Mike Cammalleri, C, CGY
Being sidelined for the first few weeks of the NHL season meant that Cammalleri was left for dead in many leagues. However, he has returned with a vengeance, scoring four goals and three assists in the seven games since his return. The Flames have fallen back to earth after a scorching start, but remember that there is even fantasy value on the rebuilding teams. Cammalleri will continue to average at least 20 minutes of icetime, given the Flames' lack of NHL scoring options.
Carter Hutton, G, NSH
The Preds seem committed to Hutton as long as Pekka Rinne is sidelined, as Hutton has reeled off five consecutive starts. His numbers seem respectable (3-1-1-, 2.76 GAA, .914 SV%), so you could certainly do a lot worse if looking for a goalie from the waiver wire. Like as in, say, Cam Ward's replacement Justin Peters (0-5-0, 3.49 GAA, .890 SV%), a goalie I have avoided. For the record, Hutton's "backup" Magnus Hellberg has yet to make a start this season.
Jason Pominville, RW, MIN
I couldn't believe my luck when I saw Pominville, the NHL's First Star for the past week, there for the taking on my league's waiver wire. Six goals and eight points in his past four games made Pominville look very Ovechkin-like, whereas his current stat line makes him very Cy Young-like (see my tweet below from a few days ago - his record is now at 10-2).
Jason Pominville is an early Cy Young candidate (9-1).
— Ian Gooding (@Ian_Gooding) November 2, 2013
Robin Lehner, G, OTT
Lehner is only a short-term add as long as Craig Anderson is sidelined with a sore neck. He is confirmed to start Tuesday against Columbus (Goalie Post), so it only made sense that I handcuff him to Anderson. The good news for Anderson owners is that the injury doesn't seem to be as bad as it looked (watch below).
Dennis Wideman, D, CGY
True, the Flames don't have a ton of offense, so perhaps it makes sense that Wideman is third in team scoring with 10 points in 14 games. Plus how about this stat: Wideman is second in the NHL to only Ryan Suter with just over 28 minutes of icetime per game. These were the kind of minutes that Jay Bouwmeester was receiving before he was traded to St. Louis.
J.S. Giguere, G, COL
There are more important things in life than hockey, and for that matter, fantasy hockey. So would it not make sense for the Avalanche to let Semyon Varlamov take some time off and deal with his recent legal matter? If nothing else, the play of Giguere would allow the Avs to be in good hands while Patrick Roy's star pupil is away from the team. When he has been given the opportunity, Jiggy has found his old Mighty Ducks of Anaheim playoff form, posting an incredible 4-0-0 record with a 0.75 GAA and .977 SV%. Get him in whenever he plays and while the Avs are this hot.
Mika Zibanejad, C, OTT
We're starting to get into deep league pickup territory here. Zibanejad, the sixth pick overall in 2011 and one of the most difficult names to spell in the NHL, has points in four of six games since his callup from the AHL. Icetime may be an issue (14 minutes per game) playing behind centers Jason Spezza and Kyle Turris, but he's worth a flyer in anything bigger than a standard-sized league.
Tommy Wingels, C/RW, SJ
He has a name that sounds like an irritating cartoon character, but Wingels has been your friend if you're one of the few that has added him. A depth forward in San Jose with just under 15 minutes of icetime per game, Wingels already has ten points and a +8 this season, including points in each of his last three games. Wingels falls into the "don't expect this to last, but use him while he's hot" category.
Chris Higgins, LW, VAN
Injuries to numerous Canucks forwards have forced Higgins to a permanent role on the Canucks' top 6. With that, Higgins has averaged nearly 20 minutes of icetime with a very respectable five goals and three assists. Higgins is a marginal fantasy performer at best, but he makes a decent injury replacement for someone like Jeff Skinner or Teemu Selanne.
Have there been any other players that you have added that have helped you to early-season glory? Are there any players that I should have added to my team? Let us know below.
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