ADD’EM: IT'S A BLUE PERIOD, JACKET REQUIRED First off, Happy New Year everyone!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and ready to take on all that 2017 has to offer.  I’m excited to be back after a nice break, spending time in the Bahamas with my family, but now it’s time to get down to business. As we turn the page on the calendar, there are quite a few names still available in ESPN that kind of surprised me, as I am sure they will surprise you.  Speaking of surprises, the biggest surprise so far in this NHL season has been the Columbus Blue Jackets.  In first place of the Metropolitan Division at this juncture of the season, it is time to start believing in the Blue Jackets.  Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is the key to this team as long as he stays healthy, he will continue to lead the team, but there are a few forwards that remain available but that window may be closing fast.  Columbus has played the fewest amount of games so far with 35 so there are of man games to be had out there.  Players like Nick Foligno (86.6%), Brandon Saad (85.5%), Alex Wennberg (79.1%), Sam Gagner (69.8%), Scott Hartnell (53.2%), and even Cam Atkinson at 88.9% raises an eyebrow as to their availability.   Most of the aforementioned players are playing at a point-per-game clip and with the way the team is focused, if you can get a hold of 1 or 2 of these players, don’t hesitate to start them.  Even on defense Seth Jones remains available at 72.1% and has 16 points in just 29 games, missing some due to a minor injury but has 5 points in past 7 games. All sport a positive +/- number as well, so you know Head Coach John Tortorella has them playing together. If you have the contrarian way of looking at things and want to shy away from the hottest team in the first half, then perhaps the New York Islanders are the team you want to stock up on.  With a horrible first half, the Isles seem to be righting the ship of late with 4 wins in last 5 games.  Having only played 36 games so far, there are plenty of games left for the players to boost their NHL totals.  Josh Bailey (16.9%), Anders Lee (29.4%), Ryan Strome (2.4%), Andrew Ladd (30.9%), Brock Nelson (19.6%) are the forwards who have the talent to pick up their games for the stretch run playing with Captain John Tavares.  In the past 6 games, all the above forwards have scored close to a PPG level with Nelson getting 4, Strome and Ladd getting 5, and then Lee with6 and Bailey 7.  On defense, Dennis Seidenberg (16.8%) with 3 points and Thomas Hickey (1.2%) with 5 in those same 6 games.   If they can string along a good winning streak, they will be right back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Other players to consider who are available in some capacity that can produce down the homestretch are veteran players such as Alex Steen (79.2%), Paul Stastny (55.2%), Mikko Koivu (65.8%), Alex Radulov (78.9%), Kyle Turris (67.1%), and David Krejci (70.4%).  Youngsters Robby Fabbri (46.7%) Charlie Coyle (69.9%), Jonathan Drouin (75.2%), Ryan Spooner (18.0%) may start to be relied upon more as there teams gear up for the second half.  Detroit Rookie Anthony Mantha seems to be hitting his stride of late and is only owned in 23.5% of ESPN leagues. Looking for help on defense, Justin Schultz (76.4%), Nick Holden (43.0%), Jake Gardiner (49.5%) and Jared Spurgeon (33.2%) come to mind that may be available in your fantasy league. Until next week, good luck!