PLAYERS TO ADD
LEFT WING
Ryan Dzingel has two goals, two assists and is a +2 on the season for the Senators. He’s only been on ice for just over 10 minutes a game, and he’s taken just five shots on net. One of the goals was on the penalty kill. Ryan had just three goals last season in 30 games and doesn’t profile a player you should be overly interested in.
Thomas Vanek is a player to look to if he’s on the wire. Vanek has two 40-goal seasons in his past and is clearly capable of a 25-goal season if healthy and given a shot in the top-6. Vanek is off to a blazing start with six points (3g, 3a) in four games and that includes four points in two contests. He’s also posted four points on the power-play. Note that he’s only taken six shots on net.
CENTER
Artem Anisimov scored 20 goals last season for the Blackhawks. Injured and limited to 52 games in 2014-15 he scored seven times. Back in 2013-14 though he scored 22 times. Alas, he’s been the quintessential 15-goal, 40 point kinda skater. You pick him up when hot, you ignore him when he’s cold. He’s hot now. Anisimov had one of his best career games the last time on the ice with four points (2g, 2a), giving him five points in two games. Add away but be cautious to understand who he ultimately will be.
Alex Killorn has scored 17, 15 and 14 goals the past three seasons. The former third round selection has yet to live up to expectations, no one can disagree with that. He’s pretty much stagnated as ‘just a guy.’ Things might just be taken a turn for the better in his 27 year old season. Killorn has scored three times in four games including once on the power-play. He’s also seen a full minute more on ice this season than he has the last four seasons showing he’s gaining some trust from the coaching staff.
RIGHT WING
Troy Brower has scored three goals, one every other outing, this season. He’s exactly who he is though. In his 11th NHL season the odds of a breakout are small. The last three seasons he’s played 82 games each time and has averaged 21 goals a season with point totals of 43, 43 and 39. This is his first season in Calgary, but he’s still the same guy. He’s been involved with three hits in all five games, and he’s even started to take some draws winning four his last three games (at least it’s something for a winger).
Lee Stempniak is a solid hockey player. Always has been. His days of fantasy relevance though, well, they’ve never quite been there. Lee has had a hot start but he’s scored on three of six shots, and that’s just not going to continue. Kinda just a guy, meaning more of a short-term fill in than a season long hold.
DEFENSE
Michael Matheson is averaging 20:01 minutes per game including going over 20 minutes on ice in three of four games. He’s posted a point in three of four games. He’s also taken at least three shots in 3-straight contests. An offensive minded D-man, he’s often skating with Jason Demers who is helping to pick up the slack with the youngster. The 22 year old is part of a solid young core defense in Florida
Marc Methot is averaging 19:54 minutes per game. He always plays a third of the game having been over 20 minutes per game each of the last five years. Over the last 114 NHL games he’s scored six goals with 23 points. So why note him here? He was a +22 skater last season and has already jumped out to a +7 mark in four games. It’s a category we almost always overlook in fantasy.
Yohann Auvitu is averaging 16:57 minutes per game. He has one point in four games. He has taken 15 shots on net though and is garnering an average of more than three minutes on ice per game on the power-play. Keep an eye on that.
GOALTENDER
Louis Domingue is getting work with Mike Smith sidelined (it’s unclear how long Smith will be away with his lower-body injury but it’s seemingly more like a week-to-week thing than a day-to-day injury – just a guess though). Add him at your Louis risk though (he will be backed up by Justin Peters). Domingue, a 5th rounder from 2010, is 24 years old and a year removed from a 15-18-5 campaign for the Coyotes last season as he posted a 2.75 GAA and .912 save percentage. He’s been much worse than that in two abortive efforts this season as he’s allowed seven goals in 37 minutes. Told you to proceed with caution.
Jacob Markstrom is seeing time in net with Ryan Miller sidelined, though it sounds like it might be a short absence, especially since Miller suited up as a backup Thursday night. Jacob has gone 3-0 with an excellent set of ratios (1.65 GAA, .932 save percentage), and though he’s not going to dispose of Miller his strong early season work could certainly lead to more appearances in the short-term, and it’s also a reminder that Markstrom could be a viable option for the club were Miller to hit the shelf for an extended period.
Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).