News:David Steckel picked up an assist in the first period of the Ducks' 3-2 overtime victory over the Red Wings in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday.
Analysis: After a slow start to the postseason, David Steckel has picked it up with points in each of the Ducks' last two playoff games.
News:David Steckel scored a goal in the third period of the Ducks' 3-2 overtime loss to the Red Wings in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday.
Analysis: The Ducks have to be happy to see David Steckel score, as Monday's goal is his first point of the playoffs.
News:David Steckel picked up an assist during the second period of the Ducks' 3-1 defeat of the Canucks on Thursday.
Analysis: Thursday's assist is David Steckel's sixth point in his 20 games with the Ducks and his third point in his last five games. This recent productivity further indicates that Steckel is becoming more comfortable as a Duck and, as a result, will see increased ice time in the near future.
News:David Steckel was credited with an assist during the first period of the Ducks' 3-0 shutout of the Oilers on Monday.
Analysis: Monday's assist is a positive sign for David Steckel, as he continues to get accustomed to the Ducks' style of play.
News:David Steckel scored a goal in the third period of the Ducks' 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Wednesday.
Analysis:David Steckel's goal is his first since becoming a Duck and snaps a three-game-long pointless streak.
News:David Steckel registered an assist in the first period of the Ducks' 4-3 shootout victory over the Kings on Sunday.
Analysis: The fact that David Steckel now has assists in two consecutive games further indicates that he is starting to find his rhythm as a Duck.
News:David Steckel was credited with an assist in the first period of the Ducks' 3-1 loss to the Stars on Friday.
Analysis: Friday's assist gives David Steckel his second point as a Duck, in his 11th game with the team. If this assist is a sign that he is becoming more comfortable with the Ducks' style of play, Steckel will likely see more ice time and increased productivity as a result.
News:David Steckel (illness) will not play Wednesday against the Stars, Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register reports.
Analysis:David Steckel is reportedly battling the flu, so consider him day-to-day heading into Friday's tilt against Dallas.
News: The Maple Leafs traded David Steckel to the Ducks on Friday in exchange Ryan Lasch and Anaheim's seventh-round pick in the 2014 Entry Draft, Jonas Siegel of TSN Radio 1050 reports.
Analysis: The Leafs opened a spot on the roster for Joffrey Lupul (forearm), who is expected back Saturday, by shipping David Steckel off for a minor-leaguer and a draft pick. Steckel may see more opportunities with his new club, but his career stats (32 goals, 41 assists in 398 games) don't suggest he'll become a major fantasy factor.
News:David Steckel is likely to return from an MCL injury Thursday when the Leafs take on the Lightning, according to TSN.ca. He's missed the last three games.
Analysis: Consider David Steckel probable at the time, with him slated to skate on the third line with Tim Connolly and Mike Brown as the Leafs play out the string.
News:David Steckel (partially torn MCL) briefly rejoined practice Monday, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis: The center, who has accumulated just 12 points in 74 regular season games to date, is hopeful to return for Saturday's regular season finale against Montreal.
News:David Steckel has a partially torn MCL, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis: The team hasn't declared him any worse than day-to-day, but it's difficult to see David Steckel playing especially soon.
News:David Steckel (lower body) is questionable for Thursday's game against Philadelphia, Toronto Globe & Mail writer James Mirtle reports.
Analysis:David Steckel is undergoing an MRI on Thursday, though it's not clear what particular area is being examined.
News:David Steckel (foot) played 12:11 and was minus-1 with two hits in Monday's game against the Oilers.
Analysis: He's collected just eight points in 50 games with the Leafs this season and ultimately isn't worth considering in most formats despite the fact that seven of those eight points have come in the form of goals.
News:David Steckel (foot) is questionable for Saturday's game against Ottawa, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis:David Steckel is still sore from the shot he took to the foot during Wednesday night's game.
Leafs' Steckel Plays In Back-To-Back After Bronchitis
News:David Steckel, who potted a goal in his return to the lineup Thursday from a case of bronchitis, was held scoreless and a minus-2 Friday night against the Islanders.
Analysis: With six goals through 32 games, it's unlikely that David Steckel's contributions can make a decent play in your format. He's averaging 13:11 per game to this point, but Steckel rarely sees time with the man advantage and has minimal upside as a result.
News:David Steckel will miss his second consecutive game Monday as he looks to recover from a bout of bronchitis, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis: The Leafs are fairly healthy up front, so this isn't a huge loss especially since it seems like a short-term one. Jay Rosehill will take David Steckel's spot on the fourth line Monday.
News:David Steckel was scratched Saturday to allow the Leafs to activate Keith Aulie, reports Jonas Siegel of TSN1050 of Toronto.
