 Welcome to this week's installment of the Observation Deck. I see upwards of 10 games a week via Center Ice or in person and this notebook will contain some scouting impressions combined with some numbers when necessary. Lets get to week 6:
There hasn't been much reason for celebration in Toronto this year but two names that fantasy owners should not be downgrading just because of all the surrounding negativity about this years Leafs version are forwards Phil Kessel, and Niklas Hagman. Kessel returned a little earlier than expected from a shoulder injury and made his Leafs debut easily looking like the team's best player. His conditioning and speed look fine, and he's getting shots off in bunches. Hagman's career high in points is only 42 but he could score 50 or a few more this year off his fast start.
After scoring 29 times one year ago and securing a free agent deal in Minnesota, Martin Havlat has been one of the leagues biggest disappointments this season. I thought he was pretty decent a little over a week ago against the Rangers but he's been held pointless on too many nights and if he continues to sport anything close to the -12 (plus/minus) he has he'll lose even more playing time on a team that has always placed a priority on being defensively responsible. If you're suffering with Havlat's lack of productivity don't cut him yet but rather treat him as a spot player using him only when his team has 3-4 contests in a week or more favorable matchups.
With Stephane Robidas the only Dallas blueliner with more than 5 points at this juncture, it's a reasonable assumption that if things don't change that the Stars will look to add someone to their defense corps who can create some scoring chances. The player you want to watch for when he's promoted is 21 year old Ivan Vishnevskiy who is playing for the team's Texas affiliate in the AHL. Vishnevskiy is an excellent skater who has the offensive gifts to be the franchise's next powerplay quarterback - something the team expected he'll become to replace the departed Sergei Zubov (now playing the KHL). Vishnevsky is working on his play in his own end at the AHL level but is a guy that should be grabbed when the inevitable promotion comes.
Staying in Dallas it sure looks like 20 year old Jamie Benn is getting comfortable as an NHL player. The left winger has excellent size (6'2 185) and goal scorers hands. He's also showing keen anticipation finding the ice's open areas to create chances just a month into his Stars career. If he's on your waiver wire or you could get him as a throw in in a trade try and do so. His game looks to be rounding into form quicker than most expected.
You probably don't need to read the Observation Deck to get information on stars like the Rangers Marian Gaborik but I did want to place a note here that if any of you who were worried about his early season knee injury you need not be. I've seen every Ranger contest and Gaborik in addition to producing on the scoresheet, has been exceptional in all 3 zones and has all the speed and elusiveness you'd expect. Neither his hip issues of last season or his knee should give you pause - he looks as good as he has at any other time in his career.
Canes G Cam Ward has been lost for a minimum of 3-4 weeks after suffering a cut to his leg from the skate of the Blue Jackets Rick Nash this past weekend. Ward was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday (the 11th) and the club signed veteran free agent Manny Legace to work alongside incumbent backup Michael Leighton.The team was 28th in goals against average (through Tuesday Nov. 10) but were only middle of the pack in shots allowed per contest. Ward has not been good this season (.899 save percentage) but it's very unlikely either of these two are an upgrade. Unless you need to replace Ward and have no options on your waiver wire, I would avoid both Leighton and Legace over the month they'll be asked to cover the starting chores.
Also in the nets, I want to say that I am absolutely a Semyon Varlamov believer. The more I see him the more I like him for fantasy. It's true that he plays out of control at times and teams are shooting high on him, but the Caps score a lot of goals to support him, and at 21 years of age he's still well shy of the netminder he'll eventually be. I'm buying low at this time in both one year and keeper/dynasty formats. If you already have Varlamov- ride out any rough patches as I think he'll still end the season with very good numbers (G.A.A. and Save %) as well as a high win total.
A name that should be on your watch lists is Blues C Lars Eller. At just 20 years of age he was averaging a point a game in Peoria( AHL) through his first 11 contests when St. Louis called him up after a minor injury to Andy Mcdonald. The Danish born first rounder from 2007 is an excellent skater with the kind of creative ability and awareness to be a top liner. He's one to watch and if you have a deep enough bench he makes a very solid waiver pickup. Even if he gets sent back to the AHL for a little more adjustment time to the North American game it's clear that he's accelerated the timetable and will be the first player recalled when the next injury strikes.
Several readers emailed late last week to ask whether the Devils Patrik Elias was worthy of a waiver claim. Elias was not drafted in some one year leagues because of a lingering groin problem which saw him miss the season's first month. Even with missing 6-8 games each year he's managed 202 points over his last 3 seasons. He's going to slow down at age 33 with a number of recent injuries but he's still a much better option in my mind than guys like Doug Weight,and Keith Tkachuk for the balance of this season.Add him if he's available.
Jonathan Cheechoo's career continues to spiral downhill. The Senators recently demoted him to a 4th line role and it's no wonder. In his first 15 games he had only 3 contests where he registered more than 2 shots . I've seen the Sens 4 times this year and he's not noticable at all. This doesn't look like the same player who scored 56 goals in the 2005/06 season while with San Jose, and to be honest he'd be a guy I'd be waiving in fantasy/roto if there was anyone younger on the waiver wire that looked like they could be a top 6 forward for their team.
Lastly you don't need me to tell you that you should be using Oilers LW Dustin Penner (22 points in his first 18 games for 2009/10) right now. Having watched him closely over the last 2 weeks or so I can tell you that he definitely looks quicker and seems to be responding better to new Edmonton bench boss Pat Quinn. It could very well be that where former coach Craig MacTavish spent so much time pointing out what Penner doesn't do well, Quinn is content to praise the things Penner is doing well and the player is giving him the best hockey of his career. I have no idea if something similar has caused Cheechoo's (above) career to stall out but it does make you wonder.
If you have start/sit questions,trade questions or anything else fantasy hockey related please email me at
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with "fantasy hockey question" in the email header. I'd love to hear from you.
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