News:Justin Williams, who picked up an assist in Saturday's double-OT loss to the Hawks, had been playing with a separated shoulder, according to the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada.
Analysis: He was remarkably clutch for a guy with a bad wing. Justin Williams knows how to deliver when the money is on the line and he should continue to bring his fantasy owners near-60 point production for another couple seasons.
News:Justin Williams scored the Kings' only goal in a 2-1 Game 1 loss at Chicago on Saturday.
Analysis: Good news and bad news: He's found his shooting touch, but he's the only player in an LA sweater who's found nylon in the past two games. Until his compatriots find the offensive spark, he'll be hard-pressed to carry the Kings' fortunes on his shoulders.
News:Justin Williams scored both the Kings' goals in Tuesday's 2-1 Game 7 victory over the Sharks.
Analysis:Justin Williams had been going through a quiet playoffs coming into Tuesday, but he picked the right time to break out in the win-or-go-home Game 7. Notably, he got 19:53 of ice time in this one, his highest total in a non-overtime game in these playoffs.
News:Justin Williams' late goal gave Los Angeles a 3-2 win over San Jose on Saturday. He finished the regular season with 11 goals and 22 assists over 48 games.
Analysis:Justin Williams will likely be a key component of the Kings' playoff fortunes. Whenever his team goes deep into the playoffs (Hurricanes in 2006; Kings last year), his offensive statistics are a major factor in the team's success.
News:Justin Williams ran his goal streak to five games with a pair of tallies against the Wild on Thursday.
Analysis:Justin Williams is finally starting to produce after a lengthy drought to start the season, though he isn't getting any more shots off than when he was struggling. Ride the hot hand while it lasts.
News:Justin Williams found nylon for the second straight game as the Kings lost in a shootout at Minnesota on Saturday night. It's his sixth marker of the campaign.
Analysis: He's finally started to score like Justin Williams; he's gone 5-10-15 in his last 16 games. His shooting percentage is edging upward (it's now 5.5%) from his dismal beginning.
News:Justin Williams collected two assists in a 4-0 win over Phoenix on Monday.
Analysis: As we've noted here, his scoring columns are unusually skewed toward assists this season (4-16-20 in 28 contests). His shooting percentage continues to hover in rearguard territory at 4.3 percent, which is an obvious concern, but his shooting touch should return.
News:Justin Williams banked his fourth goal of the season in Saturday's 5-2 win over San Jose. He led Los Angeles skaters with six shots on goal.
Analysis: This is his third straight game with a half-dozen launches, which is a good sign for the erstwhile sniper. His shooting percentage is still disappointing (4.4%, well below his career figure of 9.2%), but we think that number will rise somewhat as the season progresses.
News:Justin Williams scored and added two assists in the Kings' 6-2 laugher over Calgary on Saturday. He finished the night plus-3, and stands at a team-high plus-12 on the season.
Analysis: The marker will probably prove important for his self-confidence; it's just his third goal of the season. He'll still collect a fair share of points playing on a line with Anze Kopitar. Fantasy owners will have to be patient while his shooting touch returns.
News:Justin Williams tallied three assists in a 6-4 win over the Blues on Tuesday.
Analysis:Justin Williams is having a quiet season, but may be rebounding, as he now has six points in his last six games.
News:Justin Williams scored on the power play in Los Angeles' 5-2 loss at Vancouver on Saturday night. It's his second goal, and his first power-play tally, of the season.
Analysis: Once upon a time, he was a fairly reliable sniper. But his shooting percentage this season is a woeful 3.2%, echoing his disastrous 2008-09 season, in which he amassed only four markers.
News:Justin Williams assisted on three of the Kings' four goals and went plus-3 Tuesday in a win over Columbus.
Analysis: After picking up just a lone assist in the first six games of the year, Justin Williams has points in consecutive games, having scored his first goal of the year in Saturday's loss to Anaheim.
News:Justin Williams (illness) is on the ice for pregame warmups Saturday, nhl.com's Dan Rosen reports.
Analysis:Justin Williams will skate as the defending champions open their season against the Blackhawks.
Kings' Williams Uncertain For Saturday With Flu Symptoms
News:Justin Williams missed Friday's practice due to flu-like symptoms and his status for Saturday's opener is uncertain, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: The Kings likely won't make a decision until after the morning skate but Justin Williams seems like a likely scratch at this point.
News:Justin Williams scored the Kings' lone goal in a 2-1, Game 5 loss to the Devils on Saturday.
Analysis:Justin Williams has amped up his game in a large way this postseason and now sits third in team scoring with four goals and 15 points in 19 games. And this goal was a beauty -- a five-hole rocket from the slot.
News:Justin Williams picked up a goal and an assist in the Kings' 5-2 win over the Blues on Monday.
Analysis:Justin Williams is enjoying a nice run this postseason, with points in five of seven games, but Monday's goal was his first of the playoffs.
News:Justin Williams posted a two-point night for the second straight game as the Kings fell in overtime to the Sharks on Saturday. He scored in the first period and assisted on Mike Richards' second-period tally; both points came on the power play.
Analysis: The biggest news for him this season was his health, which was robust for all 82 games. That's his first uninterrupted campaign in five years. He's a decent fantasy playoff pick on a per-game basis, but the prognosis for a long playoff run is poor when your first stop is Vancouver.
Williams Picks Up A Pair Of Goals In Loss To Sharks
News:Justin Williams tallied a pair of goals in a shootout loss to the Sharks on Thursday.
Analysis:Justin Williams entered the game with just one goal over his last nine games before netting his 20th and 21st goals of the season.
News:Justin Williams notched his ninth point in his last eight games with a goal and an assist in Tuesday's win over Detroit.
Analysis:Justin Williams has hit the score sheet in four of his last five games now and is getting more shots off of late, as he appears to have found some chemistry with linemates Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar.
News:Justin Williams posted an assist in Tuesday's win over Tampa Bay, giving him points in consecutive games.
Analysis:Justin Williams has been playing stronger of late after some inconsistency earlier in the season. He will not carry your fantasy roster on his own, but he can be a solid source of secondary scoring.
Williams' Point Streak Snapped As Kings Shut Out By Blues
News:Justin Williams had his nine-game point streak snapped in a 1-0 loss to the Blues on Friday.
Analysis:Justin Williams has certainly turned his game around of late and now has 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) on the season.
News:Justin Williams logged two assists, including one on the power play, as Los Angeles whipped Calgary on Friday night.
Analysis: The erstwhile sniper has collected 22 assists against just seven goals this season. It isn't that he's not trying to score -- his 2.74 shots per game are just a hair over his career norm -- but his shooting percentage of just 5.6 percent will condemn him to low goal-scoring totals.
News:Justin Williams' third-period power-play goal capped the scoring Saturday as the Kings beat Vancouver, 4-1. He also registered an assist in the win.
Analysis: Notably, he fired an impressive seven shots on goal on the night. Justin Williams, a natural sniper, is at his best when he's skating aggressively toward the crease, and a night like this is destined to make his fantasy owners smile.
News:Justin Williams posted his first goal in five games with tally in Monday's shootout win over Toronto.
Analysis:Justin Williams, and the rest of his teammates, are finding their identity and will soon be playing for their third coach with the impending arrival of Darryl Sutter this week. Williams has an average 20 points on the season with just five goals. There are plenty of players with more upside than the veteran winger.
News:Justin Williams (hand) was able to play Thursday as expected after missing practice earlier this week.
Analysis:Justin Williams was held off the score sheet Thursday but saw 16 minutes of ice time.
