KEEPER CORNER  Brassard Photos: Getty Images IT'S A TOUGH BALANCE for keeper-league owners to try and find the right mix of potential offensive upside and how far away those players are from reaching it. Do you want the potential 90-point player, who is four years away from making the team, or the potential 70-point prospect that could crack the squad as of next fall? Here are some forwards to keep your eye on, as they possess a bit of both. Kyle Turris, C Phoenix Coyotes Gilbert Brule, C Columbus Blue Jackets Derick Brassard, C Columbus Blue Jackets Bryan Little, C Atlanta Thrashers T.J. Oshie, C St. Louis Blues Claude Giroux, RW Philadelphia Flyers Jakub Voracek, RW Columbus Blue Jackets Patrik Berglund, C St. Louis Blues Michael Frolik, W/C Florida Panthers Bobby Ryan, RW Anaheim Ducks Kyle Okposo, RW New York Islanders Rob Schremp, C Edmonton Oilers James van Riemsdyk, LW, Philadelphia Flyers Nikolai Kulemin, W Toronto Maple Leafs

 STOCK Watch 

WITH FRANCHISE CENTER Sidney Crosby on the shelf, it's only natural that the other franchise center on the team steps up. Evgeni Malkin is indeed feeling a lot more weight on his shoulders these days, and he's seeing a lot more ice time to match, as well. You wouldn't know it from his play, however. In the two games that Crosby has missed so far, Malkin has four points (three of them goals). The big Russian pivot was heating up anyway, with 11 goals and 15 points in his last nine contests. His already lofty fantasy status somehow just got even stronger.

WITH THE KIND of start that he had, there weren't a lot of poolies out there who would touch Scott Hartnell with a 10-foot pole at the end of December. After all, 14 points in 37 games isn't going to help a whole lot of fantasy squads. At the start of the season, a good lot of fantasy owners figured that Hartnell was good for at least 60 points, especially now with the Flyers. But in fact, doing so poorly on a team with so many offensive forwards had his stock drop as low as could be. With 14 points in his last eight games, Hartnell has suddenly upped his pace to 49 points. A few more games like this and the 25-year-old will be back on track.

WITH MICHAEL NYLANDER out for the season, there is bound to be a beneficiary. His absence opens up a ton of ice time--both at even strength, as well as on the power play. So far, the Caps have tried Boyd Gordon at center between Alexander Semin and Tomas Fleischmann (pictured at top) on the second line and the plan has worked. While Gordon's points have been modest, it is actually Fleischmann who has seen a pop in his numbers. Heading into Thursday's game against Toronto, Fleischmann had five points in the four games that Nylander was absent. Given that the 23-year-old has enjoyed decent offensive showings throughout his minor-pro career, this is worth paying attention to.

A GOALTENDING CONTROVERSY in Chicago? At least for the time being. No. 1 goalie Nikolai Khabibulin has stumbled lately, with six straight losses. Meanwhile, his backup goalie Patrick Lalime has won four of the club's last five games, which he has all started. He has given up more than two goals in a game just once during that span. Prior to this run, the most consecutive games that Lalime had appeared in this season was three, back in early November.

CHRIS HIGGINS HAS become so valuable to the Habs that he may have actually lost value in the fantasy world. At times, coach Guy Carbonneau puts him up on the top line with Saku Koivu. But he's such a strong, responsible defensive forward and, since the team's second line is also producing solid offense, Higgins is often shuffled down to the third line in a checking capacity. The result has been several hot and cold streaks that are driving fantasy poolies batty. After two three-points contests within a three-game span, the 24-year-old has just one point in his last eight contests. This roller-coaster ride will continue for the foreseeable future.

 SLEEPING Giant 

Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
One of the most prolific scorers of the past 15 years, it was quite a surprise that Jagr started as poorly as he did. In a season where he needed to reach 84 points, or 40 goals, to activate his contract for next season (he will become an unrestricted free agent if he fails to reach those marks), one would think that Jagr would step things up from the get-go. However, with 22 points in 32 games to start the season, Jagr was on pace for the worst offensive season of his career. By mid-December, things finally started to click with Scott Gomez, a setup man who was signed in the offseason, to put the puck on Jagr's stick. In the last 18 contests, the five-time scoring champion has 24 points.

 INJURY Update 

THE FLORIDA INJURY SITUATION is starting to look up. While youngster Rostislav Olesz will be sidelined for two more weeks yet with his hand injury, other players are starting to file back into the lineup. Defenseman Cory Murphy already made his return on Tuesday, while veteran forwards Jozef Stumpel and Ville Peltonen are expected back shortly after the All-Star break. Stumpel, a proven second-half performer, will add an element of offense to the second line. Peltonen is a frequent linemate of Finnish countryman and captain Olli Jokinen. 
 

TOP 5    defensemen with at least one shot in '08 1. Dion Phaneuf, Cgy, 96.00 (left) 2. Mike Green, Was, 93.75 3. Sergei Gonchar, Pit, 93.18 4. Duncan Keith, Chi, 91.83                                                      5. Ed Jovanovski, Pho, 91.48