I woke up this morning with a sense of joy. Jarome Iginla managed to produce a wonderful 4 point night, including a game winner. As any fantasy hockey enthusiast will surely attest, a hat trick is a wonderful thing. A hat trick that includes a powerplay goal and a game winning goal is even better; throw in 9 shots on goal and a couple of PIMS and the dream night is complete.
As we approach the 30 game mark of the season, it is time to let the sleeping dogs lie. If you have underperformers on your fantasy team, now is the time to cut bait and find new fertile fishing grounds. It is better to have a hot player that gets you a few points then drop him and find the next hot commodity then to hang onto a massive underperformer. It is true that I continue to hold my breath on Maxim Afinogenov, but that is because he has finally started to put up points.
Here are some hot players to consider:
Sean Avery: One of the leagues best agitators is returning to the Blue shirts line-up. New York wins with this guy in the line-up. He will get plenty of PIMS, shots and even powerplay time. What more could you want from your 2nd or 3rd string LW?
Mike Fischer: This guy can flat out play the game. If he was on a team that didn’t boast some of the highest scoring professionals in the game today, he would get a lot more respect. He’s feeling it right now and his ice-time is increasing. Ride him while he’s hot, which might be for a little longer than you’d expect.
Erik Johnson: This young offensive defensiveman is starting to find his stride. He had three assists the other night against Edmonton and is starting to shoot the puck more. If you need a little D help, snag him before he goes from simmering to hot.
Joni Pitkanen: I’m sure you remember this guy’s talent level in Philadephia. A wicked shot from point, plus a little razzle-dazzle in his step, this guy is poised to regain his old form. Of course, with Edmonton, you have to be ready to have a dismal +/-, but the ship is righting itself in Canada behind the stellar play of Shawn Horcoff and company.
Paul Gaustad: Buffalo Sabres are finding their last season form after struggling with the loss of both Drury and Briere. This 7th round pick in 2000 is starting to find the net regularly. He plays the powerplay and usually is paired with Afinogenov. If these two get hot, be ready to pounce.
Andy McDonald: He will soon be centering Kariya and Tkachuk. This guy should have been a 80 point guy this year, but has been horrible. He will light the lamp in his first game with the Blues. Every change give a player some fire in his belly. Ride him until January, then reevaluate his worth against the other waiver wire candidates in your league.
I know, the usual “here are my hot picks” are players that are taken in your league, but these should be available. Start dropping underperformers this week and begin a constant rotation of hot weekly players. Check the match-ups and play these waiver-wire candidates against struggling goalies. You’ll soon see your team’s rise. If you feel bad about dropping Matt Cullen, just compare the stats of a few hot players for the same time period and you will see the wisdom of my words. If you ever strapped on skates, kicked a ball around, smacked at one with a bat or caught one with a net, you’ll understand that confidence and short bursts of success are part of the game. Ride it, my friends, ride it!
Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice and remember; every moment is important. No one wants to see Joffrey Lupul on the ice with under 2 minutes to play firing shots to try and get his seventh point, right?
