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Three Stars of the Week: Jan. 26-Feb. 1
Alphabetical Listing
Position Listing
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Fantasy Updates
  B. Johnson hurt again, Neuwirth up
Brent Johnson, G WAS
News: The Washington Post reports that Capitals G Brent Johnson is out with an undisclosed injury. The team has called up G Michal Neuvirth has been called up from the AHL to back up Jose Theodore.
Analysis: Johnson has been dealing with this nagging injury, which is reportedly a hip problem, for a while now. Luckily for most Fantasy owners, Johnson has taken a backseat to Theodore lately and has played just three times so far in 2009. Keep Johnson on your bench in deeper leagues for now, but don't expect to use him much the rest of this season if Theodore stays healthy. Neuvirth has no Fantasy value in seasonal leagues.
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Kalinin day-to-day with back problem
Dmitri Kalinin, D NYR
News: Newsday reports that Rangers D Dmitri Kalinin is day-to-day with a back injury and will not play Tuesday against the Thrashers.
Analysis: Kalinin hasn't done much offensively this season for New York and defensively he is also struggling with a minus-9 rating. He will not be asked to provide much offense and will be on the ice more as a defensive stopper and short-handed specialist despite his early struggles. Kalinin has limited Fantasy appeal when healthy.
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Schlemko back up with Coyotes
David Schlemko, D PHO
News: The Coyotes have recalled D David Schlemko from the AHL.
Analysis: Schlemko is 21 years old and was not drafted. He has no Fantasy value at this time.
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Drewiske up to replace Gauthier
Davis Drewiske, D LA
News: The Kings have called up D Davis Drewiske to replace D Denis Gauthier, who was suspended five games on Monday.
Analysis: Drewiske has 11 points and 63 PIM in 46 AHL games this season, but has yet to play in an NHL game. The 24-year-old has no Fantasy value at this time.
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Pelletier sent back down
Pascal Pelletier, C CHI
News: The Blackhawks have sent C Pascal Pelletier down to the AHL.
Analysis: Pelletier has 41 points in 46 AHL games this season, but the 25-year-old is nothing more than organizational depth at the moment and can be ignored in Fantasy.
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Abdelkader back down, Helm up
Justin Abdelkader, LW DET
News: The Red Wings have sent LW Justin Abdelkader has been sent back to the AHL. The team has recalled C Darren Helm to take his place.
Analysis: Neither of these two players has any Fantasy value in seasonal leagues at this time.
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 Hemsky to see more ice time
Ales Hemsky, RW EDM
News: The Edmonton Sun reports that Oilers coach Craig MacTavish is going to play stud RW Ales Hemsky as much as he possibly can, with him playing on different lines. "He's playing so well right now, he can help other guys. That's what great players do. Great players make other players better," MacTavish said.
Analysis: Just like last season, Hemsky has been a solid point-per-game guy in 2008-09. Hemsky remains a must-start Fantasy forward in all formats.
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Hejda skips practice with hand injury
Jan Hejda, D CLB
News: Blue Jackets D Jan Hejda missed practice Monday with a hand injury but should be OK for Tuesday's game against the Blues.
Analysis: Hejda is two points shy of tying his career high of 13 points. He is a top-logging defenseman for Columbus, but has more defensive skills than offensive. Hejda remains more of a Fantasy option for leagues that reward heavily for PIM and short-handed stats.
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Jackets waive LW Picard
Alexandre Picard, LW CLB
News: The Columbus Blue Jackets have waived LW Alexandre Picard. The move is likely just so the team can send Picard down to the AHL.
Analysis: To label Picard as a first-round bust would be an understatement at this juncture. He is nothing more than organizational depth at the moment and has little Fantasy appeal.
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Chimera back on the wing again
Jason Chimera, LW CLB
News: The Columbus Dispatch reports that Blue Jackets LW Jason Chimera has returned to the wing after trying his hand at center for three games.
Analysis: Chimera has been a better-than-expected offensive presence this season for Columbus, but still has low-end Fantasy appeal when healthy. This move to center isn't likely to boost his value too much, so keep Chimera reserved until he is at 100 percent and producing on a consistent basis.
