W.W.O.R.D.  FAST OR SLOW   10/22/2016  It seems that every season, there are a few players that stay under the radar no matter how much research one does in preparing for the fantasy season.  So it is especially important to keep on top of the games early on to at least take notice of such players and put them on the so called “watch list”.  It is also important to take note of those who are off to slow starts because if they continue to struggle to put points on the board, it may mean a change in assignments or, in the case of veterans, means that they should return to normal lines of production unless they are hiding or playing through an injury.  We will be taking a look at both groups, the ‘fast start, under the radar” types and the “slow start, under average production levels”. Let’s break the “fast start” group into the three position categories; forwards, defensemen and goalies. Topping the list is Richard Panik, a right wing for the Chicago Blackhawks.  Looking at the overall team, it appeared that there would be a few productive forward positions available and last year’s acquisition Panik is taking advantage of it early on with 5 goals and 2 assists in 5 games.  Playing on the top line with Toews surely helps the situation, but if he wasn’t producing early on, we wouldn’t be talking about him.  Some background on Panik; 25 years old and a 23nd round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2009.  His best career season was 22-19-41 in 51 games for the AHL Syracuse Crunch.  Can we expect Panik to continue with this type of production?  I would say yes until the Hawks decide on solidifying their lineup with a trade or two which may hurts Panik’s production.  Is it time to Panik?  Not yet, but it bears keeping a close eye on. Another forward off to a fast start is Boston’s 20-year old LW David Pastrnak.  Pastrnak was helped with Loui Eriksson’s departure and also getting to play with two smart, experienced veteran centers in David Backes and Patrice Bergeron.  Pastrnak has the skill set and now is applying it with his expanded role.  We expect him to continue this production throughout the season but you may run into dry spells as he only has 101 games of NHL experience to this date.  As we switch to the defensive side of the puck and we have a few interesting names to talk about.  Columbus rookie Zach Werenski, who I wanted to draft in my points-only fantasy pool but opted for a handcuff defenseman in Justin Schultz in case of a Letang injury J, Jakob Chychrun, the rookie defenseman that Arizona traded up to get as he fell in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, and two veterans in Detroit’s Mike Green and Montreal d-man Jeff Petry. Let’s start with the veterans.  We all know Mike Green’s best offensive season’s came as a member of the Washington Capitals where he was just a fantasy beast as far as defensemen were concerned.  He has been battling the injury bug since those Capital days but it looks like he has revived his game on a Detroit team that is relying on his production from the blue line.  With 7 points in 5 games this season it sure looks like he is returning to Beast mode, so keep him in and pray that he remains relatively injury-free. Or possibly trade him at his peak for an elite defenseman who is off to a slow start or will give you steady production. Montreal’s Jeff Petry has never been known for his offensive prowess but more as a steady stay-at-home defenseman, so his 4 points in 3 games so far this season makes him an intriguing pick.  My experience is to say stay away as his production is surely to drop off considerably as the season wears on.  I’m sure he will get you a few points here and there and his +/- shouldn’t also be an asset on this Canadiens team.  Another name that is probably along the same lines as Petry is Colorado’s defenseman Patrick Wiercioch who has 4 points in 4 games for the Avs. The difference in these two just may be in the +/- department but Colorado’s situation bears a little more patience as they learn a new system under new NHL Rookie Head Coach Jared Bednar. As far as rookies are concerned, you just never know which ones will continue throughout the rigors of a full 82-game NHL schedule and which ones will fade.  We are talking about two truly gifted rookie defensemen in Werenski and Chychrun.  Both of these rookies just may be able to handle the day-to-day rigors and be productive as well.  In Columbus, they have been searching for a productive defensive for years and recently have built a solid core of young defensemen with the acquisition of Seth Jones in January of last year and drafting Werenski at #8 overall in 2015.  Along with David Savard and Ryan Murray, the blue Jackets should be all set for years to come.  