SportsJudge's Colligan Joins Forbes; Daily News's Spector Promoted to Rangers Beat Reporter; Coslov to Lead SJ Hockey

This was a big week for SportsJudge alumni and friends in the world of hockey:

Michael Colligan, who wrote SportsJudge's heralded hockey column from 2008-2009 and also writes a column on sports business at The Hockey Writers, will soon be joining Forbes SportsMoney. We look forward to seeing Mike "on the cover of Forbes Magazine, smiling next to Oprah and the Queen."

Also, Jesse Spector -- a long-time baseball reporter with the New York Daily News, who competed in the 2009 SportsJudge.com Fantasy Baseball Classic -- has been promoted to the Daily News's new New York Rangers beat reporter. We will be reading Jesse's work from the blue seats.

Finally, over at SportsJudge Blog, our hockey coverage will be led this year by Darren Coslov, who is entering his third season with the blog. While Darren will have some big shoes to fill, he has already written several outstanding hockey features, including this brilliant piece on the Edmonton Oilers. We look forward to Darren's emergence as the face of SportsJudge Hockey.

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 21

Welcome to Week 21 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. The Olympics have come and gone and the trading deadline has passed. This is the final week in the regular season for fantasy hockey in head-to-head leagues. This could be your last chance to get into the playoffs or move into a better seed. Here are a few players you may want to consider for that extra boost into the playoffs.

Forwards

David Booth - LW - (FLA): David Booth had 2G, 4A, 2PPP, 11SOG, 7PIM, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 4G, 7A, 5PPP, and 67SOG. Booth had missed much of the season due to a concussion and also fell into a little slump when he returned, but looks to be getting back into the swing of things. Booth could be worth a look, especially in deeper leagues to provide some depth in your lineup. He is available in 45% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Stewart - RW - (COL): Chris Stewart had 5G, 4A, 2PPP, 2PIM, 15SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 51PTS, 57PIM, 11PPP, 172SOG, 4GWG, and is a +13. Stewart has surpassed 50 points in just his second year in the NHL. Stewart is a solid player and consistent producer and would be a good addition to any lineup for the playoffs. He is available in 48% of Yahoo Leagues.

Scott Gomez - C - (MON): Scott Gomez had 1G, 4A, 2PIM, 1PPP, 15SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 11G, 36A, 50PIM, 14PPP, and 146SOG. Gomez can provide some depth to your lineup and could be that extra boost you need in the playoffs. He is available in 54% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Kunitz - LW - (PIT): Chris Kunitz had 2G, 3A, 1PPP, 18SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 10G, 17A, 35PIM, 7PPP, 1SHG, and is a +6. Kunitz seems to finally be 100% healthy and looks to be getting out of his slump. If Kunitz can keep it up, he could have some value, especially playing on a line with Sidney Crosby. He is available in 57% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tomas Holmstrom - RW - (DET): Tomas Holmstrom had 2G, 2A, 8PIM, 3PPP, and 7SOG last week. Overall he has 17G, 11A, 42PIM, 13PPP, and is a +6. Holmstrom seems to have benefited well from the Olympic break to recover from a knee injury. Holmstrom is having a strong second half and is worth a look. he is available in 73% of Yahoo Leagues.

Alex Steen - C - (STL): Alex Steen had 3G, 3A, 2PIM, 13SOG, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 18G, 16A, 26PIM, 11PPP, 2SHG, 2GWG, 138 SOG, and is a +4. Steen has really turned it up the second half of the season. He currently has 4G and 8PTS in his last 4 games and has been regularly finding himself on the score sheet. He is available in 92% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

John-Michael Liles - D - (COL): John-Michael Liles had 1G, 1A, 4PIM, 2PPP, 6SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 5G, 21A, 24PIM, and 18PPP. Liles is a great assist and PP producer. He is available in 57% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 3A, 2PIM, 3PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 7G, 24A, 34PIM, 19PPP, and is a +1. Foster sees a lot of time on the PP and capitalizes on those opportunities by dishing out those assists. He is available in 68% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kris Letang - D - (PIT): Kris Letang had 3A, 4PIM, 9SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 3G, 22A, 37PIM, 5PPP, 133SOG, and is a +7. Letang takes plenty of SOG and you can count on him to get at least 30PTS this year. He is available in 74% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Manny Legace - G - (CAR): Manny Legace had 2W, 0.50GAA, .981SV%, and 1SHO last week. With Cam Ward hurt, Legace looks to be the man in Carolina. He is available in 92% of Yahoo Leagues.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week and hope to see you in the playoffs!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 19

Welcome to Week 19 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. This is the last week for games in the NHL before the Olympic break. With only 3 weeks left in the regular season, it's down to the wire to secure that playoff spot and prepare for the playoffs. Here are some players you may want to consider to give you that extra boost in your lineup.

Forwards

Mike Knuble - RW - (WAS): Mike Knuble had 3G, 3A, 19PIM, 2PPP, 1GWG, and was a +7 last week. Overall he has 21G, 18A, 49PIM, 9PPP, 5GWG, and is a +22. Knuble is on fire as of late and playing on the high-powered offensive Capitals team doesn't hurt either. Knuble should surpass his career point high of 55 points this year and is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 26% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jussi Jokinen - LW - (CAR): Jussi Jokinen had 3G, 2A, 2PPP, 1GWG, and 12SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he had 20G, 24A, 26PIM, 17PPP, 4GWG, 110SOG, and is a +4. Jokinen is currently riding a 6 game point streak and is one of the hottest players in the league right now. Jokinen is definitely worth a look if available while hot. He is available in 55% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jason Arnott - C - (NSH): Jason Arnott had 1G, 3A, 2PIM, 3PPP, 15SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 14G, 19A, 24PIM, 11PPP, 2GWG, 163SOG, and is a +7. Arnott had a big week last week and has been a consistent contributor so far this season. He is available in 64% of Yahoo Leagues.

Guillaume Latendresse - LW,RW - (MIN): Guillaume Latendresse had 2G, 1A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 12SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 16G, 8A, 3PPP, 3GWG, and 85SOG in 33 games since joining the Wild. Latendresse continues to be a producer since joining Minnesota and is a decent option to have on your team. He is available in 71% of Yahoo leagues.

Matt Duchene - C - (COL): Matt Duchene had 1G, 2A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 18G, 21A, 10PIM, 14PPP, 1SHG, 1GWG, and 115 SOG. This rookie leads the Avs with 18G and also leads all rookies with 38 points. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Curtis Glencross - LW - (CGY): Curtis Glencross had 3G, 1A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Oveall he has 14G, 14A, 49PIM, 4PPP, 2SHG, 2GWG, 103SOG, and is a +7. Glencross got his first career hat trick last week and has been able to turn it up a notch lately. He is worth some consideration, especially in deeper leagues, as he has the potential to score in every scoring category. He is available in 92% of Yahoo Leagues.

Michal Handzus - C - (LA): Michal Handzus had 3G, 3A, 2PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 15G, 18A, 34PIM, 7PPP, 2SHP, 6GWG, and is a +5. Handzus has had 2 straight 3 point games, and as had 4G and 4A in the last 5 games. Handzus would be a great pick-up right now while riding on this hot streak. He is available in 93% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jamie Benn - LW - (DAL): Jamie Benn had 3G, 1A, 2PIM, 1PPP, 10SOG, and and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 13G, 14A, 34PIM, 6PPP, 1GWG, and 127SOG so far in his first year in the NHL. Benn seems to be an up and coming player for the Stars and if he can keep it up is worth some consideration. He is available in 95% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Joni Pitkanen - D - (CAR): Joni Pitkanen had 1G, 2A, 12PIM, 1PPP, and 10SOG last week. Overall he has 3G, 30A, 64PIM, 15PPP, and 123SOG. Pitakanen, although a +/- risk, does provide a lot of offensive potential on the blue-line. He is available in 45% of Yahoo Leagues.

