Six-Pack: Scott Darling gets a shot

Six free-agent pickup recommendations, that’s how we roll. We’ll try to offer something for every budget.

Scott Darling, G, Blackhawks (9 percent): He’s been terrific at both levels this year, starring in the AHL (.927/.202) and coming through in seven spot-starts with Chicago (five wins, 1.97/.937). With Corey Crawford in a funk, the Blackhawks are giving Darling the Tuesday tap on the pads against Florida. Like most coaches, Joel Quenneville isn’t afraid to ride a hot hand in goal – perhaps Darling can get something rolling here. If he can just make the basic stops, Chicago's deep blue line should take care of the rest.

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Francois Beauchemin, D, Ducks (6 percent): Perhaps the time he missed in November and December is the reason the 34-year-old vet is playing so well now. He’s collected six goals and 10 points over his last 22 games, and he’s a tidy plus-7 this month, skating next to emeging stud Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks know how much Beauchemin contributes at both ends of the ice; he’s wearing an A on his sweater for just reason. He was also given major power-play time in Monday’s win over Boston; Anaheim won’t have Sami Vatanen for another month or so.

Eddie Lack, G, Canucks (28 percent): The Ryan Miller injury sounds ominous on a name-brand level, but Lack’s percentages are just about identical this year (the goals-against is the same, and Lack’s save percentage is four points higher). Don’t let Lack's 6-7-2 record throw you; he should be owned in all goalie-for-blood leagues, and even in deeper formats where you’re just hoping to get lucky on an ascending backup. The Canucks are a top ten defense with respect to limiting shots on goal, which certainly helps.

Brendan Gallagher, RW, Canadiens (31 percent): Fantasy owners are hip to what Tomas Plekanec is doing this season, but don’t forget his speedy right wing. Gallagher isn’t giving us as many PIMs this year, but we’ll take the trade off – all of his scoring columns are on the escalator, including shots on goal, and he’s also seeing more ice time.

Antoine Roussell, LW, Stars (18 percent): If your league includes penalty minutes, a player like Roussell is solid gold. He hops into the sin bin plenty (126 minutes), but you don’t have to completely sacrifice offensive production (11-11-22, 81 shots). Mind you, he hasn’t scored a lot lately, but he’s made a penalty box appearance in eight of his last ten starts.

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Darren Helm, C, Red Wings (6 percent): He’s no longer a worker bee on one of Detroit's lesser lines; he’s been playing inspired hockey on the Pavel Datsyuk-Tomas Tatar group of late. The speedy, heady Helm has a 5-4-9 line over his last ten games, along with a steady 24 shots – and most of that production came on the road. Head coach Mike Babcock is impressed with Helm, and that’s good enough for me.