Brodeur's injury makes Hedberg a hot commodity

Attention all Martin Brodeur owners: If you haven't already made the move to scoop up Johan Hedberg off the waiver wire, the time has officially come.

According to reports on Tuesday, Brodeur is unlikely to play Friday when the Devils host San Jose.  His status for Saturday night's game in Pittsburgh is also very much in doubt.  When Brodeur was originally hurt in a 2-1 shootout win over the Kings, the injury was not thought to be serious.  However, Brodeur has already missed New Jersey’s win over Nashville and now his return to the ice appears to be up in the air.
 
Meanwhile, Hedberg has been stellar in Brodeur's absence.  He was perfect in relief of Brodeur against Los Angeles and made 29 stops to earn a victory over the Predators. Hedberg is a seasoned veteran and a former No.1 goalie in the NHL and should continue to be consistent in net for as long as he is required to fill in for Brodeur.

Brodeur's status could become clearer over the next few days if he is able to return to practice. However, even if he is able to make it back into the lineup after the weekend, Hedberg is still worth owning as a caddy to Brodeur going forward. Though still a capable goalie, the future Hall of Famer Brodeur only played in 56 games last season and his trend of continuing to miss games due to injury appears to be continuing into this season.

Hedberg will serve as a very reliable insurance policy throughout the course of the season and will likely see plenty of starts as the Devils will be sure to be contentious of getting the veteran Brodeur ample amounts of rest.

It might be time for Fantasy GMs in deeper formats to also consider adding Hedberg to their roster. He remains readily available in Yahoo leagues at just 28-percent owned. As long as he continues to see time in net, Hedberg is a more than capable No.2 goalie option behind a stellar New Jersey defense and a team that should be competitive in the win department all season long.