Mark Giordano - D - (CGY): Mark Giordano had 2G, 2PIM, 2PPP, and 1GWG last week. Overall he has 10G, 15A, 61PIM, 12PPP, 77SOG, and is a +4. Giordano sees alot of time on the PP and that is where most of his points are scored. He is a decent option on defense. He is available in 66% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tom Poti - D - (WAS): Tom Poti had 1G, 3A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 3G, 18A, 30PIM, 6PPP, was is a +21. Poti is a good source for +/- points playing for the high powered offense of the Washington Capitals. Poti would be a good fill-in for fone of your injured blue-liners. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Sami Salo - D - (VAN): Sami Salo had 3A, 2PPP, 10SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 5G, 13A, 10PIM, 8PPP, 1GWG, 82SOG, and is a +16. Salo seems to have turned things around after an early season slump and is a nice option on defense. He is available in 84% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Jean-Sebastien Giguere - G - (TOR): J.S. Giguere after being traded from the Ducks, started 2 games for the Leafs last week and had 2W, 0.00GAA, 1.00SV%, and 2SHO. Giguere will now get more than his fair share of starts in Toronto and looks to be quite comfortable between the pipes for the Leafs. He is definitely worth a pickup is availble in your league. He is available in 51% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Marc-Andre Bergeron -D - (MTL): Lower Body - IR as of 2/5.

Rene Bourque - RW - (CGY): Shoulder - DTD as of 2/6.

Tomas Holmstrom - RW - (DET): Left Leg - DTD as of 2/6.

Niklas Kronwall - D - (DET): Lower Body - DTD as of 2/3.

Cam Ward - G - (CAR): Upper Body - DTD as of 2/5.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week and enjoy the Olympics!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 17

Welcome to Week 17 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. Here are a few players you may want to consider if you are looking to pick someone up for your team.

Forwards

Tim Connolly - C - (BUF): Tim Connolly had 2G, 6A, 2PPP, 11SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 13G, 34A, 20PPP, 2SHP, 4GWG, 134SOG, and is a +11. Connolly is currently on a 15 game scoring streak and has 24PTS during that span. Connolly is definitely worth some consideration, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 34% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryane Clowe - LW - (SJ): Ryan Clowe had 3G, 2A, 9PIM, 1PPP, 8SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 13G, 23A, 77PIM, 9PPP, 114SOG, and is a +3. Clowe has found himself on the score sheet recently and could add some depth for your team. He is available in 37% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kyle Okposo - RW - (NYI): Kyle Okposo had 1G, 2A, 2PIM, 3PPP, and 15SOG last week. Overall he has 11G, 24A, 20PIM, 17PPP, 4GWG, and 164SOG. Okposo leads the Islanders with 35 points and is the type of player that will find his name on the score sheet on a nightly basis. Okposo is a +/- risk, but does provide numbers for all the other fantasy categories. He is available in 62% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Stewart - RW - (COL): Chris Stewart had 2G, 2A, 2PPP, 14SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 17G, 18A, 48PIM, 8PPP, 115SOG, 3GWG, and is a +9. Stewart leads the Avalanche with 17G and has scored 4G in his last 5 games. Stewart has been a consistent producer so far this year and would be a good addition to any team. He is available in 63% of Yahoo Leagues.

Niklas Hagman - LW - (TOR): Niklas Hagman had 2G, 2A, 1PPP, 11SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 18G, 13A, 21PIM, 6PPP, 1GWG, and 138SOG. Hagman seems to be turing things around and getting back into the swing of things. Keep an eye on him and if he continues to produce, may be a good pickup. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Matt Duchene - C - (COL): Matt Duchene had 3G, 1A, 2PPP, 13SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 16G, 18A, 13PPP, 1GWG, and 106SOG. Duchene leads all rookies in scoring with 34 points and is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 78% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jussi Jokinen - LW - (CAR): Jussi Jokinen had 2G, 5A, 4PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 15G, 22A, 15PPP, and 3GWG. Jokinen has been on fire lately scoring 13 points in his last 8 games. Jokinen is worth a look, especially to fill in for an injured player while on this hot streak. He is available in 81% of Yahoo Leagues.

Antti Miettinen - RW - (MIN): Antti Miettinen had 2G, 2A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 13G, 14A, 28PIM, 6PPP, 4GWG, and 108SOG. Miettinen has been able to find himself on the score sheet on a regular basis recently and could be a nice option if he continues to do so. He is available in 95% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Rob Blake - D - (SJ): Rob Blake had 2G, 3A, 2PIM, 2PPP, 8SOG, 1GWG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 4G, 12A, 32PIM, 5PPP, 108SOG, and is a +8. Blake is currently riding a 5 game point streak could be a good option for an injury right now. He is available in 37% of Yahoo Leagues.

Marc-Andre Bergeron - D - (MON): Marc-Andre Bergeron had 3A, 3PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 10G, 18A, 20PPP, 4GWG, and 88SOG. Bergeron has continued to find success on the PP and could be a consideration if you need help in that category. He is available in 51% of Yahoo Leagues.

John-Michael Liles - D - (COL): John-Michael Liles had 1G, 4A, 2PIM, 4PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 4G, 19A, 16PIM, 15PPP, and 1GWG. Liles has had his struggles but looks to be back on track and producing offensively lately. He is available in 55% of Yahoo Leagues.

Anton Stralman - D - (CLS): Anton Stralman had 4A, 4PIM, 4PPP, and 7SOG last week. Overall he has 4G, 21A, 22PIM, and 18PPP. Stralmann sees a lot of time on the PP, which is where most of his value lies. He will give you plenty of assists from the blue-line as well. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Brian Elliott - G - (OTT): Brian Elliott had 4W, 1.25GAA, and a .957SV% last week. With Pascal Leclaire still injuried, Elliott will get the starts in net and is currently on fire. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

David Backes - RW - (STL): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/21.

Dan Boyle - D - (SJ): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/21.

Nathan Horton - RW - (FLA): Fractured Tibia - DTD as of 1/23.

Paul Mara - D - (MTL): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/23.

Sami Salo - D - (VAN): Groin - DTD as of 1/23.

Jakub Voracek - RW - (CLS): Head - DTD as of 1/23.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 16

Welcome to Week 16 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. It's now down to the home stretch, the final quarter of the season has begun. You now have to not only stay competitive to obtain a playoff spot, but also look towards the future to make sure your roster has enough depth to help you succeed once in the playoffs. Here are a few players that you may want to consider if you need help in certain areas.

Forwards

Jordan Staal - C - (PIT): Jordan Staal had 5A, 1PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 13G, 21A, 2PPA, 2SHG, 1GWG, 115SOG, and is a +15. Staal has been a quiet contributor the last few weeks and would be a great addition to any team looking for depth. He is available in 36% of Yahoo Leagues.

Brian Gionta - RW - (MON): Brian Gionta had 3G, 1A, 3PPP, 1GWG, and 13SOG last week. Overall he as 13G, 9A, 8PPP, 2GWG, and 104SOG in only 29 games this year. Gionta is back and healthy and looks to be back as a consistent contributor on a nightly basis. He is available in 41% of Yahoo Leagues.

Patrick O'Sullivan - LW - (EDM): Patrick O'Sullivan had 1G, 3A, 3PPP, and 1SHG last week. Overall he has 10G, 16A, 22PIM, 9PPP, 3GWG, and 126SOG thi year. O'Sullivan is a +/- risk, but playing for a struggling Oilers squad takes most of the blame for that. He seems to be getting his scoring touch back recently. He is available in 69% of Yahoo Leagues.

Guillaume Latendresse - LW,RW - (MIN): Guillaume Latendresse had 4G, 4A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 13SOG, and was a +5 last week. Since joining the Wild, Latendresse has had 13G, 6A, 7PPP, 2GWG, and is a +7 in only 24 games. Latendresse continues to impress and has really found his niche in Minnesota. He is worth a pickup, especially in deeper leagues, as he is on fire right now. He is available in 72% of Yahoo Leagues.

