Frozen Fantasy: Windshield vs. Bug

Fantasy hockey -- cripes, any fantasy sport -- can be painfully humbling. I play in a lot of leagues; I suspect you do the same. Why are we rock stars in some and off-key karaoke singers in others?

Some days you're the windshield. Some days you're the bug.

I'm feeling a little like the bug today. With a dash of Todd Richards tossed in for good measure. If only I could fire myself.

I'm 1-5-2 in one of my head-to-head leagues and seeds of doubt are already in my head. It's a tough, 16-team league where each owner rolls three forwards, two defenders and a goalie per game in an 82-game schedule. Just like the NHL.

It's the first time in more than a decade one of my teams has played suck-and-blow this early. It's made me think long and hard about bad starts -- in head-to-head and standard formats -- and how they can put fantasy owners on the defensive all season.

Good waiver picks are critical.

The Blue Jackets aren't as bad as their record indicates, but their start cost Richards his job. And the Habs aren't as good as theirs suggests, either. So maybe there's time for my sucky squad. And yours, too.

Let's get at the wire and see who caught my eye this week. There's gotta be help somewhere.

Jhonas Enroth, G, Los Angeles (2 percent Yahoo owned) - Enroth is finally in a situation where his skills and talents can shine. No, he won't get loads of games in La-La Land, but he'll excel when he does. And he did just that Thursday night. Enroth stood on his head in the first period, turning away 18 shots en route to a 39-save, 4-1 win over the Sharks. At 5-foot-10, he's the exception to the rule of massive twinetenders, but his lack of size isn't an issue inside the Kings' structured system. I'd grab him for spot starts, especially when L.A. has back-to-back games.

Mark Letestu, RW/C, Edmonton (0 percent) - Yes, I'm serious -- he really did catch my eye. Maybe it's because I'm watching more Oilers hockey now (who isn't?). Letestu has never really delivered enough of anything in his career to be considered fantasy worthy, but things changed this week. He's riding a three-game, three-point streak (one goal, two assists), all of which has come on the power play. He's the classic in-and-out guy -- use while hot and drop the moment he cools. But I'm keeping him active as long as he keeps hopping the boards with the man advantage.

Brock Nelson, C, N.Y. Islanders (10 percent) - Rewind a year and Nelson was the hottest Islander on the ice -- his point-per-game pace through 18 games had folks on Long Island thinking they had a superstar on their hands. But then the toilet flushed and his offense swirled right down the bowl. But he's back to being a force on the ice -- aggressive on offense and using his body effectively in both ends of the ice, though he hasn't been rewarded with many hits. Nelson has five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games and should deliver career numbers this year. The only sour point is his positional eligibility -- center is really deep. A wing designation sure would shoot his value up (you Yahoo folks listening???).

Benoit Pouliot, LW, Edmonton (3 percent) - What do you get when you put a 30-year-old francophone together with cocky young Russian and a teenage savior? Answer -- the best damn possible fantasy situation for the one with the worst nickname, and that would be Mr. Pouliot. #CaptainTaco is skating with Nail Yakupov and Connor McDavid, and the trio has been a revelation. Pouliot is a big boy who skates really well, is great in possession and pursues the puck with fierce aggression. He has three assists in his last four games and is a must-add if he's on your wire. And yes, that is his nickname. Hey -- it's better than shortening his last name in typical hockey fashion.

Antti Raanta, G, N.Y. Rangers (6 percent) - Raanta bricked up the net Monday night and delivered a 22-save shutout of the Sharks. He won't get much playing time, at least in the short term. But I'm eyeing him as a second-half guy -- the Rangers will want to rest King Henrik and Raanta will get plenty of action. He's worth stashing if you have space -- he has four shutouts in 35 starts (40 games total) and a 21-9-5 record. Raanta is an elite spot starter, so use accordingly.

Damon Severson, D, New Jersey (2 percent) - Severson has the talent and tools to be Jersey's Shea Weber. Seriously. The Devils keep waiting (and waiting and ...) for Adam Larsson to emerge as their pillar on the back end. And maybe he will. But my money is on Severson, both short and long term, to be a much better producer. He has three assists, one of which came on the power play, and six shots in his last four games. He won't keep up this pace, but he should easily double his 17 points from last season.

Lee Stempniak, RW/LW, New Jersey (2 percent) - Stempniak is off to one of the best starts of his NHL career. He has six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games and is getting loads of ice time with the Devils. He was monstrous Thursday night, tying the Sens with 32 seconds left and then netting the winner in the shootout. Stempy's on an $850,000 deal after attending camp on a PTO, so he's out to show the NHL he's worth a whole lot more. That's a huge win-win for the Devils and his fantasy owners.

Michael Stone, D, Arizona (5 percent) - Stone is off to a good start, and I can't help but wonder if this is the year he finally puts it all together. He has great size, a big right-handed shot and good hockey smarts. Sure, there are still a few brain farts here and there, but I think those three points and eight shots in his last four games foreshadow the season to come. He and Oliver Ekman-Larsson make a great 1-2 punch at even strength and with the man advantage. Hey -- the desert may not be so dry and boring after all. Check him out.

Colin Wilson, LW/C, Nashville (12 percent) - Guess who I dropped Thursday morning? Yep. Wilson then went out and delivered a three-point night against the Quackers. Ugh. He won't deliver too many efforts like that, but he's certainly better than his current ownership level.

Travis Zajac, C, New Jersey (3 percent) - This cerebral center has been absolutely workmanlike in his last couple games. He has scored goals in each of his last two games heading into the weekend and has four points total in that span. And Z's been a beast in the faceoff circle (29-for-45) for those specialized leagues that count that stat. New Jersey is better than I thought they'd be this season, and Zajac has delivered a couple 60-plus point years in his past. I'm not ready to say he'll do it again, but I'm not ready to bet against it just yet.

Back to windshield. And the bug.

It's Friday night as I write this and the Jays have just become the bug. But that's temporary. There's no shame in how this season -- and postseason -- went.

I've enjoyed their run. It's been a long time since I battled nerves while watching a baseball game. So, thanks. But moreover, thank you from saving me from the Leafs' talk that used to dominate the call-in shows and highlight reels. I actually dread the return off that -- I sure haven't missed it.

Wait. There's reason to hope. My fantasy squad is better than the Leafs!

Maybe I'm the windshield after all.

Until next week.