 A, +5). Like David Moss, Glencross was also playing fairly well lately, and he too may get a bump in value if he makes up the other side of the potential Moss-Jokinen line.

D Cory Sarich (owned in 5% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month- 9 points (1 G, 8 A, +7). Sarich has played well lately, with 7 points in 10 games. With just 19 points on the season, this is by far the best scoring stretch of the season for Sarich.

G Martin Gerber (owned in 37% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month- 1-0, .947 Sv %). With Vesa Toskala out, Gerber could be in line for most of the starts in Toronto. He’s had a wild ride this season-going from a starter in Ottawa, losing his starting job because of poor play, being sent to the AHL, and now back to an NHL starter. He’s not consistent enough to carry fantasy team, but could be an option as a #2 goalie if you’re in need.

PIM specialist- Derek Dorsett (owned in 1% of Yahoo Leagues) Last Month 0 points (0 G, 0 A, 0+/-) 49 PIMs. Dorsett has earned 5 or more PIMs in 7 of 10 games (10, 5, 7, 5, 5, 12, 0, 5, 0, 0). He doesn’t offer help in any other category, but if it’s PIM’s your after, Dorsett can help.