Brandon Dubinsky - C - (NYR): Brandon Dubinsky had 2G, 1A, 2PIM, 1SHG, 1GWG, 11SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 10G, 16A, 20PIM, 4GWG, and is a +11. Dubinsky seems to be turning things around right now and with the recent promotion to the top line with Gaborik and Prospal, things can only get better. He is available in 78% of Yahoo Leagues.

Cory Stillman - LW - (FLA): Cory Stillman had 3G, 1A, 1PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 9G, 12A, 4PPP, 2GWG, and is a +3. Stillman seems to be finally turning things around and finding his name on the score sheet on a regular basis. He is available in 93% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Lubomir Visnovsky - D - (EDM): Lubomir Visnovsky had 1G, 2A and 3PPP last week. Overall he has 9G, 20A, 15PPP, and is a +6. Visnovsky is a PP machine, which is where all of his points will mostly come from. He is available in 26% of Yahoo Leagues.

Zach Bogosian - D - (ATL): Zach Bogosian had 1G, 1A, 4PIM, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 9G, 10A, 40PIM and 3PPP so far this year. Bogosian is on pace to get close to 40PTS this year which is pretty good for a blue-liner. He is available in 39% of Yahoo Leagues.

Joni Pitkanen - D - (CAR): Joni Pitkanen had 6A, 3PPP, 6PIM, and 10SOG last week. Overall he has 2G, 25A, 46PIM, and 11PPP. He is a +/- risk with an overall rating of -13, but has had 2 strong weeks and could be a source for assists. He is available in 65% of Yahoo Leagues.

Mark Giordano - D (CGY): Mark Giordano had 2G, 6PIM, 1PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he 7G, 13A, 54PIM, 8PPP, and is a +6. Giordano leads all Calgary defensemen with 20 points so far. He has definitely flown under the radar, leading the blue-line in scoring with names like Jay Bouwmeester and Dion Phaneuf on the squad as well.

Goalies

Rick DiPietro - G - (NYI): Rick DiPietro got his 1st win of the season last week and looks to be back and ready to play. IF he can stay healthy, DiPietro would be an asset to any squad. Keep an eye on him and if he begins to play well and gets more starts, he may be worth the pick-up. He is available in 73% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Steve Bernier - RW - (VAN): Lower Body - DTD as of 1/11.

Patrick Elias - C - (NJ): Head - DTD as of 1/16.

Marc-Andre Fleury - G - (PIT): Finger - DTD as of 1/16.

Brent Johnson - G - (PIT): Lower Body - IR as of 1/11.

Pascal Leclaire - G - (OTT): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/14.

Teemu Selanne - RW - (ANH): Broken Jaw - IR as of 1/15.

Marco Surm - LW - (BOS): Leg - DTD as of 1/17.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 15

Welcome to Week 15 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. The fantasy hockey regular season will be 3/4 completed after this week. The final push will be on and now is the time to get your roster set to finish off the season and to try and secure a playoff spot. Here are some of last weeks' best performers that could be a good pickup to help out your roster.

Forwards

Danny Briere - C,RW - (PHI): Danny Briere had 2G, 3A, 2PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 16G, 14A, 41PIM, 10PPP, 1GWG, and 93SOG. Briere, now completely healthy, seems to be finding himself on the score sheet consistently now and is worth some consideration. He is available in 40% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tim Connolly - C - (BUF): Tim Connolly had 5A, 2PIM, 2PPP, 10SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 11G, 26A, 16PIM, 17PPP, 2SHP, 4GWG, 119SOG, and is a +9. Connolly currently has a 9 game point streak and doesn't look to be slowing down at all. As long as the Sabres are doing well, Connolly should be able to keep it up. He is available in 51% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tomas Fleischmann - LW,RW - (WAS): Tomas Fleischmann had 1G, 3A, 1PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall has 15G, 13A, 12PPP, 2GWG, and is a +4. Since moving to center, Fleishmann has kicked it up a notch and looks to be turning up the offensive production. He is available in 60% of Yahoo Leagues.

Blake Wheeler - RW - (BOS): Blake Wheeler had 4G, 3A, 4PIM, 2PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 11G, 15A, 28PIM, 6PPP, and 2GWG. Wheeler seems to be on pace to match his point total of 45PTS last year in his rookie season, but his +/- numbers have really dropped from his total of +36 last year. Keep an eye on him and if he continues to produce, he would be a nice addition to your team. He is available in 60% of Yahoo Leagues.

Patric Hornqvist - RW - (NSH): Patric Hornqvist had 4G, 1A, 6PIM, 4PPP, and 15SOG last week. Overall he has 17G, 10A, 20PIM, 6PPP, 4GWG, 138SOG, and is a +10. Hornqvist has continued his offensive production and has been able to provide fantasy owners with points in all categories. It's safe to say that Hornqvist will be an everyday contributor and should be considered, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Antoine Vermette - C - (CLS): Antoine Vermette had 3G, 3A, 2PIM, 1PPP, 1GWG, 14SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 14G, 22A, 16PIM, and 9PPP. Ever since Vermette has been paired on a line with Raffi Torres and Jakub Voracek, his production has taken off. As long as this line stays intact, Vermette should continue to impress. He is available in 80% of Yahoo Leagues.

Saku Koivu - C - (ANH): Saku Koivu had 2G, 3A, 1SHG, 1GWG, and was a +7 last week. Overall he has 10G, 18A, 22PIM, 8PPP, 3GWG, and is a +8. Koivu has continued his success after being reunited with Teemu Selanne, Koivu has been able to find success. Koivu is most likely available and should be given some consideration while on this hot streak. he is available in 84% of Yahoo Leagues.

Guillaume Latendresse - LW,RW - (MIN): Guillaume Latendresse had 3G, 1A, and 13SOG last week. Overall he has 9G, 2A, 6PIM, 1GWG, and is a +2 since joining the Wild. The change of scenery has done Latendresse good and he doesn't look to be slowing down. Keep an eye on him and if this continues, would be a good pickup. He is available in 97% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Matt Carle - D - (PHI): Matt Carle had 1G, 2A, 2PPP, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 3G, 19A, 14PIM, 9PPP, and is a +16. Carle seems to be getting out of his slump and could be a good option for a team looking for some offensive output on the blue-line. He is available in 33% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tyler Myers - D - (BUF): Tyler Myers had 3G, 1A, 2PIM, 3PPP, 1GWG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 6G, 20A, 12PIM, 9PPP, and is a +9. Myers leads all NHL rookies with 20A and will should be able to continue this production consistently for the remainder of the year. He is available in 67% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 2A and 2PPP last week. Overall he has 6G, 11A, and 10PPP. Foster sees a lot of time on the PP and can be counted on to produce in those situations. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Derek Morris - D - (BOS): Derek Morris had 2A, 4PIM, 2PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 3G, 17A, and 10PPP. Morris is a decent option on defense and will provide average numbers, he can be considered if you need a fill-in. He is available in 88% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Mathieu Garon - G - (CLS): Mathieu Garon had 3W, 1.47GAA, .938SV%, and 1SO last week. Garon has won his last 3 starts and started 5 of the last 6 and has effectively become the starter for the Blue Jackets. Garon is on a hot streak right now and would be a good pickup right now. He is available in 89% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Nik Antropov - C - (ATL): Lower Body - DTD as of 1/5.

Jason Arnott - C - (NSH): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/9.

Cam Barker - D - (CHI): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/5.

Patrice Bergeron - C - (BOS): Thumb - DTD as of 1/5.

Tomas Holmstrom - RW - (DET): Foot - DTD as of 1/7.

Marian Hossa - RW - (CHI): Lower Body - DTD as of 1/10.

Chris Kunitz - LW - (PIT): Abdominal Surgery - DTD as of 1/5.

Milan Michalek - LW - (OTT): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/9.

Mike Ribeiro - C - (DAL): Throat - IR as of 1/7.

Tuomo Ruutu - LW - (CAR): Upper Body - DTD as of 1/9.

Marc Savard - C - (BOS): MCL - DTD as of 1/7.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 14

Welcome to Week 14 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. Happy New Year to all and here are some of last week's overall best performers for you to consider if you need a pickup for your team.

