Happy Sunday everyone! It's the end of the weekend, and that means it's time for another installment of Geek of the Week! Every week I normally make three or so recommendations of players you could pick up off waivers to help bolster your fantasy hockey lineup. Sometimes it will be players who land promotions and start getting more ice time, while sometimes it is just picking up a guy who is on a heater and capitalizing on their success at the right time. Today I want to look at a few names that might not be all that appealing offensively, but guys that can still make a big impact in other areas of the game. Let's take a look at who I mean!

Tanner Jeannot

Jeannot was a player I outlined down the stretch of last season, and while he certainly had a ton of extra appeal last season for his scoring touch, he still is a player who can make a positive impact for you. Through 42 games this season his offensive numbers are certainly underwhelming, posting a miniscule three goals and six assists for nine total points. However, where he lacks in points, he makes up for with pain! He's racked up 152 hits already this season, which averages out to be 3.6 per game. 

If he continues his pace, he will surpass the 300-hit plateau for the second season in a row. On top of his body checking prowess, he also isn't afraid to lay out his body to block a shot every now and then either. So far, he's racked up 39 blocked shots which is on pace to break his career best. While his offense has been lacking to say the least, there are actually a couple reasons to have faith Jeannot could snap out of his elongated funk at some point.

First off, he showed last season he is capable of putting the puck in the net. He scored 24 goals in his first full season of work in the NHL. His ice time is pretty comparable to last season, and he is actually shooting more this season compared to last year too. He still only averages 1.7 shots per game, which isn't great, but he does seem to be snakebitten to a certain degree. His shooting percentage is just 4.3%, which is unnaturally low. It would also help if he had more offensively gifted linemates, but it seems for now he is stuck in the bottom-six.

Regardless though, you would be picking up Jeannot for the peripheral stats he can bring to your team, and any offense should be considered a bonus at this point. The 25-year-old right winger is available on Yahoo in 32% of all formats, while on Fantrax he is owned in 51% of leagues. 

Ben Chiarot

Shifting our focus to the blueline, Chiarot is a savvy 10-year veteran who signed a four-year contract with Detroit in the offseason. After spending most of his career north of the border playing for Winnipeg and Montreal, Detroit locked down this 31-year-old blueliner to serve as a steady experienced presence for the likes of Moritz Seider and Filip Hronek. And while he does fill that role perfectly, he also is no slouch either.

He is seeing just under 21 minutes of ice time per night through 41 games this season. His three goals and nine assists aren't eye popping by any stretch of the imagination, but you can definitely defend on him in the other peripheral categories. In the hits department he has accrued 96 for an average of 2.3 per game. Meanwhile he has blocked 87 shots already this year which also averages out just above two per game. If he continues his pace in each of these categories, both would be career highs at the end of the season.

The Detroit Red Wings have a very chippy and tough squad to play against, and Chiarot really helps define that identity. He is pretty scarcely owned in Yahoo leagues, having just a 6% ownership. Meanwhile, over on Fantrax he is owned in 22% of leagues. If you have room for a depth defenseman on your team, Chiarot could be a solid fit. Offensive defensemen are already super hard to come by at this point in the season, so adding a guy who can bring other attributes to the table may be your best bet.

Alexander Romanov

Rounding things out this week is another defenseman who follows the same trend as our first two players. Romanov is the youngest of the three players I've highlighted today, and he definitely has a ton of room to grow and become even better down the road. It's crazy to think Romanov just turned 23 a week ago, and already plays some physically dominating brand of hockey. He seemingly was going to be a huge part of the Montreal Canadiens corps for years to come, but ultimately was traded on the draft day last summer to the Islanders which was ultimately a means to secure themselves Kirby Dach from the Blackhawks.

It will be interesting to look back on those moves years from now and see how everything panned out, but for now the Islanders have one of the most promising defensive up-and-comers in the league. The menacing Russian plays with tenacity, and it shows in his stats. In 44 games played this season, Romanov has racked up 108 hits already which equals out to be just under two and a half per game. On top of that, he has fearlessly blocked 83 shots which is almost two blocks per game. 

These peripherals are pretty comparable to Chiarot's output, but in Romanov's case, his output will likely only grow in future seasons. Also, I think there's a little more offensive upside in Romanov's game as well. So far he has notched a goal and 13 assists this season for the Isles. There's room to grow here as well, but Romanov needs to start shooting a bit more. He only has an average of 1.3 shots per game which isn't a ton. Once he gains some more confidence in himself, I can see those totals rising. For now, though, I would consider his offense a bonus just like the others in this article.

Romanov is only getting to the tip of the iceberg on what he can achieve in this league, but for now he can be a viable asset to your team if you need hits and blocks. He can be had in 81% of Yahoo leagues, while on Fantrax he is available in 52% of all formats. Like in the case with Chiarot, if you are looking for a defenseman to add to your squad, you will be hard-pressed to find many players who can move the needle for you offensively at this point. Guys like Romanov, while certainly less flashy, can still be a difference maker for your team depending on your league's format!

Well that's all for this week everyone! It can't always be the glamorous goal scorers that get all the attention. Sometimes you gotta go looking for guys who are working down in the trenches to help out your squad in whatever way you can! Enjoy your upcoming week, and I will be back again next Sunday!