Description: San Jose netminder Antti Niemi tied for the NHL lead in goalie wins with 24.
Insight: Niemi started 43 of San Jose's 48 games this season and posted a 2.16 GAA, .924 SV% and four shutouts. New York's Henrik Lundqvist and Minnesota's Niklas Backstrom also won 24 games.
Description: Sharks backup goaltender Thomas Greiss has been activated and should be the backup for Wednesday's game against Minnesota.
Insight: Greiss has only appeared in four games this season, going 1-3-0 with a 2.78 GAA and .906 save percentage. Antii Niemi (17-8-5, 2.12 GAA, .924 SV%) hasn't needed much help.
Description: San Jose left wing Ryane Clowe won't be on the ice Monday against Vancouver. The Sharks are listing him as a healthy scratch.
Insight: The implication is that Clowne will be traded sometime in the next 24 hours. The 30-year-old has racked up 11 points and 79 penalty minutes in 28 games this season.
Description: San Jose Sharks F/D Brent Burns has four goals and five assists in eight games since returning from a leg injury.
Insight: Burns has been getting playing time at forward in 5-on-5 situations and defenseman on the power play, which gives him fantastic fantasy value as a blueliner.
Description: Sharks forward Joe Pavelski has scored a goal in two straight games.
Insight: Pavelski was a 30-goal scorer last season and had four goals and 12 points in January but he only has five goals and eight points in 25 games since then.
Description: Sharks winger Patrick Marleau has four goals and six points over his last nine games.
Insight: Marleau set the NHL on fire with nine goals and five assists over his first six games but he has slipped since then with just seven goals and 10 points over his last 26.
Description: San Jose right wing Ryane Clowe (shoulder) will return from a four-game absence Wednesday against the Ducks.
Insight: Clowe has zero goals in 25 games this season after averaging 20.5 over the last four seasons. He's really only good for his penalty minutes at this point.
Description: San Jose right wing Ryane Clowe is questionable for Monday's game against Anaheim with a shoulder injury.
Insight: He hasn't scored a goal yet this season so it's doubtful that any fantasy owners will be craving for his return to the lineup, however, he has averaged 20.5 goals over the past four seasons.
Description: San Jose right wing Ryane Clowe is questionable for Saturday's game against Minnesota with a shoulder injury.
Insight: He hasn't scored a goal yet this season so it's doubtful that any fantasy owners will be craving for his return to the lineup, however, he has averaged 20.5 goals over the past four seasons.
Description: San Jose center Logan Couture posted another multi-goal game Wednesday against San Jose.
Insight: Couture (14 goals, nine assists) scored in the shootout as well. Wednesday marked Couture's second two-goal game in his last four contests as he also netted a pair last Thursday in a win over Los Angeles. Overall, Couture has three multi-goal games for the season.
Description: San Jose netminder Antti Niemi has allowed at least three goals in each of his last six starts and four in each of his last two. He'll try to turn it around Wednesday when he starts at Edmonton.
Insight: Niemi only has 11 wins this season despite posting a .922 SV% and 2.26 GAA, and six of those wins came in his first six starts. He's 5-7-5 over his last 18 starts.
Description: San Jose right wing Ryane Clowe is doubtful for Wednesday's game against Edmonton with a shoulder injury.
Insight: He hasn't scored a goal yet this season so it's doubtful that any fantasy owners will be craving for his return to the lineup, however, he has averaged 20.5 goals over the past four seasons.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns (leg) is expected to return to action Tuesday after missing the past seven games, but he will skate at forward, not defense, according to the San Jose Mercury News' David Pollak.
Insight: Burns, who has only played six games this season and is still in search of his first point, also will play some defense on the power play. Since he's still eligible at defenseman, this could vastly improve his fantasy value if he gets more scoring chances.
Description: Sharks center Logan Couture scored one goal on six shots Saturday against the Blues.
Insight: Couture had five goals and 10 points in his first seven games but like the rest of San Jose's offense, he has gone ice cold. He had just four points in February.
Description: San Jose winger Tommy Wingels is probable for Saturday's game against St. Louis.
Insight: Wingels has yet to prove he can be a value to a fantasy roster. In 16 games this season he's got a goal and four assists with nine penalty minutes and 24 shots.
Description: San Jose left wing Martin Havlat is questionable for Saturday's game against St. Louis with a lower body injury.