News:Justin Williams was held out of Wednesday's practice after taking a puck off his hand Tuesday, the LA Kings Insider reports.
Analysis: The Kings expect Justin Williams to play Thursday but his status likely won't be certain until after the morning skate. "Well, I do expect it. I don't know that for absolute. He will get treatment today, come in tomorrow and give us a feel as to how he's doing," head coach Terry Murray said when questioned about Williams' likelihood of lacing up the skates for Thursday.
News:Justin Williams scored for the first time in 17 games with a tally Tuesday.
Analysis:Justin Williams has been a streaky scorer in the past and he's been picking up a fair number of assists despite his scoring slump so perhaps Tuesday's goal will get things rolling again.
News:Justin Williams, who hasn't scored in 17 games, was bumped up to the team's top scoring line Monday, the LA Kings Insider reports.
Analysis:Justin Williams seemed to click with Anze Kopitar and Simon Gagne when the season started so perhaps being reunited will help spark Williams' offensive output.
News:Justin Williams registered an assist in Tuesday's win over St. Louis, but he still has not scored a goal since October 29.
Analysis:Justin Williams has traditionally been a streaky player but at least he is grabbing assists during his goal drought, which is coming up on a month. Williamas will see time with the team's top scorers and remains a solid option for assists; just expect a few dry stretches.
News:Justin Williams posted his third two-assist game in his last five starts as Los Angeles cruised over Minnesota on Saturday, 5-2.
Analysis: The one-time sniper is now collecting far more assists than goals (3-11-14 this season), but as long as your league isn't goals-only, he's generating more fantasy value than anyone expected. As before, we'll warn you about his propensity to get injured, but for now, go ahead and run him whenever you can.
News:Justin Williams assisted on both Los Angeles goals in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Penguins on Saturday.
Analysis: He's more than holding his own, with 10 points (3G, 7A) in 13 games. But we're already wincing in anticipation of his first injury, whenever that will come. The last time he went an entire campaign without missing significant playing time was five seasons ago.
News:Justin Williams scored twice in Saturday's win over the Flyers.
Analysis: He has five points in four games and is riding a four-game point streak. Use him now and pray for good health -- he's an injury risk every time he takes the ice. In fact, he hasn't played a full season since 2006-07. But he delivers fantasy points if he can stay out of the infirmary.
Kings' Williams Collects Assist For Third Consecutive Game
News:Justin Williams picked up his third assist of the season in Thursday's loss to the Devils.
Analysis:Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar have shown nice chemistry thus far and head coach Terry Murray likes to keep pairs together so expect Williams to ride shotgun with Kopitar for much of the season. He may have slipped under the radar in some formats and it appears he's back healthy following offseason shoulder surgery.
Kings' Williams Ready For Camp Following Shoulder Surgery
News:Justin Williams (shoulder) is expected to be at full strength for the start of training camp, the LA Kings Insider reports.
Analysis: "The shoulder feels great. I was able to get it out of the way quicker than actually I wanted. I wanted to be able to play a few (playoff) rounds before I got it fixed, but we lost in the first round and I got it done two weeks after that. It's been four months now, so there's no issue at all," Justin Williams said. He's expected to occupy a spot on one of the Kings' top two scoring lines this year.
Kings' Williams Rehabbing Well From Shoulder Surgery
News: Williams (shoulder) expects to be ready for training camp as his offseason rehab is ahead of schedule, the LA Kings Insider reports.
Analysis: Williams was expected to be ready for training camp in the first place but it's worth noting that his rehab has gone well so far this offseason.
News: Williams underwent surgery this week to repair his dislocated right shoulder, LAKingsInsider.com reports.
Analysis: Williams is expected to be healthy by the time training camp rolls around.
News: Williams registered a goal and an assist in the Kings' 3-2 loss Thursday to the Sharks.
Analysis: Williams was a big question mark coming into the series with his shoulder injury but he looked up to the task Thursday.
Kings' Williams Putting Off Surgery, Will Play Thursday
News: Williams (dislocated shoulder) has declared himself ready to play in Thursday's playoff series against the Sharks, but the winger will require surgery on the shoulder in the summer, ESPN's John Buccigross reports.
Analysis: The return of Williams, who churned out a plus-14 rating and 57 points before dislocating his shoulder March 21 against the Flames, might be a boon to a Kings squad that ranked just 25th as a team in goals per game (2.55) in the regular season. However, fantasy poolies in playoff formats would be smart to see how he performs for at least one game before deciding to plug him back into the lineup.
News: Williams (dislocated shoulder) declared himself ready to go for the start of the Kings' first round series against San Jose, lakingsinsider.com reports.
Analysis: It's a given that Williams isn't quite 100 percent, but he'll tough it out and and he is safe to deploy in playoff pools, assuming no setbacks with his injury.
News: Coach Terry Murray expects Williams (shoulder) to play Thursday against the Sharks, the Kings' official site reports. "He's got the green light. It's 100 percent," Murray said of Williams, who made it through a full-team practice for a second consecutive day Tuesday. "His strength is great. He did all the testing. The only restriction would be because of the shoulder harness that he's wearing."
Analysis: That sounds promising, but Williams seems to have some reservations. "Because a lot of my game is shaking off checks," Williams said Tuesday. "If I'm not comfortable, and I can't do that, my impact goes down drastically...Overall, it felt better than yesterday. I hope tomorrow feels better than today. That's all I can say, really."
News: Williams' (shoulder) status for Game 1 against San Jose will likely be determined after Tuesday's practice, lakingsinsider.com reports.
Analysis: Williams has yet to pronounce himself ready to go, but noted that he would continue to push himself in practice to that end.
News: Williams (shoulder) has the green light from doctors to be able to participate in practice Monday, lakingsinsider.com reports.
Analysis: Williams' shoulder may not be 100 percent until the offseason, but assuming all goes well in the next couple days, then he could return to help the Kings in their upcoming playoff run.
News: Williams will have a strength test done on his injured shoulder Saturday, LAKingsInsider.com reports.
Analysis: If the results are encouraging, there's a "real chance" that Williams could be ready for Los Angeles' first playoff game. If you're in a playoff pool, don't forget about him.
News: Williams (shoulder) skated and shot the puck at practice Sunday, lakingsinsider.com reports.
Analysis: Williams, who is two weeks into an expected four-week recovery, is slated to have a strength test on his shoulder Monday. We'll continue to track his status, but he's not going to help fantasy owners out until the playoffs.
News: Williams is expected to miss the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder, lakingsinsider.com reports.
Analysis: Look for Oscar Moller to help fill in for Williams, but this is a tough blow to the Kings' offense, as Williams is second on the team with 57 points (in 73 games).
Kings' Williams Leaves Game With Upper Body Injury
News: Williams will be re-evaluated Tuesday after leaving Monday's game with an upper body injury, the LA Kings Insider reports.
Analysis: "Williams is not OK, no," head coach Terry Murray said after the game. "I haven't got an update to tell you exactly what it is, but he's not OK. He's got an upper-body injury, and all I heard is that he will get to see the doctor tomorrow and get an evaluation and see where it's at." It looked more than a shoulder injury than a potential head injury but we'll know after his evaluation Tuesday.
News: Williams had a goal and two assists Friday night in Los Angeles' 4-2 win over Columbus.
Analysis: He now has a modest four-game point streak, with two goals and five assists over that span.
News: Williams scored a goal and added an assist against the Stars on Monday.
Analysis: Williams has shown what he can do when healthy this season with 21 goals and 52 points in 66 games. He should be in your lineup when he takes the ice unless you have some particularly good options ahead of him.
