At this point in the year, trades are on everybody’s minds, as are injuries. Teams all over the NHL have depleted rosters due to injuries and the holes created may force a few deals. This week, we take a look at some players returning from injury, as well as those who will be filling in for some recent visitors to the IR.
Fredrik Modin, LW, CLB - Modin was promised boat loads of ice time in Columbus, and HC Ken Hitchcock would have kept his word, if Modin was ever healthy long enough to be on the ice. From back problems to pulled groins and hamstrings, Modin has been walking wounded all season long and had appeared in just 11 games, scoring 2 Goals and 4 Assists. Finally healthy, he has been back for two games and already has more than doubled his goal output for the year. Potting 3 Goals in his first two games back, including a game winner and a PP tally, Modin is healthy and a great pickup for down the stretch as he lines up opposite RW Nick Zherdev on the 2nd line with C Mike Peca. Ride him while he is hale and hearty.
Kevin Bieksa, D, VAN - Bieksa went down with a horrific skate cut that resulted in a deep gash in his calf muscle. Initially feared to be a severed Achilles, Bieksa dodged a bullet, if three months on the shelf is dodging anything. Well, the talented blueliner is skating again and has resumed full practices with the team. It is just a matter of Bieksa getting back in game shape and regaining his timing, but he is close to returning. He notched 4 Points in 12 games before the injury, and had 42 Points in 81 games last season. Now is time to pick him up or target him if he is not on the waiver wire in your fantasy league.
Stephane Robidas, D, DAL - Robidas was never much of an offensive powerhouse. But with D Sergei Zubov down, he has responded well. Robidas has ponied up 4 Goals and 3 Assists in the past nine games, including 2 Goals and an Assist on Saturday vs. the Anaheim Ducks. What’s even nicer? 6 of those 7 Points came on the power play. Zubov is expected to miss at least another week, so Robidas is a good streamer for those with depleted blueliners.
Andrew Ladd, LW, CAR - An immediate beneficiary of last week’s trade of LW Cory Stillman to Ottawa, Ladd has rolled up the depth chart and has made the most of his new ice time. Ladd is riding a five-game point streak, going +6 while accumulating 3 Goals and 4 Assists in that time, including a PP Assist and a game-winning goal. Lining up on the left side of the 2nd line, he had been paired nicely with C Rod Brind’Amour, until the pivot went down with a knee injury against the Panthers on Saturday. Ladd tallied 2 Assists after Brind’Amour left the game, proving that he can produce no matter who is centering him.
Matt Cullen, C, CAR - Returning from injury, it looks like Cullen will be Andrew Ladd’s center. Coming off of a concussion, Cullen will be eased back into 2nd line duty. He played sparingly in his first game back on Saturday vs. the Panthers, tallying an Assist in just 9:05 of ice time. Before getting his bell rung, Cullen was having a great season in his return to Carolina, with an impressive 9 Goals and 31 Assists for 40 Points in 45 games. He has also got 17 PP Points on the season, making Cullen a valuable waiver wire option in many fantasy leagues.
ROOKIE WATCH
Jimmy Howard, G, DET - Due to an injury to G Dominik Hasek, and the abysmal recent performances of G Chris Osgood, the future of goaltending in Detroit Rock City, Jimmy Howard, is now the keeper of the present. The aging Dominator has hip issues again, so he has been ordered to rest and eat more fiber. Osgood, meanwhile, is winless in his last five and has self-destructed in the past two games, lasting just 9, then 31 minutes before getting yanked each time. Howard has performed well in relief, compiling a 1.53 GAA and a .931 Save Percentage, and was unreal in his first start, losing 1-0 to Dallas, stopping 30 of 31 for a .968 SV %. He has earned at least another start or two until Hasek returns, but his real fantasy value is for next season, when he will likely start 50 games to Osgood’s 30 or so. The kid is the future in Detroit’s crease, so if he is available in your keeper league, make haste to acquire him. In yearly leagues, remember his name come draft day next season – as Howard is the real deal. |