Insight: He's not having a very good season so far, having scored just three times (six points) in his first 20 games. The 22-goal scorer of 2010 seems to have lost his scoring touch over the last season and a half.
Description: Sharks backup goaltender Thomas Greiss will miss Saturday's game against St. Louis with a sore neck.
Insight: Greiss has only appeared in four games this season, going 1-3-0 with a 2.78 GAA and .906 save percentage. Antii Niemi (10-4-4, 1.83 GAA, .935 SV%) hasn't needed much help.
Description: The Sharks will go with backup Thomas Greiss in net Wednesday against the Flames.
Insight: Greiss has only appeared in three games this season as Antii Niemi (10-4-4, 1.83 GAA, .935 SV%) hasn't needed much rest. However, Niemi saved 36 shots in a shootout win Tuesday at Vancouver so Wednesday is a good day to get Greiss some action.
Description: San Jose left wing Martin Havlat missed Tuesday's game and is unlikely to play Wednesday either due to a lower body injury suffered Saturday against the Predators.
Insight: He's not having a very good season so far, having scored just three times (six points) in his first 20 games. The 22-goal scorer of 2010 seems to have lost his scoring touch over the last season and a half.
Description: San Jose left wing Martin Havlat left Saturday night's game in the second period with an undisclosed injury.
Insight: Until the Sharks give us a more precise injury report, it's difficult to put a finger on just how much time Havlat can be expected to miss. He's not having a very good season so far, having scored just three times in his first 20 games.
Description: San Jose right wing Ryane Clowe has served his two-game suspension for actions Friday night against the Blackhawks and is probable for Thursday's game against Detroit.
Insight: Clowe was given a 10-minute game misconduct penalty for going after Chicago center Andrew Shaw late in Friday night's game. He hasn't scored a goal yet this season so it's doubtful that any fantasy owners will be affected by Clowe's punishment, however, he has been a 20-goal scorer in the past.
Description: San Jose center Tommy Wingels is questionable for Tuesday's game against Colorado with an undisclosed injury.
Insight: Wingels has yet to prove he can be a value to any fantasy roster. In 16 games this season he's got a goal and four assists with nine penalty minutes and 24 shots.
Description: Sharks winger Martin Havlat is questionable for Tuesday's game against Colorado with an undisclosed injury.
Insight: Havlat has three goals and two assists in 17 games this season. He's not ptoducing at the pace he used to put up in Minnesota and unfortunately fantasy owners shouldn't expect a return to that level.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns, who left Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury, will miss Tuesday's game against Colorado and likely one more.
Insight: Burns has only played six games this season and hasn't recorded his first point yet. He had 37 points and 201 SOG in 81 games with the Sharks last season so there's reason to believe he'll return to fantasy-worthy production if he can stay healthy.
Description: San Jose right wing Ryane Clowe has been handed a two-game suspension for his actions Friday night against the Blackhawks.
Insight: Clowe was given a 10-minute game misconduct penalty for going after Chicago center Andrew Shaw late in Friday night's game. Clowe started serving his supension this weekend so he'll only have to miss one game. He hasn't scored a goal yet this season so it's doubtful that any fantasy owners will be affected by Clowe's punishment.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns left Saturday's game with an undisclosed injury and didn't return. SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News
Insight: Burns has only played six games this season and hasn't recorded his first point yet. He had 37 points and 201 SOG in 81 games with the Sharks last season so there's reason to believe he'll return to fantasy-worthy production if he can stay healthy.
Description: Sharks forward Ryane Clowe has been suspended pending a hearing Monday for coming off the bench to fight Chicago's Andrew Shaw with under a minute to play Friday night.
Insight: Clowe was defending teammate Joe Pavelski but that excuse probably won't fly when the NHL hears his case. He could be facing a 10-game suspension. Scott Gomez will get top-six ice time with Clowe out.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Andrew Desjardins is questionable for Tuesday's game against Nashville due to flu-like symptoms.
Insight: Desjardins didn't show much for fantasy owners last season with 17 points (4 G, 13 A), 47 penalty minutes and 80 shots on goal. With just one point this season, owners should look elsewhere for defensive help.
Description: San Jose netminder Antti Niemi battled Mike Smith of the Coyotes to a scoreless tie over the first 65 minutes Saturday before losing in a shootout.