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Ward enjoying heavy workload
Cam Ward, G CAR
News: The Raleigh News and Observer reports that Hurricanes G Cam Ward, who will make his 17th straight start on Tuesday night, is not feeling the effects of playing so much. "If you're asking me if I feel tired, no, not at all," Ward said. "I feel fresh as can be, and I'm just trying to get ready for each and every game and never take a night off."
Analysis: Ward has been a top 10 Fantasy goalie this season and is making a ton more starts than anyone really expected him to. He has won four of his last five games as the Hurricanes look to keep pressure on the Capitals in the Southeast Division. Ward is one of the best No. 2 Fantasy goalies at the moment and you could even make a case for him to be a low-end No. 1 option.
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McIver placed on waivers
Nathan McIver, D ANA
News: The Ducks have placed rookie D Nathan McIver on waivers.
Analysis: McIver is likely heading back to the minors if he clears waivers as expected. Continue to ignore him in all Fantasy formats.
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B. Morrison a healthy scratch Mon.
Brendan Morrison, C ANA
News: Ducks C Brendan Morrison was a healthy scratch for Monday's game against the Sabres. He has just one assist in his last eight games.
Analysis: Morrison is having a brutal season with just 18 points and is clearly not earning his $2.75 million salary. You're better off ignoring him in all formats until he shows signs of life, which might not happen this season.
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Marchant returns to action
Todd Marchant, C ANA
News: Ducks C Todd Marchant returned to action Monday night against the Sabres after missing 10 games with a broken finger. "It feels good," Marchant told the Orange County Register. "It feels good for having a pin in your finger for three weeks. I'm able to play and practice and compete, do all the things I need to do."
Analysis: Marchant is one of the Ducks' better defensive forwards, but has minimal Fantasy appeal when healthy. Marchant is only an option in leagues that reward heavily for short-handed stats.
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S. Mason has mononucleosis
Steve Mason, G CLB
News: The Columbus Dispatch reports that Blue Jackets G Steve Mason has been diagnosed with mononucleosis. "It's pretty black and white, if he doesn't feel good, we're not going to play him," Coach Ken Hitchcock said about Mason, who has made two starts since the diagnosis, but was pulled early in his most recent one. "If he doesn't have the energy, we're not going to put him in there. It's something we've been dealing with, and even now that we know what it is, we'll keep dealing with it as we have been. We're going to go 24 hours at a time, with practices and with games. It's up to him. If he's good, he'll go."
Analysis: Something like mononucleosis can be a nightmare for Fantasy owners, especially when it involves a No. 1 Fantasy goalie and the likely Calder Trophy winner like Mason. He is clearly going to try and play through this illness, but going by Hitchcock's comments, Mason is basically going to be a game-time decision for every contest until the mono goes away, which could be a while. Bruins forward Phil Kessel missed three weeks with the same problem, but the Jackets might want Mason to try and play through this as much as possible. Mason is obviously a very risky start for Fantasy Week 18 (Feb. 2-8), but considering he's already played twice since the diagnosis, you could do worse than just rolling with him if you have no other alternative. If Mason can't go, Wade Dubielewicz will start in his place Tuesday vs. the Blues. The Jackets TG takes a bit of hit with this news and might drop down to a No. 2 unit if Mason sits for a bit.
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Lang out indefinitely post-surgery
Robert Lang, C MON
News: TSN.ca reports the Canadiens received some bad news Monday after Robert Lang underwent surgery to repair a severed Achilles' tendon on his left leg. The 38-year-old forward will be out indefinitely. He was injured 8:33 into the third period Sunday against the Bruins when he was hit into boards by Stephane Yelle.
Analysis: Lang is the Canadiens' leading goal scorer (18) and is the second highest point-producer behind (39) behind Andrei Markov. This is just another sad story in a long line of star players going down with injury for the Canadiens in 2008-09. Lang is worth using as a No. 4 or No. 5 Fantasy forward when healthy, but will need to be kept reserved until further notice.
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