No matter the depth of your fantasy hockey league, there are always players floating around that could be of service to any team. Browse your roster, have a look at your waiver wire and see if any of these players fit into your future plans:

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Have A Look

It’s important to stay on top of the waiver wire at all times in fantasy hockey and take advantage of every situation you possibly can to get ahead of your opponent. We’ll start in Carolina as 2 players stand out as immediate options for managers looking to fill a void at their wing. Erik Cole will likely rejoin the ‘Canes on Sunday after being shelved for almost a month with a leg injury. Cole and Staal have a tremendous amount of chemistry between the two of them and should be re-united to help get the team back on track. The Hurricanes did not place him on injured reserve until about a week ago, so managers who did not have the patience to wait around for the IR eligibility may have dropped him. Double check your waiver wire and make a play if he’s available. Also, take advantage of those managers who may have dropped Tuomo Ruutu because of his suspension. He’s a decent source for points and penalty minutes and should be owned in moderate to deep fantasy leagues.

Staying within the division, if you happened to use the advice we offered at the beginning of the summer when Steve Reinprecht was traded to the Panthers, you are probably pretty pleased with your decision to take him in the latter stages of your draft. Managers in moderate to deep fantasy leagues can probably still find Reinprecht on the waiver wire, but act fast as his natural hat trick in the first period the other night certainly drew some attention. Don’t expect him to drop below the 2nd line this season as he should chip in 35-45 points this season.

One player who has truly thrived in his new environment is Columbus center Antoine Vermette. He is playing as a top 6 right now and is seeing time on both the power play and penalty kill. Consider adding him if it’s in the cards. It’s also worth mentioning that R.J. Umberger is going to be bounced around in the top 6 as well as top center Derick Brassard is in Hitch’s doghouse right now.

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Taking advantage of an injury is critical in fantasy hockey. For those managers burned by the Ilya Kovalchuk injury (or even those managers looking for some savvy waiver wire pick-ups) may want to consider Evander Kane or Slava Kozlov to fill a left wing void on their team. Kane has been extremely impressive in his rookie campaign and is going to be asked to step up his game in Kovy’s absence. There’s a good chance he’s available in deep, year-to-year leagues, so consider making a play if it’s in the cards. Kozlov is finally picking up his game a little bit after an extremely slow start, so he may be flying off the waiver wire a little quicker than Kane. Kozlov is far more proven than Kane and could be the better long term option on the season, so if you’re in the market for a lefty, think Kozlov, then Kane.

Managers in the market for a defender may want to look towards Dmitry Kulikov or Brent Burns for some offensive help from the back end. Dmitry Kulikov was asked to stay with the team after the 9 game “tryout” and really has shown he’s capable of being a top offensive threat from the blue line. He’s seeing significant power play time right now, so if you’re in injury trouble with your defensemen, don’t hesitate to give Kulikov a look. Brent Burns seems to be living up to his offensive potential (for now), so if you’re looking for a stopgap defender, perhaps Burns will balance out your team. Also, it’s worth noting that Keith Yandle is warming up as well.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning Michael Grabner is still with the Canucks and is seeing significant time on the ice with power play responsibilities. Right wing is an ultra thin position, especially when you’re scouring the waiver wire, so if he’s still available, it may be worth making a play as he seems to be more NHL ready than his rookie counterpart Sergei Shirokov, who has been sent back down again.

Avoid The Hype

For those of you who thought David Legwand would be a great acquisition with the injury to Jason Arnott, you may want to change your strategy a bit. He still hasn’t scored yet this season and only has 2 assists. Center is a deep position; you can do a little better.

Rob Schremp had a promising start with the Islanders but finds himself as a healthy scratch with Frans Nielsen back in the lineup. This is becoming an all too common event for the shifty center. Look elsewhere.