News: The Kings have signed Williams to a four-year, $14.6 extension, TSN Bob McKenzie reports.
Analysis: After several injury-plagued years, Williams has been healthy and productive, scoring 20 goals and 29 assists in 62 games. His signing takes one of the better potential UFAs off the market.
News: Williams scored his 20th goal of the season in a 4-3 shootout win over the Blue Jackets on Wednesday night.
Analysis: He continues to score on a consistent basis and is having a very nice comeback season after being injured the past few years.
News: Williams collected a tally and two assists in regulation, then scored the decisive goal in the shootout as Los Angleles purloined a win in Calgary on Saturday.
Analysis: This is his first multi-point game in four weeks, and his first three-point game all season, so don't expect this outing to start a string of crooked numbers.
News: Williams scored the lone goal for the Kings against the Stars on Monday.
Analysis: Williams has 17 goals on the season and has been a big asset to Los Angeles' offense this season. If he stays healthy, he's worth owning in the vast majority of leagues at the very least.
News: Williams pocketed an assist late in the third frame of Saturday's contest with the Blue Jackets, then iced the game with an empty-net goal in the game's final minute.
Analysis: His scoring pace has fallen off recently; he has just three points in his last seven games, and his shooting percentage over that span is just over 4 percent. Still, the real key to his fantasy value remains his health. If he stays on the ice, the points will come; if he's in rehab for yet another injury, they won't.
News: As the first half of the 2010-11 season winds down for the Kings, Williams is showing what he can do when healthy. He has played in all 38 games, with 32 points (15 G, 17 A) to boot.
Analysis: Williams is currently third on his team in points, only behind fellow forwards Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar. Yes, he's injury prone, but that just lessens his price tag if you're interested in acquiring him for fantasy purposes.
News: Williams logged a goal and an assist in the Kings' 3-2 win over Detroit on Saturday.
Analysis: The major news for Williams is that he's stayed healthy all season, playing in each of the Kings' 25 contests. The last time he reached even 50 games played in a season was four years ago.
News: Williams posted two assists as the Kings beat the Preds on Saturday night.
Analysis: With 14 points, he leads all Los Angeles scorers. The major risk here is injury; he hasn't topped 50 games in any of the last three seasons.
News: Williams ran his points streak to six straight games with a tally Thursday.
Analysis: Williams has now scored in four straight and has 12 points in 12 games on the season. Ride him while he's hot and healthy.
News: Williams scored and added an assist as the Kings won at home over New Jersey on Saturday.
Analysis: It's still too early to start talking about point-per-game paces, but Williams has the talent to make his current pace (11 points in 11 games) stick. He'll probably back off that rate over the course of the season, but his numbers look solid right now. We suggest that you ride him a while longer and then try to shop him for an underperforming star.
News: Williams scored the Kings' only goal in Wednesday's 3-1 loss at Chicago.
Analysis: Williams is so far removed from his 76-point season in 200-06 that it isn't worth mentioning. He has however started the season off with three goals and five assists in nine games and could produce nice numbers if his health keeps up.
News: Williams scored on the power play to help the Kings to a 2-1 shootout win in Vancouver on Saturday.
Analysis: If we had a bonded guarantee that he'd stay healthy, we'd recommend him to you enthusiastically. But as with us all, his health comes with no warranty, and he's proven to be fragile in recent campaigns. Handle with care.
News: Right wing Justin Williams has been activated from the Los Angeles Kings' injured reserve after a 2 1/2-month absence with a broken leg. After missing 28 games, Williams was expected to play for the Kings at Dallas on Friday night.
Analysis: Williams broke his leg in Phoenix on Dec. 26. He had 24 points in 33 games before his injury. The Kings are firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture even though their projected top line of Williams, center Ryan Smyth and high-scoring left wing Anze Kopitar has barely played together this season. Smyth returned from a six-week absence with an upper-body injury for the same game in which Williams was injured. Williams definitely could be a sleeper option for the stretch Fantasy run.
News: The Los Angeles Kings have placed Justin Williams on injured reserve after the veteran right wing broke his leg. Williams was hurt in the Kings' loss at Phoenix on Saturday night. He could be out for three months, coach Terry Murray says.
Analysis: Williams has 24 points in 22 games this season on the Kings' top line, which was back together for just two shifts in Phoenix when Ryan Smyth returned from a six-week absence because of an upper-body injury. Unfortunately, this is just another injury in a long line of serious ailments for Williams since the 2007-08 season. Williams might only return with a few weeks left in the Fantasy season, so if you need the roster spot, consider dumping him on waivers. Possible replacements are Andrei Kostitsyn (owned 62 percent), Mason Raymond (63 percent), Michael Frolik (56 percent) and Ryane Clowe (72 percent).
News: Kings RW Justin Williams broke his leg in the first period of Saturday's loss to the Coyotes. D Ed Jovanovski checked Kings C Anze Kopitar back into Williams and both players fell on top of the 28-year-old Williams as his knee buckled beneath him with 15:33 left in the first.
Analysis: Williams has 24 points in 32 games this season, a pace that would get him close to 60 points if he had managed to stay healthy. He's had a rough time staying healthy over the last two campaigns, so his owners had to be a little worried about his chances of playing 70 games in 2009-10. Stash him in deeper leagues for now if you have the room.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Kings RW Justin Williams assisted on LW Alexander Frolov's second-period goal Saturday against the Stars. Williams, the Kings' first-line right wing, has recorded at least one point in five of the last seven games and has three goals and five assists in those seven games.
Analysis: Williams hit a bit of a cold spell in November as he managed only one point and no goals in his final eight games. But as soon as the calendar hit December, he has found his rhythm again. Williams is still an injury-prone skater, but he seems to be getting his career back on track and is once again a viable Fantasy start.
News:The Sports Xchange reports the Kings finally got things going on the power play Tuesday against the Ducks. After going 0-for-13 on the power play in their previous four games, the Kings broke through on Justin Williams' power-play goal with 8:27 left in the first period. For the game, the Kings went 1-for-5 on the power play and generated 14 shots on goal with the man advantage. In their previous four games, they had totaled 14 shots on goal on the power play.
Analysis: Williams also ended a personal drought on Tuesday. He had gone the previous eight games without a goal. He had just one points in that span. The Kings' top line has been a little lost since Ryan Smyth went down with an upper-body injury. You can tell by Williams' recent decline. Still, he has enough talent to right the ship and Smyth could be back in the coming weeks. Williams is a low-end start at this time, but he can be much more.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams scored a goal, tallied an assist and finished at plus-1 during Wednesday's game against the Hurricanes. Williams capped the scoring with an empty-net goal. It was his fifth goal of the season and third in his last six outings.
Analysis: Williams has two goals and four assists in five games since returning from a lower-body injury. Williams has been outstanding on the team's top line with Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth. Williams has his career back on track, so despite his propensity for injury, he is a solid Fantasy play when active.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams tallied a goal and finished at plus-1 during Monday's game against the Coyotes. Williams, playing his first game after missing the past five with a lower-body injury, tied the game 3-all with 13:16 remaining on a backhand shot just inside the left post. He has three goals and three assists in his last six games.
Analysis: Williams returned to his top-line spot with Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth on Monday and picked up where he left off before the injury. Williams has 10 points in 10 games this season and is looking like his former 60-70-point self. Injuries are going to be his biggest hurdle, but Williams is a viable Fantasy option when healthy.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams (lower body) did not return to the lineup on Thursday against the Canucks. He has missed the last five games and is day to day.
