When it comes to Fantasy sports, I often think of the famous Robert Burns' poem, To A Mouse. The poem contains the famous catchphrase: "The best-laid schemes of mice and men/Go often astray."
It reminds me how fluent the sports world really is. Every year we get together on Draft Day, formulate a plan and then construct what we feel is a solid Fantasy lineup.
In retrospect, the team you draft will be dissected, devoured and chewed up by season's end. If you intend to compete, the team you draft is never the team you end with.
It's always those key acquisitions that make the difference in fighting for a Fantasy championship or looking toward next year.
If you have been with us all season, you have come to know our Waiver Wire column. It's the feature that highlights the players that are worth adding to your roster, dropping or keeping tabs on in the event their hot streak isn't a fluke.
The season has finally come to an end and hopefully our advice came in handy. In the spirit of putting a recap on the 2008-09 season, we bring you the list of Waiver Wire players that made the greatest impact this past season.
First Line
Devin Setoguchi, RW, San Jose
Ownership: Went from 23 percent to as high as 98 percent
Analysis: Life was good in 2008-09 for the 2005 first-round pick (8th overall) playing alongside Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Setoguchi's finest month was November with a season-high seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points and plus-8 rating. He did slow down for a bit in January and February, but still was able to pull off the first 30-30 season of his career after totaling just 17 points as a rookie in 2007-08. First-year coach Todd McLellan has been able to capitalize on Setoguchi's potential.
David Krejci, C, Boston
Ownership: Went from 9 percent to as high as 97 percent
Analysis: Despite being a third-line center to begin the season, Krejci tried not to be overshadowed by Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron, who was coming off a serious concussion in 2007-08. Bergeron did struggle out of the gate and that's how Krejci become a valuable Fantasy addition. The 2004 second-round pick was finally able to showcase his explosive offensive skills that made him an indispensable asset on the junior hockey level. He hit 50 assists and 70-plus points in his second full NHL season and didn't forgo defense for offense in the process (plus-36).
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Veteran Jamie Langenbrunner has enjoyed a career year for the Devils.
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Jamie Langenbrunner, RW, New Jersey
Ownership: Went from 40 percent to as high as 94 percent
Analysis: The wily veteran has always been a solid offensive player, but never spectacular. He changed all that in 2008-09. Coach Brent Sutter paired him on a line with burgeoning superstar
Zach Parise and
Travis Zajac, and Langebrunner has achieved a career-high 69 points and plus-25 rating. The highlight of his season was taking home Player of the Month honors for January. Langenbrunner had nine goals in 14 January games and a season-high 17 points. The run was highlighted by three straight two-goal games to end the month.
Second Line
Travis Zajac, C, New Jersey
Ownership: Went from 13 percent to as high as 88 percent
Analysis: While we are on the topic of New Jersey, Zajac has really been a catalyst for the Devils' top line. As good of players as Zach Parise and Jamie Langebrunner are, Zajac has been the gifted passer to make it all work. The 2004 first-round pick (20th overall) comes from a solid hockey background after being schooled at North Dakota, but his first two NHL seasons were of the average variety. He turned that trend around in 2008-09. Zajac, much like Krejci, had his first 40-plus assist season and didn't forget about playing defense either (plus-33). He has become one of the NHL's top two-way centers.
Phil Kessel, C, Boston
Ownership: Went from 44 percent to as high as 98 percent
Analysis: Kessel needs to stand up and take a bow. Much like Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox, Kessel has attained NHL success after battling cancer. Kessel came into the league in 2006 as North America's answer for Sidney Crosby. He surely let down those expectations in his first two seasons (totaling 66 points in 152 games), but we finally got to see the true Kessel in 2008-09. He totaled 23 goals in his first 37 games and was a huge reason for Boston's hot start. A case of mono sidetracked him midseason, but Kessel still achieved 30-plus goals and has surely become a great role model for his persistence despite facing a huge obstacle in his life.
Bobby Ryan, RW, Anaheim
Ownership: Went from 31 percent to as high as 92 percent
Analysis: We should call this the Sidney Crosby Line since Ryan is another player that has been overshadowed in his career by the Pittsburgh superstar. Ryan was the second pick in 2005 -- the dreaded selection after Crosby. Ryan had these enormous expectations placed on his shoulders, but he seemed fine with it and did well in the minors. It looked as though he was going to start the year with Anaheim, but then general manager Brian Burke optioned him to the minors because of cap reasons. As soon as Burke stepped down and Bob Murray came on board, Murray made room for Ryan. In just 62 games, Ryan has set a new Ducks' rookie record with 30 goals and 56 points.
