The Creek: Don’t Wanna Wait… for Dawson Mercer’s Breakout

Fantasy hockey. It's a mixed bag of treats. You never know what you're going to get from any given player year to year. It's like taking an Ovi clapper right to the family jewels. That'll mix your bag right up. So, lets see if we can try to unscramble those eggs and find a couple roosters in that coop we call the waiver wire. 

Let's start it off with the Big Gingy himself, Owen "just the tip" Tippet. The possible son of Flyers mascot Griddy has 5 goals in his first ten games. In fact, he’s a Cy Young candidate with a 5 – 1 stat line.  Tippett is being scooped up fast in most leagues, due to the fact that coach Rick Tocchet is loving the way this big Rooster has been playing. PP1 time and a spot on the top line is just the Tip(pett) of the iceberg. For a guy who isn't afraid to pull the trigger when the opportunity arises, expect plenty of shots and a bunch more goals with the increased playing time that will be given to ole Tippy boy.

Under scooped up beasty boy number 2 goes to Conor Garland. Only owned in about 40% of leagues, his off-season training regimen has been paying dividends for the Canucks 10 games in. Averaging over a point per game and 22 minutes of ice time to start the season, he is gelling with line mates DeBrusk and alien boy, along with top PP unit opportunities. He has definitely been putting the lotion on his skin as instructed by his new strength training coach doctor Lector. Those silky-smooth mitts are a clear indication that he has not been getting the hose again during the off season. Unfortunately, he’ s going to need to go to Dr. Lector’s recovery room of horrors as he recuperates from an undisclosed injury. He’s not with the team on their current road trip, so the earliest it looks he may return is November 5 vs Chicago.

Here's a sentence I thought I wouldn't be saying this soon into the year. How about them Islanders ? These guys are putting up goals in bunches and a lot of it has to do with a big Bo bounce back. Another minute muncher here, he is making the most of his ice time with 12 points in 11 games and crushing the top powerplay and penalty kill units. Bo Horvat isn’t much of a sleeper, being owned in 80% of leagues. However, he needs to be snatched up in leagues where he currently isn't. He's playing with some fire to his game, while making girls cream and goalies scream in frustration with his performance so far. 

Dozy’s Dawg of the week goes to the pride of Newfoundland, Dawson Mercer. Dawson has been catching plenty of points in the creek of the NHL thus far. He has 11 points in 11 games and has a spot on PP2 and PK2. Not only that, he lines up alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier at 5 on 5. Sitting at only 50% owned on Yahoo, we gotta get the kid from Carbonear on a few more rosters than that. He has played in all 82 games throughout his 4 seasons in the Show. He had a 56 point showing in his sophomore season, but has had 2 down years since then. He just turned 24 and certainly looks as though he may be enjoying the start of a breakout year.

These 4 guys live in the grey zone between forgotten and feral—too boring for hype, too dangerous to ignore.

Bo’s the captain who’s thrown over the boards in every situation and has the point production to back it up. Tippett’s the firestarter who scores out of spite and mullet power. Garland? He’s the caffeine-addicted hobbit with the audacity to outwork your entire top six (who’s convalescing in the infirmary right now). Lastly, Mercer is the kid from Carbonear who has been reeling in some big points while out fishing on his cod boat.

Hope everyone had a happy Halloween. Go Blue Jays!

Stay sleepy zzz