Liles loves the new/old supporting cast; Afinogenov finally takes off; Samsonov and Ruutu flourish in new city; Some injury-prone players to watch out for; and more...

INJURY WARD  Bergeron Photos: Getty Images THERE ARE SOME great players out there who would be even greater if they played close to a full season. Here are some players who have had trouble staying healthy over the last two seasons--or they may be seriously hurt enough that their future is in jeopardy... Simon Gagne, LW Philadelphia Flyers Patrice Bergeron, C Boston Bruins Martin Havlat, RW  Chicago Blackhawks Steve Sullivan, LW  Nashville Predators Tim Connolly, C/LW  Buffalo Sabres Nik Antropov, RW/C  Toronto Maple Leafs Todd Bertuzzi, RW/LW  Anaheim Ducks Pavol Demitra, W/C Minnesota Wild Marian Gaborik, RW Minnesota Wild Jere Lehtinen, RW/LW Dallas Stars Jordan Leopold, D  Colorado Avalanche Sheldon Souray, D Edmonton Oilers

 STOCK Watch 

MAYBE HE JUST needed to rest. You know, some time off to heal some of his nagging injuries. Whatever the reason, Maxim Afinogenov has forced his way back to top-line status in Buffalo. Afinogenov has had a horrific season offensively and then missed 26 games with a groin injury. He came back and played 11:33 on the fourth line but moved up to the third line in his second game back, playing 14:46 and adding an assist. In Game 3, the shifty Russian was back in the swing of things, playing over 18 minutes and tallying three points. He is a point-per-game player and we are finally seeing that now.

TALK ABOUT A topsy-turvy career! High-scoring junior Mike Fisher quickly established himself as a defensive specialist in Ottawa who adds some secondary scoring. He has teased us with his offensive potential, but only teasing due in large part to the fact that he frequently spends time on the IR. He has been healthy this season and we finally were seeing what Fisher is capable of. His 41 points in 49 games were a huge help to a team in need of points from the second line. However, the 27-year-old has just one point in his last 16 games and seems destined to never crack that 65-point barrier that he was on pace for just a month ago.

ARE WE SEEING some kind of passing of the torch? Probably not but an interesting trend has developed in Vancouver. Their captain and former leading scorer Markus Naslund is pointless in his last six contests and his ice time has dipped below the 16-minute mark in that span. Meanwhile, up-and-coming youngster Ryan Shannon has eight points in his last nine games and is seeing his ice time flirt with the 15 minute-per-game mark. Both players line up on the right side. While the 24-year-old is certainly not ready to step into the skates of the 34-year-old, the balance may be shifting and it's worth keeping an eye on.

WHY COULDN'T HE do this in Chicago? Sergei Samsonov has be asking this of his former--and now once again--current teammate Tuomo Ruutu. The two haven't been playing together since Ruutu joined the team, other than a few shifts in the first game, but both have seen a surge in production. Ruutu has three points in three games with his new team while Samsonov has five points in that span. Had the two players rubbed off on each other like this when they were in Chicago, they both might still be there today.

NIKLAS KRONWALL CERTAINLY took advantage of his time as the main power-play guy in Detroit. Since returning from a shoulder injury to a lineup that is without Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, the 27-year-old is proving that he can handle power-play quarterbacking duties. He has two assists in each of the two contests prior to Wednesday. The only problem for Kronwall owners is that Rafalski returned to the lineup Wednesday and Lidstrom is hoping to be back on Sunday.

 SLEEPING Giant 

   John-Michael Liles, Colorado Avalanche
He has been in and out of the doghouse for the better part of two seasons now and after taking a small step back a year ago, Liles (pictured, top) has taken a huge step back this time around. That being said, there is something about injecting the likes of Peter Forsberg, Paul Stastny and Joe Sakic into a power play that tends to boost the production of those around them. With Stastny and Sakic now back from injury and Forsberg now under contract, suddenly, when Liles passes the puck, some pretty good players are on the other end. He has four points in his last four contests and looks like he has found the form that had him flirting with the 50-point plateau just two seasons ago. He is once again one of the better fantasy options on the blue line.

 INJURY Update 

WITH ALL THE INJURY TROUBLE in Philadelphia, we're seeing--or can expect to see--some big numbers from the likes of Jeff Carter, R.J. Umberger, Scott Hartnell, Mike Knuble and Vaclav Prospal. Meanwhile, Mike Richards is back on the ice doing some light skating but still looks to be about two weeks away with a torn hamstring. Winger Joffrey Lupul (ankle) could be back playing by this weekend and Daniel Briere (shoulder) should be back early next week, if all goes well. Another top forward, Simon Gagne, is out for the season with concussion symptoms.