All the Fantasy hockey world is a stage and while the early part of the season can always be frustrating, the key may be to find depth guys on the bottom of the waiver wire. This will be a short and sweet post but the information is of utmost value. After all, why would I cheat readers out of the gems? That would be silly and pointless.
Next week, we’ll have some “Tricks And Treats” for The Wire Troll, but in the meantime, it is time to get down to business. The goal will be to find those depth and bench players that can provide a boost to your Fantasy bottom line.
The Wire Troll
Mathieu Perreault, C, Anaheim Ducks: Yes, we just recommended Perreault last week, but he is still just below the 10 per cent threshold which means not enough people are paying attention. It was obvious at the very beginning of the season when he scored a huge overtime winner (see video below), that he was doing something special, but eight points in eight games should garner interest. We don’t care about ice time — the bottom line is production and that is what you need. There are plenty of patches to fill any voids left as far as the ATOI (Average Time On Ice) category. All anyone knows is that Perreault makes for a nice third or fourth Fantasy centre.
Matt Cooke, LW, Minnesota Wild: Cooke has transformed himself a bit and has been rewarded with a nice start with six points in his first nine games. What is not clear is how his role will evolve as injuries mount. This is just a hunch. If the winger continues to show an ability for timely plays, then he may wind up further entrenched in the top six with power play time. Stay tuned.
Cam Atkinson, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets: Atkinson is showing promise and progressing like a young player should in the NHL. Four points in seven games does not sound like much but the growing process is well under way. The second line right winger has first line talent and it would not surprise us if his 6.3 per cent ownership rate goes way up in a few weeks time. In keeper leagues, Atkinson is an even more desirable pickup.
Danny DeKeyser, D, Detroit Red Wings: DeKeyser has had a bit of an uneven start with just an assist in nine games. He has a good amount of talent, but has to get a taste of top pairing defensive unit time. Can DeKeyser replace a guy like Niklas Kronwall? That is a tall order but the production would be a huge bonus. At the very least, a boost in ATOI and offense should be in the cards.
Craig Smith, RW, Nashville Predators: Smith is always showing potential. Will Coach Barry Trotz finally let Smith just play? That is the key as Smith could get more of a role. Keep an eye on this situation as the ownership rate is around 3-4 per cent. Let’s see what Smith can do in the next few weeks as the schedule toughens up a bit.
As always you can follow me on Twitter @ChrisWasselTHW and please bring all your questions to the table either there or in the comments below. Good luck, everyone.
