This week the fantasy hockey waiver watch looks at players who may be available in your league and will potentially have an increased role due to recent injuries.
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Carter Hutton – Nashville Predators, Goalie 40% owned
Pekka Rinne has a hip infection that will force him out of the Predators crease for at least late December. That is a significant period of time and look to Hutton to be handed the ball over Magnus Hellberg. Hutton is 27 years old and more experienced in the pro’s and had a good season in the AHL last year posting a 26-22-1 record with a 2.72 GAA and a .908 save%. Aside from a single poor performance against the Blues on October 26 he has looked solid this season.
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Reilly Smith – Boston Bruins, Right Wing 26% Owned
Already playing frequently with Patrice Bergeron, with the injury to Louie Eriksson don’t expect Smith to be demoted any time soon. In ten games, Smith has one goal and five assists and a five game point streak. His cap hit is nice and low at $900k to boot. Last year during the lockout Smith posted an impressive 35 points in 45 games
Patrick Maroon - Anaheim Ducks , Left Wing 19% Owned
Jakub Silfverberg has a broken hand and will miss about a month of action. Maroon has been playing on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry and has four points in nine games now. Maroon has good size at 6’3” 229 LBS and a affordable cap hit of $575K and has four points in nine games.
Benoit Pouliot – New York Rangers, Left Wing 15% Owned
With injuries to both Rick Nash and Captain Ryan Callahan the Rangers will be looking to players like Pouliot to step up and provide some offense. Pouliot has not seen a regular set of line mates and only has two points in nine games but scored 20 points in 34 games last season in Tampa. His cap hit is $1.3 million, a little steep so he is a gamble.
James Sheppard – San Jose Sharks, Left Wing 4% Owned
While there is uncertainty regarding how long Brent Burns will be out with a mouth injury, it looks certain that Sheppard will be taking his position on a line with Joe Thornton and rookie sensation Tomas Hertl. In Sundays game in Ottawa, Sheppard had a goal and an assist and now has four points in 11 games and is an option in very deep leagues. Sheppard probably won’t be a long term option in keeper leagues but he is currently hot and can provide temporary help.