Here are a few players that may be a worthwhile stash due to injury or rumor:

1. Mats Sundin
Rumors are swirling that Sundin is close to making a decision on what team he will return to action with. I understand that we’ve heard this for the past 6 months, however, this timetable was decided upon earlier this summer and it looks to be holding true. Wherever he ends up, he’ll be a factor for sure, so if you can afford to take a little chance, stash him now and sit on him. Don’t expect him to be playing until after the new year, so make sure that you are in a position to be able to sit on him for a few weeks. I’m placing all my chips on Vancouver.

2. Joe Sakic
Sakic will be out of the Avalanche lineup for the next 6 weeks with a herniated disc in his back. Now, you might be thinking to yourself “he’s getting up there in age so it’s not even worth it.” Oh contraire, mon fraire. Let’s say that he returns to action in early February. That brings us to week 18 of the fantasy season. For many leagues, playoffs start 5-6 weeks later, so anyone looking to make a push will need all the help that they can get. Enter Joe Sakic. When he finally suits up, he’s won’t be any lower than the 2nd line and he’ll see significant power play time. If you have an injured reserve spot that you’re not using right now, stash Sakic and look for him to help your team down the stretch.

3. Marian Gaborik
Gabby is approaching the quarter century mark in games missed this season and owners who drafted him in the 1st or 2nd round are just about fed up with this guy for sure. Now would be a perfect opportunity to make a play for him. The asking price certainly isn’t what it was a few months back, so it’s worth looking in to. I wouldn’t suggest a straight up trade. A 2 for 2 deal sounds like it would be more appropriate, so find the Gaborik owner in your league and see what you can get out of them. There isn’t any indication that Gaborik will be out for the season, so all you can do is sit on him until he returns if you’re able to acquire him.

4. Ryan Whitney
We’re getting closer to the return of Ryan Whitney, so those of you looking for a nice mid-season addition should add him now, stash him on IR and activate him when he returns to action in a few weeks. The Pens sure could use a little assistance offensively from the blue line as Alex Goligoski and Kristopher Letang have been decent fillers for Whitney and Gonchar but certainly aren’t producing to the level that Sergei and Ryan could have been. Tuck him away for a few weeks; you’ll have yourself a solid number one defender as a mid-season pickup.

5. Jeff Halpern
This may be a move that should only be considered by our managers in the deepest of leagues. Halpern finished the season last year on an absolute tear and not for nothing but Tampa doesn’t strike me as an organization that has their lines set in stone. With the recent departure of Radim Vrbata, it opens up an opportunity to work Halpern back in to the lineup without demoting a major offensive influence. Certainly in the deepest of leagues, free agency is relatively thin at this point in the season, so why not take a chance on Halpern to see if he picks up where he left off at the end of last season?