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Fantasy Hockey Planner - Week 17

Short week coming up with the All-Star Break. Make sure you pay attention to the schedule as you set your fantasy hockey roster for week 17 (1/24 to 1/30):

Matchups
Teams with 1 Games: Anaheim, Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Minnesota, Montreal, New Jersey, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Tampa Bay

The other half of the league has two games each. Phoenix probably has the best chance of scoring high, as they get a home game against Edmonton and a road contest with Colorado. Detroit has just one matchup, but they get NJ at home. Best to avoid the Habs next week, with just one game against Philly.

Who's Hot
A number of players who had been quiet all season started to heat up lately. Here are a few standouts over the past 10 days of action:
• Jussi Jokinen (CAR) - 5 goals, 3 assists
• Joe Thornton (SJ) - 3 goals, 5 assists
• Patrice Bergeron (BOS) - 5 goals, 2 assists
• Stephen Weiss (FLA) - 7 assists
• Jordan Staal (PIT) - 3 goals, 3 assists
• Dennis Wideman (D-FLA) - 3 goals, 2 assists
• Steve Kampfer (D-BOS) - 1 goal, 3 assists


Who's Cold
Here are some players who have flat lined for reasons other than injury in the past couple weeks:
• Jonathan Toews (CHI) - 2 points in last 6 games
• Dustin Brown (LA) - 2 points in last 5 games
• Brett Clark (D-TB) - 10 games and counting with no points
• Nikolai Khabibulin (G-EDM) - losing streak climbs to 9 games.
• Chris Drury (NYR) - scoreless in 11 games
• Mason Raymond (VAN) - scoreless in 7
• Jonathan Quick (G-LA) - 1 win in last 7 games

Waiver Watch

Evgeni Nabokov (G-?)
Talk is heating up once more surrounding Nabokov's possible return to the NHL, as Ken Holland has confirmed interest in possibly bringing him into Detroit. Where will he land and when? Most likely, whenever he does agree to terms with a team, he'll get swallowed up by someone else on the NHL waiver wire. As for your NHL wire, if you need help in net, it's worth burying him on your bench before it's too late.

Fedor Tyutin (D-COB)
Tyutin is starting to make due on all the promise he's demonstrated in the early stages of his career. Right now, he's the hottest player in Columbus. He has 7 points in his last 6 games, and is averaging around 30 minutes a game. If you're in need of consistent help on your defense, consider adding Tyutin.

Trevor Daley (D-DAL)
Daley is emerging as a quality scoring defenseman for the Stars. He has 3 goals in his last 4 games and 7 points in 9 games. He should easily top his career highs in both goals and points this season, as he's finally earning top-end minutes with Dallas.

Grant Clitsome (D-COB)
Clitsome is the latest in the wave of rookie defensemen to make an immediate offensive impact after making the big club. In his first 5 games of the season, he now has 2 goals and 3 assists. Don't expect him to continue at that crazy pace, but you might as well ride the wave as long as it lasts. His ice time has steadily rose with his scoring success, up to a whopping 26 minutes on Wednesday night against Florida.


Keep or Drop?
Fantasy owners are facing decisions on several injured or struggling players. Here's my take on what to do.

Bryan McCabe (D-FLA)
McCabe was already ailing with a busted finger, but playing through the pain. However, a broken face was too much for the captain to handle and he's looking at 6 weeks on the sideline. That's too much time at this point in the season to be waiting on a guy like McCabe. Unless you've got all you need on your defense, you're probably well advised to let him go.

Michael Cammalleri (F-MON)
Cammalleri was in the midst of a very disappointing season and was just starting to get his act together, when he suffered a separated shoulder. It's bad enough that you'll have to wait more than a month for his service. Even after returning, don't expect him to light it up. Make room for other options.

Jose Theodore (G-MIN)
Theodore was on a roll when he went down with a hip injury. In the meantime, Kudobin came in and played very well. Backstrom is now back in the fold, relegating Thedore back to the bench when he does return. The crease is crowded in Minnesota, and you can probably find better options out there.

Tomas Fleischmann (F-COL)
Fleischmann will miss the remainder of the season. We wish him the best in his recovery.

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