NHL Barometer: Fine On His Own

ROTOWIRE BAROMETER
Jan Levine, RotoWire Hockey Writer

This week's article includes a air of hot top centers, a winger in Colorado turning back the clock, Sid the Kid dealing with an illness, the top netminder in the Arch City down for a few weeks and a Calder Trophy candidate scratched twice in the past two weeks.

First Liners (Risers)

Ryan Getzlaf C, ANA - If there was any concern that Getzlaf would struggle without Corey Perry, he has alleviated any of them with his play lately. Getzlaf had a goal and an assist Friday, giving him 12 points his past seven games and 31 in 30 contests on the year. As we wrote in our recommendation following Friday's game: "Getzlaf's shooting percentage (11.8) is right around his career average (12.3), so look for him to push 30 goals and 80 points when the dust settles this season." If he somehow increases that number to the 15.2% shooting percentage he posted last year, 35 goals could be in reach.

Tyler Seguin, C, DAL - Coming into the season, there was question where Seguin should go in the first round and if he was a top-five draft spot candidate? If there were any doubts, Seguin has squashed them with his play to date. While Dallas has struggled, Seguin hasn't, notching nine goals and three assists his last 10 games, giving him 22 markers and 14 helpers on the season. At the pace he is on, last year's career-best 84 points may have just been a jumping off spot.

Wayne Simmonds, RW, PHI - Much of the focus this year in Philly has rightly been on Jakub Voracek, who has remained on fire. Simmonds, who got off to a hot start but then went through a slump, is back on the beam again. Simmonds scored again Saturday, giving him five goals his last five games and 13 in 29 contests for the year. He has just eight assists this year, but if he continues to score, especially on the power play, then his owners won't mind that much.

Alex Tanguay, LW, COL - Our pre-season outlook spelled out the issues surrounding Tanguay entering the season. "Tanguay had an injury-riddled campaign in 2013-14 with the Avalanche. Various ailments with his hip and, more seriously, his knee, limited him to just 16 contests that saw him tally a respectable four goals and seven assists." However, we felt that if he could earn a top-six role for Colorado, while he wouldn't reach the heights he had of the Sakic-Forsberg days, he could be a useful piece. Tanguay has been up-and-down, but he has been hot lately, notching eight points his last seven games and 19 in 27 this year.

Jiri Sekac, RW, MTL - Sekac was in-and-out of the lineup early on and then sat for several games from late-October into November. Since getting back in, Sekac has 11 points in 17 games and six in his last eight contests, including points in his last three while skating in the top-six for Montreal. Sekac was a highly-sought free agent this offseason, coming out of the KHL, but chose the Canadiens, who employ fellow Kladno native Tomas Plekanec. If Sekac can stick on the top-six, he would be worth a look in nearly all formats.

Kevin Klein, D, NYR - As many of the readers know, I am a huge Rangers fan, so the Klein acquisition for Michael Del Zotto is hailed a huge steal in New York. Even if wasn't a Blueshirts fan, Klein would warrant a mention here. His game-winning goal Monday in overtime against Pittsburgh gave him six goals on the season, a career-high. When you add in four assists, a plus-nine rating, 46 hits and 44 blocked shots, you have a defenseman stuffing the stat sheet. While I don't expect the offense to continue, Optimus Klein should continue to add value to the other categories for those who use them in their leagues.

Brent Burns, D, SJ - The debate about whether Burns should remain on D or move back to F continues to rage on in San Jose. While that argument will likely continue all year, the expectation is that Burns will remain on the blue line. His defensive play leaves a lot to be desired, but as long as he continues to rack up points, his owners will be happy. Burns has points in three of his last four games, giving him 24 in 31 games, putting him on a 63-point pace, well ahead of his career-high 48 set last year.

Sergei Bobrovsky, G, CMB - Heading into Saturday's game against the Penguins, Columbus and Bobrovsky have been red-hot. Many of figured that once the Blue Jackets got healthy, they would go on a roll, and that looks to be the case. The team and Bobrovksy have won five straight, during which the Bob has posted a 1.73 goals-against average and .949 save percentage. You were going to roll with him anyway, so now, you are reaping the benefits of a healthier Columbus squad.

Carey Price, G, MTL - Price augmented his fine numbers, stopping 44 of 46 shots in a 6-2 win over the Kings on Friday. That win, saves and two goals allowed gave him a 16-8-1 record, .922 save percentage and 2.38 goals-against average. Price had 34 wins last season and a career-best 38 in 2010-11, a pair of numbers that could very well fall this season.

