Editor?s Note: This fantasy hockey feature will run each Monday on NESN.com. It will showcase which players fantasy owners should sit and start on their team. We also will post a weekly fantasy recap each Sunday highlighting the stars, duds and best waiver wire pickups.
Fantasy owners have a much better understanding of which players to start and sit on a regular basis with one month of the 2014-15 NHL season in the books. With that said, the second and third tiers of players are a little harder to figure out.
Let?s take a look at four players to start and sit this week. As always, superstars such as Sidney Crosby and P.K. Subban should be started regardless of performance.
STARTS
Johnny Gaudreau, Winger, Calgary Flames
The rookie forward from Boston College has eight points (two goals, six assists) with a plus-7 in 12 games this season. Gaudreau has scored one goal with four assists in his last three games. He’s one of the most exciting players in the Western Conference and a reliable winger for fantasy owners.
Vladimir Tarasenko, Winger, St. Louis Blues
Tarasenko is performing at a high level for a Blues offense hurt by injuries. He scored five goals in three games last week, proving that he’s a must-start in all types of fantasy leagues. The Russian forward also is receiving 3:21 of power-play ice time per game, the second-highest among Blues forwards.
Chris Kunitz, Winger, Pittsburgh Penguins
All of Sidney Crosby’s wingers should be owned and started regularly in all fantasy leagues. Kunitz has scored four goals with three assists and a plus-4 rating in his last three games. He also plays a role on the Penguins’ power play.
Nikita Kucherov, Winger, Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov is showing tremendous improvement in his second NHL season. He’s posted 11 points (five goals, six assists) with a plus-5 rating and 29 shots in 12 games. The 21-year-old right winger also has scored four goals with one assist and a plus-4 rating in his last three games. He should be started and owned in all leagues.
Sits
Tomas Hertl, Winger, San Jose Sharks
Hertl has scored only one goal in his last nine games and has posted four points (three goals, one assist) in 13 games overall. The sophomore forward’s inconsistency is a concern for fantasy owners, and so is his lack of aggressiveness in the attacking zone — one shot or fewer in 10 of 13 games. Hertl is very talented and plays in a deep Sharks forward group, so he shouldn’t be in a slump for too much longer. With that said, he’s not a trustworthy fantasy option right now.
Matt Niskanen, Defenseman, Washington Capitals
Niskanen posted a career-high 46 points last season and landed a seven-year free-agent contract with the Capitals as a result. He’s failed to repeat last season’s success, though, with zero goals and three assists in 11 games. He’s scoreless with a minus-5 rating and just two shots on goal in his last four games. He should be benched by fantasy owners until he shows more consistency offensively.
Alexander Semin, Winger, Carolina Hurricanes
No forward on the Hurricanes is worth starting at this point. Carolina arguably is the worst team in the league and ranks 27th in goals scored per game. Semin has failed to meet the expectations of a top-six player with a high salary. He’s scored zero goals with two assists and a minus-7 rating in eight games. Semin also has been a healthy scratch twice this season.
Mike Smith, Goaltender, Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the worst record in the Western Conference and Smith’s poor performance in net is one reason for this lack of success.
Smith has allowed a combined 11 goals in his last three starts (all losses). He’s 2-6-0 with a 3.84 GAA and an .873 save percentage this season. Don’t start him on your fantasy team, and don’t be afraid to drop him if a better option is sitting on your league’s waiver wire.
Photo via Candice Ward/USA TODAY Sports Images