Forwards

Danny Briere - C,RW - (PHI): Danny Briere had 1G, 1A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he had 14G, 11A, 41PIM, 8PIM, and 1GWG. Briere has been on quite a nice streak lately and looks to turning things around. He is available in 44% of Yahoo Leagues.

Todd Bertuzzi - LW,RW - (DET): Todd Bertuzzi had 2A, 4PIM, 1PPP, 10SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 12G, 13A, 46PIM, 7PPP, 3GWG, and 124SOG. Bertuzzi continues to capitalize on his opportunities while playing on the top line. Bertuzzi now can provide in every scoring category and could be quite valuable while filling-in for the injured Detroit players. He is available in 54% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tim Connolly - C - (BUF): Tim Connolly had 2G, 2A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 2PIM, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 11G, 21A, 15PPP, 4GWG, and is a +5. Connolly leads the Sabres in points and is a consistent scorer. Connolly is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 66% of Yahoo Leagues.

Daymond Langkow - C - (CGY): Damond Langkow had 5A, 2PIM, 2PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 10G, 17A, 16PIM, 6PPP, and is a +4. With Rene Bourque on fire as of late, Langkow is reaping the benefits of being the center of that line and racking up the assists. He is available in 72% of Yahoo Leagues.

Andy McDonald - C,LW - (STL): Andy McDonald had 3G, 2A, 2PIM, 2PPP, and 11SOG. Overall he has 13G, 13A, 9PPP, and 101 SOG. McDonald leads the Blues with 13G and is on pace to score around 50PTS this year. McDonald looks to be a sleeper out there and could be available in many leagues and is worth a look. He is available in 75% of Yahoo Leagues.

Dustin Byfuglien - RW - (CHI): Dustin Byfuglien had 5A, 2PPP, 7PIM, 13SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 11G, 8A, 59PIM, 7PPP, 2GWG, and 97SOG. Byfuglien is always a good source for PIM while also being able to provide some offensive numbers including the PP. Byfuglien should be considered in deeper leagues. He is available in 79% of Yahoo Leagues.

Saku Koivu - C - (ANH): Saku Koivu had 2G, 2A 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 8G, 15A, 22PIM, 8PPP, and 2GWG. Koivu looks to be turning around his mini-slump and it comes at a good time. Temmu Selanne is set to return soon and the two will be reunited and should continue the success they had before Selanne got injured. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryan Shannon - RW - (OTT): Ryan Shannon had 3G, 3A, 1PPP, 12SOG, and was a +5 last week. Shannon has been playing on the first line since the injury to Daniel Alfredsson and has capitalized on the increased playing time and opportunities. Shannon is a good pickup for anyone while Alfredsson is out. He is available in 98% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Marek Zidlicky - D - (MIN): Marek Zidlicky had 4A, 2PIM, and 3SOG last week. Overall he has 3G, 22A, 31PIM, 10PPP, 2GWG, and 68SOG. Zidlicky is on pace to score over 40 assists this year which is a good point total for any defensemen. He is worth some consideration. He is available in 31% of Yahoo Leagues.

Fedor Tyutin - D - (CLS): Fedor Tyutin had 3A, 1PPP, 13SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 1G, 19A, 2oPIM, 11PPA, and 83SOG. Tyutin is a great source for assists. He also sees plenty of time on the PP and is able to cash in by being the set-up man. He is available in 59% of Yahoo Leagues.

Joni Pikanen - D - (CAR): Joni Pitkanen had 1G, 1A, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 2G, 17A, 36PIM, 8PPP, and is a -13 this year. It's hard to suggest a Carolina player but Pikanen does provide good offensive numbers on the blue-line while being a big +/- risk. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 1G, 2A, 4PIM, and 1PPP last week. Overall he has 6G, 9A, 20PIM, 8PPP, and is a +3. Foster continues to be on fire and is racking up the points. He also sees a lot of time on the PP and doesn't look to be slowing down at all. He is worth a good look in any format. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Michael Leighton - G - (PHI): Michael Leighton had 1W, 1.83GAA, .926SV%, and 1SO last week. Overall he 4W in 6 games since joining the Flyers. With the Flyers struggling in goal, Leighton will get more than his fair share of starts and so far has been able to capitalize. He is available 85% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Kevin Bieksa - D - (VAN): Leg - DTD as of 12/31. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out but looks to be several weeks. Look for a replacement.

David Clarkson - RW - (NJ): Right Leg - DTD as of 12/31. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out, but should be out the rest of this week.

Martin Erat - RW - (MIN): Lower Body - DTD as of 12/30. Impact: Looks to be out the rest of this week and should be ready next week.

Ryan Getzlaf - C - (ANH): Lacerated Right Leg - DTD as of 12/27. Impact: Should be back sometime this week.

Sergei Gonchar - D - (PIT): Right Foot - DTD as of 1/2. Impact: May be back by the end of the week, but keep him on your bench for now.

Mikhail Grabovski - C - (TOR): Wrist - DTD as of 1/3. Impact: Will be out at least 6 weeks

Paul Kariya - LW - (STL): Head - IR as of 12/28. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out for looks for be for quite a while.

Vaclav Prospal - LW - (NYR): Knee - DTD as of 12/28. Impact: Out 2-3 weeks.

Keith Tkachuck - LW - (STL): Facial Laceration - DTD as of 1/3. Impact: Doesn't look serious and he should be ok.

Justin Willams - RW - (LA): Right Leg - IR as of 12/27. Impact: Place him on your IR.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 12

Welcome to Week 12 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. The holiday season is upon us and in week 12, there are no games on Thursday and Friday in the NHL. This makes it even more important on who you want to start or bench on any given day.

Forwards

Stephen Weiss - C - (FLA): Stephen Weiss had 3G, 3A, 4PIM, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 17G, 16A, and 10PPP. Weiss has 33PTS in 37 games and leads the Panthers with 17G. Weiss has been playing consistent hockey all season and if available, could be a solid pickup for any team. He is available in 39% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tomas Fleischmann - LW,RW - (WAS): Tomas Fleischmann had 3G, 2PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 14G, 8A, 10PPP, and 2GWG. Fleischmann has 22PTS in 25 games thus far this year and could be worth a look, especially for teams in deeper leagues. He is available in 65% of Yahoo Leagues.

Mason Raymond - LW - (VAN): Mason Raymond had 3G, 2A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 11SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 14G, 11A, 12PPP, and 3GWG. He has passed his career point total and it's only 1/2 way through the season. Raymond has continued his strong play and if still available could give your roster a nice boost. He is available in 67% of Yahoo Leagues.

Brian Rolston - LW - (NJ): Brian Rolston had 2G, 1A, 11SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 13G, 9A, 6PIM, 9PPP, 3GWG, 116SOG, and is +5. Rolston seems to be getting back on the score sheet after slumping in the first half of the season. Keep an eye on him and if he begins produce consistently, could be worth a pickup. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Todd Bertuzzi - LW,RW - (DET): Todd Bertuzzi had 2G, 2A, 14PIM, 19SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 10G, 11A, 38PIM, and 109SOG. Bertuzzi has been on a scoring streak recently. With all the injuries in Detroit, he has found himself playing with Pavel Datsyuk and has been able to capitalize on those opportunities. Bertuzzi should be given some consideration now that he is able to provide not only PIM but also offensive numbers as well. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Andrei Kostitsyn - LW - (MON): Andrei Kostitsyn had 3G, 2A, 3PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 9G, 12A, 6PPP, 14PIM, and is a +2. Kostitsyn continues his scoring streak from last week. He has 7G in the last 2 weeks and it looks like he's become a regular scorer for the Habs. With 2 strong weeks, Kostitsyn could be worth some consideration. He is available in 77% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryan Callahan - RW - (NYR): Ryan Callahan had 3G, 4A, 5PPP, 1GWG, 14SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 9G, 8A, 12PPP, and 32PIM. Callahan seems to be on a hot streak right now, even with the Rangers struggling on a whole as a team. With 5PPP last week, Callahan has capitalized on his recent PP opportunities and could be useful during this hot streak. He is available in 78% of Yahoo Leagues.