Others include Tyler Bozak, Tyler Ennis, Ryan Kesler, Logan Couture, Sean Monahan, Brayden Schenn, Pavel Datsyuk, Evgeni Malkin, Joe Pavelski, Ryan Johansen, Sean Couturier, Nick Bjugstad, Johnny Gaudreau, Jaden Schwartz, Blake Comeau, Kris Versteeg, Filip Forsberg, Nick Foligno, Rick Nash, Rene Bourque, Jakub Voracek, James Neal, Matt Moulson, Nikita Kucherov, Max Pacioretty, Bobby Ryan, Kyle Palmieri, P.K. Subban, James Wisniewski, Hampus Lindholm, Erik Karlsson, Mark Streit, Shea Weber, Kevin Shattenkirk, Dougie Hamilton, Sami Vatanen, Kris Russell, Scott Darling, Niklas Backstrom, Michael Hutchinson, Jhonas Enroth, Jimmy Howard, Jonathan Bernier, Calvin Pickard, Frederik Andersen and Pekka Rinne.

Training Room (Injuries)

Sidney Crosby, C, PIT - Crosby sat out Friday and Saturday after being quarantined with what was eventually diagnosed as a case of the mumps. He will remain in quarantine until Wednesday, meaning that he will miss at least Monday's game as well. The Pens also play Thursday and Saturday.

Corey Perry, RW, ANA - Perry will miss about three more weeks with his sprained left knee. Originally, the injury was not believed to be severe but that clearly proved not to be the case. Perry had 43 goals last year, so his absence is a huge loss for the Anaheim offense, though as mention earlier, Getzlaf is doing his best to carry the team while Perry is out.

Corey Crawford, G, CHI - Crawford hits the trifecta, as he is profiled for the third straight week. Injured the last weekend of November, Crawford was to miss two-to-three weeks with a left foot injury suffered when he missed a step leaving a concert. It was announced Saturday that Crawford could return to action Tuesday against the Wild, as he is expected to increase his activities over the next couple of days. Chicago have received spectacular play from Scott Darling over the last three games while Antti Raanta has been a solid back up, so Crawford may be given a few extra days to make sure he is fully healthy.

Others include David Krejci (groin, inching closer to returning), Aleksander Barkov (hand, still sidelined), Stephen Weiss (shoulder, out a few days), Brandon Dubinsky (abdomen, returned to action Tuesday), Alexander Semin (LBI, IR), Scott Hartnell (broken finger Thursday, out two weeks), Leo Komarov (concussion, setback), Jamie McGinn (back, surgery, out the rest of the season), Johnny Boychuk (UBI, missed eight straight games, but practiced Saturday), Olli Maatta (UBI, out several weeks), John Gibson (groin, practicing lightly) and Semyon Varlamov (groin, out again after re-injuring it).

Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)

Mikael Backlund, C, MIN - Granlund had 21 points his last 25 games and 41 in 63 last season, causing many of us to believe that a continue breakthrough was coming from the Minnesota pivotman. Unfortunately, that has not proven to be the case, as Granlund now has just three goals and 12 points in 25 games, to go with a plus-4 rating through Friday's games. Granlund is still just 22-years old and is skating on the Wild's top line with Zach Parise and Jason Pominville, so that breakthrough could still be forthcoming. But for now, he might deserve a spot on your bench.

Andre Burakovsky, LW, WAS - Burakovsky, who had 12 points his first 15 games, hit the skids, with one in his next 10. That slump landed him in the press box for three straight games. Burakovsky got back in the lineup Saturday, but moved from center to left wing, as coach Barry Trotz liked what he saw from Michael Latta as the fourth-line pivot. If Burakovsky's struggles continue Saturday, he may end up a healthy scratch again.

Kevin Bieksa, D, VAN - Remember when Bieksa was a viable defenseman option in fantasy leagues? That last occurred in 2011-12 when he scored 44 points. Since then, in his 141 games through Friday, he has tallied just 41 points. If you were expecting some sort of rebound, you can be pretty confident that isn't happening.

Jonas Hiller, G, CGY - Hiller lost his fourth straight game Friday, allowing three goals on 22 shots against Pittsburgh. His overall numbers - 9-8-1, .912 save percentage and 2.50 goals-against average - are still solid, but he may be locked in a timeshare with Karri Ramo. If Ramo gets hot, Hiller could be on the short-end of that equation.

Others include Vincent Lecavalier, Thomas Vanek, Anthony Duclair, David Pastrnak, Ales Hemsky, Damien Brunner, Chris Kreider, Eric Gelinas, Jake Allen and Mike Smith.