Analysis:David Steckel doesn't provide traditional fantasy value and lately, his broken digit has really lowered his faceoff winning percentage.
News:David Steckel (hand) practiced on Tuesday, TSN's Jonas Siegel reports.
Analysis:David Steckel and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson are both expected to return to the lineup Wednesday night against Boston. Neither player has much fantasy value, but they could help to stabilize the Leafs' roster.
News: Coach Ron Wilson said he expects David Steckel (hand) to return to the lineup Wednesday against Boston, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis:David Steckel only has four points and four PIMs on the season, but he'll help fill out the team's bottom lines after being hurt during Friday's contest. Steckel was unable to play Sunday against Anaheim.
News:David Steckel left Friday's game in the second period after blocking a shot with his left hand, according to in-game announcers on Sportsnet.
Analysis: He was shown grimacing and flexing his hand while on the bench and then he immediately retreated to the dressing room. The shot was a rocket slapper from the point. No word on a return.
News:David Steckel will be now be skating on the third line while Joey Crabb has been bumped down to the fourth line, tsn.ca reports.
Analysis:David Steckel will be skating on a line with Matthew Lombardi and Matt Frattin as Toronto looks to shake things up. He should see a slight bump in ice time and scoring opportunities.
News:David Steckel grabbed his third goal of the season in Monday's loss to Philadelphia.
Analysis:David Steckel has half as many goals as he posted all of last season with New Jersey and Washington. Acquired prior to the start of the season for his face-off acumen, as he's one of the league's best, Steckel is giving the Leafs an offensive boost. He has never been much of a scorer, but he is a solid checker and an ace on draws.
News: The Leafs have acquired David Steckel from the Devils for a fourth round pick, Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis:David Steckel was minus-3 as a member of the Washington Capitals and minus-3 as a member of the New Jersey Devils in 2010-11. Should we be surprised if he's minus-3 (or worse) with the Leafs this year? Probably not. Steckel gives the Leafs a proven faceoff guy, who led the NHL with 62.3 winning percentage on draws. He'll be used for key defensive situations and on the PK.
News: The Devils are keeping Steckel from playing for Team USA in the upcoming World Championships in Slovakia, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
Analysis: Steckel had a minimal impact for the Devils after arriving in Newark via the Jason Arnott trade deadline deal. Steckel missed the season's final game due to a nagging undisclosed injury, so the Devils would prefer that their grinding center sits out the tournament.
News: Steckel (undisclosed injury) won't play Sunday against the Bruins, Tom Gulitti of the Bergen Record reports.
Analysis: Steckel will finish up the season with just one goal and 26 PIMs in 18 games for New Jersey.
News: Steckel will play Sunday against Columbus after missing Friday's game with an upper-body injury, the Bergen Record reports.
Analysis: Steckel will be playing Sunday just a few miles from where he starred at Ohio State University, but with no points in eight games to date, one would need to be playing a real hunch to deploy him.
News: Steckel (upper body) is expected to play against Columbus on Sunday, the Bergen Record reports.
Analysis: While it looks like he'll be back, Steckel has no points in eight games with New Jersey and is unlikely to emerge as a fantasy factor.
News: Steckel (upper body) practiced Saturday, Bergen Record writer Tom Gulitti reports.
Analysis: There's no word yet on what his status is going forward. New Jersey plays Columbus on Sunday.
News: Steckel (upper body injury) did not play in Friday's 3-0 loss to Washington and has no points in eight games with New Jersey since he was acquired at the trade deadline.
Analysis: Steckel's been struggling in his new digs, managing just six shots on goal in eight games. He likely wasn't on your roster to begin with, but he's seeing mostly fourth-line checking minutes.
News: Steckel has no points in six games with New Jersey since being acquired at the trade deadline.
Analysis: Steckel's seen his ice time dwindle a bit as he adjusts to his new surroundings. He won't contribute too much offensively and he doesn't see the ice enough to get on the scoresheet consistently.
News: The Capitals dealt Steckel and a 2012 second-round pick to New Jersey in exchange for Jason Arnott on Monday, TSN.ca reports.
Analysis: Arnott gives Washington a more offensive-minded center while Steckel should fill the same role in New Jersey that he did for the Capitals -- checking line center.
News: Steckel will likely be utilized as a checking line center and face-off specialist with the Devils, as he boasts a league-best 63.7 face-off winning percentage, the Bergen Record reports.
Analysis: Steckel won't light up the league with his offensive numbers, but he'll see more scoring chances with New Jersey than he did with Washington, for what it's worth. He's an ace on face-offs and gives the team a solid checking center to replace Jason Arnott, for whom Steckel was traded.
News: Steckel tipped the puck past Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney in Wednesday's 7-6 win over Anaheim's club.
