I decided to go with the Hat Trick and talk about Mathieu Perreault. I gotta be honest I’ve been racking my brain trying to think of something good to say, but it’s an impossibility. “But the Great 8 is out and Perreault is stepping up to meet the challenge!” Calm down VTB, Ovechkin is only out 3 games and besides, Perreault is a Center, Ovechkin plays the wing. Mathieu Perreault has had a good week (4G/2A last 3 games) but the cold, hard, siberian truth is that his C only eligibility makes him irrelevant in all but the deepest of leagues. Or in other words, just like voting for Ross Perot was a complete waste of your time, so is picking up Mathieu Perreault.
Ryan Miller – G (Buf): Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo……. err……. Nevermind.. The only thing Miller has been circling this year is the drain. 3.07GAA, .899SV% is reminiscent of the Tom Barrasso era of the mid 1980’s (and if you know anything about Buffalo Sabre eras, that was not a good one). HOWEVA, there is no way he’s as bad after the All Star break as he’s been thus far. So if you’re feeling lucky (or you just have a glutton for punishment), Miller Time could be worth acquiring.
Brad Richards – C (NYR): It’s nice to see Big Bad Brad finally getting back on track after going 6 straight without a point. After last night’s Goal Richards is on what some would call a “scoring streak”. Well, that’s if you count 2 games as a streak…
Martin St. Louis – RW (TB): Speaking of getting back on track, the mighty mouse has 12 Points in Tampa’s last 8 games (4 in the last 2). But the problem he had early in the season, which is the major difference between St. Louis this year and St. Louis last year, is a lack of Power Play Points. If you would have told me in the preseason that Mar-tan would have just 7 PPP’s in late January, I’d have ranked him closer to the 7th round than 7th overall.
Mathieu Garon – G (TB): No I don’t care he’s got 3 straight Wins. Before that he was 0-4 with 15 Goals allowed. The Tampa Bay goalie shituation is still knee deep.
Jake Gardiner – D (Tor): He was up, then he was down, and now he’s back up. And I’m not talking about his value in fantasy, I’m talking AHL/NHL. Usually that means you suck, but I think in Gardiner’s case it was just a wake up call from Brian Burke. And it may have done just that. In 5 games since returning the Gardiner has mowed his way to 4 Points and a +5 rating. Which makes him the most valuable 1% owned Defenseman in Yahoo… Congrats!
Brayden Schenn – C (Phi): Look I know he’s only 20 years old, but holy jeez. I bought into Brayden Schenn waaay too much in the preseason, ranking him as the Top Rookie. I blame TSN, ESPN, and my knowledge of Southern California Hockey. Damn you Barry Melrose!
Kari Lehtonen – G (Dal): Last night was easily his best performance of the season, and that’s saying something. I agree he’s been slumping lately, but lest ye forget Lehtonen was one of the top Goalies in the NHL in October. I’m always gonna be weary of his health, but right now if you can get him for the right price I’d do it.
TJ Galiardi – LW (Col): Since I already brought up Brayden Schenn, I may as well bring up one of my sleepers who is still asleep. TJ “upped” his season total to 14 Points with a Goal last night, which means he’s now slightly more valuable than this guy.
Ales Hemsky – RW (Edm): Alright I just can’t fight this feeling anymore. Pick up Hemsky if you need help on the Wing because he’s gonna get hot soon and/or traded to a better situation. And please don’t ask why I remain loyal to this clown, my only theory is that his first name reminds me of girl-on-girl action…
Steve Sullivan – LW (Pit): And I like this guy because he reminds me of this guy. (And because he had a Goal last night and he can get hot for a week).
Daniel Alfredsson – RW (Ott): Danny-boy’s rebound season continues (despite the Concussions). In fact, the whole Senator team is rebounding and it shows in the stats. Along with Alfredsson, Jason Spezza is back to his old self, Karlsson is coming into his own, and even Milan Michalek was crazy hot for 2 months. Hell Nick Foligno and Colin Greening haven’t been completely worthless. It’s a far cry from the fantasy tundra that was the Ottawa Senators last year…
Marian Hossa – RW (Chi): Speaking of tundra’s, this dirty Slovak was stuck in one of his own the last 2 years. Fortunately for the few of you that drafted him, Hossa is back in a big way and it’s continuing into January (3G/9A/+1/4PPP/36SOG for the month). Which leads me to believe this 33 Year old’s value may never be higher…
