This week’s Waiver Wire Report has some holiday fantasy buys.  All these Free Agent treats offer something to improve you team’s roster.  Come in and window shop these players and see which ones you’ll buy for the holiday season and which ones you’ll keep all year round:

Mike Fisher, C, Ott (50% owned): Fisher has 4 goals, 4 assists, +5 with over 4 shots per game in his last 7 contests.  He has also scored 21 points this season in 22 games, putting him on pace to shatter his career high of 48 point in 1 season.  Fisher had the good fortune to be paired with offense-maker Daniel Alfredsson for a good portion of this year.  But what makes Fisher’s recent run particularly impressive is that he’s continued to produce at a high level after Alfredsson was reunited with the 1st line.  Grab him for the holiday stretch and enjoy his #2 center numbers in your #3 fantasy center slot.  He should help to reinvigorate Alexei Kovalev as they’ve been paired once again together, but keep him on a short lease.  So, if Kovalev drags his numbers down instead you won’t get burned.

David Legwand, C, Nash (9% owned): Nashville has was 12 of it last 15 games.  This has coincided with Jason Arnott’s return and Legwand’s move back to the center position.  During this streak, Legwand has 5 goals and 8 assists with a +7.  Legwand has never quite lived up to his 2nd overall draft selection back in 1998 and began the year as a 3rd line winger.  It appears being cast in such a minor role has lit a fire under him and he has reasserted himself as an offensive presence.  Given that Legwand has broken the 48 point mark only once in his career, consider him a short term pick up for the next couple of weeks.  He still needs to prove this newly found fire can produce season long fantasy numbers.

Brian Rolston, LW, NJ (13% owned): With coach Jacques Lemaire’s return to the Devils, along with his history with Rolston and how to maximize that talent, the situation looked promising.  The season’s first month however did not show that.  November has brought with it a healthy Patrik Elias and an equally speedy offensive minded lime-mate to play with.  This has produced 6 goals, 3 assists and 5 PPP this past month.  Rolston has looked more involved and dangerous, giving fantasy owners reasons once again to expect him to be a LW regular on their team.

David Backes, RW, StL (60% owned): Last season Backes had a breakthrough year registering 31 goals, but like the most of his Blues team-mates had a mediocre month and a half start to the season.  He was recently moved to centering the talented young TJ Oshie and Paul Kariya.  Now Backes has doubled his season output with 6 points in 6 games (3 goals, 3 assists, +7), including a 3 game goal scoring streak.  Backes has the ability to put up solid fantasy points, especially when paired with offensive-minded players.  If he stays centering the second line he could be dual position eligible by Christmas.  However if the Blues reshuffle their lines again and he falls below the 2nd unit, then keep him on a short lease.

Wayne Simmonds, RW, LA (17% owned): This second year player is proving to be a nice back end of a fantasy roster player.  Simmonds has put up some useful  numbers with 8 goals, 7 assists and 40 PIMS in 27 games this year.  He’s not going to be a top scorer of PIMs guy but will give a little boost to both if you have an extra roster spot.  He is working very well with center Michal Handzus on the 3rd line.  His November numbers were 4 goals, 5 assists, 31 PIMs and finished the month with a 3 game goal scoring streak.  He probably won’t give consistent production but seems solidly on pace for 20-25 goals and 80-100 PIMs.

Blake Wheeler, RW, Bos (47% owned): Beset by injuries this year, the Boston lineup has struggled to produce offense all year.  The return of Mark Savard from injury should have a domino effect of the Bruins roster.  With Savard back in the lineup players can resume their more appropriate roles making them more effective.  Wheeler has the added benefit of being moved alongside Savard for the last 2 games.  Wheeler had already started playing better a few games before Savard came back and has 3 goals, 3 assists in the last 8 games.  If Wheeler sticks on the top unit, it will increase his value/potential for sure.  Even if he doesn’t, Wheeler will likely return to playing with the Krejci or Bergeron line where played so effectively last year and made him aSleeper Pick coming into this season.

Sean Avery, LW, NYR (15% owned): If you have some room and flexibility with you roster, Avery is an intriguing player to look at.  To start the season coach Tortorella put the reins on Avery an it had an obvious adverse effect on his game.  As the Ranger coach has been making adjustments lately, he has loosened those reins considerably and moved Avery into the top 2 lines.  Avery has always played his best with an edge to his game and recently the edge is back.  It has been reflected in both his scoring and his PIMs.  2 goals, 3 assists and 3 PPP in the last 6 games and 31 November PIMs.  Though there is still some risk with Avery, this has begun to look like the Avery of 2 years ago.  The one that brought scoring, edge, PIMs and a team that played 20 games over .500 with him (.500 without him).  If the positive signs are accurate you’re getting him as his surge is just starting.

Ian White, D, Tor (36% owned): Phil Kessel’s long awaited arrival may have overshadowed some other positives coming out of Toronto.  One being the emergence of defensemen Ian White.  White has 14 points this seasons, but 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in his last 14 games.  Kaberle is the top dog offensively from the back-line and the PP quarterback, but White has quietly become a solid fantasy contributer.  One stat that cannot be ignored, is that he’s managed to stay a +6 for the year on this defensively challenged club.  This alone speaks volumes about his play and only once in over a month has he gone consecutive games without a point.  He will fit nicely as a #4/#5 defensemen for those in need.

BucketofPucks PIMs Player of the Week:

Steve Downie, RW, TB (3% owned): If you are inclined to have a permanent roster spot on your team for a PIMs focus player, Downie might be a good fit for you.  Drafted in the 1st round in 2005 by the Flyers, Downie was thought to have some scoring talent.  However, he has only been known for his over-aggression that led to a much deserved suspension in the minors.  Now with the Lightning, Downie has carved out a regular spot on the 3rd line and has toned it down.  He does still play with an obvious edge to his game and has no problem dropping the gloves, as his 50 PIMs already this year proves.  Downie has 3 goals and 6 assists a 1/3rd into the season and any fantasy owner would be please with a 25-30 point pace by their team PIMs guy.  What could prove extra special is that Tampa Bay has been using him regularly in front of the net of the PP.  Downie has 2 goals and 3 assists playing with the extra man.  Playing on the PP with the lies of Lecavalier, St Louis and Stamkos could mean 10-15 PP points more for the season.  Nice perk from a designated fantasy team goon.

Tags: Analysis, Blake Wheeler, Boston Bruins, Brian Rolston, Centers, Commentary, David Backes, David Legwand, Defense, Draft, Fantasy C, Fantasy D, Fantasy hockey draft rankings, Fantasy LW, Fantasy RW, Ian White, Injury, Los Angeles Kings, LW, Mike Fisher, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, NHL, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, PIMs Player of the Week, RW, Sean Avery, St. Louis Blues, Steve Downie, Suspension, Tampa Bay Lightning, Top fantasy wingers, Top Waiver Wire players, Toronto Maple Leafs, Wayne Simmonds