Fantasy Impact: The Buffalo Sabres claimed winger Cory Conacher off of waivers from the Ottawa Senators.

The Sabres get: a talented, underrated winger who rose through the hockey ranks as an undrafted prospect and dominated at each level. He even made a splash at the NHL level with Tampa Bay, but hit a wall when he joined the Senators. Conacher’s potential will rely greatly on how he is used by the coach. I fear that Ted Nolan’s coaching style is too close to Paul MacLean’s coaching style and that another failure is immenent. However, change is usually a good thing so you never know. How quickly he can put points on the board when given a chance on the scoring line will determine where things go from here. A couple of goal posts and other bad luck…and he could be sunk.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Conacher off the Ottawa roster, Ales Hemsky on it. So no change to the other players and their roles.

In Buffalo, a lot will depend on the rest of the day. Will they trade Chris Stewart? It would seem that Matt Moulson is gone. If those two go and no wingers come in, then Conacher’s odds improve greatly. If Stewart remains, then you’ll see the likes of Brian Flynn getting a reduction in ice time.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Conacher

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Flynn