Columbus Head Coach John Tortorella likes to ride the players who produce so if Werenski can continue to put up points (4 in 3 games), he will continue to receive quality ice time, but also remember that JT can turn on a dime to his loyalty and make life a living hell for an NHL player. Jakob Chychrun was considered the top defensive prospect coming into the NHL 2016 Entry Draft but surprisingly fell to #16 which Arizona saw as an opportunity to snatch such a sure thing as a player can be with a trade with Detroit.  The rookie does have 3 points in 3 games but there is veteran depth in front of him in Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Alex Goligoski but if he produces, I’m sure he will cut into the playing time of those top-two Coyotes defensemen.  Is anyone surprised at Vancouver’s 3-0 start with Jacob Markstrom manning the pipes for the Canucks?  There was a feeling that Ryan Miller had seen better days but Markstrom never did to instill confidence from his NHL play to date with career numbers of 2.94 GAA and .905 Save Percentage.  I think the time has come for Markstrom to at least give steady production as a fantasy hockey net minder, although don’t expect his current level of play to continue at 1.65 GAA and a .932 SP.  Somewhere in between his average career numbers and these terrific numbers to start the 2016-17 season. Looking at the ‘Slow start” side of the equation, we will start with the goaltenders.  Brain Elliott was brought in to solidify Calgary’s goaltending situation by bringing in a proven, veteran goalkeeper who can provide confidence to the team with his steady play.  The Flames may have to look under the mask after three starts to see if Elliott is indeed behind the mask and not Missy Elliott.  A 0-3-0 record and metrics of 4.72 GAA and a .839 SP will just not cut it but look for Elliott to make adjustments and the Flames to be rewarded by his upcoming fine play.  A buy low candidate or a waiver wire pickup for those in need of goaltending help or depth. Keeping with the Flames, is it just me or is everyone waiting for defenseman Dougie Hamilton to begin putting up close to elite numbers.  He did have 43 points in his first season with Calgary last year so you know he has it in him to put up decent numbers but with just a single point in 5 games so far this season, there just may be some disgruntled fantasy owners around that you may be able to snatch up on the cheap to add as a fourth or depth defenseman. Playing for a new team always takes a while to acclimate oneself to but Keith Yandle is laying with some extremely talented players in Florida that it’s just a matter of time for him to start producing only like Yandle can.  It’s time to light the Yandle and see how bright he can shine in the Sunshine State. So stay patient and you shall be rewarded. It’s never easy for rookies who had a solid productive first season to continue in their sophomore year as teams make adjustments and that adrenaline that kept the player going in his rookie season needs to be revitalized.  In the case of Dylan Larkin, there is a lot of high expectations in this talented center, and with only 1 point in his first 5 games of 2016, there just may be anxiety building in some fantasy owners that just might want to cut bait.  He is still fresh and should overcome his slow start as Detroit has their system and if plays within that system, the points will come. Max Domi falls into the same boat as Larkin.  A second-year Pro who is off to slow start with 1 point in 4 games after posting numbers of 18-34-52 in 81 games last year.  He has the talent but Arizona is in a rebuilding stage and seem to be on the right track so for those in dynasty leagues, you have fine keeper for years to come.  In those in 1-year leagues, practice a little more patience before making a decision to trade or cut bait.  Only time will tell as he is an integral part of the desert offense. I’m going to put a few veteran forwards in the same basket as James Neal, Brandon Saad, Rick Nash and David Krejci all sit with 1 point so far this season (as of October 20th).  All steady veteran fantasy producers who should be able to produce at career averages, so if somehow you can get these on the cheap in your fantasy league to add forward depth or shore up a fifth or sixth forward spot, by all means do so while they start off slow. It’s always good to monitor the slow-starters because unless they are hiding an injury, they will give you solid production as they return to average.  I try to take in all sorts of intangible factors as far as evaluating players are concerned as I have played hockey, baseball, football and softball and coached all at various times of my life and one of the intangibles is an athlete’s superstition.  So in this case of slow-starters, players that get off to slow starts begin to press as they know they are being counted on to produce and things just aren’t falling into place.  In the case of the fantasy-worthy players like those I have mentioned above, the beginning of the New Year (2017) means a fresh start for some.  I know we are still two months off, but it’s good to know who is off o that slow start and if it continues into early December, that may be the best time ...