Analysis: Despite the score, his fifth of the season, there is not much upside with Steckel. He averages just 11:27 of ice time each game and is not considered for the power play,
News: Steckel scored a shorthanded goal in Washington's win at Calgary on Saturday night.
Analysis: The tally came on a penalty shot, perhaps diminishing its luster a tad. But if your league counts shorties as a separate scoring category, you already know how rare and golden they are. Don't get over-excited; it's just his second point of the season.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel failed to record a point in 11:19 of ice time on Friday against the Maple Leafs. He has one goal and two points in seven January games.
Analysis: Steckel is one of those players that flies under the radar since he is far important to his real team than Fantasy owners. Washington loves his presence in the faceoff circle and on the penalty kill, but he is overlooked in Fantasy since he isn't an elite scorer. Steckel is best used in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed and faceoff stats.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel failed to record a point and finished at minus-1 in 6:46 of ice time Wednesday against the Sabres. He has only one point -- a goal -- in his last 17 games.
Analysis: Steckel has only 34 points since the start of the 2007-08 season, so it's not like he lights up the scoreboard. He basically chews up ice time as a penalty killer and faceoff specialist. Steckel is best used in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed and faceoff stats.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Capitals C Dave Steckel grew into one of the NHL's top faceoff men last year and showed that skill again during Thursday's opener against the Bruins. He won 11 of 18 draws as the Caps won 30 of 49 overall, which helped them gain control, often in their own zone and quickly clear the puck.
Analysis: Coach Bruce Boudreau is a big fan of Steckel's, and he'll probably have an even bigger role on the team this season after the loss of Sergei Fedorov. Steckel has some offensive talents hidden away, but Washington will ask him to be more of a force in the faceoff circle and on defense. Steckel is best used in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed and faceoff stats.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Capitals C Dave Steckel let the playoffs be his coming-out party. Steckel got the game-winning OT goal in Game 6 versus the Penguins and was spectacular on faceoffs throughout. He finished with three goals and two assists in the postseason after getting just 19 regular-season points.
Analysis: Coach Bruce Boudreau is a big fan of Steckel's, and he'll probably have an even bigger role on the team this season after the loss of Sergei Fedorov. Steckel had 61 points in 71 games for Hershey of the AHL in 2006-07. He certainly has some offensive talents hidden away, but Washington will ask him to be more of a force in the faceoff circle and on defense. Steckel is best used in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed and faceoff stats.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel scored his first goal since Feb. 18 in Thursday's win over the Lightning.
Analysis: Steckel has 19 points this season, his second full NHL campaign. He is a shorthanded specialist and should be thought of as such in Fantasy play.
News: The Capitals forced overtime in Wednesday's game against the Canadiens when LW David Steckel deflected Tom Poti's shot into the net with 2:39 to play in the third period. It was his seventh goal of the season and 16th point overall.
Analysis: Steckel is setting career highs in both goals and assists, but that's not impressing Fantasy owners too much. He is a shorthanded specialist and should be thought of as such.
News:The Sports Xchange reports C Dave Steckel is becoming more valuable to the Capitals progress. He'd be a second-line player on any other team. But he's making a mark for himself, playing well on face-offs, blocking shots and coming up with key goals. He was great on the last-minute penalty kills in Saturday's game against the Panthers. He also won seven of 11 draws, for good measure.
Analysis: Steckel is having a fine season for the Capitals with a career-high six goals and 14 assists. Still, he is primarily on the ice for his faceoff skills and penalty-killing presence. Steckel remains just a flier in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed stats when healthy.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel returned to the lineup Tuesday against the Devils after missing one game with a lower-body injury. He didn't have a point in 14:01 of ice time and spent two minutes in the penalty box. He was also at plus-1.
Analysis: Steckel is having a fine season for the Capitals with a career-high six goals and 13 assists. Still, he is primarily on the ice for his faceoff skills and penalty-killing presence. Steckel remains just a flier in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed stats when healthy.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Capitals forward Dave Steckel is day-to-day with a lower body injury. He missed his first game Sunday against the Senators and remains questionable for Tuesday against the Devils.
Analysis: Steckel is having a fine season for the Capitals with a career-high six goals and 13 assists. Still, he is primarily on the ice for his faceoff skills and penalty-killing presence. Steckel remains just a flier in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed stats when healthy.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel scored a goal during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Senators. Steckel tied it at 2 with his sixth goal at 9:58. It was his first point in seven games.
Analysis: Steckel set a career-high Tuesday with his 13th point and sixth goal. He is having a fine season by his standards, but he is primarily on the ice for his faceoff skills and penalty-killing presence. Steckel remains just a flier in Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for short-handed stats.
