Nick Schultz – Schultz has been surprisingly-good for the struggling Flyers. While he is still not much of an offensive producer, his good play has translated into numbers that are obviously relevant in multi-category leagues. His 42 shots, 31 PIM, 61 hits and 86 blocks are all on pace to challenge or beat his career-highs. Even more amazing is that he is only one of five Flyers to maintain a positive plus-minus. Keep Schultz in mind if you are ever stuck with a thin waiver wire. He can give you steady production and is likely not drawing any attention from your rivals.

Pittsburgh

Mark Arcobello – After being bounced around this year, Arcobello now finds himself with the Penguins as a depth forward. Despite being on the verge of falling out of the NHL entirely, his statistics are actually decent. His eight goals, 68 hits, 254 faceoff wins and 63 shots make him a decent depth center depending on the league type and depth. Things may change in Pittsburgh as he may not be as much of a factor on the draw but should also benefit from a better plus-minus. Provided that he can stay in the lineup, there is still some life for Arcobello in fantasy hockey.

Beau Bennett – Bennett has been hit hard by injuries over the years and this one has been no different. This has prevented him from cementing a spot in the top-six and becoming a fantasy star. Lately he has been seeing more action in the top-six but has not set the world on fire. This makes Bennett a gamble in the second half as he will have to shed the injury bug and the eventual returns of Blake Comeau and Patric Hornqvist while capitalizing on the opportunity that is being presented. If he clicks, the former first-round choice could be an excellent contributor next to Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.

Tampa Bay

Jonathan Drouin – The former third-overall pick has been brought along slowly but that does not mean that there are not better things to come. He is already a relevant contributor in points-only leagues despite scoring just two goals and scoring on less than 5% of shots. While you would expect Drouin to score at a better clip moving forward, his goal-scoring potential will be limited until he starts shooting at a higher volume. Still, the sheltered role and constant power play minutes have served Drouin well but things could change if the training wheels are taken off and the young forward responds well.

Cedric Paquette – A limited offensive upside limits Paquette's value to multi-category leagues but he is certainly set to become a good one in those formats. Already getting third-line minutes with the Lightning, his 54 shots, 38 PIM, 77 hits and 35 blocks offers a nice combination while his 11 points are respectable for the role that he is playing. As with most newcomers, his value down the stretch hinges on staying in the lineup consistently. This could be a problem as the Bolts possess a legion of solid prospects that could push to steal Paquette's spot at some point.

Toronto

David Clarkson – Horrible contract aside, Clarkson still has something to offer in multi-category leagues. In addition to the nasty play, he is actually on track to challenge for 20 goals. There is a lot of uncertainty in Toronto at the moment so it is not clear what Clarkson's role will be down the stretch but he has certainly shown an ability to play like a true power forward in the past. No doubt, his salary and situation has adversely affected his value in the eyes of many but may have introduced an unjustified bias against him. If his owner in your league grows impatient or sours on the Leafs you may be able to snag Clarkson at a discount rate. He is worth keeping on the radar.

Jake Gardiner – Gardiner has had an up-and-down NHL career and, to say the least, he is currently down. It is unknown if his season can even be salvaged at this point so he is certainly a gamble. It is worth noting that there are tons of trade rumors in Toronto that could see Cody Franson or even Gardiner himself shipped out. Either move would help Gardiner tremendously as it would either enhance his role or offer a fresh start somewhere else. Defensemen in general experience a lot speed bumps early in their careers so it is still too early to give up on Gardiner. He has shown in the past that he can put up 30 points in a year. If he can get back to that production clip in the second half he would become a useful fantasy depth defenseman.

Washington

Brooks Laich – For the most part it has been another forgettable season for Laich with just 11 points in 31 contests. There is some light at the end of the tunnel though as six of his points have come in the last 12 games. Look back, Laich has hit the 40-point mark four times and the 50-point mark twice so there is certainly some scoring history here. His versatility could make him an appealing compliment in the top-six where they possess a ton of skill. If he can land a spot on a scoring line at some point he is certainly worth adding.

Tom Wilson – Wilson is still a raw talent that has a long way to go in his development. What makes him appealing now is the fact that he is a frequent linemate of star forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. There is certainly room to grow considering he is connecting on less than 5% of his shots. Even though it is unlikely that Wilson becomes a scoring star anytime soon, or even become fantasy-relevant in points leagues this year, he already possesses a lot of value in multi-category leagues. Any scoring increase could push him close to the elite level. Beware though – a greater focus on scoring could come at the cost of some fights.

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