Fantasy Role Players: Plus/Minus

These players may help you gain an advantage in those specialty categories

Are you lagging behind or falling short each week in certain specialty categories? You may find some of these “hired guns” to be beneficial to your situation. I understand that managers, especially in shallower leagues, can ill afford to waste a roster spot for a player that’s only going to help them in one category. That’s why the players below are not only likely to be found on the waiver wire but should contribute to the specialty category that you need and then some.

To clarify, specialty categories are those like penalty minutes or short handed goals, shots, faceoffs, etc. Essentially, they are categories you usually don’t go out and try draft players for; they sort of come with the territory. If you draft Crosby for points, you acquire a player who takes a few more penalties than other star forwards. If you draft Mike Richards for points, you acquire a player who is a short handed threat. This “Fantasy Role Players” series will give you some ideas of players that still may be available in your league via waiver wire or a low buy that not only address a specific specialty category but who will contribute to other categories as well. A well rounded fantasy player, if you will.

Plus/Minus

If you’re looking to improve your +/- rating, consider the following players as waiver wire options in most league formats. These players are multi-purposeful in a fantasy sense and can certainly help you in several other categories as well.

Willie Mitchell – Vancouver Canucks – +13
Mitchell gained considerable fantasy appeal when Alexander Edler and Kevin Bieksa were both out with injuries. Both defenders have since returned, however, Mitchell still remains a legitimate option to help improve a shaky plus/minus rating. He’ll be a top 4 pairing with either Edler, Bieksa or Ohlund and should chip in a few points here and there. On top of that, he also has 27 penalty minutes on the season, so he certainly is worth consideration if you are willing to run an extra defender or replace a defender who has not lived up to your expectations.

Kris Versteeg – Chicago Blackhawks – +11
Versteeg has been a pleasant surprise for the Hawks so far this season. He currently sits 3rd on the team in points, 3rd on the team in goals and 3rd on the team in assists. On top of that, he has a +11 rating and is at a somewhat thin left wing position. He certainly should be worth consideration since he’s factoring in to much of the scoring on a high flying Blackhawk team and the +/- is a nice added bonus.

Patrick O’Sullivan – Los Angeles Kings – +10
O’Sullivan was ranked fairly high heading into most drafts this season and those who drafted him with high expectations may have been slightly disappointed with his output within the first 2 months of the season. O’Sullivan cooled off considerably after a nice start which may have caused managers to bail on the up and coming prospect. If this is the case in your league, you may want to consider making the add. We know that Kings are synonymous with terrible +/- ratings, however, he has found a way to maintain a respectable +10 rating. On top of that, he’s a serious offensive threat and will be shuffled between the first and second line all season. He’s starting to pick up his game once again, so consider making a play before he gets back on track.

Milan Lucic – Boston Bruins – +10
Like I mentioned in the penalty minutes article, Lucic is turning in to one of the most well rounded fantasy players on the market, and there may be a good chance that he is available in your league. 6 goals, 9 helpers, +10 and 53 penalty minutes makes Milan a hot commodity in shallow to moderate sized leagues. If he’s out there, jump all over him.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic – San Jose Sharks – +11
Vlasic is a young defender who is making the best of playing behind Dan Boyle and Rob Blake in San Jose. He has 14 points and is a +11 rating on the year. Both his +/- and point totals should continue to increase playing on a potent San Jose Shark team and he would certainly pick up the slack if the ageless Rob Blake goes down at any point this season.

Blake Wheeler – Boston Bruins – +12
We pegged Blake Wheeler as nasty sleeper before the season began and it looks like the hype surrounding him is holding true. While Wheeler may not see top line, or even 2nd line consideration this year, don’t expect him to be just another 3rd or 4th line flyer. The Bruins have all 4 lines contributing this season and while Wheeler has Kobasew, Kessel and Ryder in front of him on that right side, he still manages to point on an every-other game pace. He is a right winger which is probably the thinnest position when it comes to quality fantasy players this year, so if he’s available, consider making a play for him.

Jakub Voracek – Columbus Blue Jackets – +7
Be careful if you consider picking up Jakub Voracek. Yes, he’s a dynamite talent and yes, he has played well so far this season, however, Ken Hitchcock seems to be switching up his lines weekly and Voracek has already been the victim of Hitch’s uncertainty. He has been shuffled from the 2nd line, up to the 1st line and then back to the 3rd line already this season. We know he can score and plays extremely efficiently with Derick Brassard, however, they are not playing together at the moment. Voracek may only be helpful to those managers looking to boost their +/- in deeper leagues at this point in time but is certainly a player to throw on your watch list.