Analysis: The Kings don't play again until Monday, so Williams has a few extra days to rest. He is an injury-risk start for Week 5 (Nov. 2-8) unless you hear otherwise. Williams can be a viable Fantasy forward, but his history of injuries is making it tough for owners to trust him.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams (lower body) was out of the lineup Wednesday against the Sharks. He has missed the last four games and remains questionable for Thursday against the Canucks.
Analysis: With Williams' checkered injury past, it's not surprising the Kings are taking it easy with the veteran forward. Williams can be a viable Fantasy forward when healthy, but we understand owners apprehensions since the veteran has been out of the lineup more than in it in recent seasons. Wait to see if he is able to return for Thursday's game against the Canucks before making a decision on Williams for Week 5 (Nov. 2-8).
News: Kings RW Justin Williams (lower body) was out of the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jackets. He has missed the last three games and remains questionable for Wednesday against the Sharks.
Analysis: With Williams' checkered injury past, it's not surprising the Kings are taking it easy with the veteran forward. We aren't sure how long Williams will be out, so treat him as an injury-risk start for Week 4 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1). Williams can be a viable Fantasy forward when healthy, but we understand owners apprehensions since the veteran has been out of the lineup more than in it in recent seasons.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams missed his second straight game with a lower-body issue Saturday.
Analysis: Williams is an oft-injured forward who can be a viable low-end starting Fantasy option in most formats when healthy. If he doesn't play Sunday, he will clearly be a risky injury start for Fantasy Week 4 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1).
News: The Kings recalled right wing Scott Parse from their Manchester AHL affiliate to fill in for Justin Williams, who has a lower-body injury. Williams missed Thursday's game against the Stars.
Analysis: Just as soon as we think Williams is past his injury woes, they pop back up. It's a real shame too since Williams is off to a great start playing alongside Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth. Williams is still a viable Fantasy forward when healthy, but his injury concerns are always an issue.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams scored and assisted in Monday's win over the Stars.
Analysis: After managing only 14 points in 44 games last season, his first with L.A., Williams now has nine points in nine games to begin this campaign. He has shown point-per-game potential in the past, so should certainly be owned in more than 58 percent of leagues.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams scored a goal and finished at plus-1 during Thursday's game against the Red Wings. Williams pulled Los Angeles within a goal with 8:03 left when he tipped in Sean O'Donnell's slap shot from the point. Williams has two goals and five assists in his last six games.
Analysis: Williams has been great on the Kings' top line with Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth. It's really good to see Williams get off to a fast start after having two straight injury-plagued seasons. Williams has flashed 30-goal potential in the past, but he remains more of an injury-risk Fantasy sleeper until he establishes a track record with Los Angeles.
News: Kings RW Justin Williams scored and added two assists in Thursday's win over the Wild.
Analysis: Williams has four points in the first three games this season and is looking to put his poor 2008-09 campaign behind him. He was a solid contributor with the Hurricanes a few years ago, so the potential for a good season is certainly there. Keep him stashed in deeper leagues.
News:The Sports Xchange reports heading into training camp, the Kings have a fairly clear-cut group of six top forwards, but it remains to be seen which roles the wingers will fill. The Kings have two left wingers, Alexander Frolov and Ryan Smyth, and two right wingers, Dustin Brown and Justin Williams, all of whom have the potential to score 30 goals per season. It could come down to a matter of fit. Frolov and Williams are more natural scorers, while Smyth and Brown are typically known for their ability to play hard in front of the net.
Analysis: The Kings have done a nice job transforming their roster in the last year. Frolov and Brown were around for most of the 2008-09 season, but since the trade deadline in March, Williams and Smyth have joined the mix. Williams only got a brief stint with L.A. late in the season as he battled injury, but they are still very excited about his potential heading into 2009-10. As for Smyth, he was a key offseason acquisition from Colorado and is another elite scorer in the mix. Still, we are a little cautious since head coach Terry Murray definitely preaches more of a defensive approach. Frolov is probably the best Fantasy flier among the four, followed by Smyth, Brown and Williams.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Tuesday's game reunited the Kings with their former winger, Patrick O'Sullivan, and provided some first-hand evidence about how their trade worked out. On March 4, the Kings traded O'Sullivan to Carolina for winger Justin Williams. The Hurricanes then immediately flipped O'Sullivan to Edmonton for Erik Cole. Neither O'Sullivan nor Williams had a point in Tuesday's game, and here's how things have gone for the players on their new teams: Williams has one goal and two assists in 10 games with the Kings, O'Sullivan has one goal and four assists in 17 games with the Oilers and Cole has two goals and 13 assists in 15 games with the Hurricanes. Cole had four assists Tuesday against the Islanders.
Analysis: Williams had to sit in the press box for the first few weeks of his Kings' career as he recovered from a broken hand suffered with Carolina. We didn't expect Williams to be an instant hit with the Kings since it does take time to adjust to Terry Murray's two-way coaching style. Williams hasn't provided much of an offensive lift and injuries have really derailed his career. He will he more of an injury-risk sleeper on Draft Day 2009.
News: The Kings activated Justin Williams off injured reserve before Friday's game against the Penguins. The right winger, acquired from Carolina just before the March 4 trade deadline, broke his left hand Feb. 15 while playing with the Hurricanes. He didn't have a point in 13:36 of ice time and finished at minus-1 Friday. He also had one assist.
Analysis: Williams was expected to play Sunday against the Blackhawks, but Los Angeles chose not to wait any longer and get the former 30-goal scorer active. As for his Fantasy status for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see how Williams adjusts to coach Terry Murray's style of two-way play. A lot of Kings' skaters have struggled to adjust initially, so the odds against Williams being a smash hit initially appear to be slim.
News: The Los Angeles Daily News reports newly-acquired Kings forward Justin Williams continues to recover from a broken finger sustained Feb. 15 when he was with the Hurricanes. The Kings are hoping Williams, who has been practicing in a no-contact jersey and been shooting pucks, will be ready to play by Sunday against the Blackhawks. "Yes, he will go on the trip," coach Terry Murray said. "It's getting very close. After we practiced (Saturday) in San Jose, his passing comment was, 'I think I'll be ready to go in a week.' I don't know, right now, when the doctor will give him clearance or if there is another appointment. I'll check on that and get that information. But he's getting itchy. You can see him jumping in more on the drills. He wants to be a part of it and he's got a real itch to get back to playing."
Analysis: It's not hard to see why Williams is itching to play. Outside of the fact the Kings are in playoff contention, Williams has had two straight injury-plagued seasons and is just looking to start fresh with the Kings. While it's encouraging to see Williams on the recovery path, he is still not a recommended start Week 24 (March 16-22). As for his Fantasy status for the rest of the season, it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to Murray's style of two-way play. A lot of Kings' skaters have struggled to adjust initially, so the odds against Williams being a smash hit initially appear to be slim.
News:The Sports Xchange reports RW Justin Williams, acquired from Carolina at the trade deadline last week, remains out with a broken finger and is still roughly two weeks from making his debut with the Kings, but Williams is skating before practices. Coach Terry Murray said he wants Williams participating in daily conditioning skates so that he can be ready to play when he receives medical clearance. "There's probably a need for a lot of skating to be done over the next couple of weeks," Murray said.. Williams hasn't played since Feb. 15.
Analysis: The Kings are hoping Williams makes a speedy recovery, so he can make it to the ice while Los Angeles is still in the midst of a playoff race. He might be out until late March, so keep him reserved in Fantasy until further notice. Injuries have really cut into Williams' once high-end Fantasy value, but perhaps a change of scenery could re-energize his game once he is healthy.
