Open Ice: Holiday Cheer
'Twas the weekend before Christmas and all through the league,
Fantasy owners grew weary, were quite tired, fatigued.
They were sick, and they were tired, as they lodged their complaint,
"So many of our players are slumping, we are feeling quite faint."
Just where are the Rangers? Are they too busy drinking lager?
Because I'm sick of the output from Gomez and Jagr.
Alex Frolov and Anze Kopitar aren't up to the task,
To find their plus/minus, I need a scuba diving mask.
Marleau and Cheechoo offer us no aide,
If not for Joe Thornton, the Sharks would just fade.
Ryan Whitney, Matt Carle, where is my defense?
Waiting for Dan Boyle is making me tense.
I built my team like Tampa GM, Jay Feaster,
I have three good players and then guys like Bouwmeester.
My goalies are also leaving me with woe,
While Chris Osgood plays like it's a decade ago.
I turn to the wire to help right this ship,
I can't wait all year for Ray Emery's hip.
On Enstrom, Mike Richards and Pascal Leclaire,
Go Carcillo, Matt Cullen, as fast as you dare!
Kane is quite able, as is linemate Toews,
Setoguchi is inconsistent, but helps me in waves.
Thanks to Hudler and Wolski, why should I worry?
Welcome Jared Boll, Aaron Voros, and all their fury.
Though my fantasy team, may make me feel meek,
Let's turn our attention to pickups this week.
Andy McDonald, C, Blues: This move to St. Louis will quickly vault this Strathroy native back into No. 1 center value. He was a No. 1 center when he played with Teemu Selanne, so it's quite fitting that he regains that value as a linemate of Paul Kariya. I know it's hard to trade for a player who was recently dealt in the NHL, but I'd go after McDonald pretty hard. He plays with the two most talented players in St. Louis at even strength and on the power play.
Paul Gaustad, C, Sabres: I was actually quite surprised to learn that this budding power forward was playing so much on the power play for Buffalo. Alongside Tim Connolly and Ales Kotalik, Gaustad has seen more power-play time recently than any other forward for the Sabres. It's starting to show too, as he has seven points in eight games so far this December.
Bobby Ryan, RW, Ducks: After a ho-hum debut in the first four games of the season, Ryan was sent down to the AHL. When the Ducks dealt away McDonald for Doug Weight, Ryan was brought back up to skate on a line with Weight and Todd Bertuzzi. What we have here is a very physical line, with one of the premiere set-up centermen in the game. Ryan has two goals in two games since the trio was formed. If there wasn't an incredible crop of rookies taking the league by storm, I'd actually be optimistic about Ryan making a run at the Calder even though he missed a couple months. This is a very good situation for him to be in, either way, and I think he is a No. 2 right winger from here out.
Martin Hanzal, C, Coyotes: This towering Czech has always piqued my interest. He moves exceptionally quickly and has terrific hands, considering he is 6-foot-5. While I've previously said the Hanzal-Radim Vrbata-Fredrik Sjostrom line is just hot, Hanzal is the one of the bunch I see with a bright future. He put up huge points in his first season of North American junior hockey, and if Hanzal winds up with a more consistent couple of linemates, he could have real fantasy value. Don't go grab him yet, but keep an eye on him for a move next to Shane Doan or Peter Mueller.
Aaron Voros, LW, Wild: Voros is starting to get some attention, but not enough. The Wild winger has been just as valuable as a points/PIM combination as Coyote Daniel Carcillo over the past month, yet Voros is owned in 25 percent of leagues and Carcillo 95 percent. Putting up fantasy numbers like Carcillo, or like Sean Avery before him, simply requires a mild offensive touch combined with the ability to fight. It's easy to find, but rare to see used effectively. If you missed the Carcillo bus, have been dealing with Sean Avery on your IR or simply need more penalty minutes, go get Voros. This is the third time I've put him in this column because, as an owner of Voros since day one I know exactly how useful he has been.
Tyler Kennedy, C, Penguins: The Sidney Crosby merry-go-round continues. Every week we have a new player to recommend because "he is skating with the Kid." I'd hate to imagine how long it takes coach Michel Therrien to pick out his clothes in the morning. Kennedy is a bit of a surprise for the role, but he plays with his heart on his sleeve and works harder than most other players in Pittsburgh. I am not optimistic about Kennedy sticking in the role to run out the season, but I do think the prudent thing to do is to pick him up just in case. You never know how far hard work can take some of these hockey players. Crosby oftentimes just needs someone to dig the puck out for him, and that is something Kennedy can do.
Kim Johnsson, D, Wild: As the luster begins to come off Brent Burns' hot start to the season, it is becoming apparent that the Wild need to rely on ol' Kim Johnsson to get things done offensively from the blue line. His power-play time has been increasing and he has four points (two power-play assists) in December. I know that doesn't sound like much, but this guy was a fantasy powerhouse before the lockout and any return to former glory would be welcome.
Antti Miettinen, RW, Stars: Sometimes it's all about who your linemates are, and has nothing to do with you. Such is the case with Miettinen, who is playing on a line with Brenden Morrow and Mike Ribeiro right now. In other words, he is the Stars' No. 1 right winger. That should give him decent value in deeper leagues looking for help with plus/minus or a few points here and there.
Milan Lucic, LW, Bruins: Lucic made a jump from the British Columbia Hockey League to the Western Hockey League and immediately starting catching people's attention. His decent offensive skills and eagerness to drop the gloves are a good combination for fantasy, and after plying that trade with the Vancouver Giants for the past two seasons, he is starting to make an impact in Boston. Currently skating with sophomore Phil Kessel and Peter Schaefer, Lucic has five points, 12 PIMs and is plus-5 over his past five games. He could be the next Carcillo or Voros just starting to emerge.
Sean Allen is a fantasy baseball and hockey analyst for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.