T.J. Oshie - C - (STL): T.J. Oshie had 2G, 1A, 1PPP, 1GWG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 7G, 11A, 5PPP, and is a +1. Oshie has been able to show up on the score sheet on a nightly basis lately and is worth a look, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 92% of Yahoo Leagues.

Patric Hornqvist - RW - (NSH): Patric Hornqvist had 4G, 3A, 2PIM, 1PPP, 1GWG, 12SOG, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 10G, 8A, 2PPP, 4GWG, and is a +6. Hornqvist has been able to score in his last 3 games and also dish out some assists. Keep an eye on him and if he is able to sustain this offensive production, might be worth a pickup. He is available in 93% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Tobias Enstrom - D - (ATL): Tobias Enstrom had 5A, 3PPP, 2PIM, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 3G, 24A, 10PPP, and is a +9. Enstrom is still racking up the assists and should be considered for any team if available. He is available in 32% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryan Suter - D - (NSH): Ryan Suter has 3A, 1PPP, 2PIM, and was a +7 last week. Overall he has 2G, 16A, 9PPP, 20PIM, and is a +4. Suter gives you solid defensive play, which helps your +/- while also giving you the occasional offensive point. He is available in 49% of Yahoo Leagues.

Keith Yandle - D - (PHO): Keith Yandle had 1G, 3A, 2PIM, and 1PPP last week. Overall he has 5G, 12A, 31PIM, 8PPP and is a +4. Yandle can provide some offensive points as well as PIM. He is available in 78% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 2G, 2A, and 2PPP last week. Overall he has 5G, 5A, 15PIM, 6PPP, and 1GWG. Foster has been given increased time on the PP and has been able to cash in. Foster is someone to keep and eye on and if he continues to produce may be worth a spot on your blue line. He is available in 95% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Jonas Gustavsson - G - (TOR): Jonas Gustavsson had 1W, 0.69GAA, .976SV%, and 1SO. After coming back from injury, Gustavsson was able to secure a shut-out for the Leafs last week. Gustavsson is a good option for a team looking for a 3rd goalie for their squad. He is available in 77% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Nick Foligno - LW - (OTT): Lower Body - DTD as of 12/16. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out.

Jason Spezza - C - (OTT): Right Knee - IR as of 12/15. Impact: Out 6-8 weeks.

Jarret Stoll - C - (LA): Groin - DTD as of 12/15. Impact: He may be kept out this week, keep him on your bench until next week.

Jordin Tootoo - RW - (NSH): Broken Foot - IR as of 12/14. Impact: Out 3-4 weeks.

Dennis Wideman - D - (BOS): Undisclosed Injury - DTD as of 12/15. Impact: It is unclear when he will return.

Good Luck on your match-ups this week and have a nice holiday weekend!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 11

Welcome to Week 11 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. For those of you in head-to-head leagues, the second half of the regular season has started and you only have 10 more weeks to either make your move or prevent another team from taking your playoff spot. Recently a lot of rookies have been showing up on the score sheet and if you were able to grab them early in the year, you are definitely reaping the benefits now. Here are some suggestions that you may want to consider if you need to pick someone up.

Forwards

Tomas Plekanec – C – (MON): Tomas Plekanec had 6A, 3PPP, 2PIM, 9SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 6G, 26A, and 11PPP. He currently leads the Canadiens with 33pts. He is a good option for those of you in need of assists, as he will provide consistent points on a nightly basis. He is available in 44% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kyle Okposo – RW – (NYI): Kyle Okposo had 6A, 5PPP, and 11SOG last week. Overall he has 22 pts, 14PPP, and 100SOG. Okposo is currently playing on a line with John Tavares which may not give you many goals. But he will dish off those passes to Tavares, who will certainly finish the play off and allow you to cash in on the assists. He is available in 67% of Yahoo Leagues.

Mason Raymond – LW – (VAN): Mason Raymond had 2G, 1A, 6PIM, and 2PPP last week. Overall he has 11G, 9A, 18PIM, and 11PPP. Raymond has already tied his goal scoring total from last year and will surpass his points total of 23 as well. Raymond sees a lot of time on the PP and cashes in on just about every opportunity. He is available in 75% of Yahoo Leagues.

Niclas Bergfors – RW – (NJ): Niclas Bergfors had 3G, 1A, 3PPP, 1GWG, and 13SOG last week. Overall he has 11G, 11A, 11PPP, and 3GWG. Bergfors has really picked it up and is only second in rookie goal scoring to John Tavares. Bergfors would be a solid option in any league and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Matt Stajan – C – (TOR): Matt Stajan had 3G, 3A, 1GWG, 12SOG, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 11G, 14A , and 8PPP. After a bad start to the season, Stajan has really picked it up since being placed on a line with Phil Kessel. In the 18 games he’s played with Kessel, he’s had 18 points and is worth consideration while on this streak. He is available in 83% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Stewart – RW – (COL): Chris Stewart had 3G, 2A, 2PPP, 1GWG, 15SOG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 7G, 14A, 5PPP, 36PIM, and 3GWG. Stewart has surpassed his point total from last year and is on pace to score 40+ points this year. He is currently playing on the top line with Paul Statsny and Wojtek Wolski, which will definitely help keep up his production. He is available in 84% of Yahoo Leagues.

Andrei Kostitsyn – LW – (MON): Andrei Kostitsyn had 4G, 1A, 1PPP, 2PIM, 11SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 6G, 10A, and 14PIM. Kostitsyn has been able to score 4 goals in his last 4 games and seems to be turning around from his early season slump. Keep an eye on him and if he continues to produce at this pace, would be worth considering, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 85% of Yahoo Leagues.

Gilbert Brule – C – (EDM): Gilbert Brule had 2G, 2A, 6PIM, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 9G, 12A, and 2GWG. Brule has become a consistent contributor to the Oilers this season and could possibly score over 40 points this year. He is definitely worth a look and consideration, especially in deeper leagues. He is available in 93% of Yahoo Leagues.

Dan Sexton – RW – (ANH): Dan Sexton had 4G, 1A, 2PPP, 14SOG, and was a +6 last week. Sexton was a recent call up and has 5 points in his first 5 games. Keep an eye on him for the time being and if he is able to keep this up on a struggling Ducks team, he may see more ice time and be worth a pick-up. He is available in 97% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Ian White – D – (TOR): Ian White had 1G, 2A, 4PIM, 1PPP, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 5G, 12A, 29PIM, and 4PPP. He looks to be on a pace to score 40 points this season which is pretty good for a defensemen. He is worth a look in any league and should be considered if available. He is available in 52% of Yahoo Leagues.

Roman Hamrlik – D – (MON): Roman Hamrlik had 1G, 3A, 3PPP, and 2PIM last week. Overall he has 5G, 9A, and 5PPP. Hamrlik has been known to score 30 points a season, and is on pace to match that again this year. He is available in 79% of Yahoo Leagues.

Marc-Andre Bergeron – D – (MON): Marc-Andre Bergeron had 2G, 3A, 4PPP, 2PIM, and 1GWG last week. Overall he has 15PTS, 9PPP, and 3GWG. Bergeron is on a good production streak now and with 3 GWG so far this year, provides the big goals when it counts. He was injured in Satruday’s game and it is not known the extent of the injury, but if he’s ok, would be a great option to have on your blue-line. He is available in 80% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tyler Myers – D – (BUF): Tyler Myers had 2A, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 3G, 14A 10PIM, 5PPP, and is a +8 in his first season. Myers has flown under the radar in most leagues and is worth a look because he has provided consistent number thus far in the year. He is available in 81% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Jimmy Howard – G – (DET): Over the past month, Jimmy Howard has 6W, 2.27GAA, and a .918SV%. He has effectively taken the starting job away from Chris Osgood, who has struggled while Howard has been able to capitalize on the increased playing time. If he keeps this up, Howard would be worth a spot on your team . He is available in 55% of Yahoo Leagues.