Third Line
Mikko Koivu, C, Minnesota
Ownership: Went from 52 percent to as high as 96 percent
Analysis: For all the garbage former coach Barry Melrose catches for being a mediocre coach, he did say before getting canned by Tampa Bay that Koivu was one of the NHL's elite centers. Melrose might just be on to something. Koivu was expected to have a breakout year moving to the Wild's top line after Pavol Demitra signed with Vancouver. A large part of the hype was because Marian Gaborik, who is one of the league's elite scorers, would be on Koivu's line. Gaborik was absent for most of the year, but Koivu still managed to threaten as a point-per-game player without a superstar winger. He finally had his first 40-assist season in 2008-09 and could just be scratching the surface as far as potential.
Slava Kozlov, LW, Atlanta
Ownership: Went from 35 percent to as high as 91 percent
Analysis: Kozlov had one of his more disappointing seasons in 2007-08, only scoring 17 times and finishing at minus-10. He really didn't fit then-coach Don Waddell's style and was also battling injury. Kozlov contemplated leaving Atlanta. In the end, he opted to stick around, have surgery to correct some health issues and the rest is history. Kozlov has looked 21 again in 2008-09 under first-year coach John Anderson. He managed 20-plus goals for the 11th time in his career and 70-plus points for the third time in four seasons. He has also managed a career-best 12 power-play goals.
Kris Versteeg, RW, Chicago
Ownership: Went from 1 percent to as high as 89 percent
Analysis: Talk about a player coming out of left field. No one was talking about Versteeg in the preseason being a top Calder Trophy candidate, but here we are months later and the 2004 fifth-round pick is among the NHL's top rookie scorers. He trails only Bobby Ryan in points and is third in goals among rookie skaters. Versteeg really burst onto the scene to begin the season as a top-line winger with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Versteeg totaled 20 points (seven goals) in his first 22 games. Had he sustained such a torrid pace for the entire season, Versteeg might be on the First Line of this list, but we still can't discredit his body of work.
Honorable mention among forwards: Alexandre Burrows, C, Vancouver (19 percent to 58 percent); Bryan Little, C, Atlanta (8 percent to 79 percent); Loui Eriksson (11 percent to 89 percent); Ryane Clowe, RW, San Jose (35 percent to 95 percent); Jason Blake, LW, Toronto (49 percent to 88 percent); Todd White, C, Atlanta (5 percent to 71 percent); Tim Connolly, C, Buffalo (35 percent to 67 percent); Ryan Kesler, C, Vancouver (15 percent to 64 percent); Steve Sullivan, RW, Nashville (2 percent to 60 percent); Alexei Ponikarovsky, LW, Toronto (12 percent to 49 percent)
First Defensive Pairing
Sergei Gonchar, D, Pittsburgh
Ownership: Went from 55 percent to as high as 96 percent
Analysis: Gonchar was going to be among the top five defensemen drafted in Fantasy leagues, but we found out early in the preseason he would miss a good chunk of the regular season recovering from shoulder surgery. And it wasn't a minor operation either. Therefore, Gonchar receives major kudos for his comeback tour. Even the Penguins were expecting a shade of Gonchar's former self, but the Russian defenseman wouldn't have it. He has looked as good pre-surgery and has been a catalyst for Pittsburgh's resurgence. He has 18 points (six goals) in 24 games and has returned to being a high-end Fantasy defenseman.
Dennis Wideman, D, Boston
Ownership: Went from 79 percent to as high as 99 percent
Analysis: It's not like we didn't envision Wideman to have a strong year, but even he outperformed expectations. Wideman is arguably one of this year's top All-Star snubs, but he hasn't allowed it to effect his game. He tied a career-high with 13 goals, and set new marks in assists (36) and points (49). But the most remarkable turnaround has been his defense. Wideman entered the league in 2005-06 with the Blues and posted a minus-31 mark. He is at plus-33 this season and will likely finish among the top 10 Fantasy defensemen. Not bad for the 46th most drafted defensemen.
Second Defensive Pairing
Tom Gilbert, D, Edmonton
Ownership: Went from 45 percent to as high as 74 percent
Analysis: Despite scoring 13 goals in 2007-08, Gilbert still had a low Fantasy ownership to begin the season because he wasn't a familiar face. Also, he had to step up last season in the absence of Sheldon Souray, who missed a good portion of the season with a shoulder injury. Souray was coming back in 2008-09 and Lubomir Visnovsky was added to the mix from Los Angeles. Gilbert's role was going to be altered. Despite scoring just four times, Gilbert broke 40 assists for the first time in his career this season and once again become a solid force on the blue line when Visnovsky exited the lineup due to a season-ending shoulder issue.
