NHL Fantasy Files: Week 7

Some of my recommendations from last week are already paying dividends.

Were you able to wrestle Slava Kozlov away from a frustrated owner? The Russian sensation started the season with a mere three points in 10 games, but is now working on a six-game point streak and is second only to Ilya Kovalchuk in Thrasher scoring.

Speaking of the Thrashers, how about Ondrej Pavelec? He’s posted three straight wins since I recommended him—and looks to be the catalyst for Atlanta's revival.

There could be a goalie controversy brewing in the Dirty South.

This week, you'd do well to keep your eye on a pair of Oilers. Without further ado, my recommendations for the second week of November...

Buy Low

* Dustin Penner (EDM – LW)

The Oilers only have one regulation win thus far, but they're a young team and will fight for every point they can get.

GM Kevin Lowe's decision to present an offer sheet to Penner raised much debate. Many claimed he was overpaying the winger.

But what many don’t realize is that unrestricted free agents don't want to play in Edmonton (Chris Pronger is proof), so Lowe must pursue restricted free agents.

Critics pointed fingers at Lowe after Penner’s slow start, but the newcomer is starting to find his game, with three points in his last three outings. If he’s on your waiver wire, scoop him up now, as Craig MacTavish is going to give him every chance to earn his paycheck.

* Mike Knuble (PHI – RW)

Playing on a line with Mike Richards and Joffrey Lupol, the All-Star winger will start putting pucks in the net soon.

The Flyers are much improved over last season, and Knuble is one of the centerpieces. Expect at least 60 points from him despite a slow start.

* Tuomo Ruutu (CHI – C/LW)

Is this the year that Tuomo Ruutu will manage to stay healthy?

Don't look now, but he hasn't missed a game yet. 

Ruutu has 10 points in 15 games—and if he ever lives up to his potential, he could easily be a point-per-game player. 

The youth movement in Chicago seems to have breathed new life into Ruutu's game. But if by chance he does get hurt again, drop him like a Hollywood marriage, because he'll let the effects of his injury linger all season.

* Peter Mueller (PHX – C)

If you're in a keeper league, Mueller is a player you can start building a team around.

Much ink has been spilled in praise of the league's prominent rookies, but by the end of the season Mueller will be right there with them in the point totals.

After rumblings about the Coyotes sending the 19-year-old back down, coach Wayne Gretzky has been very loyal to Mueller—and his faith is paying off. This week, Mueller quieted the critics with a hat-trick and two assists in back-to-back games.

On a talent-depleted team, Mueller will have plenty of chances to score. Just keep an eye on the rookie’s plus/minus.

* Michel Ouellet (TB – RW)

Last week I recommend Jan Hlavac, who has been skating on a line with Brad Richards.

This week I'll recommend another Tampa Bay player—Michel Ouellet.

In an attempt to jumpstart his struggling team, Tampa coach John Tortorella juggled his lines—and the lucky winner ended up being Ouellet, who found himself on a line with Vincent Lecavalier and Vaclav Prospal.

Ouellet has responded immediately, with five points in his last four games.

Hlavac, by the way, has recorded points in the last two games, so it looks like Tampa might have found its scoring touch by spreading out the talent over two lines.

* Robert Nilsson (EDM – C)

An important piece of last year's Ryan Smyth deal, Nilsson has yet to score in bunches—but he will.

The former first-round pick is getting 20 minutes of ice time a game, and is playing on the Oilers' power play unit. After 94 points in 98 AHL games, he'll be a big part of Edmonton's youth movement.

If the Oilers can lock up their young talent with long-term contracts, another dynasty isn't out of the question.

* Johan Franzen (DET – C/LW)

Franzen hasn’t scored a point for the Red Wings yet, but he’s only played in six games.

Coach Mike Babcock is a big fan of Franzen’s.

"I like his skill and his shot," the coach said. "I like him period.”

Babcock has promoted Franzen to the second line alongside Valtteri Filppula and Mikael Samuelsson. Expect the Scandinavian trio to click soon.

Sell High

* Mike Fisher (OTT – C)

It pains me to place Mike Fisher in this category, as I believe he's one of the most underrated players in the league—but if he's on your squad, now is the time to sell high.

Fisher's currently racking up the points playing between Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson. When Jason Spezza comes back, Fisher will be relegated to the second line, with limited power play time.

I still suspect that Fisher will find a way to net 50 points this season, but center is a deep position, and there are much better options available. Pawn him off to a manager who thinks John Paddock will want to keep him on the first line when Spezza returns for the sake of chemistry.

It won't happen.

* Patrick Lalime (CHI – G)

Lalime has won back-to-back games for the Blackhawks. Is there a goalie controversy brewing in Chicago?

Not likely.

Lalime may be 4-1 with a 2.32 GAA, but Nikolai Khabibulin is still making $6.75 million per season. That’s far to much money to pay anyone to warm the bench.

The only way Lalime takes over the starting job in Chicago is if Khabibulin gets injured.

* Jeremy Roenick (SJ – C)

Roenick’s next goal will be his 500th, and he has nine points in this young season...so there has been a lot of hype around the colorful veteran.

Don’t buy into it.

In the past two seasons, Roenick hasn’t scored more than 30 points. There are better options at center.

* Andy MacDonald (ANA – C)

I'm hesitant to include Andy MacDonald here, but a depleted Ducks lineup severely limits the talent he has to work with in Anaheim.

MacDonald's ranking is artificially high right now thanks to a game against Columbus in which he registered 12 penalty minutes. That's the exception for Andy, not the rule—his career high for penalty minutes is 46.

MacDonald has been a point-per-game player over the past two seasons, but he's well off that pace now. I suspect it has to do with the departures of his skilled teammates.

Look for his point total to take a dip this year—so sell now while his PIMs still have him ranked high in your pool depth charts.

* Daniel Cleary (DET – RW)

Cleary has scored goals in three straight games for the Red Wings.

After toiling in Fantasy obscurity for eight seasons, Cleary finally broke out last year, registering 40 points on the scoring line for an injury-plagued Detroit team.

Now that Detroit is healthy again, look for Cleary to be relegated to a checking-line role. However, should injuries befall the Red Wings again, keep him on your radar.



Who have you just sold high on bought low on? I'd love to hear about some of the deals you've pulled or acquisitions you've made.

Who knows—maybe I'll include your ideas in next week's article...