Mid-Season Additions Available

I think now is a good time to review some of the mid-season acquisitions that are now readily available for the second Waiver Draft, which commences here really soon. I thought I would remind you of who is out there, but since they only started recently, they won't be on the Top 23 list, which is posted from the Standings. Will these guys actually go? I didn't figure them into the mock draft, just because I don't think anyone wants some crusty old veterans, but you just never know.

First of all, I would like to mention Justin Williams of the Carolina Hurricanes. He came in in the middle of the first half of the season, playing 23 games already with the Hurricanes. He does only have 9 points in those games, but he is one of those players that is known for putting the biscuit in the basket. At less than 0.4 points per game, he doesn't exactly give you confidence that he is back to his scoring ways and with 2 points in his last 5 games, he shouldn't quite jump out at you. He is still Justin Williams, however, a player who did reach 76 points one season.

In already 7 games with the Canucks, Mats Sundin has 2 goals and an assist to show for his early effort. It certainly isn't a blistering start that many Canucks fans were hoping for, but he has shown some flashes already. Does this make him ripe for the picking in the second Waiver Draft? It could. He has started his Canucks career at just under 0.5 points per game and a little more rest and practice could be what the doctor ordered through this All-Star Break.

The Devils made a splash this month by signing Brendan Shanahan to a contract for the rest of the season and his early returns have been good. Shanahan, before the break, played in 2 games with the Devils, scoring a goal in his first game with the team. He finished before the break with only the one goal, but has played an average of over 13 minutes in his two games, which gives him plenty of ice-time to put up some numbers.

Another injury return in the league is Steve Sullivan of the Nashville Predators. Sullivan has been out of the line-up for almost two years thanks to some serious back troubles. In 5 games with the Predators, Sullivan has registered a pair of assists, also just under the 0.5 points per game. Sullivan is a natural point-getter in the league and once his timing has come back fully, he could be a valuable member to a pool team. Is he worth the gamble for you?

Claude Lemieux made his triumphant return to the NHL with the Sharks on Tuesday night against the Canucks, but he failed to register a point in the game. Currently, he's the second oldest player in the NHL, still years back of Chris Chelios of the Red Wings, but as a mid-season acquisition, he does qualify for this small column. Does he have enough left in the tank to be a scoring machine or does he just come out to play agitator?