Today we shift the focus to the Western Conference, specifically the Central Division, as we continue our fantasy hockey plus/minus reports.
Chicago Blackhawks
Plus: Goaltender Corey Crawford has been a God-send for the defending Cup champs what with veteran Marty Turco's struggles between the pipes. In 28 appearances the rookie has 16 wins, a 2.19 goals against average, 2 shutouts, and a .919 save percentage. Crawford has effectively taken over the No. 1 goaltender's role in Chicago, and is a legit Calder Trophy candidate.
Minus: It's hard to look past Marty Turco here from a fantasy hockey perspective because, even while playing for a talented high-scoring team, he has managed a sub.500 record through 26 appearances with a goals against average more than three goals per game and a save percnetage of less than 90%. So much for the theory that the 'Hawks could win with anyone in goal.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Plus: Columbus is not an offensively-gifted team, so other than Rick Nash (23-20-43, 5 power play goals) there is not a whole lot to like from a fantasy hockey perspective here. But RJ Umberger has emerged as a nice secondary forward option from a fantasy hockey point of view. Umberger has 17 goals and 33 points on the season, though his true value may be in that he has scored seven goals on specialty teams (5 on the power play and 2 shorthanded).
Minus: Everyone keeps waiting for the rookie version of Steve Mason from two seasons ago to re-emerge, but it just may never happen. Mason has won 15 games this season, but he has been forced to split much of the goaltending chores with Mathieu Garon because his goals against (3.20) and save percentage (.898) have been unsightly.
Detroit Red Wings
Plus: Future Hall-of-Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom "slipped" to 49 points a year ago, and even though he was a terrific +24 many were saying that the 40 year-old captain of the Red Wings was nearing the end of his great career. Lidstrom has rebounded offensively this season with 11 goals (6 on the power play) and 42 points in 49 games to prove all the naysayers wrong, and to once again be a top-flight fantasy hockey defenseman.
Minus: There was actually quite a bit of excitement in fantasy hockey circles about the return to the NHL of Jiri Hudler this season. However that excitement has proven to be unwarrented. A 23-goal, 57-point man two years ago with the Red Wings before playing in the KHL last season, Hudler has struggled in his return to the NHL totaling just four goals and 18 points in 44 games. He does have four points in his last three games, so keep an eye on him, but so far Hudler has been a fantasy hockey minus.
Nashville Predators
Plus: Nashville doesn't give a fantasy hockey owner a lot of options offensively, though Shea Weber's 30 points is decent for a defenseman. However in goal Pekka Rinne is having a solid fantasy hockey season with a 2.11 goals against average, three shutouts, and .929 save percentage. If you could get credit for his 10 penalty minutes, that would be a nice boost, too. The only downer is that Rinne---who has lost a string of low-scoring games thanks to the anemic Predators' offense---has just 17 wins for his fantasy owners this season.
Minus: Even though Patric Hornqvist leads the Preds with 15 goals and ranks second with 27 points, his numbers are a disappointment, and Nashville requires more production from its most skilled player---one who netted 30 goals two years ago. Hornqvist doesn't benefit either from playing only 16 minutes a night in Barry Trotz's roll-four-lines approach, just another reason to steer clear from a fantasy hockey perspective.
St. Louis Blues
Plus: Very quietly defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is turning into a decent secondary fantasy hockey option. Pietrangelo leads all Blues d-men with 23 points in 46 games---basically on pace for a 40-point campaign. That is solid production for the 21 year-old former first round pick, who just a year ago was splitting his season between the Blues, his junior team in Barrie, and starring for Canada's silver medal-winning team at the World Junior Championships.
Minus: Many fantasy hockey owners thought 22 year-old former first overall pick Erik Johnson would emerge this season as a 40-point, 100 PIM defenseman. However that has not happened. Coming off a strong sophomore season in St. Louis a year ago---one in which he also starred for the United States Olympic team---Johnson has only 17 points and 37 PIM, and has a -6 plus/minus rating. He's going to be a solid fantasy hockey pick for years to come, but this year has been a slight disappointment from a fantasy hockey point of view.