News:The Sports Xchange reports Capitals C Dave Steckel continues his quietly effective play in spots that don't always show up on the scoresheet. He won 12 of 17 faceoffs Saturday against the Blue Jackets, something he's been good at ever since coming to the Caps. They need his solid play on the third and fourth lines.
Analysis: In Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for faceoff wins, Steckel is a must-have player. Outside of those leagues, he has marginal Fantasy appeal. Steckel does have seven points in 21 games, but remains a very low-end Fantasy reserve.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel scored a goal, added an assist and finished at plus-1 in 14:13 of ice time Wednesday against the Ducks. Steckel scored his third goal of the season on a snap shot 10:06 into the third period. It was his first score in seven games.
Analysis: Steckel has six points in 15 games and is well on his way to setting career highs across the board in his second full season. But that's not saying a lot since he only tallied 12 points as a rookie in 2007-08. He is a short-handed, penalty-killing specialist, but has limited offensive upside. Use him only in leagues that use penalty killers.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel tallied an assist and finished at plus-1 in 11:27 of ice time Monday against the Lightning. He also spent two minutes in the penalty box. He now has one goal and one assist in his last four games.
Analysis: Steckel has managed four points (two goals) in his first 11 games this season. However, he is still seeing less than 14 minutes per game. He is a short-handed, penalty-killing specialist, but has limited offensive upside. Use him only in leagues that use penalty killers.
News: Capitals LW David Steckel scored a short-handed goal in the second period Friday against the Thrashers, tipping in a rebound of Tom Poti's shot, to cut Atlanta's lead to 3-2. Steckel took two shots and finished at minus-2 in 12:50 of ice time.
Analysis: Steckel is coming off a career-high 67 games and 12 points in 2007-08. He is a short-handed, penalty-killing specialist, but has limited offensive upside. Use him only in leagues that use penalty killers.
News: The Capitals signed forward Dave Steckel to a one-year contract extension Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Steckel is now signed through 2009-10.
Analysis: Favre is coming off his first full season with the Capitals. He scored five goals, added seven assists and 34 penalty minutes in 67 games. He missed time with a broken finger. Steckel is nothing more than a lower-line forward and can be ignored in Fantasy until further notice.
News: Capitals LW David Steckel, out since March 8 with a broken finger, is scheduled to have the pins removed from his digit Monday and could be back playing next Thursday, according to the Washington Post.
Analysis: Steckel is in his first full season with Washington, but plays on the lower lines and doesn't see too many scoring opportunities. Steckel has little to no Fantasy value.
News: Capitals checking line center David Steckel suffered a broken right index finger in the third period of Wednesday's win at Buffalo when he was struck by a shot. The team says Steckel will be out between two to three weeks.
Analysis: Steckel is in his first full season with Washington, but plays on the lower lines and doesn't see too many scoring opportunities. He has just three points in the last 15 games. Steckel has little to no Fantasy value.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel returned to the lineup Tuesday against the Wild after missing one game with the flu. He did not get on the stat sheet and finished at even in 12:03 of ice time. He did get into a fight with Aaron Voros and spent five minutes in the penalty box.
Analysis: Steckel is in his first full season with Washington, but plays on the lower lines and doesn't see too many scoring opportunities. He has little to no Fantasy value at this time.
News: Capitals C Dave Steckel missed Sunday's game against the Devils with the flu. He has one goal and one assist in his last four games.
Analysis: Steckel is in his first full season with Washington, but plays on the lower lines and doesn't see too many scoring opportunities. He has little to no Fantasy value at this time.
News: LW Dave Steckel scored his fourth goal of the season to help the Capitals beat the Avalanche 2-1 on Wednesday. It was Steckel's first point in the last six games.
Analysis: Steckel is in his first full season with Washington, but plays on the lower lines and doesn't see too many scoring opportunities. He has little to no Fantasy value at this time.
News: Capitals LW Dave Steckel scored his second goal of the season and finished at plus-1 during Saturday's game against the Lightning. It was his first point in 10 games and just his second since Oct. 26.
Analysis: Steckel is in his first full season with Washington, but plays on the lower lines and doesn't see many scoring chances. He has little to no Fantasy value at this time.
News: Alex Ovechkin set up Dave Steckel's first career goal a little more than 4½ minutes into the second period of Wednesday's game against the Lightning to make it 2-1. Viktor Kozlov passed to Ovechkin, who threaded the puck past three Lightning players and over to Steckel on the right side. After the puck went in, Ovechkin skated over to meet the rookie behind the net with a pat on the helmet and a yell of "Yeah, baby!"
Analysis: The rookie kept the puck as a momento. "It's a relief," Steckel said. "I started thinking about it a little too much." Despite the goal, Steckel is still only worth Fantasy consideration only in the deepest of leagues.
