Editor?s Note: This feature, which recaps the past week in fantasy hockey, will run every Sunday on NESN.com throughout the regular season.
We’re nearly at the three-week mark of the 2014-15 regular season.
Let’s review the best and worst of the past week in fantasy hockey, and take a look at three players owners should add to their roster from the waiver wire.
Studs:
Logan Couture, Center, San Jose Sharks: After a slow start to the season, Couture has become a fantasy star for the Sharks. He’s tallied seven points (four goals, three assists) in his last five games, including a two-goal performance against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. The 28-year-old center should be starting in all types of fantasy leagues.
He also has two favorable matchups this week against the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Islanders.
David Krejci, Center, Boston Bruins: The Bruins’ first-line center has greatly improved the team’s offense since his return to the lineup after missing the first three games of the season with an injury.
He leads the Bruins in scoring with eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games, including a six-game point streak and a plus-5 rating. Krejci also receives 2:38 of power-play ice time per game. Overall, Boston is averaging 2.14 more goals per game with Krejci in the lineup.
Jeff Carter, Center, Los Angeles Kings: The Kings forward is tied for second in scoring with 12 points (five goals, seven assists). He also has tallied two power-play points and has a plus-12 rating in eight games.
He’s been nearly unstoppable over the past week with two goals and five assists in his last three games. Carter’s line, which also includes Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson, arguably has been the best trio in hockey this season.
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Duds:
Steve Mason, Goalie, Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers’ starting netminder struggled over the past week with four goals against in each of his last two games. He’s also allowed three or more goals in each of his last four contests.
Mason is 0-3-1 with a 3.83 goals against average and a .878 save percentage this season, and with two of his top-four defensemen (Andrew MacDonald and Braydon Coburn) out of the lineup for the next few weeks because of injuries, he’s not a trustworthy option for fantasy owners.
Tomas Hertl, Right Winger, San Jose Sharks: The 20-year-old forward is in a bit of a sophomore slump. He’s scored two goals with zero assists and just 10 shots in nine games. The former first-round draft pick is scoreless on the power play and hasn’t tallied a single point over his last five games. Hertl also is a minus-4 over that span.
Fantasy owners should bench Hertl until he shows more consistency offensively.
Jonathan Huberdeau, Left Winger, Florida Panthers: Many fans expected a bounce-back season from Huberdeau, who struggled offensively as a sophomore in 2013-14 after winning the Calder Trophy during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign.
Huberdeau has scored only one goal with a single assist in seven games this season. He’s scoreless on the power play and has tallied just one point in his last five games. Huberdeau’s Panthers play only two games this week, one of which is against a strong defensive team in the Arizona Coyotes. He’s not a player who can be trusted on fantasy rosters right now.
Waiver Wire Pickups:
Eric Staal, Center, Carolina Hurricanes: The Hurricanes captain is an elite center and capable of tallying 20 goals per season and scoring at or near a point-per-game rate. According to the team’s website, Staal “could return at the tail end of the road trip in Vancouver.”
Staal has one goal and an assist in two games this season, and when he returns, he will receive top-line minutes and lots of power-play ice time. The veteran forward should be owned in all fantasy leagues unless he suffers a setback in his injury recovery.
Damon Severson, Defenseman, New Jersey Devils: Severson is tied for third in scoring among blueliners with seven points (four goals, three assists) in eight games. He also has a plus-6 rating, 27 shots on goal and three power-play points in 21:57 of playing time per game.
Nick Foligno, Left Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets: Foligno isn’t a household name to the casual NHL fan, but he’s proven to be a valuable asset for fantasy owners at a position that lacks elite talent. The Blue Jackets forward has tallied nine points (three goals, six assists) with a plus-2 rating in eight games this season. He’s also receiving 3:21 of power-play ice time per game.
Foligno should be owned and started in all fantasy leagues.
UPDATE: Foligno was involved in a scary collision during Sunday’s game against the Kings. Fortunately, he will be OK, and is traveling back to Columbus with the team.
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Photo via Amber Pearls/USA TODAY Sports Images
