Columbus Blue Jackets

Jakub would have 100 points by now if he hadn't gotten injured in the Q this year. With 62 points in only 30 games, he is a monster. He is only 7 points behind the league leader despite playing 19 fewer games. With his new found consistency, Voracek is looking like one of the best hockey players not in the NHL.

Leclaire is back. Like the line of a great comedy, Leclaire is for real, and he's SPECTACULAR. He had one of his best games tonight in an unfortunate loss to the stingy Stars. It took a breakaway goal by Chris Conner and a nifty backwards shootout goal by Niklas Hagman to beat him. Still, Leclaire's rebound control was top notch, and he returned to the form we've seen all year. It is safe to put this year's fantasy MVP back in your lineup.

Leclaire will miss Thursday's game against the Canucks due to a hamstring injury. Both the goalie and the team are downplaying the severity of the injury and he's officially classified as day-to-day. Fredrik Norrena is a good start in Leclaire's absence and should probably be picked up by Leclaire owners as insurance.

This year's fantasy MVP is back on the shelf... as you should have expected. Leclaire left Monday's game as a precationary measure with a tweaked hamstring. He will miss the game Thursday and hopes to be back for the weekend. Let's hope he doesn't rush back, considering his history. I hope you handcuffed his backup Norrena. It is just too risky not to. The much improved Jackets should make Norrena a valuable commodity as well... for as long as he's in there.

Coach Ken Hitchcock announced yesterday that Leclaire will be his main goalie for the forseeable future, reports the Columbus Dispatch. The Blue Jackets' schedule is relatively light from now until the end of the year with only two sets of back-to-back games schedule. Barring injury or a total collapse in form, Leclaire will start the majority of those including probably the next five or six.

He has 3 shutouts. No, you're not hallucinating. That name above this paragraph isn't Brodeur or Kipper. It is Pascal Leclaire. That team he plays for IS Columbus... not New Jersey, not Dallas. The Blue Jackets continue to show improvement, and I hope you were smart enough to take a flyer on this kid while you had the chance. If you have a believer in your league, I'd trade him now! He is very talented, but it is unlikely he is THIS good. Plus, he is still an injury concern. On a good offer, cash in, and play it safe.

A booming bust? Or a blooming star? Regardless, keep an eye on this enigma. Zherdev added another 2 assists last night in the Blue Jackets 3-2 loss to the Stars. Zherdev now has 5 points (all assists) in 5 games. Perhaps, the assists are a good sign for a player often criticized for being "selfish" with the puck. Nash had a goal and assist, as well. Together, the two young talents look primed to break out for a team that may finally be turning the corner. With 90-point upside longterm, Zherdev definitely deserves some attention.

Leclaire will get the nod for Friday's season opener against the Ducks with Fredrik Norrena drawing the starting assignment the next night against the Wild. Coach Ken Hitchcock is beginning the season with both goalies on equal footing and the intent seems to be to rotate the two until one steps up and takes hold of the #1 job. Hitchcock also stated that if a particular goalie is playing well, he will reward that goalie with extra starts. What this probably means for fantasy leaguers is that Leclaire and Norrena will shuttle back and forth in the Blue Jackets net but if one of them records a shutout or a particularly strong game, he will be rewarded with consecutive starts. Goalie rotations are the devil in fantasy hockey so avoid this situation if at all possible.

Fedorov has earned the right to center the Blue Jackets' #1 line with Rick Nash and David Vyborny, reports the Columbus Post-Dispatch. The 37-year Russian is well past his prime but becomes borderline fantasy worthy while being the team's top man down the middle. While his days of being a 100-point performer are well over, Fedorov can still contribute 50-60 points in the right circumstances. We would avoid him in fantasy leagues though.