Vesa Toskala – G – (TOR): Vesa Toskala had 3W, 2.78GAA, and a .913SV% last week. Toskala is currently on a hot streak and has won 3 out of his last 4 starts. With Jonas Gustavsson expected to still be out until late this week, there is no one to take the starts away from him. If you are in need of a goalie this week, Toskala could be a good option while riding this hot streak. He is available in 74% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Marc-Andre Bergeron - D - (MTL): Facial Laceration - DTD as of 12/12. Impact: It is unclear the severity of the injury at this time. You may want to use other options until further notice.

Dan Boyle - D - (SJ): Undisclosed Injury - DTD as of 12/12. Impact: It doesn't look serious and should be ready for the next game.

Erik Cole - LW - (CAR): Upper Body - IR as of 12/10. Impact: He will be out 2-3 weeks.

Danny Cleary - RW - (DET): Shoulder - DTD as of 12/10. Impact: He looks to be out 4 weeks.

Alexander Edler - D - (VAN): Upper Body - DTD as of 12/9. Impact: Will return at the earliest the end of this week so bench him this week.

Ray Emery - G - (PHI): Abdomen - IR as of 12/8. Impact: He will be out 6 weeks.

Milan Hejduk - RW - (COL): Knee - DTD as of 12/13. Impact: Doesn't look like he'll miss any more time and should be back for this week.

Patrick Kane - RW - (CHI): Upper Body - DTD as of 12/13. Impact: Doesn't look serious and should be ready for next game.

Ryan Malone - LW - (TB): Lower Body - DTD as of 12/11. Impact: It is unclear the extent of the injury at this time, but it looks like he may not miss any time.

Steven Stamkos - C - (TB): Upper Body - DTD as of 12/11. Impact: It is unclear the extent of the injury at this time but may miss at least 1 game.

Semyon Varlamov - G - (WAS): Lower Body - IR as of 12/9. Impact: Will return at the earliest the end of this week so look elsewhere.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

SportsJudge Fantasy Hockey Challenge 1st Half Update: Experts

The 2009-10 SportsJudge Fantasy Hockey Challenge has reached the midway point of the regular season. To no surprise, most of our experts are still bunched together tightly in the standings, while one has jumped out to a very impressive (albeit unconventional) early lead. This week we'll take a look at the guests of SportsJudge, how their teams have fared so far, and what the future may hold.

*To view each team, click on the small roster image to the right

Prince of Wales Conference:

#1. PuckCentral.net (Declan G) Declan is the founder of PuckCentral.net, a top-notch New York Rangers blog. His team leads the Prince of Wales Conference at 111 points. Declan had a great draft and got off to a hot start, winning his first five weeks handily, but injuries have caused him to slip up as of late. Fortunately, he jumped on Moulson and Erat just in time to fill the voids. Losing Emery for 6 weeks will hurt, but the strength of his centers will carry him to wins in most weeks.

Key Additions: Alex Goligoski, Matt Moulson, Martin Erat

#4. InsideHockey.com (Kevin Greenstein, Alex Linsky) Kevin and Alex are co-managing a team on behalf of InsideHockey.com. Draft problems left their team a little weak at goaltender, but Alex decided to pull the trigger early and bring in Ryan Miller. It couldn't have worked out better as Miller is arguably the league's best at this point in the season. On top of that, James Neal was a great snag a few weeks into the season as he is still currently on pace to top 40 goals. If Malkin can get back to his Conn Smythe form, InsideHockey could be a very tough team to beat.

Key Additions: Lubo Visnovsky, James Neal, Dustin Penner

#5 PuckProspectus.com (Timo Seppa) Timo writes a fantasy and sabermetric column for Puck Prospectus. He started the season with three big losses in the first four weeks, which likely prompted the short leash he's held on many of his roster spots. He made a flurry of 8 moves in a 5-day period in an attempt to stop the freefall, and was very successful in doing so. His team has stayed fairly healthy thus far, yet has been a victim of a tough division. His 89 points would put him almost in second place in the Campbell Conference. His most impressive move in my mind has been adding Tuuka Rask. Prior to the season, I quietly felt Rask would end up as the Boston starter by year's end, a development which could eventually lead Timo to a championship.

Key Additions: Rich Peverley, Tyler Myers, Tuuka Rask

Campbell Conference:

#1. SaucerPass.com (Brian Schrembs) Brian is a co-founder of the website SaucerPass.com. I must say, he has put together one of the most impressive 10 weeks of fantasy hockey I have ever seen. Not only is he 18 points ahead of anyone in the entire league with 129 points, he's accomplished this by making ONE move. You're probably wondering who this single move could have been for a man so selective, right? How about a two-week add and then drop of Jamie Benn from Dallas. With a solid roster top to bottom, there's no way I can argue Schrembs isn't the favorite at the midpoint.

#3 TheHockeyWriters.com (Bruce Hollingdrake) The Hockey Writers is a collaborative effort, bringing together over 30 skilled hockey writers from across the US and Canada. Bruce represents his website in our league and unfortunately has been crushed by injuries which never seem to end. Currently he has five players on Injured Reserve and even more with minor bumps and bruises. Yet surprisingly, after losing his first six weeks, Bruce has strung together 3 wins in his past 4 weeks and has gotten himself right back into contention. It's scary to think what he could do with talented players like Gionta, Markov, and Clarkson in the lineup right now.

Key Additions: Matt Carle, JS Giguere, Alex Burrows

#5 IllegalCurve.com (Richard Pollack) Richard is the creator and editor of the website Illegal Curve. Asking him to feel sorry for Bruce and his injuries is hardly reasonable. Not only has he had countless injured players, they've been all elite offensive talents such as Kovalchuk, Savard, and Kronwall. I truly felt after the draft that Richard had one of the most talented teams in the league, and I'm sticking to my guns. When Backstrom, Backes, and Spezza awake from their early season slumbers, I think IllegalCurve makes a run to the finals.

Key Additions: Milan Lucic, David Krejci, Ondrej Pavelec

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 10

Welcome to Week 10 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. Here are some of the best performers of last week and last month that you can consider to help fill-in some spots on your roster if they are still available on your waiver wire.

Forwards

Jason Pominville – RW – (BUF): Jason Pominville had 2G, 3A, 13SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 7G, 12A, 6PPP, and 75SOG. Pominville is finally appearing on the score sheet regularly after slumping in the first couple months of the season. He should be considered while he is on the hot streak. He is available in 33% Yahoo Leagues.

Jordan Staal – C – (PIT): Jordan Staal had 4G, 7A, 19PIM, 35SOG, 1SHG, and was a +4 last month. Staal has been performing phenomenally recently and is playing on what is the ‘best third line’ in hockey. Staal has been playing with a fire inside him lately and if available could be a great addition to your team. He is available in 42% of Yahoo Leagues.

Joffrey Lupul – LW,RW – (ANH): Joffrey Lupul had 3G, 6PIM, and was +4 last week. Overall he has 9G, 4A, 16PIM, and is a +3. Lupul is a consistent 50 point scorer and looks to be on pace to achieve that once again. He'll pretty much give you an average of 25G & 25A each year so he will spread the points evenly on your fantasy sheet. He is available in 47% of Yahoo Leagues.

Andrew Brunette – LW – (MIN): Andrew Brunette had 1G, 6A, 3PPP, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 10G, 16A, 14PPP, 2GWG, and 50SOG. Brunette has been on a hot streak as of late and with 14PPP on the season, he looks to be a good option for those who need help in the PP category. He is available in 60% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jason Arnott – C – (NSH): Jason Arnott had 3G, 1A, 2PIM, 10SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 10G, 7A, 6PPP, and 80SOG. Arnott seems to be getting back on track and is completely healthy now, which should lead to him contributing to the score sheet on a nightly basis. He is available in 61% of Yahoo Leagues.

Niklas Hagman – LW – (TOR): Niklas Hagman had 1G, 2A, 2PIM, 11SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 14G, 6A, 5PPP, and 81SOG. Hagman is still rolling along his current hot streak. He is still available in many leagues and isn't a bad option at this time. He is available in 67% of Yahoo Leagues.

