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In this weekly piece I will provide 5 players below 50% owned who should be looked into owning (Breakaways) and 5 players above 50% owned who are struggling (Benders). This doesn't mean you should drop the Benders but maybe they can ride the pine for a week to get their head back in the game. Generally, I am very skittish about dropping anyone above 90% owned unless they have shown 2+ months of really bad play. My rationale for the selections includes some looking through the box scores but a majority of it is with the eye test, watching the games.
5 Breakaways:
Timo Meier (RW, SJS) 3% owned. 1 game. 1 goal. Obviously this won't always be the case but he showed some nice talent and I wouldn't be surprised if he cracks as a top 6 forward within 1-2 months, good chance to get in early now.
Derek Ryan (C, Car) 4% owned. Sits on the top line with Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner. It's not often you can get a top line player who is 4% owned. He has 10 points in his last 9 games including 3 power play points.
Tory Stecher (D, Van) 3% owned. Not a ton to get excited about on this team but Tory has been firing all sorts of shots, he has 6 assists (4 PPA) over the last 30 days and his ice time is going up because of it.
Evander Kane (LW, Buff) 29% owned. Ownership is encouraging him to shoot and it's paying off, 6 goals in the last month amid 41 shots.
Mike Condon (G, Ott) 29% owned. When he's on a hot streak I ride it, he's won the last 3 and is looking great.
5 Benders:
Patrick Laine (LW,RW, Wpg) 96% owned. He's continued his strong play but with their week ahead, if I'm in a league that locks for the whole week I'm tempted to bench him.
David Krejci (C, Bos) 54% owned. 2 points in 9 games, he's not what you were expecting from last year's production. I'm dropping him.
Jeff Skinner (LW, Car) 82% owned. I think Carolina has a tough week against some tough physical opponents and I think Jeff will hit a dry spell because of it.
Nickolaj Ehlers (LW,RW, WPG) 66% owned. Same as Patrick Laine.
Brian Elliot (G, Cgy) 51% owned. Currently sporting a 3.21 GAA and a .881 Sv% over the last 30 days which are abysmal numbers. He needs to figure somethings out.