This week’s Waiver Wire Report is filled with a Thanksgiving buffet of short-term fixes.  Many of injured players from the past 2 months have started to return and many more are ramping themselves up to come back to the ice in the next week or two.

Peruse our feast of Free Agents players and see what main courses (long term), side dish (short term with potential) or tasty desserts (short term fix) compliment your fantasy team’s needs…

Maxim Afinogenov, RW, Atl (49% owned): Afinogenov’s stock is on the rise and just one look at his ownership percentage is proof, rising from 20% to almost 50% in the last 3 weeks.  This RW has a history of being enigmatic and a streaky scorer as Afinogenov has shown flashes of offensive brilliance his first 9 seasons in Buffalo, along with a reputation of not always playing hard in the defensive end.  Landing in Atlanta this year as a free agent, Afinogenov has played hard all year and earned himself increased ice time, as well as rising from the 3rd line to the top line with fellow Russians Kovalchuk and Antropov.  Since landing on the #1 unit, Afinogenov has looked like the final piece of the puzzle and has clicked immediately with his countrymen.  Most importantly to fantasy owners, he has 20 point in 20 games with 13 points in 10 November games this month.  Although I still expect Afinogenov to be somewhat streaky, he’s play indicates he’ll fall in between the 61 and 73 points that is his 2 best offensive seasons.  Definitely a main course.

Keith Yandle, D Pho (18% owned): If you’re in a keeper league, Yandle has some decent long term potential.  He was able to put up a respectable 30 points in 69 games last year on an offensively challenged team.  The Coyotes as a team are playing better this season but still don’t scare many on the offensive end.  But particularly with all the injuries to defensemen.  Yandle, with 2 goals, 3 assists and +4 in his last 7 games, is also getting his fair share of PP time.  If your struggling with injuries to your defense, Yandle could be just the short term fix you need.  Dessert course.

Brendan Morrison, C, Wash (26% owned): I’m somewhat surprised to see Morrison’s ownership percentage as low as it is.  This BucketofPucks sleeper pick is having a very solid rebound year centering the Capitols 2nd line.  Even with Ovechkin, Semin and Knuble shuffling in and out of the lineup with injuries, Morrison has good #2/#3 fantasy center numbers.  He has 17 points on the year and 3 goals, 5 assists, 12 PIMs in 10 November games.  Morrison has been playing with good wingers (even with the injuries there) all year in Fleischmen, Laich, Knuble and Semin.  So I’m still expecting a 60+ point year- main course.

David Perron, LW, StL (37% owned): Perron is one of the Blues’ up and coming youngsters they are depending on.  Developing from 27 points as a rookie to 50 points last year, Perron didn’t register a point in St Louis’s first 7 games.  Some line juggling and a team call out by upper management seems to have put him and some of his other team mates in gear.  Perron has followed up his sluggish start with 13 point in 13 games (9 goals and 4 assists) while being moved up to the top line on the LW.  He has been noticeable getting more involved and shooting the puck a lot more.  I believe Perron is starting to really come into his own, pick him up for some quality depth.  He got to keep this up a little longer for me to say he’s an outright main course, so we’ll call him a side dish with main course potential for now.

Andy McDonald, C/LW, StL (32% owned): A Favorite depth player of mine, is back in the spot he is most effective in, center.  Slotted as the 2nd line LW to start the year, the Blues line combinations to begin the season wasn’t maximizing their players.  McDonald is back centering the top line and showing some nice production with 2 goals and 4 assists in his 6 November games.  McDonald seems to be at his best at the pivot and dishing out to goal scorers as he did in Anaheim, when he had back to back 51 assist seasons before coming to St Louis.  McDonald is a side dish with nice secondary scoring and flexibility of his dual position status.

Claude Giroux, RW, Phi (22% owned): Giroux is another young player to watch, getting noticed after being called up halfway thru last season and tallying 27 points in 42 games.  The only thing keeping Giroux from being a fantasy team regular is the Flyers glut of talent on the top 2 lines.  Even with him slotted as the 3rd line center, Giroux still regularly gets rotated for shifts at RW on the top 2 units along with regular PP time.  All told Giroux has 15 points in 20 games so far, with 2 goals, 9 assists, 4 PPP and +5 in 9 November games.  Giroux is an excellent depth fantasy player for your team, as is.  If he can secure a spot on the top 2 line he’ll go from side dish to main course in a heart beat.  Side dish with main course potential.

Alex Tanguay, LW, TB (48% owned): Joe Sakic’s longtime line mate, Tanguay has faded somewhat but is still a solid fantasy contributer.  No longer a 70-80 point player, Tanguay just missed the 60 point plateau 2 years ago for light scoring Calgary and his 41 point in 50 games for Montreal last season was a 65 point full season pace.  Drafted in 98% of public leagues this year, his 2 point in the first 9 games saw Tanguay get largely dropped.  Chalk the bad start up to getting acclimated to a new team and Tampa Bay find the right line combinations.  Now playing LW with Stamkos, Tanguay has 11 point (4 goals, 7 assists) in his last 12 games.  Once again resuming his role as good complimentary winger for top centers.  Pick him up now and slot him in as a #3 LW before whoever dropped him in your league realizes how impatient they were.  Main course.

Danny Cleary, RW, Det (29% owned): Cleary was given a great opportunity to be Zetterberg’s RW to start the year.  The Red Wings started sluggishly in all aspects of their game and because of injuries the lines were shuffle.  Reunited with Zetterberg at the beginning of November and Cleary started taking full advantage of his pairing.  Cleary has 3 goals, 4 assists and 3 PPP his last 7 games.  With Detroit’s injury concerns Cleary will continue to get prime ice time and PP minutes for at least the next 6 to 8 weeks.  Secure in his 2nd line spot, as the Red Wings do get healthy again the offensive talent he plays with will only improve as well.  Cleary is a great side dish with some main course potential.  He will be a good #3 RW at least thru the All-Star break and maybe for the whole season.

BucketofPucks PIMs Player of the Week:

BJ Crombeen, RW, StL (4% owned): In Crombeen’s first full season, last year, he established himself as a tough guy in the league with 122 PIMs in 66 games.  When given the opportunity he showed he could use his hands for more than just punching by scoring 11 times.  The Blues have been impressed enough to make him a 3rd line checking regular.  This gives him the opportunity to be more of an all-around player.  He’ll still going to protect his teammate, as he’s got 59 PIMs and a number of fights this year already.

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