BTP: CUFFS ARE BACK IN STYLE, HANDCUFFS THAT IS We are just about at the midpoint of the NHL season and most of you poolies know whether you have a decent shot at making your league’s playoffs or securing a top money slot.  Those that are vying for any possible award come season’s end has a legitimate #1 goaltender on their squad or two decent ones.   Going into the second half and down the stretch, you will need to secure those positions in order to stay in contention just in case your # 1 or elite net minder goes down to injury.  PrimePucks™ will be taking a look at what goalkeepers you should have on your bench as a handcuff in case your starter is lost for any period of time. JACOB MARKSTROM – Steve already mentioned how he feels about this once can’t-miss Florida Panther prospect in this week’s ADD’EM, and I am just reiterating that it looks like the talented young goaltender is finally finding his stride in the NHL. Vancouver Canuck starter Ryan Miller has been plagued with injuries lately and it is a good idea to pick up Markstrom off waivers, if still available, because if Mille falters and the Canucks trying o lock in a playoff spot, they may have no choice but to go with Markstrom if he continues his hot play. JOHN GIBSON/FREDERIK ANDERSEN – Heading into the 2015-2016 NHL Season, it sure looked like Andersen had the lock on the #1 role with Gibson being assigned to the AHL and management stating that he was there to get the experience.  Well, a rough start by the Anaheim Ducks and the minor injury to Andersen opened the door for the Ducks to call up Gibson and he is playing like he doesn’t plan on heading back.  Gibson is 8-4-2 with a 1.63 GAA and a .932 SP with 4 shutouts.  It appears he is the #1 goaltender in Anaheim but it is a good idea to grab Andersen if available but young goaltenders do struggle at times. Although Gibson doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.  With the Ducks in a playoff spot now after a horrendous start, look for the team to ride the hot hand. ANDREJ VASILEVSKIY – We all know that Ben Bishop has been stellar in net so far this season for the Tampa Bay Lightning with a 2.06 GAA and a .925 SP but his record is just 15-12-3.  That is more of an indication of the play of the team in front of him, so expect the wins to start piling up now that the team is getting back to healthy.  Vasilevskiy started the season with an injury and has had a rough time getting into NHL game shape but make no mistake of the talent this ...

Aleksander Barkov The 20-year old center is a star in the making and has flourished on a line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Jaromir Jagr. Having scored 23 points in 29 games, the skilled Swede ahold be in line for a 65-70 point year with more to come in the near future. The window is quickly closing to get this Panther, so act fast if he is still on the waiver wire.    Jacob Markstrom Take a chance on this young goalie as he has played exceptionally well in the Vancouver crease with Ryan Miller out due to injury.  How about 3-0-1 with a 1.93 GAA. Once touted as the no 1 goaltending prospect outside of the NHL, Markstrom is starting to realize his vast potential. With miller not playing up to his elite form, it's possible that the Swede steals more starts even when he is healthy. He is worth the risk.    Ryan Spooner   With David Krejci out week to week, Spooner is getting time on the second line and top pp unit. Considering how well he did last season in the same spot, he is worth a short term flier. He has three points over the last two games and could be close to a point-per-game scorer during Krejci's absence.    Nazem Kadri   Don't look now but this Leaf has nine points over his last games and has clicked well with Leo Komarov on the second line. Kadri has clearly regressed after his '13-14 50-point season but has the goods to deliver at a much higher scoring pace. I would give him a shot but he needs to be more consistent if he is to become a legit fantasy impact player.    Jonathan Bernier   In this case, the hopes pin on the underachieving goalie building off two straight stellar starts over elite clubs( Pitt, St Louis) and solidifying the Leafs goal while Reimer recovers from a groin injury. One or two things will happen- Bernier finds his game or he loses fantasy relevance for the long term. This one is a pure crap shoot at this point but I do find his recent performances very encouraging.   

Darcy Kuemper signed a 2-year deal and after his storybook season last year, if he can establish himself early, he should be the number 1 in Minny unless the coaching staff believes they want a veteran like Ilya Bryzgalov who is trying to make the decision a tough one for management. With Niklas Backstrom getting the win over the Jets last night, the Wild just might have to stick with Backstrom and Kuemper leaving "Breeze" as the odd goalie out. Josh Harding is out for a period of time with a fractured foot. Harding has the skills but can't seem to catch a break, no pun intended.....The St. Louis Blues locked up Jaden Schwartz in a 2-year deal after the LWer broke out with 25 goals and 56 points last year, his second full season in the NHL. Expect similar results, if not a little jump up in production, as Schwartz will be counted on more in the Blues offense.....Florida waived Dan Ellis and Vancouver waived Jacob Markstrom as teams begin to pare down their rosters for the beginning of the season. Ellis was kind of expected but Markstrom comes as a surprise since he was a highly-touted prospect.  With his talent, he will land somewhere, hopefully a place where he can develop properly.  Eddie Lack will serve as Ryan Miller's backup.....Pittsburgh's Beau Bennett was in line to scoop up some prime minutes playing among the top two lines but an injury to his knee sustained during drills will keep him out of the lineup for up to six weeks. Will he ever get a decent shot?....The 2014-2015 PrimePucks Fantasy Hockey Draft Guide has been updated with the latest in signings and injuries. Check your files for the latest developments highlighted in yellow and red.

