Waiver Wire: Is there anything in Ottawa?

The Senators are going nowhere this season, but hopefully a coaching change will provide a spark. Our Michael Hurcomb touches on what to do with your Senators and has some free agent suggestions in his Playing the Waiver Wire.

There was no storybook ending for the Ottawa Senators Tuesday against the Kings.

Ottawa trotted to the locker room defeated for the 25th time in regulation this season, as Los Angeles skated to a 1-0 win on a third-period goal from Michal Handzus. The Senators were 0-for-5 on the power play and still haven't scored on a Kings' goalie since Dec. 2, 2005 -- a span that covers 133 minutes and 36 seconds.

But the biggest disappointment was failing to win in coach Cory Clouston's NHL debut. Clouston came on board Monday after Ottawa management fired Craig Hartsburg, who was in the first season of a three-year contract.

For years, the Senators have been one of the league's most feared offensive units. But under Hartsburg, Ottawa was turned on its head and played the part of a bottom feeder. They came into action Thursday as the lowest-scoring team in the NHL (2.35 goals per game).

So the work begins for Clouston, who has just 1 1/2 years of pro coaching experience (Binghamton of the AHL) after cutting his teeth on the junior hockey circuit. Outside of Ottawa fans, Fantasy owners will be rooting extra hard for Clouston to restore some sanity north of the border.

Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson are all having acceptable seasons, but that just doesn't cut it in Fantasy, as all three players were drafted as No. 1 forwards in most formats. It's likely Clouston will let the trio be and work out their own problems, and Fantasy owners really can't afford to bench any of Ottawa's top liners after they invested so much on Draft Day.

No, it's the rest of the Ottawa roster where the intrigue comes into play in Fantasy. Can Clouston light a spark under the rest of the team and make them Fantasy reliable?

Three players that might not even finish the season in Ottawa are Filip Kuba, Chris Neil and Dean McAmmond. All three players are unrestricted free agents in the offseason and are likely on the trading block. So we'll skip them for now.

One of Clouston's first moves was to add minor leaguer Ryan Shannon to the roster. The Connecticut native played for Clouston at Binghamton this season, recording 10 goals and 25 assists in 36 games. He knows Clouston's system and the head coach said the 5-9 Shannon will play "a more prevalent role" than fourth-line duty, per NHL.com.

Shannon has been around the block since leaving Boston College in 2004-05 and has been stuck in Quadruple-A status -- too good for the minors, not good enough for the pros. Only time will tell if Clouston can make him into a legit NHLer.

Clouston also coached goalie Brian Elliott in the minors, so the rookie netminder is likely to remain the team's top netminder. Also, Ottawa management will urge Clouston to keep Elliott in net to see if he is truly the goalie of the future. Fantasy owners should look to Elliott as a low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 option.

Clouston has reunited the pairing of Anton Volchenkov and Chris Phillips. They have been the shutdown pairing on defense for Ottawa the last few seasons, and anything is a good move at this point for Phillips, who has just 10 points and a career-worst minus-20 rating.

Jesse Winchester, an undrafted free agent from Colgate, has been shifted to center. He saw extensive time in college at the position and was a point-per-game player at Colgate. Winchester has totaled just three goals and eight assists in his first 44 games as a pro.

Antoine Vermette, Chris Kelly and Nick Foligno all failed to meet the call under Hartsburg, but all three players have offensive talent. It will be up to Clouston to put them in a situation where they can find success.

The most captivating option for Fantasy owners has to be Mike Fisher, who is unlikely to be dealt despite his name popping up in trade rumors. Fisher has been shifted to the right wing when he is not working the faceoff circle. The move will allow him to forecheck more rather than focus on the center's responsibility. He took five shots Tuesday against the Kings and even lined up at the point on the power play.

Fisher has scored just seven times in 45 games, but has flashed 20-goal potential for the last three seasons. He is a solid, yet unspectacular player. But with ample scoring chances down the stretch, he could regain his touch.

While a coaching change usually sparks an overwhelming sense of excitement, Fantasy owners need to throw caution to the wind. Ottawa's chances of making the playoffs still seem unrealistic and Clouston has always preached defense-first hockey.

Perhaps the new low-scoring Senators are here to stay after all.

Add' Em

Adrian Aucoin, D, Calgary
Owned: 67 percent of leagues
Analysis: It seems Aucoin has saved his energy for the second half of the season. Over his last 16 games, he has four goals and nine assists. He has logged less than 20 minutes just three times since Dec. 1. The 35-year-old defenseman has looked as sharp as during his heyday with the Canucks and Islanders. It's no wonder since Aucoin is playing for his next, and possibly, last contract. After two-injury plagued seasons with Chicago, Aucoin has found a home with Calgary over the last two seasons and will be extra motivated down the stretch by the almighty dollar.

