Along with the old hockey adage that goes if you head to the net, good things will happen is the one that says the more you shoot, the better chance you’ve got of putting the biscuit in the basket. Certain players tend to be better at this than others and while Europeans are usually the ones to shoot first and ask questions later, (Alexander Ovechkin, Petr Sykora), there are more than a few Canadians who cleave to this philosophy (Jarome Iginla, Martin St. Louis). If shots-on-goal are a category that’s counted in your league, here are a few skaters with itchy trigger fingers who still might be available.
SICK SHOOTERS
Patric Hornqvist (LW, NAS) – Currently toiling away on the fourth line, Patric Hornqvist is making the most of his time putting 74 pucks on the net through 22 games. One of the Preds’ potentially big stars set to slide into the slot filled by current snipers Jason Arnott and Steve Sullivan once they’ve moved on, Hornqvist’s value in considerably higher in the future, although those in need of a SOG quick fix are encouraged to take a flyer on the 22-year-old Swede.
Rotislav Olesz (LW, FLA) – Currently leading his team in the SOG category with 66, there’s lots to like about Rotislav Olesz beyond how much he’s letting the puck fly. He’s skating on the second line alongside Radek Dvorak and the red-hot and rejuvenated Steven Reinprecht in addition to skating up front with his linemates on the second power play unit.
New York Islanders' Richard Park, center, celebrates teammate Matt Moulson's (not shown) goal shot past Atlanta Thrashers' goalie Ondrej Pavelec (31), of the Czech Republic, as Thrashers' Zach Bogosian. right, looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
Lee Stempniak (RW, TOR) – A year ago, Lee Stempniak was with the St. Louis Blues skating on one of the league’s youngest lines alongside David Backes and Jay McClement. After becoming a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs following a trade for Alexander Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo, the product of Dartmouth College is playing his first full season for the Leafs as a third liner who is second on the team with 71 SOGs to go with his eleven points and one game-winning goal.
Richard Park (RW, NYI) – Even though his -11 plus/minus is a bit of a liability, Richard Park is the kind of scrappy player with a nose for the net that’s yielded him 50 SOGs. Park’s value is at an all-time high as he’s currently skating on the first line alongside the Islanders’ team-leading goal scoring pair of Matt Moulson and John Tavares. Hold onto the former Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick until he gets demoted.
Jochen Hecht (LW, BUF) – Currently leading a very winning Buffalo Sabres squad with 57 SOGs, Jochen Hecht has still only managed to pot a pair of goals with one being a game-winner. That said, Hecht is a fixture on the second line alongside Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly in addition to being on the second power-play unit. So for anyone with a deep roster, the West German native is worth a gamble as the points will start flowing given how many pucks he’s putting on net.
DL DEBUTS
Alexander Semin (RW, WAS) – Nailed by defenseman Keith Ballard in the middle of his taking a shot during a November 6th 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers, Alexander Semin skated away from this encounter with an injured right wrist. Having tried to play through the pain, Semin was wisely pulled from the Caps’ lineup and while he’s currently doing off-ice training, there is no timetable set for his return.
Niklas Kronwall (D, DET) – The latest casualty to land on the Detroit Red Wings disabled list, Niklas Kronwall’s trip to the IR was courtesy of a knee-on-knee hit delivered by Montreal Canadians goon Georges Laraque. And while Laraque ends up serving a five-game suspension, Kronwall will be out up to eight weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee.
Brent Burns (D, MIN) – The Minnesota Wild lost its best defenseman when what was initially thought to be a mere illness instead ended up being diagnosed as a concussion. Thought to have happened during a November 18th tilt against the Phoenix Coyotes, Burns joins teammates Petr Sykora and Pierre-Marc Bouchard on the IR, all of who have concussions and are out indefinitely.
Aaron Asham (RW, PHI) – A recent beneficiary of a promotion from the fourth line to the second line alongside Mike Richards and Simon Gagne, Aaron Asham got sidelined by a strained oblique muscle while going against his former team, the New Jersey Devils. Asham is targeting December 3rd as his return date.
Jay McKee (D, PIT) – Even though the return of formidable Pittsburgh Penguins D-line presence Sergei Gonchar is on the horizon, fellow defenseman Jay McKee was recently felled by an infected finger. With McKee out until mid-December, the Pens are dealing with currently being without five of their top six defensemen.
Denis Grebeshkov (D, EDM) – The Edmonton Oilers’ scoring takes a major hit after mobile blue-liner Denis Grebeshkov went down with a torn MCL in his left knee during the waning minutes of a 3-1 November 11th loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Oilers will miss Grebeshkov’s offensive skills, (he put up 10 points in 19 games), and the 2002 Los Angeles Kings first-round draft pick won’t be back until mid-December.
Ryan Smyth (LW, LA) – Speaking of the Los Angeles Kings, they possessed one of the league’s hottest lines this season. But now Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams will have to make do with Alexander Frolov as veteran winger Ryan Smyth will be out for a month with an undisclosed upper body injury. Up until that point, Smyth had been lighting it up with nine goals and 23 points in 22 games.
Brian Gionta (RW, MON) – In addition to R1N1, the injury du jour for this current hockey season seems to be the broken foot. The Montreal Canadians were dealt quite a blow when a recent X-ray and MRI revealed a shot Brian Gionta blocked during the third period of a November 3rd game against the Atlanta Thrashers had fractured hiss foot. The former New Jersey Devil thought it was a bruise and tried skating through the pain until it became too much. He’s ended up with indefinite stay on the IR.
WAIVER WIRE FLIERS
Anton Stralman (D, CLS) – Even though Anton Stralman and partner Fedor Tyutin are buried on the depth chart as the third defensive pairing for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the twosome are manning the blueline on the second powerplay unit. Stralman has responded with nine of his thirteen points coming on the PP.
Dan Cleary (RW, DET) – One of my perennial favorites, Dan Cleary always seems to find his way into the Top 6 mix despite not being a household name a la Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk. Currently sharing a line with Zetterberg and Ville Leino, Cleary is making the most of his opportunity to shine by recently heating up and snaring three goals, six points, a +5 plus/minus and four PIMS in a recent six-game stretch.
Owen Nolan (LW, MIN) – The product of Belfast, Ireland, Owen Nolan continues to provide leadership for a Minnesota Wild squad looking to emerge from the defensive team mindset cast by former coach Jacques Lemaire. A Special Teams fixture, the top six winger is on a five-point tear in a recent six-game span where he’s scored four goals and an assist including a pair against the New York Islanders on November 20th, one of which was the game-winner.
Mason Raymond (LW, VAN) – When Daniel Sedin went down with a fractured foot earlier this season, Mason Raymond picked up the offensive slack after he was promoted to the first line by tickling the twine five times and putting up 10 points in an eight-game stretch. And while Sedin’s recent return could mean either a demotion to the second line or find the 2005 second round draft pick taking Ryan Kesler’s slot alongside the Sedin twins, Raymond remains a very solid fantasy option.
Jarkko Ruutu (LW, OTT) – One of the more effective fourth liners in the NHL, Jarkko Ruutu is a highly effective pest that can bring some value across numerous categories. He’s already been good for 48 PIMs, 4 goals, 5 helpers and a short-handed point and game-winning goal apiece. Ruutu is most effective in small doses and particularly when the Ottawa Senators have a stretch of games. Chalk up the week that ends on November 29th as being one of those times as the Sens lace ’em up four times.
