Each week (or so) we'll dip a toe in the fantasy pool, test the water, and find out which players are hot and which ones are not over the past fortnight (that's two weeks).
(Statistics cover the period from Jan 21st to Feb 4th)
HOT
| TOP FORWARDS | ||||||
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | Comment |
| Bouchard, Pierre-Marc C MIN | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2.25 | A great 4 game streak, even scoring a bit |
| Langenbrunner, Jamie RW NJ | 4 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 2.00 | 42 points already more than last year's total…thank you Parise & Zajac |
| Ovechkin, Alex LW WAS | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2.00 | Look out league...the Ovechkin train is leaving the station |
| Vanek, Thomas LW BUF | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1.80 | 20 points in last 15 games |
| Malkin, Evgeni C PIT | 5 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 1.80 | Points in 10 of last 11 games…there is a reason he's 1st in points |
| Crosby, Sidney C PIT | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1.80 | When you're second to Malkin that's not a bad thing |
| Zajac, Travis C NJ | 4 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1.75 | Somebody had to set up Langenbrunner's goals |
| Weiss, Stephen C FLA | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1.75 | Streaky Weiss had two 3 pointers this fortnight |
| Boyes, Brad C STL | 4 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1.75 | Speaking of streaky...7 points in last 3 games, 2 points in 7 games before that |
| Kesler, Ryan C VAN | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1.67 | Best player on Sundin-Demitra line? |
| Brown, Dustin RW LA | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1.67 | Don't forget about his 200 shots |
| TOP DEFENDERS | ||||||
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | Comment |
| Green, Mike D WAS | 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2.25 | Making a strong case for the fantasy Norris |
| Niedermayer, Scott D ANA | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1.40 | Are Ducks really thinking of trading him? |
| Colaiacovo, Carlo D STL | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1.25 | 11 points in 14 games since Jan 1st |
| Campbell, Brian D CHI | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1.25 | After 1 point in seven games, four in four |
| Wideman, Dennis D BOS | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1.20 | Seven game point streak…in middle of breakout season |
| OTHERS OF NOTE | ||||||
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | Comment |
| Connolly, Tim C BUF | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 1.60 | Had 40 points in 48 games last year. Playing point-a-game this year. |
| Ott, Steve LW DAL | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1.50 | Former 1st round pick gives a nice mix of points (19) and PIM (75) |
| Stillman, Cory C FLA | 4 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1.50 | Injuries may mean he's overlooked…28 points in 34 games this year |
| Moore, Dominic C TOR | 5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1.40 | We can't believe this is happening…9 pts in five games, 23 in other 47 |
| Blake, Jason LW TOR | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1.40 | Blake stays hot…just to spite us? |
| Okposo, Kyle RW NYI | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1.33 | 7th overall pick in 2006 finally getting some playing time |
| Bolland, Dave RW CHI | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1.25 | 3rd line role keeps him underrated |
| Stafford, Drew RW BUF | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1.20 | We've got a stiffy for Staffy |
| Yandle, Keith D PHO | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.80 | Getting good minutes in PHO…already doubled his career high |
| Whitney, Ryan D PIT | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0.80 | Much better last eight games…should continue to improve |
PICK UP OF THE WEEK: TIM CONNOLY C BUF
When a guy scores 18 points in 18 games to start the year he would get snapped up faster than a Zdeno Chara slapshot. But that's exactly what Tim Connolly has done and he's only owned in 17% of Yahoo leagues. His injury might scare many away but he looks healthy now and is on fire. He is a centerman and there are lots of good ones out there, but how many of them are setting up Thomas Vanek and Drew Stafford? He's also getting a heap of PP time (third on the team the last five games). He's normally more of a passer but this year he's scoring as well with 10 goals. Don't sell the farm for him, as his next injury could come at any moment, but he's going to help you when he's healthy.
Honourable Mention: Jamie Langerbrunner, Travis Zajac, Steven Weiss, Ryan Kesler, Carlo Colaiacovo
COLD
| WORST FORWARDS | ||||||
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | Comment |
| Kovalchuk, Ilya LW ATL | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.25 | Superstars don't get one point in 14 days |
| Jokinen, Olli C PHO | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.20 | Off year getting worse? |
| Satan, Miroslav RW PIT | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.20 | Healthy scratches aren't going to help bust out of funk |
| Little, Bryan C ATL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 points in last 11 games |
| White, Todd C ATL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | After 6 game point streak, scoreless in last six |
| Sullivan, Steve RW NSH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | Fairytale story may not have a happy ending |
| Cheechoo, Jonathan RW SJ | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | Last week's 'Drop of the Week' still not scoring |
| WORST DEFENDERS | ||||||
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PPG | Comment |
| Kuba, Filip D OTT | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | If Ottawa isn't scoring neither is their PP QB |
| Robidas, Stephane D DAL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | Ladies and gentlemen…Stephane Robidas, All-star. |
| Redden, Wade D NYR | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | That's infinity dollars per point the last two weeks |
| Byfuglien, Dustin D CHI | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | Wasn't he supposed to get points as Pat Kane's winger? |
| Hainsey, Ron D ATL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | Five games without a point for the overrated d-man |
DROP OF THE WEEK: MIROSLAV SATAN W PIT
We've been pretty spot on with our 'Drop of the Week' the last few weeks. So hopefully Satan can keep our streak going. After a horrible 41 points season last year on the island many (including us) were thinking that Sid the Kid would get him back on track. 35 goals and 70 points seemed easily in reach. He's on pace for almost 60 points but lately he's been brutal...five points in his last 15 games brutal. To make matters worse now he's getting the old healthy scratch. He isn't some rookie that the coach needs to light a fire under. When he is in the lineup he's playing with Pascal Dupuis and Chris Minard from what we can gather and that's a couple of very good reasons not to have him in your lineup. Drop him and pick up somebody on the rise.
Dishonourable Mention: Steve Sullivan, Tom Poti, Jonathan Cheechoo,