Assists are one of those key offensive categories that can doubly payoff if you end up with someone who logs regular time on the power play. Sure it’s easy to pile up the helpers if you’re fortunate enough to draft a Marc Savard, Joe Thornton or Henrik Sedin. Below are a few names that might still be lurking on your waiver wire and would be well worth taking a flyer on.
ASSIST MACHINES
Alex Tanguay (RW, TB) – It’s no secret that Alex Tanguay is underachieving since he pulled on a Tampa Bay Lightning sweater and at the same mark, is 13 points behind the 41-point pace in 50 games he had with Montreal last year. But for the time being, while currently calling Vincent Lecavalier and Ryan Malone linemates, 19 of his 27 points are assists. It also doesn’t hurt that Lecavlier is on the second power play unit with him alongside point-getting uber-pest Steve Downie.
Derek Morris (D, BOS) – After a brief stint with the New York Rangers last year, this season Derek Morris was signed by the Boston Bruins and is currently calling Zdeno Chara his defensive partner. In addition, Morris is manning the point on a second power play unit rounded out by Blake Wheeler, David Krejci, Mark Recchi and Johnny Boychuk. In the process, the blue-liner who is only owned by 11 percent of Yahoo users racked up 18 helpers, 11 of which came on special teams.
Martin Hanzal (C, PHO) – A fixture on the Phoenix Coyotes’ second line centering Petr Prucha and Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal has assisted on 18 goals. And while Hanzal may not be logging any PP time, he more than pays off in the PIM department with 64 through 51 games played to go with a tidy +2.
Frans Nielsen (C, NYI) – With the New York Islanders threatening to make a grab for their first playoff spot in three years, much of the credit can go to the core of young talent GM Garth Snow has cultivated. Center Frans Nielsen is one such player, displaying a knack for setting up his teammates with 17 helpers to his credit through 46 games, including a 3-assist effort during a Jan. 2, 6-5 shootout win over the Atlanta Thrashers.
Carolina Hurricanes' Sergei Samsonov, left, from Russia, Matt Cullen, top center, Tom Kostopoulos (29), and Aaron Ward (4) celebrate Cullen's goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010. Carolina won 4-2. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Matt Cullen (C, CAR) – Owned by only 6 percent of Yahoo users, Cullen is a speed demon who not only has 22 assists, (which is currently tied with San Jose Sharks stud Patrick Marleau), skating on a line with Sergei Samsonov and Tom Kostopoulos, but notched 3 points playing on the PK while unleashing 115 shots through 51 games, all while carrying a minus 1 while playing for a very up-and-down Carolina Hurricanes squad.
DL DEBUTS
Milan Hejduk (RW, COL) – The Colorado Avalanche’s leading scorer last season will be sidelined from two-to-four weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on Jan. 19. While he’s said he won’t lace up for his native Czech Republic in the upcoming Vancouver Games, Hejduk has an outside shot of skating for the Avs before the Olympic break.
Andrei Kostitsyn (LW, MON) – Out since Dec. 31 with a knee injury, Montreal Canadians winger Andrei Kostitsyn underwent knee surgery and is not expected back until late February.
Patrik Elias (LW, NJ) – After being carted off the ice following a brutal hit by Ryan Wilson during a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils in Colorado on Jan. 16, Patrik Elias was diagnosed with a concussion and will be out indefinitely.
David Clarkson (RW, NJ) – Even though the fractured leg David Clarkson ended up with earlier in the season had supposedly healed up, he promptly went back onto the disabled list after experiencing discomfort while skating. New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello has already stated the organization wants to be one hundred percent sure that Clarkson is healthy when he comes back, so as such he’s slated for an indefinite stay on the IR.
Teemu Selanne (RW, ANH) – Not unlike the unlucky Pascal Leclaire, the Finnish Flash has endured his share of freakish injury woes this season. After coming back from missing 17 tilts with a broken hand, Teemu Selanne ended up fracturing his jaw three games back during a 4-3 Jan. 13 win over the Boston Bruins. The Anaheim Ducks winger is shooting to be back by early February.
Chris Kunitz (LW, PIT) – For the Pittsburgh Penguins, the IR seems as if it has a revolving door on it, although not to the extent that last year’s Finals foes the Detroit Red Wings have been bitten by the injury bug. Winger Chris Kunitz is the latest Pen to get laid up. In his case, it’s from a torn abdominal muscle that he had surgically repaired in early January. A solid player who already racked up 20 points in the 30 games this season, Kunitz is expected back in early February.
Pascal Leclaire (G, OTT) – First it was a cracked cheekbone caused by an errant puck nailing him while he was sitting on the bench and now Pascal Leclaire is out indefinitely with a concussion. This time around it was friendly fire in the shape of a slapshot off the head delivered by teammate Mike Fisher during the Jan. 14 morning skate. To make matters worse, redhot backup Brian Elliot appears to have swiped the starting assignment.