News: The Los Angeles Daily News reports newly acquired Kings forward Justin Williams met with his new teammates and coaches Thursday, a day after being picked up in a trade from Carolin. However, he is still expected to miss two more weeks with a broken finger.
Analysis: Williams, 27, has battled many injuries the last two seasons. He missed half of last season with a serious knee injury, then began 2008-09 on IR because of an Achilles' injury and played just 32 games before breaking his hand in February. He is still a few weeks away from returning, but that doesn't appear to be an issue for the Kings. Injuries have really cut into Williams' once high-end Fantasy value, but perhaps a change of scenery could re-energize his game once he is healthy.
News: The Kings traded Patrick O'Sullivan and a second-round pick to the Hurricanes Wednesday in exchange for injured forward Justin Williams, who is out with a broken hand. The Hurricanes then turned around and dealt O'Sullivan to the Oilers for former Carolina winger Erik Cole.
Analysis: Williams, 27, has battled many injuries the last two seasons. He missed half of last season with a serious knee injury, then began 2008-09 on IR because of an Achilles' injury and played just 32 games before breaking his hand in February. He is still a few weeks away from returning, but that doesn't appear to be an issue for the Kings. Injuries have really cut into Williams' once high-end Fantasy value, but perhaps a change of scenery could re-energize his game once he is healthy.
News:The Globe and Mail reports the Hurricanes and Kings were in trade discussions Tuesday involving injured Carolina forward Justin Williams, who has been out since mid-February with a broken hand.
Analysis: Williams, 27, has battled many injuries the last two seasons. He missed half of last season with a serious knee injury, then began 2008-09 on IR because of an Achilles' injury and played just 32 games before breaking his hand in February. He is still a few weeks away from returning, but that doesn't appear to be an issue for the Kings. Injuries have really cut into Williams' once high-end Fantasy value, but perhaps a change of scenery could re-energize his game once he is healthy.
News: The Carolina Hurricanes have placed forward Justin Williams on injured reserve with a broken hand. The former first-round draft pick has three goals and seven assists in 32 games. The Hurricanes recalled defenseman Tim Conboy from Albany (AHL).
Analysis: The injury was another recent setback for one of the Hurricanes' most-talented players. Williams broke his hand when he was hit by teammate Anton Babchuk's shot during the first period of Sunday's win at Buffalo. Williams sat out the first two months of the season with a torn Achilles' tendon. He missed 43 games last season after having knee surgery, and that injury ended a string of 205 consecutive games played since March 2004 -- the fourth -- longest streak in franchise history. Williams was once a 30-goal threat and the pride of Carolina. He is now an injury-prone player and a risky start in Fantasy when healthy.
News:The Raleigh News and Observer reports Hurricanes RW Justin Williams will miss at least a month with a fractured bone in his hand. Williams was hit on the hand by a first-period shot from teammate Anton Babchuk in Sunday's game against the Sabres. Canes coach Paul Maurice said a decision on surgery would be made in the next 24 to 48 hours. "Tough break," Maurice said. "He walked on that bus last night about as low as a man can. I think especially the painful part of it is that in his last three or four games his speed was coming back. He was skating last night, really moving. I think he felt it -- finally, something positive. To have that happen is very difficult for him." Patrick Eaves is expected to move into Williams' wing slot on Matt Cullen's line opposite Ray Whitney.
Analysis: Injuries just keep happening to Williams. He had a serious knee injury in 2007-08 that forced him to miss most of the year and he began the 2008-09 season on IR because of an Achilles' ailment. Now, he is going back on IR with another long-term injury. Williams was once a 30-goal threat and the pride of Carolina. He is now an injury-prone player and a risky start in Fantasy when healthy.
News: The Raleigh News & Observer reports that Hurricanes RW Justin Williams will find out Monday how bad his hand injury is. Williams was hit in the hand by an Anton Babchuk shot on Sunday in the first period and did not return. "We'll find out sometime today whether it's a possible fracture," GM Jim Rutherford said. "It could be one of those things you can play with or something that puts you out a couple of months."
Analysis: Williams missed the first two months of this season after Achilles' surgery and hasn't really managed to provide much offense for Carolina in 2008-09. Before getting hurt he had just two points in his last 13 contests. Bench him for Fantasy Week 20 (Feb. 16-22) and maybe more.
News: Hurricanes RW Justin Williams did not return after being struck in the arm by Anton Babchuk's point shot late in the first period. The Hurricanes declined comment on the severity of the injury. Williams did not record an offensive stat in a 3-0 shutout loss. He is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Bruins.
Analysis: The fact that the Hurricanes declined to comment on the severity of Williams' injury is probably not a good thing. We won't speculate, but we will advise that you bench Williams for the upcoming scoring period. He is only a low-end option in the first place, but he should certainly not be in any lineups.
News:The Sports Xchange reports RW Justin Williams is within a point of his 200th with the Hurricanes. But he has done some disappearing acts recently, and his combined three shots on goal in the past two games is an example of that. He has no points in that span as well.
Analysis: Williams was starting to heat up in early January after struggling in his return from an Achilles' injury. He is slumping some as of late, but still has two goals and three assists in his last seven games. Coach Paul Maurice is still watching Williams' minutes, so consider him a low-end option until he really heats up.
News: Hurricanes RW Justin Williams scored in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Bruins and now has four points in his last four games.
Analysis: Williams got off to a slow start after returning from a torn Achilles' tendon, but maybe he's beginning to find his stride recently. Continue to keep to start him in super-deep formats, but all owners should keep a close eye on his numbers over the next couple of weeks because Williams can be a very effective Fantasy contributor when playing well.
News: Carolina RW Justin Williams had a goal and an assist on Saturday against the Lightning in a 3-2 win. Williams has been very quiet this season as he came into this game with only a goal and two assists in 13 games played. He nearly doubled that total on Saturday. Williams returned earlier this season from an Achilles' tendon injury.
Analysis: Williams was expected to be a top Fantasy option this season after he came back from the injury. That simply hasn't happened yet but hopefully this outburst on Saturday is a sign of things to come from him. Treat him as a No. 4 or 5 forward for now with plenty of upside.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Hurricanes RW Justin Williams' recent return to the ice was mostly overshadowed by the rehiring of Paul Maurice to be the coach. For Williams, who has been belted by injuries during the last year, it was an occasion to celebrate. "I was definitely the most excited guy in the building to be out there," Williams said. "I've been looking forward to it for about 11 months now, give or take a day or two." Williams, a right wing, played Thursday night against Pittsburgh and Saturday night against Philadelphia. He was immediately put on power plays.
Analysis: Williams missed 45 games during the 2007-08 season because of injuries. The surprising part during the last week is that Williams was supposed to be out of the lineup until February. A few weeks ago he was given clearance to skate again. "I wouldn't be coming back if it wasn't safe," he said. Maurice said the team's trainers will monitor Williams as he works his way back toward regular minutes. Maurice said he's unsure if he'll use the 27-year-old in both weekend home games. The Hurricanes are right back at it Sunday for the finale of a four-game homestand when the Washington Capitals visit. "His hands and intelligence are there," Maurice said, pointing out that some elements are already obvious. It might only be a matter of time before Williams is full-go and once again a top Fantasy option. Add him to your Fantasy roster if you can.
News:Justin Williams was activated by the Carolina Hurricanes before Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Not even the earlier-than-expected return of Williams -- out all season with a torn Achilles' tendon -- could jump-start a power play that went scoreless for the seventh straight game Thursday against the Penguins. Williams had no points in 13:15 of ice time and finished at even while taking two shots in a 5-2 loss.