Cam Barker, D, Chicago
Ownership: Went from 29 percent to as high as 69 percent
Analysis: The Blackhawks patience was running thin with Barker, who was the third overall pick in 2004. He had a very slow progression to the NHL, and when he did crack the Chicago roster, he never did enough to wow management. It was a make-or-break year for Barker, who will be an restricted free agent July 1. The Winnipeg native was able to step up to the plate and knock out one of the park. In just 66 games, he has totaled a career-high 40 points (six goals). Barker has been able to make noise on the offensive end despite the presences of Duncan Keith and Brian Campbell. Perhaps Barker won't have to join the ranks of first-round busts.
Third Defensive Pairing
Kyle Quincey, D, Los Angeles
Ownership: Went from 0 percent to as high as 81 percent
Analysis: Quincey's season did come to an abrupt end last week due to a herniated disc in his back, but he still deserves recognition for a fine season. Quincey logged just 13 games over the previous three seasons with Detroit, as he had trouble cracking one of the best defensive rotations in the NHL. The Red Wings were forced to put Quincey on waivers in October and Los Angeles ran to pick him up. Quincey immediately became a perfect fit in Terry Murray's system. He played solid two-way hockey and was able to break 30 assists and post a career-high 38 points in 72 games. Quincey went from being an undrafted Fantasy player to a viable No. 4 or No. 5 defenseman.
Alexander Edler, D, Vancouver
Ownership: Went from 18 percent to as high as 67 percent
Analysis: The 22-year-old Swede had a fine season in 2007-08 recording highs in goals (8), power-play goals (4), assists (12), points (20), penalty minutes (42), shots on goal (124) and plus/minus rating (6). He needed to play a more prevalent role as Vancouver was decimated by injury along the blue line. With a healthy group heading into 2008-09, Edler was a player that perhaps would get lost in the shuffle. Not the case. Coach Alain Vigneault has used Edler as one of his top defenders for most of the season and the 2004 third-round pick continues to develop. He managed double-digit goals for the first time in his career, and also reached highs in assists and power-play scores.
Honorable mention among defensemen: Ryan Suter, Nashville (53 percent to 85 percent); Anton Babchuk, Carolina (2 percent from 36 percent); Fedor Tyutin, Columbus (12 percent to 61 percent); Christian Ehrhoff, San Jose (40 percent to 96 percent); Marc-Edouard Vlasic (9 percent to 86 percent); Denis Grebeshkov, Edmonton (2 percent to 31 percent); Chris Campoli (7 percent to 45 percent)
Starting Goalie
Steve Mason, G, Columbus
Ownership: Went from 3 percent to as high as 84 percent
Analysis: Mason likely deserves the honor of Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year. Had it not been for Pascal Leclaire's propensity for injury, Mason might still be stuck in the minors or in a backup role. But as fate has it, Leclaire went down early and the door was open for Mason, a 2006 third-round pick, to make a grand entrance. He has won 33 of 59 appearances and has a NHL-best 10 shutouts. With goalies being one of the most important, and at times toughest position to fill in Fantasy, being able to scoop a must-start option offer waivers is huge.
Backup Goalie
Pekka Rinne, G, Nashville
Ownership: Went from 10 percent to as high as 76 percent
Analysis: While he doesn't qualify for the Calder Trophy since he is 26 years old, Rinne is still has been one of the NHL's top rookies. After Dan Ellis struggled in net, Nashville turned to Rinne full-time in the second half of the season and the Finnish goalie didn't waver. He has won 29 of his 51 appearances, posted a 2.31 GAA, .919 save percentage and seven shutouts. Rinne has also been extremely successful in crunch time for Fantasy owners. Since February, he has won 18 of his 28 appearances.
Honorable mention among goalies: Chris Mason, St. Louis (20 percent from 63 percent); Nikolai Khabibulin, Chicago (34 percent to 79 percent); Brian Elliott, Ottawa (2 percent to 49 percent); Tim Thomas, Boston (59 percent to 87 percent); Dwayne Roloson, Edmonton (12 percent to 68 percent); Scott Clemmensen (0 percent to 79 percent); Jonas Hiller (12 percent to 48 percent); Ty Conklin (34 percent to 79 percent); Jonathan Quick (0 percent from 50 percent)
You can e-mail us your Fantasy Hockey questions to DMFantasyPucks@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Waiver Wire in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.
