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Jonas Gustavsson is finally healthy again and ready to contribute.
Contributed by Evan Reynar
Andrei Kostitsyn, LW, MTL (34GP-9g-12a-21pts, with a +2 and 14 PIMs)
Kostitsyn is the hot pickup this week. Weaselling his way up to the top line with Tomas Plekanec and Mike Cammalleri, Kostitsyn has finally found some of the chemistry he’s been seeking out over the past few seasons. The 10th overall pick in 2003 is just reaching that point in his career where he should start producing, so look for him to keep it going as long as he stays on the top line. He has 16 points (8g-8a) in his last 14 games.
Mason Raymond, LW, VAN (35GP-14g-10a-24pts, with a +2 and 18 PIMs)
I’ve been hesitant to include Raymond in this report almost the entire season, thinking as the Canucks recovered from the injuries they were plagued with, his role would diminish. Well they ‘Nucks are getting healthy, and surprise, Raymond just keeps producing. He’s had a couple five-game pointless streaks, but other than that he’s been remarkably consistent, and he’s hot at the moment with five goals in his last five games. He may still take a hit in value if Pavol Demitra ever returns, but that’s beginning to look unlikely.
Todd Bertuzzi, LW, DET (35GP-10g-11a-21pts, with a (-3) and 26 PIMs)
Everybody’s least favourite player is relevant once again thanks to the ever-expanding injury ward in Detroit. Bertuzzi finds himself on the Wings’ top line alongside Pavel Datsyuk, which is enough to get almost anyone point-per-game status. It’s actually a pretty good fit for Bert, who still has decent hands but has been plagued by suspect defensive play for the past few years. Datsyuk should counteract that d-play, while helping Bert’s offensive production. He currently has eight points (6g-2a) over his last five games with a healthy +4 over that stretch.
Francois Beauchemin, D, TOR (36GP-4g-14a-18pts, with a (-4) and 88 shots)
Ian White, D, TOR (36GP-5g-12a-17pts, with a +10 and 29 PIMs)
As I’ve been preaching all season, when the Leafs are healthy they should be a decent squad. I’m not penciling them in for the playoffs yet, but they do produce goals, and with a healthy Jonas Gustavsson they shouldn’t fall victim to those embarrassing blowouts that have plagued them over the past couple seasons and made many of their defencemen risky plus/minus options. Beauchemin has been among the hottest d-men in the league over the past three weeks after an ugly start. He now has nine points (2g-7a) in his last 11 games, with a +5. On the other hand, White has been a bright spot with the Leafs on nearly a nightly basis, and he may be among the most underrated d-men in the league right now. His +10 on what has been one of the worst teams in the league thus far is astonishing, but he’s also producing above average in every relevant fantasy category, save power-play points, where he doesn’t really factor. In fact, the ESPN Player Rater currently has him ranked 13th among all d-men. Not bad for a guy who is only owned in 36 percent of ESPN leagues.
Jonas Gustavsson, G, TOR (18GP-7W-5L-5OTL, with a 2.91 GAA and .907 SV%)
Gustavsson has been bouncing all over waiver wires this year thanks to some questionable team play and of course the heart condition that has already guided him to the operating table twice this season. Don’t let this worry you though. The heart condition he suffers from is actually quite common, and has a relatively low success rate on the first procedure, followed by a much higher success rate on second procedures. It sure hasn’t affected his play. Gustavsson recorded a shutout against a Boston team that had been dominating Toronto in his first start since returning from the second procedure.
Antti Niemi, G, CHI (9GP-7W-1L-1OTL, with a 1.76 GAA and .927 SV%)
Niemi is starting to look like a very solid 3rd-4th goalie option with some stellar play that is beginning to warrant some extra starts. Obviously, Cristobel Huet has played very well this year, and will remain the number one in Chicago, but Niemi has played so well in limited starts that the Hawks’ coaching staff has announced that he will earn a few more starts than previously expected. He has now started three of the last seven games for Chicago, picking up wins in all three, including his third shutout in just eight starts this year. He would be a great insurance pickup for Huet owners.
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