Analysis: Williams skated for the first time Thursday since tearing his Achilles' tendon in September. That injury was expected to cost him at least four months. He also missed 43 games last season after knee surgery. New coach Paul Maurice wasn't expected to play Williams much Thursday, but he had no qualms about getting him back on the power play. It might only be a matter of time before Williams is full-go and once again a top Fantasy option. Add him to your Fantasy roster if you can.
News: The Raleigh News & Observer reports that Hurricanes RW Justin Williams, who was expected to be out 4-6 months after Achilles' tendon surgery in mid-September, will return Thursday against the Penguins. He missed only 2 1/2 months.
Analysis: Williams has now had two injury-plagued seasons, but this is a guy who has point-per-game potential when healthy. Obviously it's unclear what kind of role he will have under Paul Maurice, but he's definitely worth picking up in deeper leagues as someone to have on your bench.
News: The Raleigh News & Observer reports that Hurricanes RW Justin Williams practiced on a power play unit Tuesday and could return to action as soon as Thursday vs. Pittsburgh.
Analysis: Williams was expected to be out until February at first, and then that was moved forward to January. Now it looks like Williams will be back in December, so you will definitely want to pick him up in most formats very soon, as he put up 67 points last season and can be a nice starting Fantasy forward when healthy.
News: The Raleigh News & Observer reports that Hurricanes RW Justin Williams has been cleared for contact at practice and could return to the Carolina lineup soon.
Analysis: Talk about a fast healer. Williams was expected to be out until February at first, and then that was moved forward to January. Now it looks like Williams will be back in December, so you will definitely want to pick him up in most formats very soon, as he put up 67 points last season and can be a nice starting Fantasy forward when healthy.
News: The Raleigh News & Observer reports that Hurricanes D Frantisek Kaberle (fractured foot) and RW Justin Williams (achilles) were both back at practice Thursday. Both have yet to be cleared for contact, however.
Analysis: Williams wasn't supposed to be back until January, but he seems to making a superb recovery. "He's way ahead of schedule," coach Peter Laviolette said. "He feels good. There's a lot less motion when he's in that boot as opposed to running or other activities." Don't expect Williams back for another few weeks however, and you can think of Kaberle in the same time frame. Kaberle has some value in deeper leagues as a bench defenseman, while Williams can be a No. 2 or No. 3 Fantasy forward when healthy, but he's a little injury-prone.
News: The Raleigh News and Observer reports Williams skated and did some stickhandling and shooting before practice on Monday. He likely remains ahead of schedule in his quest to return from Achilles' tendon surgery.
Analysis: Williams has the ability to be a No. 2 or No. 3 Fantasy forward when healthy, but he's still a ways away from returning, so continue to ignore him for now.
News: Hurricanes RW Justin Williams was placed on the non-roster injured list Wednesday.
Analysis: The non-roster injured list is used for players who are unable to pass their training camp physical due to injury or illness, and who did not finish the prior season on IR due to the same injury or illness. Williams is out until mid-January, so continue to reserve him in deeper leagues or ignore him in smaller leagues until 2009.
News: The Hurricanes announced Wednesday that RW Justin Williams will have surgery this week to repair a torn right Achilles' tendon. Williams suffered the injury on Wednesday morning and is expected to be out for four to six months.
Analysis: Williams missed more than three months last season with a knee injury, so he's used to spending an extended amount of time on the sideline. He was likely to be a No. 2 or No. 3 Fantasy forward heading into the 2008/09 season, but now you'll want to avoid him in all drafts as he won't be of any use to you until the calendar changes.
News: The Carolina Hurricanes activated forwards Ray Whitney and Justin Williams from IR on Tuesday and sent forward Joe Jensen back to their American Hockey League affiliate in Albany. Williams and Whitney were eligible to play Tuesday night at Washington. Williams missed 43 games after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament Dec. 20 at Florida. He had nine goals and 21 assists in 36 games before the injury. Whitney was out for 12 games after having surgery March 15 to replace a damaged bursa in his leg, and has 25 goals and 34 assists.
Analysis: When healthy, Whitney is worth using as a No. 2 or No. 3 Fantasy forward, but many of you might not have activated him for this final Fantasy week. Williams was having a fine season before getting hurt, but should be saved for next season at this point. Jensen has no Fantasy value at this time.
News: Carolina right wing Justin Williams will miss at least four months after tearing a knee ligament, general manager Jim Rutherford said Friday. Williams, an All-Star last season who is fifth on the team with 30 points, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the first period of Thursday's 5-4 loss at Florida. The team will schedule surgery next week, and Williams is expected to miss 4-6 months.
Analysis: Before the injury, Williams had played in 205 consecutive regular-season games dating to March 27, 2004, the fourth-longest streak in franchise history. Williams, 26, has nine goals and 21 assists this season. This pretty much puts him out for the season, but if you have any injured reserve spots, he's talented enough to hold onto and cross your fingers.
News: Hurricanes RW Justin Williams posted two assists and a plus-1 rating during Saturday's game against the Canadiens. He now has two multi-assist games (4 A) in his last three outings.
Analysis: Williams has really found an offensive groove since the 2005-06 season, his second with Carolina. He has missed just three games since joining Carolina in 2004-05 and has become quite a reliable Fantasy option. He has 29 points in 30 games this season.
News: RW Justin Williams picked up eight penalty minutes Wednesday night, increasing his team-leading total to 37 minutes. Williams admits that he's probably a little more wound up when he plays against his former team. Whether that correlated to a series of penalties that seemed to derail the Hurricanes is uncertain, but the Philadelphia Flyers certainly seemed ready to capitalize on Williams' transgressions.
Analysis: The Flyers scored tying and go-ahead goals with Williams in the penalty box Wednesday night, and suddenly the level of discipline necessary to succeed was an issue facing the Hurricanes. Williams has produced 24 points in 22 games this season and is also sitting pretty with a plus-4 rating. He continues to be a solid Fantasy option in what might be his finest NHL season.
News: The Hurricanes have won their last two outings against Florida. Cory Stillman and Justin Williams finished with two goals apiece for the Hurricanes Monday.
Analysis: Williams has scored in back-to-back games now. "Sometimes shots go in," Williams said. "You saw mine, just across the blue line, shooting pucks. (Tomas) Vokoun was really solid. He made some big saves. Give them credit, they battled back hard as they did last time we played them. This time we had the better of them." Williams has produced 22 points in 18 games this season and is also sitting pretty with a plus-8 rating. He continues to be a solid Fantasy option in what might be his finest NHL season.
News: Hurricanes RW Justin Williams scored one goal and had one assist during Saturday's game against the Thrashers. He finished at plus-1. He now has three goals and four assists in seven games.
Analysis: Williams has produced 20 points in 17 games this season and is also sitting pretty with a plus-8 rating. He continues to be a solid Fantasy option in what might be his finest NHL season.
News: RW Justin Williams has 12 assists through 14 games. That figure is more than one-third of his total assists last season when he had 34 assists in 82 games.
Analysis: Williams has been solid in his first three years with the Hurricanes, but this season he's on pace for career highs in assists (69) and points (98). Continue to start him in all Fantasy formats.
News: Hurricanes LW Ray Whitney, RW Trevor Letowski and RW Justin Williams also scored goals during Friday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Penguins. Williams also had an assist in the game and now has a four-game points streak (2 G, 6 A).
Analysis: Williams has come out of the gates on fire. He now has two goals and eight assists on the season to go along with a plus-5 rating. Points in six of his first seven games is not a bad start by any stretch of the imagination. Williams has been solid in his first three years with the Hurricanes and it appears Year Four is no different. Continue to start him in all Fantasy formats.
