New Names to Look For at the Waiver Draft

Here's another look at some players that you may want to consider when it comes to the Waiver Draft in a few weeks. I combed the Top 200 scorers in the league and came up with 9 new names. These are names I didn't have on any list, but when we draw closer to the days of the Waiver Draft, I'll send out a list to everyone of which players are available to be taken.

The Philadelphia Flyers have been running up some scores so far this season and Joffrey Lupul (4G 7A) has helped out the team's cause with 11 points this season. Lupul is finally having that season that was expected of him when the Oilers picked him up from Anaheim two summers ago. He leads the pack of new names on the list.

The Florida Panthers have had some success this season with a new goaltender in behind and some renewed life in some of their veterans. Richard Zednik (6G 2A) has taken the Southeast Division by storm early this season. Six goals from a veteran this early in the season must be a blessing as you know they were mostly counting on their youth to score this season.

Jiri Novotny (4G 4A) and Manny Malhotra, (2G 5A ) have been the scoring names beyond their superstars helping out in the Ken Hitchcock system. If the Blue Jackets are for real, and please let me know if you think they are in my poll this week, then these guys will have to continue their productive ways when it comes down to the nitty-gritty.

Jeremy Roenick (4G 3A) is still awaiting his 500th goal and if he doesn't score it in the next month, you may have the opportunity to drop an unreliable player for JR. Doesn't the prospect of that pick-up raise the hair on your neck? No, mine either.

There's another rookie flying under the radar in the pool sense, Martin Hanzal of the Coyotes has a pair of goals and five assists to his name so far this season. The Coyotes have had a little more bite to their play this season, granted not a great deal, but there is also a severe lack of Coyotes figuring into the Draft scoring, so here's your chance to add some.

Wait a tick! Paul Gaustad (4G 2A) is a supposed tough guy. What the hell is he doing on the list? Well, his four goals would like to speak to you... there's four of them! As surprised as you might be, I definitely am. Gaustad has provided some scoring for a team that lost a lot in the off-season, so he could be a viable option for your team, if he continues to do it in the coming weeks.

There has been a bit of a merry-go-round of linemates for Sidney and Evgeni and Ryan Malone (3G 3A) has been one of them. Malone does have six points and figures into the Top 200 of scoring, so he could be a worthy pick-up, especially if he can keep his place on the line for an extended period of time.

Finally, I'm adding a defenseman and surprisingly it's a rookie. Tobias Enstrom (2G 4A) of the Atlanta Thrashers was pegged to be a good young pick-up in a lot of pools and his six points is better than quite a few defensemen already taken in the Draft. He could be a hot commodity, especially if the big scorers in Atlanta can heat up a little bit more.

Technorati Tags
NHL, Hockey, Hockey Pool