Fantasy Hockey Gauntlet - Week Nine: Aaron Ekblad, Tommy Wingels, and Alex Tanguay

If you missed out on the early entries into my weekly series, you can find it all right here: Fake Teams Fantasy Hockey.

A quick recap of last weeks' recommendations: Kris Versteeg was my easy pick and he didn't disappoint, logging top 75 value last week. Matt Beleskey and Jiri Hudler were also good picks, but no one blew it away this week. Similarly, no one was absolutely terrible and everyone had at least limited value. The 'meh' list was extensive as Alex Killorn, Blake Comeau, Victor Rask, Craig Smith, Colin Wilson, John Klingberg, and Jhonas Enroth all contributed a small amount.

In the snake draft league - This was Made in Kariya - we had a fairly tight week. I settled with a draw against the 11th place team and was hoping for a better showing after being up most of the week. I remain in sixth and in a playoff spot, but I need a victory against one of the teams just ahead of me in the standings this week. The auction draft league - Don't Toews me bro! - once again found me in the tightest matchup of the week, losing 4-6 against one of the top teams. The matchup was lost on Sunday (we came into the day tied) which made the loss a bit harder for me to take. I remain in fourth and in a playoff spot, but again I'm feeling the pressure to make up ground on others. Overall I had a poor week last week as I went 1-4-1 and I'm now 25-16-6 in head to head matchups on the year. Overall not the week I was hoping to have, both from a waiver recommendations and a fantasy week.

Week Nine (December 8-14):

4 Game Week: Calgary, Chicago, Edmonton, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Toronto
2 Game Week: Arizona, Boston, Dallas, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver
All other teams at 3 games

You should go and get NHL Center Ice (if you haven't already done so) to properly enjoy the season's slate of games; trust me - it's worth the money and maybe you can get a discount now since the season has already started.

Waiver Pickups:

Tommy Wingels - RW - SJ (45% owned) and Tomas Hertl - LW - SJ (49%): I'm going back to the well on this one as I've already recommended Wingels once here. he's is doing it all right now on a line with Patrick Maleau and Logan Couture. With nine points in the last two weeks, he's been one of the best players over that time period. Hertl hasn't been as good, but he's still playing with big and little Joe (Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski for those not in the know). You've all figured out that I love to follow the shots and Hertl is still shooting. He'll be fine.

Contributes in everything (Wingels)/goals, shots (Hertl)
Can hurt you in nothing right now? maybe penalty minutes? (Wingels)/assists, plus/minus, penalty minutes (Hertl)

Stephen Weiss - C - DET (14%) and Tomas Tatar - LW - DET (46%) and Tomas Jurco - RW - DET (2%): Weiss just returned from injury not long ago and he has stepped right in as if he didn't miss any time. He's not playing with either Pavel Datsyuk or Henrik Zetterberg, but he has been productive anyway. Take it for what it's worth at least. Tatar is on the Datsyuk line right now and they have been firing on all cylinders as well and Jurco has possibly the best line with Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist. With Datsyuk 'healthy' again, the Red Wings are a team on the rise.

Contributes in pretty much everything
Can hurt you in nothing at the moment

Curtis Glencross - LW - CGY (19%): Throwing a Flames plug on my favourite player on our roster. I've been a fan of Glenny for years now, he's not the flashy guy, but he's the guy who gets the job done and I really respect the way he plays the game. His was the jersey I bought four years ago, not Jarome Iginla, not Mikka Kiprusoff, not Mark Giordano. I liked Glenny before it was cool to like Glenny. I'm such a hockey hipster some times... He will, at times, help your fantasy roster as well. He's riding a three game point streak and is usually good for a bout a point every other game with decent contributing stats. Better than a lot of late options out there.

Contributes in goals, assists, and plus/minus
Can hurt you in powerplay points

Alex Tanguay - LW/RW - COL (12%): So Tangs was playing with me as just as I recommended him last time he got hurt and missed a couple games. What's he done since returning? Exactly what I recommended picking him up for. He's returning top 100 value, contributing in nearly all categories and scoring at a point a game since his return. FYI - I still like him, I'm still on board.

Contributes in everything
Can hurt you in nothing

Aaron Ekblad - D - FLA (45%): I've thought about recommending him for the last few weeks, but it never seemed right, I always wanted to see more. I've realized that he's been about as steady as one could hope from a rookie this year and I can't keep waiting to recommend him. Ekblad was the second ever player, and first defenseman, to be granted exceptional player status and be eligible to play in the OHL at the age of 15. So ya, this guy is going to be a stud for years. I just wish the Flames could have tanked a little harder last year to get him.

Contributes in a man crush sort of way
Can hurt you in penalty minutes

David Legwand - C - OTT (4%): Powerplay points are still hard to find on the waiver wire so take a look at Legwand. He's playing on the top unit and four of his five points in the last two weeks have been with the man advantage. I don't like his regular linemates and we'll see how a new coach affects them, but he's rolling on the powerplay.

Contributes in goals, assists, powerplay points
Can hurt you in plus/minus and penalty minutes

Antti Raanta - G - CHI (37%) and Scott Darling - G - CHI (6%): I made the mistake last time of recommending Raanta when Crawford was injured and the Blackhawks rolled Darling all the way. Wait and see on this one, but as soon as you feel confident, grab one. Whoever is in net will be a candidate for good starts as the team is on a roll. Darling got the last start, so I want to see who starts Tuesday - whoever that is is who I'd bank on getting the starts to begin with.

Hopefully there is enough here to help you through the week, but if not, here is a preview towards next week.

Week Ten (December 15-21) Preview:

4 Game Week: Boston, Buffalo, Carolina, New Jersey, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Toronto
2 Game Week: Arizona, Nashville, San Jose, Vancouver
All other teams at 3 games

My NHL Schedule:

The NHL Schedule has not been revised for anything since last week but can be found here: 2014-15 NHL Schedule . Don't forget to change the time zone to your appropriate time zone. The one thing I ask of you is that you do not take my schedule and use it for your own personal gains. Please do not sell it, you can direct people here to find it, but do not sell it.

I'm new to the twitterverse, but I'd love to hear your feedback and questions. Follow me on Twitter @HockeyGauntlet for more of my thoughts and all of your fantasy hockey needs.