Daymond Langkow – C – (CGY): Daymond Langkow had 5G, 5A, 4PIM, 1PPG, 1SHG, 2GWG, 26SOG, and was a +11 last month. Langkow had a good month and is a potential 60 point scorer. Langkow would be a good guy to have on your team for those spot starts. He is available in 72% of Yahoo Leagues.

Wayne Simmonds – RW – (LA): Wayne Simmonds had 1G, 3A, 2PIM, and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 9G, 10A, 42PIM, and is a +12. Simmonds will provide both offensive and PIM numbers. He is currently on a nice streak and should be considered while on this hot streak. He is available in 72% of Yahoo Leagues.

Chris Stewart – RW – (COL): Chris Stewart had 2G, 4A, +1, 19PIM, 2PPP, 1GWG, and 13SOG. Overall he has 4G, 12A, 40SOG and 36PIM. He has almost surpassed his point total from last year of 19PTS. Stewart has been playing on a line with Matt Duchene and that has definitely helped him pick up some points. As long as he stays put, he would be someone to consider. He is available in 94% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Alexander Edler – D – (VAN): Alexander Edler had 1G, 2A, 2PIM, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 2G, 17A, 14PIM, and 53SOG. Edler is on a hot streak right now and seems to have gotten over his early season slump. If available, Edler would be a good addition to any team. He is available in 24% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryan Whitney – D – (ANA): Ryan Whitney had 1G, 3A, 2PPP, 2PIM, and 10SOG last week. Overall he has 3G, 13A, 24PIM, 9PPP, and 53SOG. Whitney sees a lot of PP time and makes great outlet-passes to the forwards out of his own zone, which leads to assists. He seems to be picking up the pace now and could be considered if you need help on the blue-line. He is available in 52% of Yahoo Leagues.

Randy Jones – D – (LA): Randy Jones had 2G, 1A, 2PIM, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 4G, 5A, 8PIM, and is a +1. Jones was claimed off waivers from the Flyers last month and since then has found success with 9 points after joining the Kings. He is available in 96% of Yahoo Leagues.

Andrej Meszaros – D – (TB): Andrej Meszaros had 2A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and 13SOG last week. Overall he has 3G, 4A, 16PIM, 4PPP, and 68SOG. Meszaros seems to be getting out of his slump and if he can keep this up is worth a look. He is available in 98% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kris Russell – D – (CLS): Kris Russell had 2G, 1A, 7PIM, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 7PTS, 15PIM, and 3PPP. Russell has a great scoring touch and makes great use of the time he sees on the ice. He is someone you may also want to keep an eye on. He is available in 99% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Rick DiPietro – G –(NYI): Rick DiPietro had his first start in over 11 months in a conditioning stint with their AHL affiliate last week. He looked a little rusty, but that is to be expected when you haven't played in almost a year. It looks like he will be back in the next couple of weeks and could be a good option for a team looking for a starting goaltender. Now would be a good time to stash him on your roster if you can. He is available in 85% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

Craig Anderson - G - (COL): Neck - DTD as of 12/3. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out, but it doesn't look serious so he shouldn't be out too long.

Matt Bradley - RW - (WAS): Upper Body/Personal - DTD as of 12/5. Impact: Bradley is actually away from the team to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. He also sustained an injury after a 'fight' with Daniel Carcillo. It is unclear how long he will be away for either the injury sustained by Carcillo or to be with his family.

Joe Corvo - D - (CAR): Right Calf Laceration - IR as of 12/1. Impact: Out 8-12 Weeks

Sidney Crosby - C - (PIT): Groin - DTD as of 12/5. Impact: He was back in the lineup after missing just one game, looks to be ok.

Alex Goligoski - D - (PIT): Groin - DTD as of 11/30. Impact: He should be back this week. so get him back in your lineup.

Jonas Gustavsson - G - (TOR): Heart - DTD as of 12/2. Impact: He will be out 7-10 days.

Teemu Selanne - RW - (ANH): Fractured Hand - IR as of 12/4. Impact: Out 4-6 Weeks

Dennis Wideman - D - (BOS): Upper Body - DTD as of 12/5. Impact: It is unclear the extent of the injury so you may want to bench him for now.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey: Week 9

Welcome to Week 9 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. As the season goes on, it gets harder to find a player that may be available on your waiver wire. Here are some guys that could offer you some help and will hopefully be available for you to pick up. 

As always, we list our suggestions from least to most available to give you a variety of options depending on the depth of your league.  If you have questions regarding any of the players listed here, feel free leave your thoughts in the comment section.

Forwards

David Backes - RW - (STL): David Backes had 3G, 2A, 4PIM, 15SOG, and was a +6 last week. Overall he has 9PTS and 38PIM. After a very slow start to the season, Backes seems to be finding the score sheet as of late. Last season, Backes was a good fantasy player providing both offensive and PIM numbers. Hopefully he is getting out of his slump and be able to get back to what he was last year. He is available in 39% of Yahoo Leagues.

Niklas Hagman - LW - (TOR): Niklas Hagman had 5G, 12 SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 17PTS and 70SOG. Hagman is on a phenomenal hot streak right now and should be considered while on this streak. He is available in 70% of Yahoo Leagues.

Wayne Simmonds - RW - (LA): Wayne Simmonds had 3G, 1A, 4PIM, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 8G, 15A, 40PIM, and is a +7. Simmonds has 15PTS so far this year and will overpass his point total of 23 he achieved last year. He seems to betting out of a mini-slump right now and could be a good addition to your roster. He is available in 80% of Yahoo leagues.

Sean Avery - LW - (NYR): Sean Avery had 2G, 2A, 2PPP, 1GWG, 23PIM and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 4G, 7A, 5PPP and 44PIM. Avery is known more for his knack of getting under the skin of his opponents, was able to score 4 points last week. Avery sees time on the PP and every now and then, like he did against the Penguins with 17PIM, will give you a big PIM night. He is available in 85% of Yahoo Leagues.

Brian Rolston - LW - (NJ): Brian Rolston had 2G, 2A, 2PPP, 2PIM, 14SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 13PTS, 7PPP, and 80SOG. Since being placed on a line with Patrik Elias, Rolston has been able to find himself on the score sheet. Hopefully this move will remain for a while. He is available in 86% of Yahoo Leagues.

David Legwand - C - (NSH): David Legwand had 2G, 2A, 1PPP, 1GWG, 14SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 5G, 9A, and 54SOG. Legwand has been on a nice streak lately and could be considered for teams in deeper leagues. He is available in 91% of Yahoo Leagues.

Gilbert Brule - C - (EDM): Gilbert Brule had 2G, 3A, 2PPP, 2PIM, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 8G, 9A, 40SOG and 2GWG. Brule has been moved up to the top line to fill in for injured Ales Hemsky, this move will provide more opportunities for Brule. If you have a replacement, you should really think about picking him up. He is available in 93% of Yahoo Leagues.

Robert Lang - C - (PHO): Robert Lang had 1G, 3A, 1PPP, 2PIM, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 16PTS and 8PPP. Lang is on a little streak right now and should be considered for teams in deeper leagues. He won't light up the score sheet, but will be able to provide decent numbers every now and then. He is available in 94% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Stephane Robidas - D - (DAL): Stephane Robidas had 2G, 1A, 3PPP, 4PIM, 13SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 7G, 10A, and 58SOG. Robidas is on a hot streak as of late and should be strongly considered if available. He is available in 34% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tobias Enstrom - D - (ATL): Tobias Enstrom had 3A and was a +5 last week. Overall he has 3G, 16A, and is a +11. Enstrom is a good +/- player and is a great outlet passer which will get him his fair share of assists. He is available in 41% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kris Letang - D - (PIT): Kris Letang recently just returned from injury and in hi 2 games after returning had 2A, 1PPP, 7SOG, and was a +3. Overall he has 9PTS and is a +4. Letang has a great shot and doesn't hesitate to use it. He sees time on the PP and should start seeing himself on the score sheet once again. He is available in 76% of Yahoo Leagues.

