I get a decent number of emails and Hockeybuzz messages with fantasy hockey related questions. How does the power play look? What are chances of ____ moving up to Staal line? Etc.

So with a couple days between Canes games, I figured I would take a shot at evaluating Canes players for fantasy hockey leaguers.

Cam Ward. He was off to an atrocious start heading into Monday's game in Toronto having seen Dan Ellis start both halves of a Fri/Sat back-to-back. But Ellis was weak Sat handing the job back to Ward. Starting the year, I did not recomment Ward as a top-tier fantasy goalie for leagues that use GAA and/or Save % stats in addition to simple wins. Reason was simply that I thought the Canes were built more to win 5-4 than 2-1. I stand by that today. BUT...If you are looking for a goalie, I think now is a decent "buy low" time for Ward. Even though Ellis has been pretty good so far, I just don't see anyone except Ward being the starter for the Canes as the season progresses. He is now 5 starts deep into the season (so about a week or so into a regular regular season), and he is coming off a great effort in Toronto on Monday.

Eric Staal. I don't see how he finishes with less than a point a game pace with a 50/50 goal/assist split. He played real well last year when he found good chemistry with Jiri Tlusty 2nd half of last year and the 3rd on that line was a rotating mix of checking line types and even minor league callups. Now insert Alexander Semin instead.

Alexander Semin. Any questions on his effort/intensity level are unfounded at this point. He does have a bit of a floating and dangling style about his game at times, but this is style of play NOT effort level related. He and EStaal seem to have decent chemistry and should only get better. He is averaging a point a game anyway, but I think his goal-scoring pace could go higher. He has at least 4 posts (2 yesterday alone) and seems to be deferring a bit as a playmaker to Eric Staal. But playing on a good first line, you have to figure a goal streak or 2 will come soon enough. I don't think 30+ goals and 80 points is out of the question if he and EStaal stay healthy and together.

Jordan Staal. I am still not sure what to expect from him in terms of scoring. He has more skill on his line (Jeff Skinner right now) than in Pittsburgh and is also getting a healthy amount of power play time (mostly 2nd unit so far) which seems to suggest that he can should at least equal his output in Pittsburgh. Early the assists are there, but the goals are still slow to come.

Jeff Skinner. After a very up and down 2011-12 including injuries, Skinner looks dynamic again this season. The goals he has scored have been beauties. Most impressive was his 3 assist effort yesterday where he earned 2 assists winning pucks in the corner on the forecheck. He is going to net his share of highlight reel goals which probably nets him 45-55 points. If he can add more of the grit and work points, that is what puts 60-70 points in range.

Justin Faulk. He is playing real well defensively. He is logging a ton of minutes on a team that should continue to score plenty. And he is getting power play time. If you are looking for defenseman on the waiver wire and he is not claimed yet, he is a bargain.

I think those are the Canes likely owned in most if not all leagues.

Here are comments on other Canes for deeper leagues, injury fill ins, etc.

Jiri Tlusty. He has a prime spot on the EStaal/Semin line and has been there 6 games. He has notched only 2 assists so far but has played very well supporting the scoring tandem, so right now his chances of staying on that line are increasing not decreasing. He also got power play time with them last night. He is something like plus 6 in 6 games since joining them. If he keeps this spot, I think he will trend to a 45-55-point pace just from being on the ice with them.

Patrick Dwyer. For real deep leagues, he could be interesting. He has the other good spot next to Skinner/JStaal. The downside is that he gets PK duty not power play time and historically had a scoring ceiling of about 20 points.

Jussi Jokinen. He is struggling mightily right now. He is getting some power play time but is playing his regular shifts surrounded by less scoring talent 3rd-liners like Larose and Bowman. I think it takes a change of scenery (a wing slot on 1 of the top 2 lines) to get his scoring close to his better years in a Canes uniform.

Jamie McBain and Joni Pitkanen. I think both put up similar numbers to what they have done recently. Neither is a surefire fantasy starter, but both should get caught in the rising tide of more offensive fire power in the Canes lineup this year.

I think that is most of it for the offensive stat-oriented fantasy games. Gleason and Harrison are solid but not scoring types. With Dalpe not keeping his opening night slot on JStaal's line and Boychuk claimed on waivers by the Pens and Bobby Sanguinetti (D) struggling to stay out of of trouble and in the #6 slot, I don't see any big fantasy upstarts on the horizon in a Canes uniform.

For a quick heads up when I post a Canes blog follow me on Twitter at CarolinaMatt63.

Go Canes!

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