This week we are going to get into a time machine and travel back to the year 2011. Not really, but given the three players who warrant discussion to start things off, it's going to feel like that. A couple of returns from injury and a concerning injury to a top netminder means it's throwback Friday for the Forecaster this week.
Stephen Weiss, F, Detroit Red Wings: The last time Weiss was worthy of your fantasy roster it was the start of the 2011-12 season when he, Tomas Fleischmann and Kris Versteeg were lighting up the league for the Florida Panthers. Since then, Weiss has been battling injuries. He finally returned to the Red Wings' lineup this week and we are talking about him because he had three goals and four points in two games, with barely 10 minutes of ice time in each contest. Weiss got the first two goals on Monday with Tomas Jurco and Darren Helm, and then the next two points on Wednesday with Helm and Pavel Datsyuk. Clearly there is a role for Weiss to produce points with the Red Wings, especially if he sticks with a star like Datsyuk as a linemate. The trouble is that with a healthy roster, there isn't quite enough ice time to go around for all the deserving forwards with the Red Wings. There is upside here and if you are currently carrying a player such Jussi Jokinen, Carl Soderberg or Brendan Gallagher -- a player who contributes, but doesn't have much upside -- it's certainly worth taking a shot on Weiss instead. You can always come back and pick up another Chris Higgins, Mikkel Boedker or Tyler Ennis type of player later.
Mike Fisher, F, Nashville Predators: Fisher isn't about upside, but rather consistency. Making his debut Thursday following an offseason Achilles tendon injury, Fisher skated on a line with three natural centers, alongside Derek Roy and Olli Jokinen. While you may be tempted to go back to Fisher as the steady and unexciting 50-point player we could always depend on, things are different now. The Predators used to feature Fisher as arguably the most offensively talented forward that the team had. Now that title certainly belongs to Filip Forsberg or James Neal, with Mike Ribeiro easily counted as the top centerman. Fisher's days of getting enough points to warrant a spot in most leagues are likely through with the uptick in overall talent surrounding him.
Martin Brodeur, G, St. Louis Blues (maybe): Brodeur certainly isn't going quietly into the night. It appears as though he was chomping at the bit for an opportunity to swoop in once a top starter was hurt and, based on his quotes, it's surprising he didn't pull a groin jumping at the chance. With Brian Elliott being considered week-to-week for the Blues, Brodeur will work out with the team this weekend in hopes of being signed to back up Jake Allen in the crease. While it is true that Brodeur is one of the best all-time NHL goaltenders, Allen is one of the best up-and-coming young goaltenders of the future. With a .920 save percentage this season, Allen is coming off a campaign as the top goaltender in the AHL. He can easily handle the workload and should absolutely shine with a starter's mantle. Frankly, Allen probably was already handcuffed by Elliott's owner in deeper leagues. If he is available, he should be the top target, not Brodeur. Yes, it's definitely worth a gamble in goalie-starved deeper fantasy leagues to pick up Brodeur, but you shouldn't be breaking the bank or burning a top waiver spot for him. Allen can handle this situation.
Looking for skaters
Florida Panthers: The Panthers have four games next week, including two against the Columbus Blue Jackets and one against the Buffalo Sabres. With the Blue Jackets currently allowing the third most shots per game during the past three weeks and the Sabres only recently turning the corner on preventing goals, this looks like an opportunity to deploy some of the Panthers who have been languishing on your bench or your league's waiver wire.
No, not sophomore Aleksander Barkov or rookie Aaron Ekblad. The connection right now is on the top line between Nick Bjugstad and Jonathan Huberdeau. With Bjugstad playing like the strong top-line center he will be for years to come and Huberdeau finally finding a way to perform with his coach from junior hockey behind him on the bench, this is likely a combination that the Panthers will try to exploit for now and the future. In fact, Bjugstad's eight goals and 12 points in 20 games can be argued as pretty close to meeting the minimum standards of ownership in even shallow fantasy leagues. Huberdeau has six points in six games since finding a groove with Bjugstad. If you are looking to gamble in deeper leagues, Brandon Pirri is currently the third member of the line at even strength and on the power play.
