It feels good to see Vladimir Tarasenko and Cory Conacher, two young awesome rookies, continue their torrid play so far in Week 3. While this week's waiver saviors aren't quite at that talent level we do offer some goalie help, including a growing 'tender controversy in Pittsburgh. One of the most exciting things in fantasy is to grab those super rooks before everyone else, and then watch dude ball, grind,puck, and dominate and become a major source of fantasy points be it NBA, NFL, MLB or the National Hockey League. Some players just have the skills that you don't need to see the whole resume to snag and start. Here's to Tarasenko and Concacher being top options yearlong this year in fantasy hockey. Both are part of feared offenses; it might be time to trade now. Let's look at the waiver saviors in Week 3.
- Vokoun: Growing Goalie Contronversy?
Tomas Vokoun (G, Penguins) may create a goalie controversy in Pittsburgh, posting a shut-out Thursday night, stopping 28 shots in a 3-0 blanking of a good New York Rangers team. The veteran Vokoun has a 1.81 goals against average and a .940 save rate (3rd in the NHL so far) to being this young season and presumed starter Marc-Andre Fleury has posted a 2.94 and a .890 comparatively. Fleury allowed four goals against the Islanders and five against the Maple Leafs so he has been vulnerable to the meltdowns that plagued him last year in the playoffs against the Flyers. Vokoun was added to push the young Fleury and netminder for the Pens is such a fantasy-friendly proposition that Vokoun is getting scooped up at an alarming rate. It may be time to follow suit; he’s owned 36% in ESPN leagues and less than 50% in Yahoo..
- Reimer Reasons..Is Toronto Going to Score Enough?
Provided the Maple Leafs don’t trade for Roberto Luongo, there is growing fantasy value with goalie James Reimer (G, Maple Leafs). Reimer didn’t get much fantasy love in 2011-12, in which he oscillated between injury (19 games with a concussion?) and ineffectiveness (3.10 GAA) but he’s been decent this year with a .910 save percentage (15th in the league). He’s worth a pickup for matchups at this point with a bit of upside; an improving Toronto defense could make him much more fantasy useful.
It is may be useful to you to inquire on the waiver wire status of Evgeni Nabokov (G, Islanders). He’s no spring chicken, but he’s quietly 4-1-1 this season although his 3.14 GAA and .906 aren’t exactly record-setting. What is encouraging is that the Islanders offense is improving and playoffs look very doable at this point. He’ll give you wins at this point. He’s owned in about half of standard fantasy hockey leagues.
Jiri Hudler (LW, Flames) the diminutive Czech has shown flashes of offensive mastery (57 points in 2009 with Detroit) and already has four points in two games. He’s missed the beginning of the season dealing with the death of his father. He may benefit from the move to Calgary as most folks who know the game still believe in Hudler’s potential. Calgary doesn’t have anywhere near the goal-scoring arsenal as Detroit did so Hudler will be counted upon to score and facilitate. Word out of Calgary is that the second line is all his and that he could even jump to the first line if oft-injured Mike Cammalleri gets hurt. Hudler can play either wing so that screams fantasy potential as well. I just don’t think we’ve seen all that Hudler can do on the ice yet.
Tom Gilbert (D, Wild) Already has six points in seven games for Minnesota and is gaining adds as we speak. He is still on the second-team power play but if he were to bump Jared Spurgeon from the top-pair position and ends up playing alongside big-free agent acquisition Ryan Suter? His fantasy upside would rise significantly. He’s added much more in Yahoo (only owned in about 15% of leagues) than ESPN where he was drafted in most leagues.
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