Crashing the Net: Watch Out for the Predators
Welcome to this week’s edition of Crashing the Net. For this 25th week of the season we’re going to take a look at the top five players that you might want to add to your roster this week. We hope you will be able to utilize this article in order to gain a competitive advantage over your opponents throughout the season. Feel free to add omissions and critique our current choices in comments section as we welcome an open discussion at DailyFaceoff.com.
David Legwand, Center, Nashville Predators
Did you miss out on getting Alexander Radulov? If so, look at adding the man who center’s his top line in Nashville. David Legwand has really picked up his point production as of late. After having a hot start to the season where he scored 8 points in his first 4 games, Legwand had a difficult November where he only scored 4 points and missed 4 games with an upper body injury. Legwand has been very impressive over the last month. Since late February he’s scored 12 points in 15 games and 4 points in his last four. Those points should continue as not only does he play with Radulov but he see’s over 2 minutes per game on the league’s top power-play unit. Legwand is owned in only 26% of all Yahoo! leagues which is surprising considering he’s averaged 46 points per season over the last 6 seasons.
Alexander Radulov, Right Wing, Nashville Predators
If you’re reading this article it probably means that you’re in the finals of your fantasy hockey league. So while you’re getting your team ready for one of the last weeks of the season don’t forget to add this week’s top waiver player. Alexander Radulov is currently owned in only 26% of Yahoo! leagues so make sure you add him to your lineup before your opponent does. Radulov made his return to the NHL and the Predators on March 22 after spending the last 4 season’s in the KHL. Over those four season’s he scored 254 points in 210 games and during his last season in the NHL he put up an impressive 58 points during the 2007-08 season. Since returning to the Predators last week he has 2 points in 2 games back and has been playing on the teams top line with David Legwand (see below) and Patric Hornqvist. Radulov is the one piece that that Predators have been missing to make them true contenders, he could also be the piece that your team needs to win your league.
Benoit Pouliot, Left Wing, Boston Bruins
The Bruins are the second most scoring team in the NHL this season. They have four deadly lines and everyone on the ice is a constant threat. One of those players that has really turned their career around in Boston has been 25 year-old Benoit Pouliot. Pouliot was originally drafted fifth overall by the Minnesota Wild in 2005 and never really panned out. Things have turned around for him in the last two years since being traded to Montreal then signing with Boston this Summer. Pouliot is on pace for 30 points this season which would match a career high; however, what should have you considering to pick him up is his point production over the last month. Since March 1, Pouliot has scored 9 points in his last 10 games. Pouliot has been seeing time on the Bruins third line with Chris Kelly and Brian Rolston (see below).
Brian Rolston, Left Wing, Boston Bruins
The third line for Boston has really been flying over the last two weeks. One of those players leading the way has been 17-year NHL verteran Brian Rolston. Rolston has had some of the best years of his career in a Bruins uniform. From 2000-2004 Rolston appeared in 322 games and scored 227 points in that span. Since being picked up on waivers from the Islanders it seems like he’s meant to wear the giant B on his chest. Rolston is currently on a 5 game scoring streak where he has 9 points in that span. There’s a good a chance that this will be Rolston’s last season in the NHL so he’ll be more than motivated playing for the Bruins in the final 8 games as they try and win their division.
Kyle Palmieri, Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks
You have to give the Anaheim Ducks credit, even though they won’t be making the playoffs they’re at least putting up a good fight to close out the season. They have a great blend of veterans like Perry, Selanne, and Getzlaf but they also have young players like Devante Smith-Pelly, Cam Fowler, and Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri is a player that you might want to add to your team depending on league depth. He was the Ducks second, first round pick in the 2009 draft and has spent most of this season playing with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. During his time on the farm he scored 55 points in 42 games. He was most recently recalled by Anaheim on March 12 and since then has scored five points in six games and has three points in his last two contests. Palmieri has been playing on the teams third line with Bobby Ryan and Nick Bonino. Both Ryan and Bonino have four points in the last two games so obviously that third line is working for the Ducks and Palmieri.