Fantasy or Fiction: Waiver Wire To The Rescue

It’s inevitable. No matter how many shrewd moves you make to build your roster for a deep playoff run, injuries have a real tendency of biting Fantasy GM’s in the ass down the stretch, putting all that hard work, and ultimately the season, in peril.

The list of guys landing in the infirmary seems to be growing by the minute, with big names like Kris Letang, Joffrey Lupul, Matt Duchene and Mathieu Garon the latest group of important players who find themselves watching from the press box for weeks to come.

So what’s a GM to do? Well, with the trade deadline having passed in most fantasy leagues, scouring the waiver wire may be just the remedy. And as it turns out, there are currently a few hidden gems out there that could help get your team back on track.

JAMIE McGINN, LW, Colorado Avalanche (4% owned)
Since being acquired by the Avalanche from the Sharks at the Feb. 27 trade deadline, McGinn has been scoring at a torrid pace. Currently on a 3-game goal scoring streak, McGinn has registered six points (4 G, 2 A) and is a plus-three in five games since joining the Avs, and is a big reason why Colorado has been able to claw their way back into the playoff race in the West.

KYLE TURRIS, C, Ottawa Senators (7% owned)
After a tumultuous year in Phoenix, Turris is starting to both settle into his new home in Ottawa and live up to his potential that made him the 3rd overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft. He’s established himself in recent weeks as the team’s No. 2 centerman, benefitting greatly from playing alongside Daniel Alfredsson. Turris, who’s on a 3-game point streak of his own, has recorded three goals and five points over his past six games, in becoming a key cog in the Sens offence.

JACK JOHNSON, D, Columbus Blue Jackets (74% owned)
Johnson is undoubtedly the misfit in this bunch, a player of unlimited potential who’s already owned by three-quarters of fantasy teams out there, despite his modest stats. To those GM’s representing the 26% of leagues where Johnson’s currently available – grab him right now! Johnson has benefitted immensely from his trade out of L.A., recording four points in his last three games, including the game-winning goal against his old mates on Thursday night. Columbus, incredibly, has now won four straight games, doubling their longest win streak of the season.

ANDREI KOSTITSYN, LW/RW, Nashville Predators (12% owned)
A change of scenery can really go a long way for certain players, and Kostitsyn is no exception. Since reuniting with his brother, Sergei, in Music City, Andrei has gotten his game back in tune, scoring 4 points in his first 4 games played while skating on the top line in Nashville. Look for him to continue his point-per-game pace down the stretch, as the Preds prepare to make some noise this postseason.

BEN BISHOP, G, Ottawa Senators (21% owned)
Bishop may have cost Sens’ GM Bryan Murray a 2nd round draft pick at the trade deadline as insurance to Ottawa’s precarious goaltending situation, but you can bet after watching his performances this week that he’s glad he did. The 6-foot-7 Bishop has stood tall after being thrust into action in Ottawa in the aftermath of Craig Anderson‘s freak injury three weeks ago. The 25-year-old, with only eight career starts under his belt prior to landing in Ottawa, has promptly won his first two games and now looks to be the guy to get the majority of the starts for a solid Sens squad down the stretch.

DERICK BRASSARD, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (13%)
Brassard has undergone a renaissance over the past two weeks, which coincidentally or not, has coincided with the departure of Jeff Carter to Los Angeles. Since the trade deadline, Brassard has been on fire. He’s currently riding a 5-game point scoring streak (1 G, 5 A) and is looking much more like the skilled center who scored 47 points a season ago, rather than the player on pace for 36 points prior to his recent hot streak.

JORDAN CARON, RW, Boston Bruins (2%)
Caron’s come out of nowhere to step up as a solid point producer for the Bruins in the absence of Rich Peverley and Nathan Horton. Caron, a former 2009 first-round pick, currently finds himself entrenched on the B’s second line, playing with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. He’s merely responded with six points (3 G, 3 A) during his current three-game point streak.