This early in the season, it’s always fun to gamble with rookies. And while obvious ones like John Tavares, Matt Duchene and Victor Hedman were snatched up during most drafts, it’s always the diamond-in-the-rough sleepers like last season’s Kris Versteeg and Derek Brassard (before he was hurt) who end up being difference-makers. We start off this week’s column with a few young bucks that might just fill that role in 2009-2010.
RIGHTEOUS ROOKIES
Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Jonas Gustavsson reacts after the Calgary Flames scored three quick goals during first-period NHL hockey game action on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in Toronto. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Nathan Denette)
Jonas Gustavsson (G, TOR) – The beneficiary of a free agent bidding war during the off-season, Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson landed in Toronto and succeeded in wresting the starting job away from incumbent Vesa Toskala. While the Maple Leaf’s spotty defense and Gustavsson’s need to adjust to the NHL from international play has meant The Monster’s play has been spotty at times, the return of sniper Phil Kessel might be enough impetus for more W’s for both the Leafs and Gustavsson. In the meantime, he remains a good pick-up for owners in need of netminding help.
James van Riemsdyk (LW, PHI) – Dinged up as James van Riemsdyk might be with a broken pinkie finger and a tussle with the flu, he’s been flourishing on the first line and second power-play unit with Jeff Carter and Danny Briere. In thirteen games, the New Jerseyite has responded with 15 points, a +7 plus/minus rating and two game-winning goals.
Niclas Bergfors (RW, NJ) – I try to avoid repeating myself in this column and I know I was touting Niclas Bergfors in last week’s Waiver Wire Flyer section, but Bergfors is just too good to overlook. Even with the return of scoring machine Patrik Elias to the New Jersey Devils lineup, the Swedish rookie hasn’t missed a step. He is 3-5-8 in the last six games and 1-4-5 in the last two as of Nov. 14th. He is a must-add to your squad.
Jason Demers (D, SJ) – The temporary loss of Rob Blake to a shoulder injury ended up being to Jason Demers benefit. Skating alongside partner Marc-Edouard Vlasic as the San Jose Sharks’ second defensive pairing, Demers has also found himself playing on the first power-play unit across from elite D-liner Dan Boyle. The pride of Dorval, Quebec recently scored the first goal of his 22-game career during a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks to go with his 11 helpers.
Semyon Varlamov (G, WAS) – Not unlike fellow rookie puck-stopper Jonas Gustavsson, Semyon Varlamov has been quietly stealing starts away from a veteran incumbent, in this case a struggling Jose Theodore. Varlamov has made his case to be the Washington Capitols number one starter by posting a 7-1 record with a .912 save percentage and 2.67 goals against average through nine games.
DL DEBUTS
Mike Knuble (RW, WAS) – Just as superstar teammate Alexander Ovechkin was slated to get back in the Washington Capitols lineup following an injury layoff, off-season free agent signing Mike Knuble ended up getting surgery for a broken finger. Suffered during a first period power-play 3-1 win over the Minnesota Wild, Knuble’s injury occurred after he crashed the net and defenseman Marek Zidlicky knocked him over goalie Josh Harding. Knuble won’t be back for another three or four weeks.
Chris Kunitz (LW-C, PIT) – Not unlike Knuble, Chris Kunitz is heading to the disabled list as yet another elite Russian player, (Evgeni Malkin), returns to active duty. Kunitz is finally giving in to a nagging lower-body injury that will keep him out for two weeks. Rookie Mark Letestu was called up from Wilkes-Barre of the AHL to fill his slot.
Doug Weight (C, NYI) – One of the few veteran voices on this rookie-laden Islanders squad, Doug Weight has only played in 11 of 17 games this season due to a strained groin and a bout of the H1N1 virus. This stint on the IR is courtesy of an upper-body injury that will keep Weight off of skates for the next four-to-six weeks.