News: Justin Williams has seven assists through just six games and he is among the top-five in the NHL in that category. He has five assists and a goal in his past three games. That's already more than one-fifth of his total of 34 assists for all of last season.
Analysis: Williams is a solid player in all Fantasy leagues. He has a plus-4 rating and eight PIMs so far. Nagy has averaged 81 games played in his past three seasons and he has scored over 30 goals in each of his past two seasons with the Hurricanes. Keep him active in all formats. He continues to play well on the No. 1 scoring line with Chad LaRose and Rod Brind'Amour.
News: Justin Williams (foot) returned to the lineup over the weekend for Saturday's preseason game at Nashville. He posted a goal and had a minus-1 rating in 23:36 of ice time with six shots on goal.
Analysis: Williams appears to be fine and he did not show any ill-effects of his injury. Williams is a solid player in all Fantasy leagues heading into the regular season.
News: The Raleigh News & Observer reports Williams was hit in the foot by a puck and was removed from Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage.
Analysis: Coach Peter Laviolette and the team will determine on Wednesday if an X-ray is required. He is considered day to day for now.
News: All-Star right winger Justin Williams was scoreless with a minus-2 rating in Friday's game against the Lightning.
Analysis: Williams has gone eight games without a goal and has two in his past 14. Despite the rough patch, he remains a solid No. 3 or 4 Fantasy option in most leagues.
News: Justin Williams scored twice to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-1 on Saturday night. In his previous game, Williams picked up two assists. He now has 31 goals and 27 assists on the season.
Analysis: Williams missed a few games with an upper body injury, but appears to be fully recovered. Continue to start him in all Fantasy leagues.
News: All-Star Justin Williams had two assists in Thursday's game against Philadelphia to record points for the first time in five games.
Analysis: Despite his recent rough patch, Williams remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Hurricanes RW Justin Williams (upper body) returned to the team's lineup Saturday against the Canadiens. He played for 16:59 and finished with an even rating.
Analysis: It appears safe to get the All-Star Williams back into active Fantasy lineups. He is a must-start when healthy.
News: Carolina lost All-Star winger Justin Williams midway through the second period of Thursday's game against the Rangers due to what the team called an upper-body injury.
Analysis: We'll update the source and severity of Williams' injury when more details become available. Keep him reserved in all leagues for Fantasy Week 21 (Feb. 19-25) if he is unable to play in Saturday's game at Montreal.
News: Williams' team-leading 28th goal with 2.6 seconds remaining in the second period of Thursday's game at Boston sent the Bruins off the ice to a chorus of boos.
Analysis: The All-Star Williams has emerged as a must-start in all Fantasy formats this season, posting tremendous offensive numbers across the board.
News: Carolina right wing Justin Williams is backing up his selection to the All-Star Game. After a slow start this season, he has been in all-star from. He reached the 25-goal mark with two more Friday night. A year ago he was an unsung hero on the team, but he has continued to move to the forefront in his second full season with the Hurricanes. Williams leads the team in goals, but his pair Friday night were his first and second in five games against the Washington Capitals this season. He'll have a chance to add to the total when the teams meet Saturday night in Washington in the second part of a home-and-home set.
Analysis: Williams remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues. He has five goals and three assists over the past seven games.
News: Justin Williams had two goals and an assist to lead the Carolina Hurricanes to a 6-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night.
Analysis: Williams remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues. He has five goals and three assists over the past seven games.
News: Williams scored the game-winning goal in overtime in Tuesday's game at Florida. He also had four shots on goal and a blocked shot in 23:15 of ice time.
Analysis: Williams remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues. He has four goals and an assist over the past five games.
News: Eric Belanger, Eric Staal, Scott Walker and Justin Williams scored to lead the inspired Hurricanes to a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.
Analysis: Williams' was an empty net goal, but Fantasy owners know that counts just the same. He remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Carolina forward Justin Williams had his career-long, eight-game point streak stopped in Thursday's game at Buffalo.
Analysis: Despite the scoreless game, Williams remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Justin Williams and Anton Babchuk scored, and the Hurricanes beat Philadelphia 2-1 on Tuesday night to hand the Flyers their franchise-record seventh straight loss.
Analysis: Williams remains a must-start in all Fantasy leagues. He has six goals and three assists over the past nine games.
News: Williams picked up an assist with two shots on goal in 21:32 of ice time in Tuesday's shootout loss at New Jersey.
Analysis: Williams is in the midst of a seven-game goal drought, although he has four assists during the stretch. He remains a solid play in most Fantasy leagues.
News: Williams didn't score a goal in his first six games this season. He made up for it big time in the seventh. Williams had three goals and an assist to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-1 Monday night. "It's nice to get off the goose egg," Williams said. "Sometimes they find a way of going in. I had a lot of scoring opportunities (Monday) and sometimes that's the way the puck goes."
Analysis: Hopefully Fantasy owners were patient with Williams after managing just four assists and a minus-5 rating in the first six games. He remains a solid No. 3 or 4 Fantasy forward in most leagues.
News: Williams had a goal, assist and plus-2 rating with four shots on goal in 20:56 of ice time in Wednesday's game at Buffalo.
Analysis: Williams has posted 12 points (6 G, 6 A) and a plus-7 rating over the past 10 games. He has re-emerged as a must-start in all Fantasy leagues.
News: Williams picked up an assist and plus-2 rating in Tuesday's game against the Rangers in 19:21 of ice time.
Analysis: Williams has posted five points (3 G, 2 A) over the past six games. He remains a decent No. 4 or 5 Fantasy wing in most formats.
News: Williams has 19 goals, 34 assists and a minus-5 rating with 44 penalty minutes through 57 games at the Olympic Games break.
Analysis: Williams has already shattered his previous-best of 40 points set back in 2001-02 when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. He is on pace for 27 goals and 49 assists with 29 points (7 G, 22 A) on the power play.
News: Justin Williams scored a goal and added two assists and a plus-2 rating with three shots on goal with 17:54 of ice time.
Analysis: Williams has not scored a goal in the past seven games dating back to Jan. 6, but he has 10 points (1 G, 9 A) over the past eight.
News: Justin Williams picked up two assists on Sunday vs. St. Louis.
Analysis: Williams now has three points in the last two games. He's a decent start in leagues with 12-plus teams.
News: Williams was scoreless in Saturday's game at Phoenix, but was not for a lack of trying. He had six shots on goal and a minus-1 rating in 19:57 of ice time.
Analysis: Williams has posted 13 points (6 G, 7 A) over the past 10 games despite the scoreless effort on Saturday. He is one of the most consistent Hurricanes during their recent cold stretch, so keep him reserved.
News: Williams (shoulder) was able to play in Wednesday's game at Tampa Bay. He was a plus-1 in 17:43 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Williams into your active Fantasy lineup in all leagues.
News: The Raleigh News & Observer is reporting Williams will be out at least one week due to a sprained shoulder.
Analysis: Williams had X-rays which were negative. His status for the regular season opener is questionable at this point.
News: The Hurricanes re-signed Williams to a one-year contract on Wednesday. "Justin is a young player who we anticipate will play a significant role on our team," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "He brings a good deal of NHL experience to our group of young forwards, and has demonstrated that he can develop into a top-level NHL player."
Analysis: Williams posted 14 goals and 32 points in 49 games with Lulea of the Swedish Elite League in 2004-05. He posted career-highs in 2003-04 splitting time between Carolina and Philadelphia with 33 assists and 44 points. He should be a decent middle-round selection on Draft Day.
