NHL Barometer: Windy City Winner

This week's article includes an unknown name hot in Tampa, the new top D-man in Columbus off to a good start, the B's getting healthy with the expected return of Krejci and both Dallas goalies slumping.

First Liners (Risers)

Vladislav Namestnikov, C, TB - Coming into the season, Namestnikov had 16 points in 47 career games, all posted last season in 43 contests. He has already exceeded that total in 46 games, as he has notched 25 points, many coming recently. That upswing in production corresponds to when Namestnikov was placed on a line with Steven Stamkos, as he posted 11 points in his last six games.

Bo Horvat, C, VAN - Horvat has really picked up his game lately, notching 10 points in eight games. That upswing in production couldn't have come at a better time for the Canucks, who are now without Henrik Sedin (upper body) and Brandon Sutter (hernia) through at least the All-Star break. Horvat's real-life value is likely going to be higher than his fantasy value, as he is a true, two-way center, but he may end up as a 25-goal, 50-point player.

Artemi Panarin, LW, CHI - Panarin continues to rack up points, notching 11 in his last 10 games. Playing with Patrick Kane clearly has its benefits, which Panarin is reaping. Whether you believe he is a true rookie and a favorite for the Calder Trophy, as he played in the KHL last season and is 24, one of the best newcomers in the league. As long as Panarin is on one of the top-two lines in the Windy City, he should continue to average close to a point per game.

Justin Williams, LW, WAS - Williams was brought in to provide Washington with a game presence but so far, he has proved to be much more than that. He has nine points in the last six games, giving him 16 goals and 17 assists in 47 games. Wiliams is skating on the second line in the nation's capital, meshing nicely with Evgeny Kuznetsov. He might notch 50.

Jakub Voracek, LW, PHI - After a slow start, Voracek has finally found his stride. He is up to five goals and 26 assists in 44 games after posting 22 and 59 a year ago. One additional positive sign is that his shooting percentage is absurdly low 3.8 percent after 10 and 9.8 percent the last two seasons. If you believe in regression down to the mean, then moving up to it may also be the case, boding well for continued success for Voracek.

Seth Jones, D, CLM - Jones' trade to Columbus for Ryan Johansen was expected to be a boon for his fantasy value. That has been the case, as coach John Tortorella has given Jones substantial playing time, including on the man-advantage. Jones willl still have some growing pains, but if for some reason he is available in your league, grab him now before he truly explodes in value.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D, SJ - The pickle has been on fire lately. Vlasic has been been producing at close to a point-per-game pace since mid-December while averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time nightly. His production will likely wane a bit but he still should provide more than solid value the rest of the way in the Teal Tank.

Petr Mrazek, G, DET - Mrazel might not have officially been named the No. 1 goalie in Hockeytown, but he had come pretty close to assuming the role. Heading into Wednesday's game against the Blues, Mrazek had allowed a grand total of six goals in the last five starts while playing in 12 of the Red Wings' last 13 games. Jimmy Howard is still there but hasn't won in his last six starts, lending further credence to the view that Mrazek is the top goalie in Detroit.

Brian Elliott, G, STL - Elliott lost the role of top netminder in St. Louis to Jake Allen. An injury to Allen has opened the door against for Elliott to re-assume the job, at least in the short-term. Elliott has made the most of that chance, winning five of seven starts heading into Wednesday night. Allen is week-to-week so Elliott may be in for a long run between the pipes.

Others include Matt Duchene, Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Anze Kopitar, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Jack Eichel, Steven Stamkos, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Spooner, Sidney Crosby, Andrew Shaw, Ondrej Palat, Chris Kreider, Bobby Ryan, Max Pacioretty, Chris Kunitz, Patrick Kane, Lee Stempniak, Nikita Kucherov, Jakob Silfverberg, Blake Wheeler, Tyler Toffoli, Boone Jenner, Sam Bennett, Carl Hagelin, Marcus Johansson, Nikita Nesterov, Kris Letang, Ryan Ellis, Rasmus Ristolainen, Brent Seabrook, Tyson Barrie, Justin Schultz, Ryan McDonagh, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Marc-Andre Fleury, Martin Jones, Connor Hellebuyck, Cam Talbot, Braden Holtby, Jonathan Quick and Corey Crawford.

Training Room (Injuries)

David Krejci, C, BOS - Krejci, out since Dec. 27 with an upper-body injury, is on the verge of returning to the B'S lineup. Ryan Spooner had filled in admirably for Krejci, who had notched 11 goals and 33 points in 35 games prior to getting injured. Krejci will resume his role as one of Boston's top-two centers when he is back in action, likely Thursday against the Canucks with Spooner moving back to the third line.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, EDM - Nugent-Hopkins was hurt while blocking a shot during the Oilers win Monday and will be out six to eight weeks. If Edmonton didn't have bad luck, it would have no luck at all. The Oilers were expected to get back Connor McDavid after the All-Star break, giving them close to a full complement of players. That now will not be the case, as the absence of the Nuge leaves a big hole in the lineup.

Others include Henrik Sedin (undisclosed, out until after All-Star Game), Connor McDavid (collarbone, won't return until after the All-Star Game), Nick Foligno (possible concussion, indefinite), Nail Yakupov (ankle, activated off IR), Michael Cammalleri (UBI, activated Tuesday), Travis Hamonic (foot, may play Friday), Aaron Ekblad (concussion, back in Friday), Niklas Kronwall (knee scope procedure, out 2-4 weeks), Oscar Klefbom (injuries are to finer and leg, out indefinitely), John Carlson (LBI, could play Friday), David Savard (strained oblique, out four weeks) and Carey Price (leg injury, inching closer).

Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)

Brandon Pirri, C, FLA - Pirri, aka Mr. Cy Young, is in the midst of a major slump. He has failed to score in two weeks, and other than tallying points in three straight games to start the month, Pirri is scoreless in his last 11 games. Last season, Pirri had 22 goals and two assists. This year, he is more balanced with nine goals and 12 assists but his slump has resulted in or caused a drop in ice time below 15 minutes nightly lately, which won't help his chances to score.

Joffrey Lupul, LW, TOR - Lupul , who cored his first goal in 12 games in Toronto's win over the Flyers on Tuesday, has just three goals in his last 21 games. Overall, Lupul has 10 markers in 39 games for the season, matching his total from 55 contests last year. Lupul signed a five-year, $26.25 million contract extension with Toronto that runs through the 2017-18 season in January 2013, an investment that has proven to be less than optimal for the Maple Leafs.

Dan Boyle, D, NYR - Boyle's scoreless streak hit nine games in the Rangers' 3-2 win over the Canucks on Tuesday. After a hot stretch in December, Boyle is 0-for-January. He is still playing close to 20 minutes a game and seeing lots of PP TOI, but if his slump continues, coach Alain Vigneault could move Keith Yandle up to the top power-play unit, moving Boyle to the second five.

Kari Lehtonen/Antti Niemi, G, DAL - Dallas was the toast of the NHL, leading the Western Conference. The Stars' recent slump has dropped them to second in their own division behind Chicago and now tied with St. Louis. Lehtonen and Niemi haven't helped the situation, as neither has played particularly well recently. Niemi likely has a small edge in seeing most of the playing time, but don't write that down in ink.

Others include Kyle Turris, Mikael Granlund, Joe Colborne, Mike Fisher, Alexander Galchenyuk, Jason Pominville, Alexander Burrows, Steve Downie, Braydon Coburn, Ryan Murray, Zach Bogosian, Anders Nilsson, Craig Anderson and Linus Ullmark.