Fisher comes into his own; Stastny sets return date; Weight should finally get a boost; Elias turning it around; Vlasic having disappointing Year 2; Top young goaltenders; and more...

KEEPER CORNER  Price Photos: Getty Images GOALIES COME INTO their own later than forwards and/or defensemen do, so if you can find a good young one in your keeper league, hang onto him. Here are the best bets amongst goalies under the age of 24: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins Josh Harding, Minnesota Wild Jonathan Bernier, Los Angeles Kings Ondrej Pavelec, Atlanta Thrashers Justin Pogge, Toronto Maple Leafs Semen Varlamov, Washington Capitals Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins Riku Helenius, Tampa Bay Lightning Jaroslav Halak, Montreal Canadiens Al Montoya, New York Rangers Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings Karri Ramo, Tampa Bay Lightning

 STOCK Watch 

DOUG WEIGHT IS producing at the same rate in Anaheim as he was in St. Louis earlier this year. That is, not much. That's about to change, though. The line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Todd Bertuzzi is clicking too well right now to break up. That means newly-signed super-sniper Teemu Selanne will very likely play on a line with Weight and his old linemate Chris Kunitz. Weight's production, previously at just over a point every two games, will surge. With 28 games left in the season, he could very well pick up 25 points in that span. Setting up 40-goal scorers can do that.

FANTASY LEAGUERS HAVE been waiting all season for New Jersey forward Patrik Elias to finally break out of his doldrums, and indications are that he's doing just that. With 11 points in his last 11 contests, and six in his last three, Elias is looking like he could salvage a 60-point campaign. That was looking very doubtful when he kicked off the season with 12 points in the first 24 games. His ice time and responsibilities have increased of late. In the last nine games, Elias has earned 20 minutes of ice time or more on six different occasions.

TALK ABOUT A sophomore jinx. San Jose rearguard Marc-Edouard Vlasic was a great story last season. Just 19 years old, which is young for a player to a make it into the NHL--even more so when they play the defenseman position--, Vlasic quickly became an important cog for the Sharks. An offensive rearguard, he debuted with 26 points and a plus-13 rating. There is no question that Vlasic will improve on those numbers but fantasy leaguers were hoping to see at least some of that improvement in season No. 2. Unfortunately, Vlasic has taken a small step backward, as sophomores sometimes do. If things don't turn around soon, he could end the year with fewer than 10 points and an ugly plus/minus.

OWNERS OF GOALIE Ray Emery are scrambling to find a taker, but are more likely than not of coming up empty. Whether or not Emery's off-ice antics warrant the big media hubbub, the fact of the matter is that he's getting a very bad reputation, both in the NHL and in fantasy circles. These days, fantasy leaguers aren't touching the talented goaltender with a 10-foot pole, afraid that he will implode. Still just 25, there's lots of hockey left in Emery, though.

DEFENSEMAN MIKE KOMISAREK is stepping up his game with each passing week for the Habs. Not overly valuable in any one statistical category, but holding decent value across most, Komisarek is proving to be in demand in rotisserie leagues. If a defenseman can give you 30 points, 110 penalty minutes and go plus-15... well, that can really boost your team. Komisarek is looking like he will do just that. He has four points in his last three games while going plus-6 in that span.

 SLEEPING Giant 

Mike Fisher, Ottawa Senators
Fisher (pictured, top) has improved offensively every season that he's been in the NHL. His Achilles Heel has always been his health. The 27-year-old seven-year veteran has yet to play 75 games in a single season. However, the rugged forward has been lucky this time around, having missed only two games thus far (knock on wood). His 41 points in 49 games is already the third-highest total of his career. Most impressive of that last stat, though, is that 26 of those points were collected in his last 22 contests. With teammate Dany Heatley on the shelf for an extended period of time, and Daniel Alfredsson in and out of the lineup with hip problems, the team relies on Fisher now more than ever before. So far, he has delivered.

 INJURY Update 

COLORADO HAS BEEN HAMMERED with injuries to their top players this season, with the bad luck culminating in an emergency appendectomy to center and leading scorer Paul Stastny. The 22-year-old has begun working out again and is targeting a return date of February 10th. Winger Ryan Smyth is still three to four weeks away from returning from his fractured ankle, and captain Joe Sakic will be recovering from hernia surgery until mid-March. 
 

TOP 5   Players likely to be traded by the deadline 1. Marian Hossa, RW, Thrashers 2. Mats Sundin, C, Maple Leafs 3. Alex Tanguay, LW, Flames 4. Rob Blake, D, Kings                                                       5. John-Michael Liles, D, Avalanch