The Daily Puck: Five Yahoo's Worth Your Consideration

The Daily Puck
John Toperzer, RotoWire Writer

Projected Goalie Starters

Buffalo (Ryan Miller) at Atlanta (Chris Mason), 7:00 p.m.
Anaheim (Jonas Hiller) at Columbus (Steve Mason), 7:00 p.m.
Vancouver (Roberto Luongo) at Chicago (Corey Crawford), 9:00 p.m.
Carolina (Cam Ward) at Los Angeles (Jonathan Bernier), 10:30 p.m.

Short Term Injuries

Buffalo

Jason Pominville (F) - (Concussion) Traveled with team to Atlanta but won't play Wednesday.
Shaone Morrisonn (D) - (Groin) Sat out last two games, but could play Wednesday. Check late updates.

Atlanta

Zach Bogosian (D) - (Shoulder) Back at practice Tuesday without non-contact jersey. Looks good to go.
Ondrej Pavelec (G) - (Concussion) Returned to practice Tuesday but isn't expected back next two games.

Anaheim

Cam Fowler (D) - (Broken Nose) Expected to return Wednesday against the Blue Jackets.
Corey Perry (F) - (Bruised Backside) Three goals and five points last three games. Don't bench now.

Columbus

Kris Russell (D) - (Lower Body) Questionable for Wednesday, injury not related to prior knee injury.
Anton Stralman (D) - (Upper Body) Missed weekend, may come back sooner with Russell questionable.
Jared Boll (F) - (Back) Currently on IR but is eligible to come back at any time.
Mike Commodore (D) - (Thumb) Placed on IR Tuesday but injury not thought to be too serious.

Vancouver

Guillame Desbiens (F) - (Back) Played in Tuesday's debacle against the Wild.
Dan Hamhuis (D) - (Foot) Questionable for Wednesday, did not play Tuesday against Minnesota.
Ryan Rypien (F) - (Flu) Played Tuesday night, collecting 19 PIMs, should be good for Wednesday.

Carolina

Jiri Tlusty (F) - (Knee) Currently on conditioning stint, could spend another week at Charlotte.

Los Angeles

Matt Greene (D) - (Shoulder) Practicing since Sunday and could return within the next week.
Scott Parse (F) - (Groin) Having a difficult time making progress from a tricky groin injury.

Long-Term Injuries

Anaheim

Jason Jaffray (F) - (Torn ACL) Out at least until the first of the new year.
Joffrey Lupul (F) - (Back) Not expected back until sometime in December.
Andy Sutton (D) - (Broken Thumb) Likely out until the beginning of December.

Columbus

Andrew Murray (F) - (Knee) Has yet to play in a game, currently on IR.

Vancouver

Keith Ballard (D) - (Concussion) Out Wednesday, team hasn't released timetable for his return.
Alexandre Bolduc (F) - (Ankle) Expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks with a high ankle sprain.
Alexandre Burrows (F) - (Shoulder) Set to practice within the next week, could return as soon as Nov. 2.
Sami Salo (D) - (Achilles) Not expected back until the turn of the calendar.

Chicago

Brian Campbell (D) - (Knee) Figures to return in about two weeks if original prognosis holds.

Transactions

Jamie Lundmark (F) - Placed on waivers by Nashville.
Brenden Mikkelson (F) - Claimed off waivers by Calgary.
T.J. Brodie (D) - Sent to AHL by Abbotsford.
Andrew Ebbett (F) - Recalled by Coyotes.
Danny Syvret (D) - Recalled by Anaheim.
Brian Fahey (D) - Sent to AHL by Washington.
Nick Holden (D) - Recalled by Columbus.
Mike Commodore (D) - Placed on IR by Columbus.
Aaron Gagnon (F) - Sent to AHL by Dallas.

Hot

James Neal (F) Dallas - Contributing in multiple categories for the Stars, including goals (3), points (7), plus-minus (+7) and hits (13). The only area he's not helping out is on special teams, where he's yet to pick up a power-play point.

Shea Weber (D) Nashville - Here's another multi-category beast. Weber's got 16 hits, 14 blocked shots and 17 shots on goal to go along with his three assists in five games.

Mark Letestu (F) Pittsburgh - His seven points (4, 3) in seven contests leads all NHL rookies. Even though we pegged him as a sleeper in the Penguins preview preseason article, we look for his scoring pace to cool off. He's a feel-good story, but fantasy poolies who can trade him to shore up a glaring weakness would be wise to do so now while his value is high.

Cold

Erik Karlsson (D) Ottawa - The Senators have to do something about their defense. Do they send Karlsson back to the AHL for more seasoning? Keeper leagues should definitely hold onto the blueliner, but one-year leagues can likely do better. He could have a better second half, like he did last year if teams have the bench space are willing to wait.

Eric Tangradi (F) Pittsburgh - The second of the two Eric's on the cold list is caught in a numbers game and can't get out. Tangradi is the only Pens player who can pass through waivers on a two-way contract without being claimed by another organization. Even though he's acquitted himself quite nicely in his short stay with Pittsburgh, he's likely the odd man out when guys like Arron Asham and Jordan Staal return until injuries strike again. Chris Kunitz is serving as the team's net-front presence on the power play and Mike Comrie seems to be turning his game around, leaving the rookie with diminished playing time he totaled 9:52 TOI Monday night.

Recommended Pickups

Depending on league size, these players might not have been drafted in Yahoo! leagues.

Matt Cullen (C) Carolina -- Ranked 264 (Yahoo! Preseason), Ranked 10 (Based on current statistics).
Tomas Kopecky (LW, RW) Chicago - (510 Yahoo!, 13 current Yahoo!)
Blake Comeau (LW) Islanders - (453 Yahoo!, 23 current Yahoo!)
Drew Stafford (RW) Buffalo - (373 Yahoo!, 41 current Yahoo!)
Martin Havlat (RW) Minnesota - (234 Yahoo!, 59 current Yahoo!)