This is our last Stock Watch report of 2009, lucky number 13. Here is the latest batch of players to buy, sell or hold.
BUY
Niclas Bergfors, RW/LW, NJ – In deeper leagues, Bergfors is looking like a solid add if you’re in need of scoring. The 2005 first rounder was reasonably productive in the AHL last year, where he had 22 goals and 51 points in 66 games. With 16 points in his last 22 games with the Devils, he looks to have established himself well in a complementary offensive role.
Devin Setoguchi, RW/LW, SJ – To say that Setoguchi has underachieved so far this year would be a massive understatement. His season totals are certainly disappointing, but two lengthy stays on the IR have affected his rhythm. He was recently thrown back on Joe Thornton’s line as the Sharks attempt to spread out the offense a little. Look for him to rediscover his touch in a hurry.
Thomas Vanek, LW, BUF – This is as good a “buy-low” opportunity as you’re going to get for the goal-scoring Austrian. He’s on pace for a measly 53 points, and is currently day-to-day with what the Sabres are calling a minor abdominal injury.
We are getting to the point in our fantasy seasons where a lot of dissatisfied owners are looking to make major roster shakeups. Vanek is causing someone in your pool a lot of frustration, and you might be able to snatch him up at a bargain. The Sabres have been playing well, and if Vanek gets it going, they should be a major force in the East.
HOLD
Patric Hornqvist, RW/LW, NSH – Hornqvist lit it up last week, and was named one of the league’s three stars. His season totals are decent, if unspectacular, but he is on pace for a 23 goal season. He’s shown decent offensive ability in Sweden and in the AHL, so let’s wait and see if he’s worth an add in deeper leagues.
Jaroslav Halak, G, MTL – Brian Boucher just got hurt, and he probably wasn’t the answer for the Flyers anyway. Halak may not get moved, but at the same time, he is probably available as a free agent in your pool. If you’ve got someone you’re itching to drop, grab Halak and see if he gets traded in the coming days.
Antti Niemi, G, CHI – Poor guy. He’s played some spectacular hockey this season, and his stats are flat-out ridiculous – 1.76 GAA and .927 save percentage over 9 starts. He’s also posting some Cy Young-like numbers with 7 wins in those 9 starts. Unfortunately, he’s going to be hard-pressed to steal the starter’s role away from Cristobal Huet, especially when the latter is coming off back to back shutouts. Niemi probably won’t have trade value in anything but the very deepest of leagues, but could reward owners in a big way if he gets moved to a team like, say, the Flyers.
SELL
Vaclav Prospal, C, NYR – Over his last 12 games, Prospal is -5 with just five points; none of them goals. I mentioned him as a prime sell candidate here awhile ago, when I thought he had some value. He now has very little, and I don’t expect he will gain any down the stretch.
Zach Bogosian, D, ATL – It pains me to write this, since I really thought Bogosian was a prime break-out candidate this year. He seems to be stuck behind a glut of puck-moving defencemen for playing time (Ron Hainsey, Tobias Enstrom, and Pavel Kubina), and he’s only seeing a little over a minute of power-play ice time per game. That being said, he does have 8 goals, and might have some value as a throw-in on a bigger deal.