The Chicago Blackhawks' point streak lives on for yet another day, but fantasy owners of Patrick Sharp suddenly have a problem on their hands.
Sharp left Wednesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche in the third period after sustaining an upper-body injury when he was hit into the boards by Ryan O'Byrne. The No. 28 forward in NHL.com's most recent rankings, Sharp is the only player League-wide with tri-eligibility (LW/C/RW) in Yahoo fantasy leagues.
For that reason alone, it's impossible to replace the position flexibility he brings to the table. Sharp is also in the top 20 League-wide in shots on goal (78) with a plus-7 rating and 18 points (7 PPP) in 24 games. But despite injuries continuing to pile up on fantasy rosters around the world, owners must continue to keep a pulse on the waiver wire to stay afloat until Sharp returns.
On Friday, a report indicated that Sharp has a shoulder separation that could potentially keep him out of the lineup anywhere from three weeks to a month.
If you own Sharp in fantasy leagues, be sure to monitor his status over the coming days to see if he's placed on injured reserve. If that's the route Chicago takes, store him there and consider short-term replacements. For now, here's a trending player at each of the three forward positions to eye in the coming days.
Clarke MacArthur, Toronto Maple Leafs (LW-eligible): Leafs' forward Nazem Kadri has been on a tear as of late, and his linemate MacArthur has been instrumental in that recent surge. MacArthur was a 60-point player only two seasons ago and warrants more ownership than he currently holds in Yahoo leagues (19 percent). His five-game point streak came to an end Wednesday, but he still was a plus-1 on the evening. MacArthur bounced back Thursday with an assist on Kadri's goal and has now accumulated a plus-8 rating with seven points over his last seven contests.
Dave Bolland, Chicago Blackhawks (C-eligible): Bolland returned to Chicago's lineup Tuesday after missing five games due to an upper-body injury and has tallied an assist in each of his first two games back. He's used to centering Chicago's second line, operating with Sharp and Patrick Kane, but that will change temporarily with Sharp's injury. Owned in only six percent of Yahoo! leagues, Bolland is a well-rounded player who touches on points, PIMs and shots. In the short term at least, he can be a valuable fantasy option to lean on.
Devin Setoguchi, Minnesota Wild (RW-eligible): Setoguchi's production has been down in recent years, but he's on the upswing during his current five-game point streak (2 G, 4 A, plus-3, 10 SOG) -- the longest such streak he's put together during his tenure with the Wild. Earlier this season he spent time with rookie Mikael Granlund and Matt Cullen, but since the team factored in Jason Zucker to replace Granlund onto that unit, Setoguchi has been one of the team's most consistent offensive assets. Owned in only seven percent of leagues, Setoguchi is a crafty offensive player who has proven himself in this League. His recent play should be enough to convince owners of his fantasy potential moving forward.
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