Fantasy Prospect Pick Up Of The Week

He not only leads all rookies in scoring, but Michael del Zotto (pictured courtesy Getty Images) has the most points among all blueliners as well. With a goal Monday night, he now has 4 lamp lighters to go along with 5 helpers. His 9 points are 2 more than former London knight teammate John Tavares.

All of this is pretty impressive for a guy who didn’t get an invite to Canada’s world junior summer evaluation camp. That’s right the NHL’s top scoring rookie and defenceman wasn’t being considered for the world junior team this summer, and I don’t think it was because they were expecting him to crack the rangers line up and be unavailable.

Del Zotto played his 9th game Monday night, and with 3 ppg’s one game winner and a plus 2 rating, it’s safe to assume his show on Broadway will run for the whole season. Especially the way he’s been quarterbacking man advantage on the club with the most power play goals in the league.

And that’s why Michael del Zotto is my fantasy prospect pick up of the week.

Fantasy Prospect Pick Up Of The Week

On a team that’s last in the western conference and hoping it’s bingo ball comes up with the number one pick this June, there is a bright spot for St. Louis Blues fans, and fantasy owners.

Despite the Blues being 4 games under .500 and the fact they’ve given up the 2nd most goals Patrick Berglund has flourished under Head Coach Andy Murray.

Berglund is tied for 3rd in rookie scoring with 30 points. His 14 goals sits him 2nd. While his amazing plus 13 on a losing team is also 3rd among first year skaters and leads the team.

The Swede has tremendous size standing 6’4”, it took him just 3 games to score his first NHL goal and will go down in history as the man who notched goal number 10,000 in Blues history. It should be just the beginning of St. Louis milestones that the 25th overall pick from 2006 will be a part of.

Patrick Berglund is my fantasy hockey prospect pick up of the week.

Fantasy Prospect Pick Up Of The Week

This week I couldn't ignore one guy who you will likely have to trade for and wanted to give a heads up about someone who might be still available on the free agent market.

It seems that Bobby Ryan is finally starting to make the Anaheim Ducks look smart for drafting him 2nd overall, behind Sidney Crosby, in 2005.

Ryan is sizzling right now with 26 points in 26 games heading into action Tuesday, and 12 of those points are goals, including a wicked hatty last Friday.

But before you say it’s about time he made an impact, consider that he would have made the team out of training camp in Anaheim, if the Ducks weren’t in such cap hell to start the year.

Ryan has had 6 multi point games this year, including 3 - 3 point nights.

For those in leagues with in depth stats, Ryan is plus 11 with only 3 games where he’s registered a minus, has 5 ppg, and 2 game winners.

To be fair to Ryan, only 7 players after Crosby and Ryan from the first round in 2005 have played atleast 70 games, and the way the New Jersey native is tearing it up right now, it looks like that list will grow to 8.

Bobby Ryan is one of my fantasy hockey draft prospect pick up of the week.

Even though he's cooled off quite a bit lately with 0 points in 7 games, Matt Hunwick is a guy you should look at scooping up.

The Boston rookie blueliner has 15 points in 31 games and is plus 13 with 21 penalty minutes.

The 7th round pick from 2004 played at Michigan and has only played 55 games in the
minors.

His point streak from November 17-28 tied for the longest in team history for a rookie D-man, previously set by Ray Bourque in 1980.

So there you have it, 2 choices to help you now or in the future for your fantasy hockey team.

Fantasy Prospect Pick Up Of The Week

This week I'm looking a bit longer into the future, but I think he'll be a solid NHLer. Jonathan Blum has dealt with more personal adversity than most young kids should. His twin sister died in a house fire in 2004, a year later his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Some pretty heavy stuff for a teenager. The fact that he was named captain of the Vancouver Giants and team USA at the WJC this year, tells you what kind of character he is.

As for his on ice work, it's been spectacular. Last year he notched 18 goals, already this year he has 14. Blum became the first ever Californian to be drafted in the first round of the NHL. He's smart and makes great choices with and without the puck. He does need to get bigger and stronger, but that will come when he's no longer a teenager.

He also knows how to win, as he was a member of Vancouver's Memorial Cup championship on home ice in 2007.

