Fantasy Spin: Gaborik, Koivu, Kunitz Injury Updates

Friday, 02.25.2011 / 9:40 PM / Fantasy Hockey Draft Rankings, Advice and Analysis

By Sergei J. Feldman - NHL.com Staff Writer

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Fantasy Spin: Gaborik, Koivu, Kunitz Injury Updates
It's hard to have many doubts about a two-time 40-goal scorer, but when it comes to Marian Gaborik, the big question every  year is his health.
It's hard to have many doubts about a two-time 40-goal scorer, but when it comes to New York Rangers right wing Marian Gaborik, the big question year in and year out centers around his health.

Just how much will fantasy owners be able to capitalize on his talents?

After missing some time earlier in the year due to a shoulder injury, Gaborik now remains out with a concussion -- one of the more difficult injuries to predict a timeframe. As a result, a player who had put up 17 goals, 21 assists and 141 shots through 47 games becomes absent from your fantasy rosters.

Even though there's no official word as to Gaborik's return, it is not believed to drag on too long. When Gaborik returns, he will join a Rangers' lineup that will lean on his scoring prowess, and a push for a playoff spot during the final stretch could inject some life in the talented winger, which could mean favorable production fantasy-wise.

Meanwhile, Gaborik's former team, the Minnesota Wild, will be without the services of their captain, Mikko Koivu, who waits on a broken finger to recover. Koivu is expected to miss a few weeks.

The 27-year-old center has put up 15 goals and 49 points through 58 games and has put 153 shots on net in that span.

It's not all bad news for fantasy owners. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Chris Kunitz, who has been out since Feb. 6 with an upper-body injury, is making progress with his recovery and could return some time next week.

Kunitz will join a reassembled Penguins roster which, in the absence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, now features newcomers Alex Kovalev and James Neal, both of whom could see time playing alongside a consistent Kunitz, who has 18 goals, 36 points and 104 shots, and is equally as impressive in his ability to throw around the body and check.

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