Fantasy Hockey: Marian Gaborik and others to target after Olympics
By Matt Shetler
Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
With the NHL ready to head into their Olympic break, it doesn’t mean Fantasy Hockey owners should also be taking a break.
The next couple of weeks presents a good time to be active in making trades and working the waiver wire.
One thing to look for is injured players that should be making their return shortly after the break. Another option is to look for guys that have been trending upward the past couple of weeks.
I will start with a couple of guys due to come back off of injuries.
Marian Gaborik, Columbus Blue Jackets.
Gaborik will not play for his national squad in Sochi, though a comeback for the Blue Jackets following the Olympics is nearly a sure thing. Grab him now as Gaborik is owned in only 58 percent of ESPN leagues.
There are plenty of plusses to adding Gaborik now.
The first of which is adding a pure sniper off the waiver wire is a no-brainer. Gaborik has only played in 18 games this season, but racked up 12 points (five goals) in that span.
Another bonus is the fact that the Blue Jackets have been scoring goals in bunches the past few weeks, so adding a talent like Gaborik, although coming of a disappointing season last year, should be a plus.
He may not see top line duty, but he should be inserted on the Jackets top power play unit and could score you some big goals the rest of the way.
Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild
Koivu was having a pretty solid season before fracturing his ankle in January, recording 35 point in 44 games.
He may not play for Finland in the Olympics but should be ready for Feb. 27, the Wild’s first contest after the break. He is available in 20 percent of ESPN leagues, so if you are lucky and he is available, snatch him up now.
Koivu is also a guy you may want to target in a trade right now. Being that he is still injures, you may be able to get him pretty cheap.
Matt Moulson, Buffalo Sabres
Moulson cracks this list because he is all but assured to be traded at the trade deadline.
He is owned in 87 percent of ESPN leagues so he likely won’t be on your waiver wire, but do yourself a favor and trade for him now.
Moulson can only benefit from a change of scenery and so can your fantasy team, as anywhere other than Buffalo will jump his fantasy value in a major way.
He’s racked up 15 goals and 18 assists through 51 games this season and should see a huge spike in numbers after the March 5 deadline.
You will likely be able to land him cheaper right now than you could after he is traded so do yourself a favor and be aggressive while most people inn your league are taking a two week break.
David Legwand, Nashville Predators
Legwand is the last player to crack this list this week and should be another guy you make a move to land.
He remains one of the most underrated fantasy assets around. Leading the Preds with 39 points in 57 games, the 33-year-old veteran isn’t the flashiest commodities out there, but he always seems to produce decent numbers.
He is available in 40 percent of ESPN leagues, so there is a chance you can find him on the waiver wire, but he’s also a guy you could acquire cheap in a trade.
Now that he’s rumored to possibly join a contending team by the deadline, I’m even more enthusiastic about what Legwand can accomplish in March and April.