If you have room on your roster for a long term prospect, Jonathan Blum is a great choice, and that's why he's my choice as fantasy prospect pick of the week.

Fantasy Prospect Pick Up Of The Week

Last year Pascale Leclaire established himself as a number one goaltender with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Leclarie recorded 24 wins, with a 2.25 goals against average and a .919 save percentage with 9 shut outs. He also played with team Canada at the world championship held in Quebec and Halifax.

However Leclaire might be getting unseated by another former team Canada pipeman, and it wouldn't be the first time Steve Mason has stolen the #1 job. He did it to Jonathon Bernier last year at the World Junior championship, leading Canada to a gold medal.

This year in Columbus,(heading into Tuesday night) Mason has started 7 of the Blue Jackets games winning 4 of them. The NHL's rookie of the month for November has amassed a goals against average of 1.98 and a save percentage of .923.

Mason is owned by only 60 per cent of the teams on www.cbssports.com and could be the goalie of the future for your fantasy hockey team.

Fantasy Prospect Pick Up Of The Week

Each week on TPS, I'll try and give you a heads up on what rookie, sophomore or budding AHL star you should try and grab in your fantasy hockey league. Sometimes they'll be an unknown, while others, like this week, it'll be a well known player you should trade for. So without further babble, here it is:

Devon Setoguchi-San Jose Sharks

It’s funny how players seem motivated by failure. In 2006 Devon Setoguchi wasn’t good enough to make Brent Sutter’s World Junior Team, despite a 33 goal season the year before in Saskatoon. Setoguchi finished 2006 with 36 goals. In 2007 he was again given bad news early in the morning, as one of the final cuts along with Oshawa’s John Tavares. Setoguchi also finished that season with 36 goals.

Some kids sulk, others respond and after 3 – 30 + goal seasons with Saskatoon and Prince George, Setoguchi moved onto a pro career. So far the 8th overall pick from 2005 hasn’t disappointed the San Jose Sharks one bit. Of the players drafted ahead of him, only Sidney Crosby has scored more goals.

Last season he split his time between the bay area and Worcester. In 44 games with the Sharks, he netted 11 goals.

This year (heading into Tuesday) in 21 games he has 12 already, putting him on pace for a 47 goal season. He’s also added 12 assists for 24 points and has only taken one penalty. His goal total puts him tied for 5th in the league and he’s tied for 10th in points.

Setoguchi leads San Jose in goals and is tied with captain Patrick Marleau in points, while only averaging 16 minutes per game. As his ice time increases, so should his point totals.

He might not be available in your league on the waiver wire but Devon Setoguchi is definitely worth trading for and building a team around as he has proven at every level he can score.

Pop A Wheeler

As heard on E AND THE COYOTES COULDN’T COME TO TERMS ON A DEAL AND HE ENDED UP IN BOSTON. TO FIND OUT THE REASON WHY, STAY TUNED FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BRUINS ROOKIE LATER IN THE SHOW.

WHEELER IS PRETTY HOT RIGHT NOW (AS OF NOVEMBER 11TH) WITH 4 GOALS AND 2 ASSISTS IN HIS LAST 5 GAMES, WHERE HE’S ALSO PLUS 4. HIS STREAK INCLUDED HIS FIRST CAREER HATTRICK AGAINST THE LEAFS LAST WEEK, SEE THE EVIDENCE BELOW.

FOR A BIG GUY WHEELER SKATES WELL, HAS A GREAT SHOT AND SCORED A RIDICULOUS GOAL AGAINST NORTH DAKOTA A FEW YEARS AGO, CHECK IT OUT ON YOU TUBE.
AND CHECK OUT WHETHER HE’S AVAILABLE IN YOUR LEAGUE AS HE COULD HELP OUT THIS YEAR, OR BE STASHED AWAY FOR LATER AS WITH THE LIKES OF MILAN LUCIC, PHIL KESSELL, DAVID KREJCI AND A STILL YOUNG PATRICE BERGERON THE BRUINS ARE BUDDING WITH YOUNG TALENT, AND THAT’S WHY BLAKE WHEELER IS MY FANTASY PROSPECT PICK UP OF THE WEEK.

THERE IS ALSO AN INTERVIEW WITH WHEELER FROM THE SHOW HERE.