San Jose Sharks: This recommendation comes with some trepidation, because no one is scoring all that well for the Sharks lately. That said, it's a four-game week and the Sharks catch some easier defenses, including the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers. As much as he hasn't come all that strongly recommended in this space this season, Tomas Hertl looks like a decent substitute starter for next week. He is playing on a line with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and showed signs of offense with four shots on goal against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday. Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski are playing with Matt Nieto, for what it's worth. Brenden Dillon also has been playing on the top pairing with Brent Burns since coming over via trade, which could mean some hot streaks are ahead.
Tampa Bay Lightning: The embarrassment of riches that is the Lightning depth chart is a bit of a headache for fantasy owners, especially with a carousel of players coming and going from Steven Stamkos' side. This week, Valtteri Filppula was dropped from the first line to the third and Alex Killorn was promoted. That means that Killorn is a commodity to own headed into a four-game week with the Buffalo Sabres on the docket twice. Killorn has points in six straight games.
Also be sure to activate Victor Hedman, who is on track to return to the ice this weekend.
Looking for goaltending
Calvin Pickard, G, Colorado Avalanche: With Semyon Varlamov out with a groin injury for a still undetermined period of time and Reto Berra allowing goals as if that is what he is supposed to be doing rather than preventing them, Pickard has been the Avs' only option. And thankfully, he's been absolutely solid. Pickard picked up two wins without allowing a goal on 42 shots in relief of Berra, then stopped 42 of 45 shots in a loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He'll be the man until Varlamov returns and, should you need goaltending help, makes a solid speculative start next week against the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets.
Viktor Fasth, G, Edmonton Oilers: If you need a goaltender, Fasth has pretty much nailed down the starter's gig for the Oilers for the time being. He doesn't have great numbers overall, but certainly has outperformed Ben Scrivens by a wide margin. Wins might be hard to come by overall, but next week features the three teams scoring 2.5 goals per game or fewer this season.
Avoid if you can
Montreal Canadiens: Actually, wait, don't avoid all Canadiens. They do have four games this week and you should start the players you normally start. However, because the team has four games this week you might be tempted to go off the beaten path a little with some of the players. Don't. The Habs are on the road for all four games and face some recently hot and generally awesome defenses in the Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars. The extra game will be negated by the quality of the opposition.
Quick hits
• The Kings have been playing the line shuffle lately to try to get some assets going. Anze Kopitar played with Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli on Wednesday. That left Marian Gaborik with Jeff Carter and Mike Richards. The real story might be the stabilizing play of Justin Williams on the third line, though. We tipped you off a couple weeks ago about his impending improvement. He now has a six-game point streak playing with Dustin Brown and Jarret Stoll.
• David Booth and Joffrey Lupul are being eased back into the lineup, as both barely played 10 minutes each Wednesday. They will move up the depth chart as soon as Leo Komarov and Mike Santorelli cool off, which will be sooner than later. Booth and Lupul are both logical top-six forwards for the Leafs, though Booth will have to earn his keep quickly after his recent campaigns. They are both interesting bench pickups in deeper leagues, especially Lupul.
• Based on recent performances, if you are relying on Craig Anderson for your goaltending numbers, Robin Lehner needs to be handcuffed to him now. He's been the better goalie going back two weeks.
• It doesn't matter that we haven't heard of him much before the past two weeks, John Klingberg's numbers since joining the Dallas Stars are too good to ignore.
Infirmary
Roberto Luongo, G, Florida Panthers: Luongo's upper-body injury will keep him out of the crease Friday, but is said not to be long term. Based on the tone of quotes from the team, there is no reason to consider Al Montoya more than a spot start Friday for the time being.
Ryan McDonagh, D, New York Rangers: McDonagh can't return soon enough to the Rangers, who have struggled to get scoring from the point in his absence. That said, Dan Boyle and McDonagh will be healthy for the first time together this season and it will be important to see how they are deployed, especially with the man advantage.