Continuing on in the Western Conference, here's a look at the best and worst from the Northwest Division from a fantasy hockey perspective.
Calgary Flames
Plus: He may not produce the superstar-type numbers that he used to, but Jarome Iginla is still a solid addition to any fantasy hockey owner's roster. This year Iginla is close to a point-per-game output---47 points in 51 games---and his 22 goals and six power play tallies certainly do not hurt your fantasy hockey team. One area important to fantasy hockey owners where Iginla used to be a bigger help is in penalty minutes. This year he has only 30 PIM, continuing a downward trend in that area for the veteran Calgary captain.
Minus: Last year Matt Stajan scored a career-high 19 goals and recorded a career-best 57 points. Many fantasy hockey owners believed that Stajan, at age 27, was finally hitting his stride as an offensive force. This season has proved otherwise. Stajan has scored just three goals in 45 games, while totaling just 23 points. As he often did when playing for Toronto, Stajan is frustrating his coaches and management now in Calgary.
Colorado Avalanche
Plus: Rookie defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk has not missed a beat stepping out of Boston University into a regular 20-minutes a night role with the Avs. The offensive numbers for the former first round pick have been solid, and better than expected: 7-19-26 in 38 games, making him a real find among fantasy hockey defensemen. Keep an eye on Shattenkirk as he is on a roll right now with points in five straight games (2-4-6).
Minus: After a breakthrough season a year ago---his first as a true No. 1 goalie---Craig Anderson has seen his game slip this year. Anderson, who spent much of his career in Chicago and Florida splitting time in goal until last season, is once again splitting time, this time with Peter Budaj, because he has won only 13 games and has posted a poor 3.12 goals against average.
Edmonton Oilers
Plus: Defenseman Ryan Whitney---with 27 points and a +13 in 35 games---would have been the easy choice here, but he is now injured and out for the season. So rookie first-overall draft pick Taylor Hall gets the nod instead. He has handled the pressure of being No. 1 overall and has played very well for an 18 year-old fresh out of Major Junior. As a secondary fantasy hockey forward, his 16 goals, 31 points, and 4 power play goals are not too shabby. He is a keeper for those fantasy hockey owners who currently have Hall and are playing in keeper leagues. Hall is going to be the real deal.
Minus: The Oilers---and many fantasy hockey owners---projected Kurtis Foster to be a solid power play quarterback and produce decent offensive numbers from the backline. That has not happened this year. Foster has just three goals---all on the power play, true---and only 12 points in 46 games, a far cry from what was expected.
Minnesota Wild
Plus: Once again healthy, defenseman Brent Burns has returned to his 15-goal, 43 point form of 2007-08 to find his way into the NHL All Star Game this year and to be a valuable fantasy hockey blueliner. Burns has 31 points in 47 games---already matching last year's total of games played while far surpassing last season's 20 points. His 6 power play goals and 62 penalty minutes don't hurt his fantasy hockey value, either.
Minus: A scoring machine in Major Junior, but a frustratingly talented yet not prolific scorer in the NHL, Patrick O'Sullivan finds himself with just two goals and eight points in 31 games. It seems so long ago that he notched 22 goals for the Kings, yet it was only three years past.
Vancouver Canucks
Plus: Vancouver is a team sitting atop the standings, so it's no surprise that there are no shortage of fantasy hockey studs this season on its roster. Ryan Kesler may stand out the most, though. He has already established a new career-high with 27 goals---11 of which have come on special teams (10 on the power play, 1 shorthanded). His 47 points in 50 games are close to a point-per-game pace, while his +18 is another boon, and his 40 penalty minutes don't hurt either.
Minus: It's a real stretch to find any fantasy hockey duds on this Vancouver roster. Perhaps defenseman Kevin Bieksa should have more than 17 points in 49 games? That's a reach, for sure, especially since his +21 and 59 penalty minutes help out in other fantasy hockey categories.