Frozen Fantasy: Dud or Stud?

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Sixty-one. Sixty-six. Two-hundred-sixty-two.

There’s nothing special about these particular numbers – nothing at all. They’re just the spots on the scoring list where studs Vinny Lecavalier, Pavel Datsyuk(notes) and Eric Staal(notes) sat heading into action Thursday night.

Gulp.

I knew their seasons had largely sucked but I have to tell you – I almost gave up searching for Staal’s name. It’s hard to keep track of numbers that big.

But are they really this bad? Is there any room for optimism? The short answer? Yes and no.

I’m bullish on Datsyuk and Staal but I really don’t like what I see from Vinny. He looks disengaged. He’s on the perimeter. And he’s making really bad decisions at times.

That means he’s either hurt or a head case. Or worse, both.

Sometimes the only recourse you have is to staple their butts to your bench. There really does come a point where an asset becomes a significant liability.

Let’s see who caught my eye this week.

Tim Connolly(notes), C, Buffalo (27-percent owned) – Connolly is a great player – great hands, great eyes and great moves. But his propensity for injury almost always gives owners pause – is he worth the pain? Right now, he definitely is. Heading into Friday, he has 10 points, including seven on the PP, over his last eight games. Center is indeed deep but this guy has point-per-game written all over him. He just won’t help you in sin-bin points but who really cares? You can find a pylon for that category. Go get him.

Jason Demers(notes), D, San Jose (34-percent owned) – Who, you ask? This former seventh-round pick wasn’t even on the long-range radar to open camp this season and look where he is now – ranked in the top-20 on the Yahoo! defender list. He’s no stranger to those who follow the Q – he was that league’s top scoring defender in 2007-08. And he followed that up with 33 points in 78 games as a rookie last season in the A. He’ll be prone to lapses; he’s a rookie, after all. But with Rob Blake(notes) on the IR, Demers has a shot at more power-play time and he should see a spike in output.

Jonas Gustavsson(notes), G, Toronto (26-percent owned) – It looks like general manager Brian Burke scored large – literally and figuratively – with the Monster. I didn’t think he’d ascend to the king’s throne this quickly but it appears he has. The Leafs actually look comfortable in front of the big guy, something they’re not with Vesa Toskala(notes). He’s big, athletic and super quick, and his butterfly is getting better with each passing game. He was outstanding Tuesday night and a starting goalie with solid ratios is always valuable.

Roman Hamrlik(notes), D, Montreal (26-percent owned) – Hamrlik has had a long and steady career but at this point, he’s nothing more than a depth guy. That is, unless he’s on a roll. And right now, he is – he has three points, including two goals, a plus-4 rating and eight PIMs in his last five games. At 35, he’s not getting any younger. But he can help you short term in a slow, steady kind of way.

Kyle Okposo(notes), RW, NY Islanders (34-percent owned) – Baby Iggy is really starting to round into form. He has a point in 10 of the Isles’ 15 games and he’s showing some solid chemistry with one John Tavares(notes). So combine his natural talent with a budding romance and you get a pretty lethal combo. Expect an offensive outburst before long – there are a lot of goals in this guy’s stick.

Joe Pavelski(notes), C, San Jose (74-percent owned) – Little Joe is a big-play centerman who has stepped up his game every year he’s been in the NHL. He’s almost back from a lower-body injury and when he does return, he’ll instantly slot in on the second line. He’s out there in a quarter of Yahoo! leagues – he won’t be there long.

Steve Reinprecht, C, Florida (17-percent owned) – Reinprecht is a funny guy to pin down. He’s a jack of all trades but master of none, and he’s never potted more than 52 points in a single year. But right now, he’s on an 82-point pace including 11 in the last eight games. It won’t last because he won’t last – he’s 33 and he’s only played 80 games in a season twice in his entire career. But a hot guy is still a hot guy, particularly if your team is hurting down the middle in the next few weeks.

James Van Riemsdyk(notes), LW, Philadelphia (34-percent owned) – JVR is a huge talent. And he had a big game Monday night playing beside uber-stud Jeff Carter(notes). Those three helpers really showed off his sublime passing talents – man, can this guy thread the needle through traffic. His work ethic has been questioned but he’s young. And work ethic is something he can always improve.

Keep An Eye On … Michael Nylander(notes), C, Washington (1-percent owned) – The Caps just activated this 15-year veteran. Sure, he’s old and you’re right – he has never really recovered from that shoulder injury that stole half of the 2007-2008 season from him. But this is a guy who was once one of the premier passers in the league and that’s a skill that can certainly be used on the PP. If he starts to flash his talents there, you know what to do. The potential of the Cap’s first unit is through the roof.

Back to liablilities.

They’re like anchors on your roster. You can’t drop them and sometimes you can’t play them. And you sure can’t get any value in trade for them.

All you have left is that stupid saying – you know, patience is a virtue.

I don’t know too many virtuous fantasy owners. I know I’m sure not.

Until next week.