Carlo Colaiacovo, D, St. Louis
Owned: 17 percent of leagues
Analysis: The Blues have been decimated by injuries this season and the blue line has been no exception, which has included Erik Johnson being out all season with a knee injury. St. Louis was forced to trade for Colaiacovo in late November and they are finally getting rewarded for parting with Lee Stempniak. Colaiacovo has one goal and 10 assists in his last 13 games. He has 12 points (two goals) in 31 games since joining St. Louis. He has logged heavy minutes for the Blues, including on the power play. The 2001 first-round pick has always been lauded for solid passing skills, but Toronto couldn't get the most out of him. St. Louis has a better plan and Colaiacovo could pass as a cheap buy in Fantasy.

Drop' Em

Jochen Hecht, LW, Buffalo
Owned: 22 percent of leagues
Analysis: Hecht totaled a career-high 22 goals in 2007-08 and found a home at center after coach Lindy Ruff shifted him there out of necessity. He came into the season playing up the middle, but struggled off the bat and has been shifted back to the wing when he hasn't been injured. There has been the other big issue. Hecht has played just 40 games this season and has struggled for consistency after injuring his finger early in the year. He has just six goals, 10 assists and a minus-10 rating on the year. Hecht has taken just 91 shots and just isn't being aggressive on offense. He hasn't managed more than seven points in a Fantasy week this year and shouldn't be on your roster with much more capable forwards on waivers.

Tom Preissing, D, Los Angeles
Owned: 11 percent of leagues
Analysis: The Preissing to L.A. connection has been a disaster since he signed a big deal before the 2007-08 season. He has totaled just 11 goals and 20 assists in 99 games since donning a Kings' uniform and has been firmly entrenched in coach Terry Murray's doghouse for most of the season. Los Angeles seems dedicated to a youth movement, so Preissing's days could be numbered come the trade deadline. However, he is now dealing with a bout of dizziness. Teams could be very hesitant to trade for damaged goods. There is no point in holding onto Preissing in Fantasy at this point.

Kyle Wellwood, C, Vancouver
Owned: 17 percent of leagues
Analysis: Wellwood was a good jolt of energy early in the year for Vancouver as he totaled nine goals and 12 assists in his first 19 games. He was one of the NHL's most efficient scorers as well, but that seems like an eternity ago. Wellwood has just one goal and no assists in his last 12 games and has no power-play scores since Dec. 26. He has a total of minus-4 Fantasy points in the last five weeks. Everyone figured he would be marginalized with the arrival of Mats Sundin and it's coming to fruition. It's time to cut bait with Wellwood and snatch a more productive forward off waivers.

Avoid' Em

Fedor Tyutin, D, Columbus
Owned: 38 percent of leagues
Analysis: It seems we are going defense-crazy in this week's Waiver Wire, but it is always an area of concern in Fantasy, so we don't think owners will be disappointed. Tyutin is in his first season with Columbus after coming over in the Nikolai Zherdev trade with the Rangers. Tyutin has posted six goals and 17 assists in 51 games, and is on track for a career-high nine goals, 27 assists and 36 points. He is a do-it-all defenseman for Columbus and has logged less than 20 minutes just once this season. But that could be an issue, because he leaves himself open for a sketchy plus/minus rating. Also, he has managed more than five points in a month just once this season, so it's not like he is a consistent contributor on offense. Tyutin won't be more than a low-end Fantasy option.

Ethan Moreau, LW, Edmonton
Owned: 11 percent of leagues
Analysis: Moreau has scored five times in his last six games, which includes a hat trick Jan. 18 against the Coyotes. He has definitely been more aggressive offensively for an Edmonton team looking for someone other than Ales Hemsky to provide scoring up front. However, Moreau has scored all 12 of his goals this season at even-strength and is still getting minimal power-play time. He has scored 20 goals just once in his 13-year career, and is a better checking-line and penalty-killing presence. Outside of Fantasy leagues that reward heavily for PIM and short-handed stats, Moreau has minimal Fantasy appeal.

Watch 'Em

Marek Svatos, RW, Colorado
Owned: 23 percent of leagues
Analysis: Svatos came into the season with a major red flag in Fantasy since he was coming off a serious knee injury (torn ACL). Most skaters struggle initially coming off such a severe injury, and Svatos was no different. He hardly found the back of the net early and his confidence was at an all-time low. But after a two-goal, three point outing Monday against the Flames, there is some cause for optimism. Svatos has five goals and four assists in his last 10 games. He is having his finest run of the season and Colorado will continue to lean on him while Paul Stastny and Joe Sakic fight off injuries. Still, we need to be a little cautious in Fantasy since Svatos has never played more than 66 games in a season. He is definitely an injury-risk flier.

Andrew Ebbett, C, Anaheim
Owned: 2 percent of leagues
Analysis: Everyone is well aware of rookie Bobby Ryan's story, but Ebbett is another Anaheim first-year player that is making a splash. The undrafted free agent from Michigan was added to the Anaheim roster in late December and has been a smash hit since. He has totaled two goals and 10 assists in 20 games. With Brendan Morrison being a free-agent flop, Ebbett has moved up to the second line center job behind Ryan Getzlaf. He has been skating lately with Ryan and Teemu Selanne -- two efficient scorers. Ebbett is even getting a fair amount of power-play time. Don't let the name and non-prospect status scare you off. Ebbett was an efficient passer in the minors and could be a viable catch in Fantasy if he sticks as a top-six forward.

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