Evgeni Nabokov - He's officially back after missing the last three weeks with a leg injury. Nabokov has come back strong too, posting four straight wins and only giving up 2 goals in each of those games. He's beginning to look a lot like the guy everyone expected at the beginning of the season.
(Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP)
Alexander Semin - No one in hockey got off to a hotter start than the other Alexander on the Caps, but Semin hasn't played a game since Nov 14th and despite reports of him skating again, there is no timetable for his return. This could be a big setback for Semin owners, but I wouldn't get too crazy. Do not trade him. He will be back and he'll probably get paired up with Backstrom and Ovechkin again. In head to head leagues, the end of the season is what matters most and this injury will be a distant memory by then.
Marian Gaborik - Speaking of great players not playing, Gabby is apparently no where near being ready to step onto the ice again. A mid-December return is the earliest he could be back. Odds are you spent a high draft pick on him and he's seriously disappointing right now, but just keep him stashed away on your IR and wait for his return. Gaborik is a big time point producer and when he gets back, he'll most likely spend most of his playing time this year with a team like the Penguins or Canadiens. Seedings mean nothing, just get into the playoffs and anything can happen.
Scott Clemmensen - Despite looking bad in Pittsburgh last Saturday, Clemmensen has done a pretty admirable job filling in for Brodeur this month. He has a 2.55 GAA and .916 save percentage. With Brian Rolston and Bobby Holik close to returning, the Devils will soon have three solid lines to go along with that smart defensive corps. I think the league needs to lookout for the Devils in the second half of the season.
Daniel Briere - The speedy center finally returned to the Flyers lineup last night against the Lightning after missing the last 9 games with a groin injury. Well, I hope you all enjoyed his return because he's day to day again after tweaking his groin again. Briere will be evaluated on Wednesday.
Phil Kessel - The matchup made in heaven (at least for the Bruins) is back. Phil Kessel is back on the top line with Marc Savard and is burning out the red light right now. Kessel has 6 goals in his last 7 games and looks to be having the breakout year a lot of people expected from him.
Ilya Kovalchuk - Earlier this week, Kovalchuk was placed on the team's fourth line with Marty Reasoner and former Penguin, Chris Thorburn. I'm sure demoting him and putting him on a line with a checker and a goon will get him going. Call me crazy, but it looks to me that the Thrashers are trying to get a look at what their team would be like without Kovalchuk. Could a trade be in the works? Now would be a good time to buy.
Craig Anderson - I think its about time for the Florida Panthers and the rest of the NHL to wake up and take a look at what this guy is doing. During the second half of last year, Anderson posted a 6-2 record with a 1.95 GAA and a .948 save percentage. This year, Anderson is 5-1-3, 1.99 GAA and .943 save percentage. This has been going on too long to be a fluke. This guy needs to get more starts.
Patrick Sharp - Sharp finished his last game with a goal and an assist while playing with his old linemate, Patrick Kane. It remains to be seen whether the two will stay together on the same line, but if they do, we're looking at yet another dynamic duo will be a lot of fun to watch.
Steve Mason - Pascal Leclaire is healthy again and ready to play, but Steve Mason is the masked man in Columbus now. The rookie goalie is 6-2-1 with a 2.08 GAA and two shutouts. Rookie goaltenders are tricky though, they can get on hot streaks like this, but then cool off fast. Hopefully, this doesn't happen to Mason. He could be the missing piece of the Blue Jackets puzzle to get them into the playoffs.
Niklas Backstrom (Wild) - In two of his last three games, Backstrom has given up more than 4 goals. I wouldn't hit the panic button. Every goalie runs into rough stretches, plus his defense hasn't been doing him any favors lately either. Backstrom is an elite All Star goalie and will strike it rich this upcoming off season as he will be an unrestricted free agent.
Brad Richards - With Brendan Morrow out of the lineup, the Stars are hurting for offense and are turning to Richards to pick up the slack. He's currently on the first line with Mike Modano and the teams' leading goal scorer, Loui Eriksson. Richards has responded with 6 points in his last 5 games and will continue to log a ton of ice time.
Posted
Dec 03 2008, 11:45 AM
by
Nick Fruscello