News: Williams (ankle) returned to the lineup for Saturday's game with the Islanders. He was scoreless and a plus-1 in 15:25 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Williams back into the active lineup Fantasy lineup in larger leagues.
News: The Raleigh News-Observer reports that Williams is day to day after getting hit in the ankle by a shot Tuesday.
Analysis: Williams has a three-game point streak currently.
News: Williams (wrist) was activated from injured reserve on Saturday after missing three games. He was scoreless in 19:49 of ice time.
Analysis: It appears safe to get Williams back into the active lineup in larger Fantasy leagues.
News: Williams (wrist) has been re-evaluated and could return to action Saturday against Boston, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. He practiced with the Hurricanes on Thursday.
Analysis: Williams wasn't productive enough before the injury to warrant much Fantasy attention, so he shouldn't be rushed into your starting lineup despite his prognosis.
News: Carolina placed Williams (broken left wrist) on injured reserve Friday. He is expected to miss six weeks.
Analysis: Williams was recently acquired in a trade with Philadelphia. Keep him reserved in all leagues.
News: Williams scored a pair of goals in Thursday's game against the Capitals.
Analysis: Williams had only one goal in his past 30 games, dating back to Nov. 22.
News: The Raleigh News-Observer reports that Williams will play a far bigger role with Carolina than he did as a third-line winger in Philadelphia. He was traded for Danny Markov on Tuesday. He will play on a line with stuff rookie Eric Staal and Pavel Brendl.
Analysis: Fantasy owners should make an attempt at acquiring Williams. His 26 points with the Flyers make him Carolina's leading scorer.
News: Williams made his debut for the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. He was scoreless and a minus-1 rating in 15:40 of ice time.
Analysis: Williams is worth adding in most Fantasy leagues, despite the scoreless night.
News: Williams was acquired by Carolina Tuesday for Danny Markov. Williams is expected to play Tuesday against Ottawa.
Analysis: Expect Williams to play a prominent role in Carolina's offense. He is worth starting in all leagues despite only scoring six goals so far this season.
News: Justin Williams scored a goal in Philadelphia's win over Florida on Wednesday.
Analysis: Williams scored his first goal since Oct. 11, a span of six games. He did extend his points streak to four games with the goal.
News: Williams scored a goal on Saturday against the Penguins.
Analysis: Williams had three points in two games. He is worth using as a No. 3 or 4 Fantasy forward in most pools.
News: Williams had two assists in the Flyers' opener against Buffalo on Thursday.
Analysis: Williams missed half of last season's games with shoulder and knee injuries. If he can remain healthy, he might be in line for a good season.
News: Williams (knee) returned to the lineup on Sunday. He had an assist. He missed 36 games after sustaining a partial tear of a ligament in his left knee.
Analysis:
News: Williams (knee surgery) skated for the first time on Monday. "He skated [Monday] and all he was doing was replacing the slide board, but at least he was on the ice, skating around," Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock told the Philadelphia Daily News. Williams has an outside chance of playing this year, but it's probably not going to come during the regular season if at all. He isn't worth adding to a Fantasy roster.
Analysis:
News: Williams (knee) is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. He injured his left knee on Saturday. He will have reconstructive knee surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Thursday. He is expected to miss four to eight months.
Analysis:
News: Williams returned from a shoulder injury Wednesday in Pittsburgh. He was scoreless in the game, and is best left as a Fantasy reserve in a deeper league.
Analysis:
News: Williams (shoulder) skated with the Flyers in Toronto. He is expected to return Wednesday in Pittsburgh. Williams should be left reserved in Fantasy leagues until he proves himself fully healthy in a few games.
Analysis:
News: Williams (sprained shoulder) skated Wednesday and is making progress. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, he will likely resume practicing Friday and might be able to play Saturday in Toronto. Williams is likely to return Wednesday against Pittsburgh at latest, but it's probably still a good idea to keep him reserved for the upcoming week.
Analysis:
News: Williams (sprained left shoulder) has resumed skating. According to phillyBurbs.com, he might resume practicing with the team by the end of the week. Williams is still unlikely to return for about two more weeks, so keep him reserved for the upcoming scoring period.
Analysis:
News: Williams (sprained left shoulder) is scheduled to resume skating Tuesday or Wednesday. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, he is still likely to miss two more weeks. Keep Williams reserved in deeper Fantasy leagues.
Analysis:
News: Williams has been diagnosed with a second-degree shoulder sprain. Flyers general manager Bob Clarke told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the injury might sideline Williams for up to two weeks. He's not worth keeping on reserve while he heals from this injury.
Analysis:
News: Williams left Wednesday's game against Florida with a strained left shoulder. He was hit by Peter Worrell late in the third period, and will undergo an MRI Thursday. Williams is best left as a Fantasy reserve in a larger league.
Analysis:
News: Williams, who had been battling a knee injury, returned to action in Thursday's season opener in Edmonton. He was scoreless with a plus-1 in the game, and is only a recommended Fantasy sleeper in deeper leagues.
Analysis:
News: Williams has recovered from a sprained left knee and will skate on a line with Keith Primeau and Simon Gagne in Thursday's season opener in Edmonton. This combination will be best for Williams' Fantasy value if it lasts, but keep him reserved for this week and let him prove he can be consistent before you consider using him.
Analysis:
News: Williams (sprained knee) practiced fully Monday and is expected to be ready for Thursday's season opener in Edmonton, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. He has minimal Fantasy value, however, and is not recommended outside of very deep leagues.
Analysis:
News: Williams did not test his sprained left knee in Saturday's preseason game, according to phillyBurbs.com. He remains questionable for Thursday's season opener in Edmonton, and is a risky starter for this week.
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News: Williams (knee) has been cleared to skate and will do so Friday with the team's minor-league affiliate, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. He remains day to day but has marginal Fantasy value.
Analysis:
News: Williams has been diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. He is expected to miss seven to 10 days, making him questionable for the start of the regular season. If your league drafts this weekend, you might want to avoid drafting Williams altogether.
Analysis:
News: Williams is battling a sprained left knee, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is day to day. Williams has minimal Fantasy value.
Analysis:
News: Williams returned to the lineup Sunday against Edmonton after missing three games with a separated shoulder. While he looks safe to activate, keep in mind that the Flyers did use 14 line combinations in the game. Williams is the type of player who needs to be on a productive line to be worth starting, so you might want to keep him reserved for this week to see who he's paired up with.
Analysis:
News: Williams has been diagnosed with a separated shoulder which will keep him sidelined indefinitely. He suffered the injury during the first period of Saturday's game against Minnesota. Reserve Williams for now, and consider dropping him outright if you don't have room on your bench.
Analysis:
News: Williams suffered a sprained right shoulder after being checked by Brad Brown early in the first period on Saturday. He stayed in the game for a few shifts, but did not return for the second period.
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News: Flyers Coach Bill Barber says Williams will not be activated unless he is 100 percent recovered from a fractured bone in his left hand. Williams wants to play Thursday, so you can probably count on him being ready in time for next week's lineup moves.
Analysis:
News: The Flyers lost Williams for two to four weeks after he suffered a broken left hand during Monday's game against Carolina. Keep him reserved for now, although non-keeper league players might be better off finding another forward option.
Analysis:
News: Williams received a boost to his Fantasy value last night when paired on the front line with John LeClair and Keith Primeau. The 28th pick overall in this year's draft, Williams had a goal and two assists in the Flyers' season opener. We're skeptical that this lineup will last the whole season, but it's something to take note of.
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