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Here are the fantasy repercussions following the news that Stars winger Patrick Sharp has been placed on injured reserve with a concussion:
Gemel Smith called up. Patrick Sharp placed on IR. Stars forward depth tested in ways never seen before
— Bruce LeVine (@BruceLeVinePuck) October 21, 2016
Daily Fantasy
With Sharp now out, Dallas' forward depth is looking awfully thin. Wingers Patrick Eaves, Ales Hemsky, and Jiri Hudler are all questionable to play in Saturday's game. Depth forwards Cody Eakin and Mattias Janmark are out indefinitely.
Sharp, Hemsky, and Hudler are all top-six forwards on the team, and Eaves has seen his fair share of playing time alongside Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. This could lead to some no-name players getting significant ice time on Saturday against the Blue Jackets.
If all four of the aforementioned wingers are out, look to either Left Wing Lock or Daily Faceoff to see if there is an under-the-radar player with a projected top-six role and power-play time.
Whether this player is Radek Faksa, Devin Shore or Brett Ritchie, they will likely come at a bargain price in a favorable matchup against the woeful Blue Jackets. If one of these players - or any other low-cost forward for that matter - skates with Benn and Seguin, stacking that top line becomes significantly easier to accomplish.
Season-Long Fantasy
With Sharp on injured reserve, he will be out for at least seven days minimum, per NHL rules. Trading the 35-year-old forward wouldn't be a bad idea if someone in your league has an open IR spot and is willing to take on the veteran.
The majority of Sharp's production came while playing with Benn and Seguin last year. When he was moved off of the top line, he was hardly a relevant fantasy player. So far this season he has played with Shore and Ritchie, so another 50-point season is unlikely barring a lineup shuffle.
Waiver Wire Targets
For those who are forced to place Sharp on IR, here are three very available replacements:
C/RW Charlie Coyle, Wild
Coyle, 24, has found himself in premium real estate, skating alongside veterans Eric Staal and Zach Parise and seeing time on the top power-play unit. He has recorded two goals and two assists so far this season, registering a point in each game the Wild have played in.
At 6-foot-3, 221 pounds, Coyle has great size and still has plenty of time to development into a bruising 30-goal scoring right winger. He scored 21 goals last season while playing center, but given his size and strength, the wing seems like a much better position for him.
LW/RW Lee Stempniak, Hurricanes
With LW/RW eligibility, Stempniak is a very similar replacement for Sharp. The well-traveled winger (Carolina is his 10th NHL team) is off to a great start in his newest destination with three goals and two assists in four games.
Stempniak is playing over 17 minutes per night, skating on Carolina's top line with Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner and sees time on the second power-play unit.
Stempniak isn't a 60-point player by any stretch, but he can be productive in streaks, and it's a good idea to add him while he is getting chances. He currently ranks 11th of all NHL players in SCF60 (scoring chances for per 60 minutes), per Corsica.Hockey.
C/LW Alex Killorn, Lightning
Killorn has the reputation of a solid two-way forward with the ability to play down the middle and on the wing with effectiveness. He has benefited from a top-six role this season, with three goals and an assist while skating with Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov on Tampa's second line. He is also playing on the club's second power-play unit.
His 37.5 shooting percentage obviously will not hold up, but he could continue to find the back of the net with regularity for the next week or so considering the quality of his linemates and easy matchups (next two games are against Ottawa and Toronto).
