Fantasy Hockey: Jack Johnson, Olli Maatta becoming must-add defensemen
By Matt Shetler
As we approach the Olympic Break in the NHL season, Fantasy Hockey owners can use this time to make some creative upgrades to their teams.
Today I will focus on a pair of blue liners and a pair of forwards that can offer immediate dividends.
Jan 11, 2014; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman
Jack Johnson(7) during the game versus the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Jack Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets
The first should be a familiar name around the league in Columbus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Jack Johnson.
Johnson is out to prove a point after being left off of the Team USA roster and has been out to prove people wrong. He’s a guy that is being scooped up left and right as just a couple of weeks ago he was owned in only 11 percent of ESPN leagues. Now he is almost owned across the board. If Johnson is available in your league, snatch him up immediately.
Columbus is finding the net far more often as a team and Johnson’s name has been finding the score sheet quite often. Johnson has racked up only 19 points on the season, but eight of those have come in Columbus’ last nine games as Johnson has recorded at least a point in six of those contests.
Johnson has a track record of production and is in the process of turning around his season.
Olli Maatta, Pittsburgh Penguins
Maatta is another one of the Penguins young stars in the making.
He has only 19 points on the season, but seven have come in the month of January, as Maatta had five points over four games this past week, including a pair of two-point games, most recently notching a goal and an assist in Thursday’s win over the Islanders.
The impressive part about Maatta’s recent run is that he’s putting up these numbers with little to no time on the power play, generally the primary bellwether for production. His stat line is a little deceptive, as it sits at 19 points through 50 games, yet 14 of those points have come in 22 contests since the end of November.
Maatta is available in 90 percent of ESPN leagues and could turn into a nice addition for the long haul.
Nathan Horton, Columbus Blue Jackets
Back to the Blue Jackets and their recent stretch of scoring more goals and Nathan Horton is a guy I like a lot.
Jan 15, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Washington Capitals center
Marcus Johansson(90) carries the puck up ice against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Available in 19 percent of ESPN leagues, Horton has been a game-changer for the Blue Jackets. The team had lost only one game with Horton in the lineup since he returned Jan. 2 from offseason shoulder surgery, before their recent three-game slide.
Horton recorded seven points in 10 games and isn’t lighting the world on fire, including going scoreless in Columbus’ recent three losses, but it’s enough for Horton to be very playable in fantasy leagues.
Keep this in mind also that when Marian Gaborik returns from his broken collarbone, Horton’s value should receive another boost.
Marcus Johansson, Washington Capitals
Johansson hasn’t lit the world on fire and has recorded only six points in the month of January, and while his 33 points on the season aren’t a terrible number, I like him for the next couple of weeks based solely on the line he is on.
The 23-year old is available in 50 percent of ESPN leagues and Capitals’ coach Adam Oates has gone back to Johansson as his choice on the ice with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin.
That alone should at least provide a golden opportunity for more instant production from Johansson.
Monitor the Caps lines and schedule, but if you are in a pinch I would recommend rolling the dice on the youngster.