Marc-Andre Bergeron - D - (MON): Marc- Andre Bergeron had 2G, 1A, 1PPP, 12SOG, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 5G, 5A, 5PPP, 2GWG, and 41SOG this year. Bergeron has 10PTS in 19 games and is on a point/every other game pace and could be considered for any team looking for help in that area. He is available in 88% of Yahoo Leagues.

Kurtis Foster - D - (TB): Kurtis Foster had 2G, 1PPP, 1GWG, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 5PTS and is a +4. Foster has been used as a winger sporadically recently and has also seen some increased time on the PP. If this trend continues, teams in deeper leagues may want to consider picking him up as this will increase his offensive opportunities. He is available in 98% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Jose Theodore - G - (WAS): Jose Thedore has returned from an absence for personal reasons and looks lot be back and ready. He started Monday and won allowing 2G. Theodore would be a good bench goalie for your team. He is available in 58% of Yahoo Leagues.

Brian Elliott - G - (OTT): Brian Elliott had 1W, 1.96GAA, and .930SV% last week. He is filling in for an injured Pascal Leclaire for atleast the next month. He is available in 73% of Yahoo Leagues.

Notable Injuries

David Clarkson - RW - (NJ): Fractured Leg - IR as of 11/28.

Milan Hejduk - RW - (COL): Knee - DTD as of 11/28.

Ales Hemsky - RW - (EDM): Shoulder - IR as of 11/27.

David Jones - RW - (COL): ACL - DTD as of 11/29.

Nikolai Khabibulin - G - (EDM): Back - IR as of 11/21.

Andrei Kostitsyn - LW - (MTL): Leg - DTD as of 11/25.

Milan Lucic - LW - (BOS): High Ankle Sprain - DTD as of 11/26.

Alex Ovechkin - LW - (WAS): Knee - DTD as of 11/30.

Vesa Toskala - G - (TOR): Groin - IR as of 11/24.

Thomas Vokoun - G - (FLA): Ear - DTD as of 11/30

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!

Fantasy Hockey Pickups: Week 8

Welcome to Week 8 of Fantasy Hockey Pickups. Here are some players that you may want to consider this week to help give your lineup that extra boost to get you that win this week.

Forwards

Kristian Huselius - LW - (CLS): Kristian Huselius had 2G, 3A, 4PPP, 1SHG, 1GWG, and 12 SOG last week. Overall he has 16 points in 17 games with 7PPP and 2GWG. Huselius has been a consistent producer this year and would be a good addition to any lineup. He is available in 34% of Yahoo Leagues.

Nathan Horton - C,RW - (FLA): Nathan Horton had 2G, 3A, 1GWG and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 6G, 11A, 20PIM, and is a +2. Horton is a great fantasy player because he can provide points in all fantasy categories and also can be used as both a center and winger. He is available in 41% of Yahoo Leagues.

Maxim Afinogenov - RW - (ATL): Maxim Afinogenov had 2G, 1A, 1PPP, 6PIM, 9 SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 9G, 11A, and 7PPP. Afinogenov is on a point per game pace so far and has really gotten into a grove with Atlanta. Afinogenov is poised to have a breakout season this year and should be a strong consideration for any league. He is available in 44% of Yahoo Leagues.

James van Riemsdyk - LW - (PHI): James van Riemsdyk had 2G, 1A, 1PPP, 2GWG, and 11SOG last week. Overall he has 18 points in 17 games. van Riemsdyk is having a phenomenal rookie campaign, and if available should be strongly considered. He is available in 47% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tomas Plekanec - C - (MON): Tomas Plekanec had 1G, 4A, 8SOG, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 22 points in 23 games with 56 SOG. Plekanec leads the Canadiens in points and has been a consistent point scorer so far this year. He is available in 49% of Yahoo Leagues.

Ryan Clowe - LW - (SJ): Ryan Clowe had 2G, 2A, 1PPP, 2PIM, and 9SOG last week. Overall he has 4G, 11A, 39PIM, and 54 SOG so far this year. Clowe is on a hot streak and seems to be getting out of a slump after a slow start this year and should be considered in deeper leagues.. He is available in 50% of Yahoo Leagues.

Stephen Weiss - C - (FLA): Stephen Weiss had 2G, 3A, 2PIM, 1PPP, and was a +2 last week. Overall he has 7G and 7A this year. Weiss is currently on a scoring streak and should be a good fill-in for an injury. He is available in 66% of Yahoo Leagues.

Jarret Stoll - C - (LA): Jarret Stoll had 2G, 1A, 2PPP, and 4PIM last week. Stoll has 7G, 11A, and 7PPP so far this year. Stoll is tied for third on the Kings for the points lead and has been able to put up some good numbers. He is available in 71% of Yahoo Leagues.

Claude Giroux - RW - (PHI): Claude Giroux had 2G, 5A, 1PPP, 7SOG, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 3G, 12A, 30SOG, and is a +6. Giroux seems to be on a scoring streak now and could be a good consideration. He is available in 77% of Yahoo Leagues.

Defensemen

Lubomir Visnovsky - D - (EDM): Lubomir Visnovsky had 1G, 4A, 3PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 5G, 11A, 9PPP, and is a +4. Visnovsky sees plenty of time on the PP and that is where most of his points have been scored this year. He is available in 30% of Yahoo Leagues.

Stephane Robidas - D - (DAL): Stephane Robidas had 2G, 3A, 3PPP, and was a +1 last week. Overall he has 14 points with 5 on the powerplay. Robidas sees plenty of time on the PP and provides good +/- points. He is available in 45% of Yahoo Leagues.

Tobias Enstrom - D - (ATL): Tobias Enstrom had 1G, 3A, 1PPP, and was a +3 last week. Overall he has 3G, 13A, and 6PPP. Enstrom has had another strong week and should be considered as an everyday starter on your blue-line. He is still available in 52% of Yahoo Leagues.

Keith Ballard - D - (FLA): Keith Ballard had 4A, 2PPP, 8PIM, and was a +4 last week. Overall he has 7A and 27 PIM. Ballard seems to be finally getting out of the slump he's had since the beginning of the year. He is available in 83% of Yahoo Leagues.

Anton Stralman - D - (CLS): Anton Stralman had 2G, 2A, 4PIM, and 3PPP. Overall he has 3G, 10A, 9PPP, and 32SOG. Stralman has already tied his total point production from last year with the Maple Leafs. He has produced well offensively, especially with assists, on the blue-line with Columbus. He is available in 90% of Yahoo Leagues.

Goalies

Brian Elliott - G - (OTT): Elliott came in to relieve Pascal Leclaire on Saturday. It is uncertain the extent of the injury Leclaire suffered so it may be wise for Leclaire owners to consider picking him up.

Notable Injuries

Arron Asham - RW - (PHI): Strained Left Oblique - IR as of 11/17. Impact: Looks to be out 2 weeks. Place him on your IR and look for a short-term replacement.

Shean Donovan - RW - (OTT): Knee - DTD as of 11/21. Impact: It is unknown how long he will be out at this time, but it looks serious and could be out for a long time.

Scott Gomez - C - (MTL): Lower Body - DTD as of 11/21. Impact: It is unclear how long he will be out at this time.

Martin Havlat - RW - (MIN): Hamstring - DTD as of 11/20. Impact: It doesn't look serious and should be back in action this week.

Niklas Kronwall - D - (DET): Sprained MCL - DTD as of 11/21. Impact: He will be out 4-8 weeks. Look for a replacement.

Pascal Leclaire - G - (OTT): Lower Body - DTD as of 11/22. Impact: His status is unknown at this time.

Jay McKee - D - (PIT): Infected Finger - DTD as of 11/17. Impact: He looks to be out 2-4 weeks.

Alexander Semin - RW - (WAS): Right Wrist Injury - IR as of 11/17. Impact: It is uncertain when he will return. Place him on your IR.

Ryan Smyth - LW - (LA): Upper Body - DTD as of 11/17. Impact: He looks to be out for about a month so look for a replacement.

Good Luck with your match-ups this week!