Brooks Orpik (D, PIT) – Injuries continue to mount for Pittsburgh, with Brooks Orpik joining Kunitz, Tyler Kennedy, Maxime Talbot and fellow blue-liners, Alex Goligoski, Sergei Gonchar and Kristopher Letang on the DL. Pens fans can thank Boston Bruins Mark Stuart for laying on the check that resulted in a lower-body injury that will keep Orpik out two weeks.
Dave Bolland (C, CHI) – Back problems dating back to last season finally forced Dave Bolland to go under the knife to deal with his herniated disc. Expect the second line center to be out three to four months and while Coach Joel Quenneville says he’ll handle the vacancy “by committee,” former Red Wing Tomas Kopecky is filling Bolland’s vacancy.
Kristopher Letang (D, PIT) – Adding injury to the insult of being shutout 5-0 by the San Jose Sharks, the Pittsburgh Penguins also had to deal with Kristopher Letang being felled by a shoulder contusion that will keep him out two weeks..
Brandon Dubinsky (C, NYR) – By now it’s old news that the Dion Phaneuf shot Brandon Dubinsky blocked during the Blue Shirts’ loss to the Calgary Flames ended up breaking his wrist. With Dubinsky laid up until Christmas, Vinnie Prospal is centering the first line and Smithtown’s Christopher Higgins is being converted from wing to center, a position he hasn’t played since juniors.
Petr Sykora (RW, MIN) – Even though the bell ringing Petr Sykora got from Steve Ott during a November 7th 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars is being called day-to-day, in reality, this concussion means the Czech sniper is out indefinitely, as is the case with injuries of this nature.
Mike Komisarek (D, TOR) – The West Islip native will be earning his five-year/$22.5 million dollar contract on the sidelines after getting a small tear in his quadriceps muscle after colliding with the Red Wings’ Todd Bertuzzi during a November 7th tilt against Detroit. Komisarek tried playing through the pain in the following game against the Minnesota Wild, but will instead be out until early December.
WAIVER WIRE FLYERS
Jimmy Howard (G, DET) – Already slated to play 30 games as a means of resting number one netminder Chris Osgood for Detroit’s annual playoff run, Jimmy Howard has been starting more frequently with Osgood down-for-the-count with what else? The flu. Howard has racked up four wins in the past five games, contributing a 4-2-1 record and a 2.85 GAA. With the potent Red Wings offense heating up, he’ll have a better-than-average shot at adding to that win total when he’s between the pipes. He’s a good temporary fix for anyone needing netminding help, otherwise Osgood owners should pick Howard up as a handcuff.
Wayne Simmonds (RW, LA) – Originally slotted to take Justin Williams’ place on the first line after the former wound up injured, Wayne Simmons subsequently landed on the second line alongside Michal Handzus and Alexander Frolov. During the eleven games spent bouncing between both lines, Simmonds responded with six points and a whopping 20 minutes in PIMs.
David Jones (RW, COL) – A former standout at Dartmouth, David Jones plays far beyond his otherwise homogenous name. Rebounding from last year’s season-ending shoulder surgery, Jones is skating on the first line alongside Paul Statsny and Wojtek Wolski. Even though he’s not seeing power-play time, he’s put up 10 points through 16 games with his special teams expertise coming on the PK. Jones has scored a pair of short-handed goals as well as two game-winners.
Shawn Thornton (LW, BOS) – This Boston Bruins fourth-line fixture may have only three points on the season, but he’s a PIM king that’s rocked 42 overall penalty, with 19 having come in the past three games as of Nov. 14th. Shawn Thornton is a quick fix in an easily manipulated category.
Maxim Afinogenov (RW, ATL) – Last season, Maxim Afinogenov became a pariah to both Buffalo Sabres fans and coach Lindy Ruff after the sniper only tickled the twine six times in 48 games. Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell gambled and offered Afinogenov a tryout contract and ended up making the team out of camp. Currently skating on the first line and primary powerplay unit alongside Captain Ilya Kovalchuk and fellow free agent Nik Antropov, the Russian right winger has found his scoring touch again scoring seven goals, 10 assists and putting 41 shots on goal.