Markstrom, 24, was acquired in the trade that sent Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers last March. He was 2-8-3 with a 3.39 GAA and .873 SV% between the Panthers and Canucks last season. Markstrom was once considered the NHL's top goaltending prospect and will likely be claimed by another team. He has just one year with a $1.2 million cap-hit left on his contract, making him a relatively low-risk add.

Finishing next to last was a minor victory considering they finished last in the Eastern Conference the year before, and that was during the Lockout season. When the leading scorer on your team is a rookie who had only 11 games of NHL experience before last season, and he led with all of 38 points, you know you are in for some growing pains.  The veterans brought in were nothing but brittle or, for lack of a better term, non-impactful.  The youth movement is in full swing and it will be interesting to see how the remaining vets respond if the team doesn't get off to a good start. GOALIES In what was mainly a shock at the trade deadline last season, Roberto Luongo returned to South Florida after it seemed like he had put all the differences with Vancouver management behind him and had been playing well for the Canucks. Jacob Markstrom, who did nothing to stake his claim as the Number 1 net minder in Florida, was the main piece in the trade going back the other way.  Needless to say, the trade was a shock to most people, much like the draft day trade of Cory Schneider last June.  Luongo will be very busy as the Cats try to form some semblance of an NHL team.  Luongo's SP and GAA will suffer a little, but then again, maybe he will thrive while back in familiar settings and the extra workload.  His total saves should increase, but that is not necessarily a good thing as his win totals will probably suffer as a result.  Dan Ellis and Al Montoya will battle for backup duties. DEFENSE Brian Campbell leads the young defensive corps and will be counted on for his leadership as well as his offensive production. Campbell fell a point short of the team lead in points by going 7-30-37 in playing all 82 games.  He should be able to climb back into the 40 range, but his +/- takes a hit on a growing team. Erik Gudbranson and Dmitry Kulikov have a few years under their belts now but still need some time to mature.  Gudbranson and Kulikov may develop into more of a stay-at-home defensive types as their scoring hasn't been much to be desired early on in their NHL careers.  Alex Petrovic has some offensive upside but may need more seasoning in the minors.  Dylan Olsen, a Dale Tallon Chicago draft pick, was brought over from Chi town and will start to see more time in the NHL but don't expect much production. FORWARDS The Panthers need their young forward talent to develop quickly as the veterans don't seem to have what it takes to carry the load. Jonathan Huberdeau ...

Markstrom allowed five goals on 22 shots in a loss to the Oilers last night. His first two starts with the Canucks have not gone very well as he has allowed eight goals on 49 shots (.837 SV%), both resulting in losses. He will start the last game of the season vs. the Flames.

Markstrom allowed three goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Avalanche in his first start with the Cancuks. He will get a second chance tonight and draws a much easier matchup in Edmonton. However, it is Ryan Smyth's last NHL game so the Oilers could come out flying for their veteran.

Markstrom has not started an NHL game since December 20th. He played 19:48 wit the Canucks in early March after replacing Eddie Lack--he stopped four of five shots. He will likely start the remaining three games in a lost season for the Canucks. This will give Vancouver a good idea of what their goalie situation will be like heading into 2014-15.

Markstrom, 24, was the 31st overall pick in the 2008 NHL draft. He has yet to assert himself as an NHL regular, but will get a chance now in Vancouver to share time with fellow countryman Eddie Lack. The two were teammates back with Brynas of the Swedish Elite League. Markstrom is 1-6-3 with a 3.52 GAA and .874 SV% with Florida this season, but has recently been playing with San Antonio (AHL) where he was 12-11-3 with a 2.56 GAA and .918 SV%.

Markstrom makes his first start since November 5 when he allowed four goals on 27 shots in a 4-3 OT loss to the Oilers. He is 1-5-3 with a 3.36 GAA and .877 SV% this season. His matchup with the Jets is a solid one, but he is a risky spot-start regardless of his opponent.