Fantasy : East Forwards Part 2 : Five Minute Major

New Jersey Devils/Martin Brodeur

Ilya Kovalchuk- A trade to a decent team just made his fantasy price skyrocket. 32 goals (T-6) and 63 points in 55 games. Get some guys ready for the trading block; he’s about to rack up some serious points with the Devils.
Zach Parise- Team USA golden boy, Parise is second on the squad with 61 points (28g+33a). Unbelievable hands and he loves to crash the net and get those dirty goals. Start him if you’ve got him.
Jamie Langenbrunner- his 69 points last season were a career-high, but he’s on pace to break it this season. Often under-looked (weird, right?), No. 15 has 15 goals and 52 points through 61 games. He’s a real grinder, as long as they keep him on the wing.
Travis Zajac- last year was his break-out season, but 2010 is looking pretty good for the first line center. A great slap shot, his newfound sniper Kovalchuk means a lot more assists. 51 points (19g+32a) so far, he should top off in the high 60s.
Patrik Elias- not a terrible showing this season, but we have to expect more from the vet Elias. This is one of his lowest totals (11g+19a) at this point in the season. Hopefully with the addition of Kovalchuk, Lemaire will pair him with more capable line mates.
Notables: Expect Brian Rolston and Dainius Zubrus (slump) to rack up more points in the coming weeks, which will be division heavy matches.

Buffalo Sabres/Ryan Miller

Tim Connolly- his 55 points (14g+41a) leads the team, but he should have more goals. As long as he stays healthy, he’s a solid guy for your squad, but anything can happen to the glass man.
Derek Roy- despite penalty trouble, he has a team tying 43 points (16g+27a). A good shot and a player who always seems to turn up in front of the net, stick with Roy.
Jason Pominville- jumping between the first and second lines has him with far less points than he should. 16 goals and 43 points through 60 games make him a good choice as the seasons closing out.
Thomas Vanek- still not earning his money, Vanek is fourth on the team with 39 points (18g+21a). He’s fast and has a laser beam shot, but hasn’t produced- similar to the rest of the forwards.
Notables: A playoff run is imminent. If your Fantasy league goes into the playoffs, you’ll want Clarke MacArthur and Mike “Fear the” Grier- they each get those close range, “garbage” goals.

Montreal Canadiens

Tomas Plekanec- easily the squads top center (sorry, Gomez), Plekanec has racked up 17 goals and 60 points through 63 games. Weird pairings and slumps from other players have given him opportunity to be paired with Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta, who all excel with one another. Plenty of Fantasy points from Plekanec.
Michael Cammalleri- a great shot has generated 26 goals and 48 points for the winger this season. He’s great on the power play and has the teams best +/- with a +10. Start Mike.
Scott Gomez- a surprise pick-up, Gomez has fit in well with the Habs in 2010. While the trade didn’t address the teams need for size, he has tallied 10 goals (not good) and 42 points (very good). Keep him in your roster.
Brian Gionta- another off season acquisition, Gionta has 17 goals and 31 points this season- not his best, but he’s never been much more than a 20 goal scorer (except back in 2005-06). Fast, but not big up front, he still manages to muscle his way to the net.
Andrei Kostitsyn- the better of the two Kostitsyn brothers, Andrei has 12 goals and 25 points this season. He has a deceptive shot and the great ability to bury the puck from the point- he has 5 PP goals this season.
Notables: Glen Metropolit and Dominic Moore (newly arrived from FLA) will generate more points as the season closes.

Philadelphia Flyers

Jeff Carter- In a neck-and-neck race with Mike Richards for the past month or so, Carter has 27 goals and 52 points through 60 games. This guy is just good. A great skater and a definite top-line center, start him if you have him; if you don’t, set a trade up.
Mike Richards- 24 goals and 46 points this season, Richards is second on the squad in scoring. Another great season for the Flyer veteran, expect his stock to rise as the season closes out.
Danny Briere- after a disappointing 2009, Briere is looking to make up for lost time. 21 goals and 40 points already, expect his total to top out in the 60s. Great hands and loads of experience make him a crafty winger with the know-how to rack up the points.
Scott Hartnell- not his best season by far, Hartnell has been in a scoring slump (plenty of assists, but no goals). His size is a serious factor in his success, as is his speed and wrist shot. 12 goals and 35 points, he’ll step-up after the Olympic break.
James Van Riemsdyk- What a find he was, huh? 13 goals and 32 points in 57 games as a rookie. You have to be impressed with his size and his ability to pick up the pro game so quickly.

Ottawa Senators

Daniel Alfredsson- 17 goals and 49 points for the squads top forward in 2010. Alfredsson, season after season, is the team’s top player. The acquisition of Alexei Kovalev is giving him a run for his money, but Danny is still the squad’s best skater and most accurate shooter.
Alexei Kovalev- a trade can change a team, but when Ottawa picked up Kovalev from Montreal, they got a goldmine. Easily one of the top players in the Eastern Conference for the past decade, Kovalev brings everything to the table- experience, ability (skating, shooting, passing, hitting) and he’s clutch at the end of a game. He’s always had penalty trouble, but that’s the only downside to a guy who should be your first line winger.
Mike Fisher- with 20 goals and 44 points, Fisher is on pace to break his career-high total of 48 points. He’s nasty on the powerplay, with a blistering wrist shot that always finds the back of the net.
Matt Cullen- another great Ottawa center, Cullen possess the unique ability to make the puck deflect off his line mates’ sticks- it’s not a followed stat, but every game he manages to send one from the point to a teammates blade and past the goaltender. 20 goals and 44 points make him a dangerous guy for opposing defenses.
Jason Spezza- his 15 goals and 33 points are not as impressive the other Ottawa centers, but Spezza has been floating between all three lines since the beginning of the season. Not a bad guy to have on your roster, as a Senators playoff run is a sure thing.