Last season, Peter Forsberg waited until February to return to the NHL.
Don't expect Mats Sundin or Brendan Shanahan to wait that long this season.
The two future Hall-of-Famers have been mulling things over for a couple of months now and Fantasy owners everywhere are eagerly awaiting their decisions.
While it's clear the NHL team they end up with will clearly benefit from their presence -- at least for this season -- what can these two guys do for Fantasy owners when they get back?
The fact Sundin is owned in 69 percent of leagues compared to Shanahan's 37 percent should tell you exactly how Fantasy owners feel about the pair right now, but the fact is that Sundin is asking for a ton of money ($10 million) and he is probably less likely to end up somewhere than Shanny, who is reportedly only asking for about a tenth of that.
Sundin is two years younger than Shanahan and has racked up more assists over the last years, but their goal totals are very similar over the same span (92 for Shanahan, 90 for Sundin), which was a surprising stat to me. However, Shanahan's numbers have suffered over the past two seasons, while Sundin's have remained strong.
In summary, I think Sundin's ownership is just about right, but I think Shanahan could be a bargain waiver wire addition right now if you're in a deeper league, as if he ends up on a team with a nice offensive core intact, he could certainly put up serviceable numbers.
And don't forget that other veteran forward who could find his way to the NHL very soon -- Claude Lemieux! Only kidding ... leave him well alone!
Add 'Em
Justin Williams, RW, Carolina
Owned: 15 percent of leagues
Analysis: Williams injured his Achilles' tendon back in mid-September and was expected to be out 4-6 months. Well, the former first-round pick from 2000 is apparently a super-fast healer as he has been cleared for contact and could be back in the Hurricanes lineup within the next week or two. OK, so he has been a bit injury-prone lately, but he didn't miss a game in 2005-06 or 2006-7 and averaged 71 points over those campaigns. That is a number worthy of a No. 2 or No. 3 Fantasy forward in all formats, so grab him now before someone else does.
Curtis Sanford, G, Vancouver
Owned: 41 percent of leagues
Analysis: This might seem like a bit of an obvious pick, but when Vancouver called up super-prospect Cory Schneider this week, many Fantasy owners must have wondered if the youngster would steal some starts from Sanford. Well, Sanford has now won three times in the last week and it doesn't look like he intends to give up that starting spot other than maybe once every other week. As long as the Canucks can continue to put the puck in the net, Sanford looks like a great No. 3 option in leagues that start two goalies.
Doug Weight, C, N.Y. Islanders
Owned: 39 percent of leagues
Analysis: Many people thought Weight might have been a little washed-up coming into this year after his 25-point performance last season in 67 games, but the veteran has been a great addition to the Islanders so far. He is averaging a point a game through 21 contests, yet is still owned in less than 40 percent of leagues. While he's unlikely to continue this pace, there's no reason why Weight can't finish with somewhere around 60 points.
Drop 'Em
Sam Gagner, C, Edmonton
Owned: 34 percent of leagues
Analysis: How long do you give Gagner to prove this lengthy drought to start his season (1G, 4A in 19 games) isn't a massive sophomore slump? We're over a third of the way through most Fantasy seasons right now and Gagner has simply shown no signs of life whatsoever. Outside of keeper formats, you're better off dumping him back to the wire as he's just a waste of space right now on your bench.
Avoid 'Em
Cory Stillman, C, Florida
Owned: 47 percent of leagues
Analysis: Stillman's ownership percentage has dropped 30 percent this season, which shows how little faith Fantasy owners have in the Panthers offense and Stillman's ability to bounce back from a concussion. Obviously head injuries are very serious problems in the NHL and Stillman is out indefinitely, so you're better off just leaving him on the wire for the time being.
Ty Conklin, G, Detroit
Owned: 45 percent of leagues
Analysis: Conklin is playing very well this season, but I can see Fantasy owners getting a little too excited over him due to his 6-1 start and the fact he plays for one of the best teams in the league. His start percentage has gone up 15 percent over the last couple of weeks, which seems a little ridiculous for a guy who is clearly a backup. Unless you're in a deep league that starts two goalies every week, you're better off avoiding Conklin for now, as he's only going to split starts with Chris Osgood at best.
Watch 'Em
Karl Alzner, D, Washington
Owned: 6 percent of leagues
Analysis: A rash of injuries in the nation's capital forced the Capitals to call on Alzner, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft, this week. He will get thrust right into the thick of the action and we'll get to see exactly what the highly-touted rookie has to offer. He wasn't a superb scorer during his AHL career, so don't pick him up in seasonal formats just yet, but instead just keep tabs on his ice time and progress.
Matthew Lombardi, C, Calgary
Owned: 8 percent of leagues
Analysis: Lombardi got off to a slow start this season thanks to the flu and injuries, but he's now on the top line with Jarome Iginla and picked up two assists Tuesday in a win over the Kings. This guy has shown flashes of offensive potential in the past (130-point season in juniors), and this is a great chance for him to play alongside one of the best players in the league. Watch him like a hawk.
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