David Booth has a deft scoring touch that should lead to some power play ice time.

With an unusual start to the season during the first week of action in the NHL, we’re going to start into a regular schedule in week 2.  There are a lot of players worth picking up for the short and long term.  Bear in mind the same rule applies to the game of fantasy hockey, as does every game you play.  Don’t drop a highly drafted player for one of the hot players from week 1.  It’s a long season and in the long run you’re still better off hanging on to your top players.  Again, it seems obvious but I do hear this a lot.  Be the guy who’s grabbing the top player off the wire, not the one dumping him there. 


The nature of this column suggests that I highlight hot players. Keep in mind that at this point in the season, a few of these players will end up being solid players for the year.  Don’t just toss out these waiver wire additions if they cool down a little.  Take note of a few of the younger players like David Booth, Brandon Dubinsky and Devin Setoguchi.  All of these players showed a lot of promise at the end of the previous season and so far, have not disappointed.  They very well could end up being productive all year given their respective opportunities. 

Centers

Brandon Dubinsky  -- C -- Rangers

Here’s another player who is picking up where he left off late last season. At the start of the season, it wasn’t clear if Dubinsky would be in line for top six forward minutes. Dubinsky has earned his top six status on the Rangers after netting 7 points in his first four games with three goals.  He hasn’t been getting major power play time yet (2.5 minutes per game).  But it is only a matter of time before he gets more power play time with his even strength production being so good.  Dubinsky is proving to be a reliable source of penalty minutes as well with 79 minuted in 82 games played last season and 11 minutes already this season.  At just 22 years of age, he has room to improve.  He should be added in most leagues.

Left Wing

David Booth - LW – Panthers

Booth had a surprising end to last season finishing with 22 goals in 73 games.  This season he’s started where he left off. He closed out last year strong, with 13 goals in the last 3 months.  He has 3 goals and an assist coupled with 10 shots on goal so far this season.  He’s averaging 3 minutes per game of power play ice time. It will only be a matter of time before Booth’s deft scoring touch finds itself with more power play time.  He should be long gone off waiver wires before that happens.

Aaron Voros - LW – Rangers

The way Voros is going right now he should not be on a waiver wire anywhere.  Voros could end up being a good scoring goon in the same vein as Sean Avery and Daniel Carcillo.  If you need penalty minutes, but hate giving up a roster spot for scoring, Voros has to be your man.  He’s started off with 7 points this week, 3 of them goals.  He also coupled that with 9 penalty minutes.  Do not expect his scoring to continue at that pace, but given that the Rangers are using him on the power play, he could end up with 40 points and 150 or more penalty minutes.  Voros has a bit of a scoring touch, so he could net 20 goals.  Just saying, he could be pretty valuable in rotisserie scoring.

Sergei Kostitsyn - LW – Montreal Canadiens

Getting some serious minutes on the power play, the other Kostitsyn brother managed 3 power play points this past week.  Mind you they were all against the Maple Leafs in Saturday’s route.  However, 2 goals and 10 shots on goal (current team leader) in the first week, means he could become a force this season.  Any minutes he retains on the vaunted Montreal power play is essentially money in the bank for fantasy owners.  Don’t expect well rounded numbe rs but if you’re looking for scoring at left wing, Kostitsyn is starting to show some serious potential.

Defensemen

Remember my options from last week Alex Gologoski, Filip Kuba, Craig Rivet and Paul Martin still make for good pickups.

Frantisek Kaberle – D – Hurricanes

Kaberle is the 3^rd option for defensive power play time on the Hurricanes behind Pitkanen and Joe Corvo.  However, averaging a bit over 2.5 minutes of power play time, he’s retained 2 power play points.  Although Kaberle has had his injury problems, he’s been known for being an offensive defenseman his entire career.  The Hurricanes have a strong balanced offense, which should present some opportunities for Kaberle.  You could do worse when prospecting for scoring defensemen than the largely un-owned Kaberle.

Daniel Girardi -- D – Rangers

After Wade Redden and Michal Rosival, Girardi leads the Rangers defensemen for power play time.  His 5 assists and 3 power play points make him a respectable option for those in need of power play points from a defensemen.  He doesn’t have the best pedigree putting relatively average numbers in his OHL career, but he had 10 goals last season coupled with 28 overall points.  He’s only 24 and likely would do better with an injury to Redden or Rosival.  A good option in deeper leagues as the Rangers are scoring in bunches right now.

Keeper Corner

Patrick Berglund C – Blues

Keep an eye on Berglund. He’s netted one goal already with 2 helpers.  What I don’t like is he’s only got 3 shots on goal so far.  Mind you it is a super small sample size. However, forward keeper prospects have to shoot on goal to be valuable.  Shots on goal are a great indicator of future success.  Even if he’s not hitting the net, at least he’s trying to score or generating some scoring opportunities.  Berglund still rates as a great young player but watch his SOG numbers going forward.  Three points in limited action is definitely worth watching.

Derrick Brassard – C—Blue Jackets

I like Brassard a lot as he’s paired with ultra talented Rick Nash on Columbus’s first line.  Brassard was already a pretty talented prospect averaging almost 1.5 points per game during his QMJHL career.  2 goals with 7 shots on goal so far is something to get excited about.  If he sticks on the Nash line, expect Brassard to have a break out type season.