NHL Fantasy Files Vol 3: Seen Stamkos?

October has come to a close and some draft day rock stars have emerged.

If you have Shea Weber, Phil Kessel, or Brandon Dubinsky on your team, give yourself a pat on the back. All were drafted well after the 100th pick in most drafts but they combined for 30 points in October.

Franchise players Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Marian Gaborik, meanwhile, have combined for a lackluster 12 points during the same stretch.

It will be difficult to pinpoint a player who will get 10 points on your free agents list this November, but there are some possibilities out there.

Here is who I would recommend you pick up while you still have a chance:

Joffrey Lupul (PHI—RW)

A slow start to the season led some managers to give up on Joffrey. But a slow start was to be expected after Lupul spent time on the shelf last season with a concussion, an injured spinal cord, and a high ankle sprain.

It’s important to remember that, despite those injuries, Lupul registered 46 points in 56 games.

Lupul began the 2008-09 campaign pointless and minus–3 in his first five games, but bounced back in his next five games with five goals, a plus-5 rating, and an assist.

Is it that the Flyers started winning when Lupul started scoring? Or is it that Lupul started scoring when the Flyers started winning? Either way, as long as he keeps putting points on the board, he should be on your team!

Steven Stamkos (TB—C)

Seen Stamkos? It might be too late now to see him on the free agent list. Although he was drafted in most leagues, his dropped to 35 percent owned in fantasy leagues.

Patient managers were rewarded Thursday night when Stamkos scored his first NHL goal by deflecting a Vinny Lecavalier slap shot past Ryan Miller. Stamkos also scored his second NHL goal and chipped in with an assist on the game-winning goal.

After going pointless in the first seven games of the season, Stamkos now has four points in the last two games. While he won’t get 80 points this season, it appears he’s finally adjusting to the NHL and could get more than 50 points as long as he keeps seeing time on the power play.

Because he only qualifies as a center, I’d avoid him in shallow leagues. But he’s worth a flier in deep leagues, and is a must own in keeper leagues.

Maxim Afinogenov (BUF—RW)

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