Ryan Carter, RW, ANA - Up to the bigs for a cup of coffee or two earlier this season, Carter seems intent on sticking this time around. The rookie has potted 3 Goals and 1 Assist in four games since his recall from Portland of the AHL – that happened to coincide with Teemu Selanne’s return. Getting decent ice time, Carter brings speed and a scorer’s touch to the Ducks third line, and he has seen a smidge of PP time as well. Keep your eyes on him – the kid’s got skills and could be a sleeper down the stretch.
Kris Letang, D, PIT - The highly touted defenseman Letang did not make the team out of training camp, and instead, started the year in Wilkes-Barre. He has been in the bigs since November, but was mostly known for his shootout heroics (including a beauty in the Winter Classic). However, with Points in his last four games, Letang has started to show the playmaking abilities that got him drafted in the first place. He has scored 2 Goals and 3 Assist over the past four, including 3 PP Points and a game-winner… you could do much worse than D Sergei Gonchar’s heir apparent.
Michael Peca, C, CLB - Got helpers? Look no further. Sure, Peca’s had some injury problems this year, but when he has been healthy, he has spent much of his time alongside LW Rick Nash and RW Nik Zherdev. Well, heads up – Peca is healthy again. He has 4 Points in his last four games, 5 Points in his last six and 9 Points in his last 13 contests. Of those 9 points, 6 were on the Power Play. Granted, ALL of those aforementioned points were assists (Peca has not scored in 17 games since potting two on Jan. 2), but you cannot have everything. Snag the pivot and ride him while he is still in one piece.
Dan Cloutier, G, LA - Just when it seemed that his career had gone the way of Tommy Salo, Cloutier gets a chance at redemption. Stumbling ever since he arrived in Los Angeles and battling through multiple injuries and surgeries, Cloutier was outplayed in camp and ended up earning his huge contract riding buses in the minors. With the Kings so far out of contention that they may need a year or two to find it again, Cloutier was recalled in the hopes of someone claiming him on re-entry. No dice – so the Kings gave him a showcased start – and he played well, winning 3-2 in a shootout on the road in Columbus. Earning at least another start, Cloutier is basically playing for a chance to get traded. Keep an eye on his situation. IF he stays on the Kings, he has no value fantasy-wise, but if another team takes a chance and he lands somewhere fortuitous (say perhaps… Tampa, or… Ottawa?) jump on him like a fleeing mugger. Cloutier is a good goalie who just needs a solid chance – something he may not get this year.
Brett McLean, C, FLA - I was going to recommend RW Richard Zednick this week, but instead, I will just say that I hope he recovers fully enough so that I can recommend him here next year. In the meantime, the Panthers McLean has been on a tear as of late, putting up points in four straight, including a 4 Assist, 5 Point performance in an 8-0 drubbing of Toronto. With 3 Goals and 7 Assists, including 4 PP Points, in his last 9 Games, McLean is heating up at a great time for Florida. Mclean also takes a lot of shots, as his 28 SOGs over the same period. Not a bad option on a resurgent Panthers squad.
ROOKIE WATCH
Eric Fehr, RW, WAS - This could be the diamond in the rough you are looking for in keeper leagues. Fehr had small tastes of the NHL over two previous seasons, but had not been seen since a herniated disc forced him out last season. With the Capitals looking for an offensive spark, Fehr was recalled from Hershey, where he had 6 Points in his first 10 games back (pardon the pun) from injury. Already getting power play time in only his fourth game this season, Fehr picked up a PP Assist in the Cap’s 3-2 OT victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday. I like Fehr a lot and will be targeting him for both my keeper leagues and next year’s drafts in yearly leagues. |
