Is Fisher the Go-To Guy in Spezza’s Absence?

So you drafted Jason Spezza thinking he wouldn’t drop off losing his top linemate in Dany Heatley… and he did.  Now you need to find a way to fill the even bigger void in your lineup that Spezza’s recent knee injury leaves.  Spezza has underachieved all year, 5-14-19 in 30 games, and now everyone too afraid to drop him can finally see some production.

Mike Fisher (56% owned)

What you lose with Spezza you will gain with Fisher.  He is already en route to a career year going 14-13-27 in 30 games on the year.  With Clouston’s recent line juggling, Fisher moves up to the top center spot with Peter Regin and Alexei Kovalev as his wingers.  Kovalev has been one of the Sens’ hottest players of late, nabbing 7 points in his last 7 games.  It’s also likely Fisher will see time with Milan Michalek and Daniel Alfredsson as well as considerable powerplay time.

Fisher, however, has never topped 48 points in a season and some would say due for an injury.  He’s been healthy the past two season, only missing 7 total games, but in the prior 6 season, he missed an average of 27 games per year due to injury.  There’s risk, but plenty of upside to picking up Fisher.

Tomas Plekanec (58% owned)

Plekanec was the unlikeliest number 1 center for the Habs out of the gate but since assuming the role, he’s exceeded expectations.  Plekanec is 6-28-34 in 34 games on the season including 9 points in his last 6 games.  Mike Cammalleri and Andrei Kostitsyn are essentially the Habs’ offense of late so expect plenty of A’s from center.  Plekanec has hit 69 points before with the Habs in a far more reduced role and if he keeps up this consistency, he’ll be a solid producer for you.

Stephen Weiss (52% owned)

The former 4th overall draft pick is building off of his career year last season with an even better one this season.  He’s leading a supercharged, underrated Panthers’ offense with 15-14-29 in 34 games including 10 points in 8 games this month.  Nathan Horton has been just as hot as Weiss of late so latch on to this red-hot tandem before it’s too late.

Matt Stajan (21% owned)

When you are as hot as the Leafs have been, someone needs to be responsible for putting up the points.  Stajan has finally been playing like a number 1 center alongside Phil Kessel and seeing great returns.  He is 11-15-26 in 32 games on the year but also has 9 points in his last 8.  If history tells us anything, it’s that this Toronto hot streak won’t last so squeeze all you can out of him before it runs out.  Stajan is coming off of a career year in which he scored 55 points in 76 games.