Insight: Niemi had four days to think about his worst start of the season Tuesday against the Blackhawks, when he gave up four goals on 30 shots. Niemi bounced back with 21 saves Saturday but couldn't pick up his first win of February. The netminder is 0-1-2 this month after going 6-0 in his first six starts.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Jason Demers is questionable for Saturday's game against Nashville with a wrist injury.
Insight: Demers has little fantasy value as he's not likely to be an every day skater. He scored four goals and had nine assists in 57 games last season.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle is probable for Tuesday's game against Anaheim after suffering a bloody nose that kept him off the ice for the final period of Sunday's game.
Insight: Boyle was a top-five fantasy defenseman last season and has started off well this year with two goals and four assists in five games.
Description: Sharks backup goaltender Thomas Greiss picked up the first shutout of his NHL career Saturday against the Avalanche.
Insight: Greiss has played 39 games in the NHL. He doesn't get much playing time behind starter Antti Niemi, so while his effort Saturday was strong, it doesn't move the needle in fantasy leagues.
Description: Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle had two helpers Saturday against the Avalanche.
Insight: Boyle was a top-five fantasy defenseman last season and he's on track to finish there again. Through four games, Boyle has two goals, three assists and 13 shots on goal.
Description: Sharks forward Joe Pavelski had one assist with four shots on goal Saturday versus the Avalanche.
Insight: Pavelski was a 30-goal scorer last season but he hasn't found the net yet on 14 shots through four games. Fortunately, he has eight assists (6 PPP) with a plus-3 differential.
Description: Sharks winger Patrick Marleau had two more goals Saturday against Colorado to become the second player in NHL history with two goals in each of the first four games.
Insight: Marleau has been a key part of San Jose's strong power-play attack with Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and Dan Boyle. He has eight goals on 20 shots with three assists in four games.
Description: Sharks backup goaltender Thomas Greiss will get the start Saturday against Colorado.
Insight: San Jose has been scoring at will this season to help starter Antti Niemi start out 3-0. Niemi figures to start most games so Greiss won't be a fantasy factor this season.
Description: San Jose center Scott Gomez is expected to make his season debut Saturday against Colorado.
Insight: Gomez signed with the Sharks earlier this week. He's coming off a really poor season with Montreal (two goals, nine assists in 38 games) but perhaps the change of scenery will allow Gomez to turn things around.
Description: San Jose netminder Antti Niemi will start again Thursday against the Coyotes.
Insight: Niemi has played well and benefited from San Jose's offense. The Sharks have scored 10 goals in two games and Niemi has saved 57 of 61 shots in 120 minutes to start out 2-0. With Mike Smith (lower-body injury) expected to miss Thursday's game, Niemi should have an easier path to win No. 3.
Description: Sharks winger Patrick Marleau already has four goals in two games.
Insight: Marleau has put a pair in the net in each of his first two games, with two coming on the power play. Marleau also has a power play assist, eight shots on goal and a plus-2 differential. It's quite a start for a player who has scored 30 or more goals in six of the last seven seasons.
Description: The Sharks have agreed to a one-year contract with forward Scott Gomez.
Insight: Gomez was bought out by the Montreal Canadiens last week. He isn't guaranteed top-six forward minutes so fantasy owners can take a wait-and-see approach with him.
Description: San Jose netminder Antti Niemi will start Tuesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers.
Insight: Niemi only allowed one goal on 32 shots on Sunday to beat Calgary. Edmonton is coming off a 3-2 win at Vancouver but that is no reason for fantasy owners to bench Niemi on Tuesday.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns is doubtful for Tuesday's game against Edmonton with a lower body injury.
Insight: Burns posted 37 points last season on 11 goals and 26 assists after 46 points in the previous season with Minnesota. He's a top-scoring defenseman with plenty of fantasy value when healthy.
Description: San Jose netminder Antti Niemi kicked off the season on a high note with a win over Calgary. He saw 32 shots and saved 31 of them (.969 SV%) in 60 minutes.
Insight: Niemi is a low-end No. 1 goaltender coming off two straight 30-win seasons. He'll give you a 2.40 GAA and .910 SV% at minimum.
Description: Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle had a goal and an assist while taking four shots in 22 minutes of ice time Sunday against the Flames in San Jose's season-opening win.
Insight: Boyle finished second to Erik Karlsson among blue liners with 252 shots on goal last season. He should once again finish as a top-10 fantasy defenseman.
Description: Sharks winger Patrick Marleau helped the team win its season opener at Calgary with two goals, one of which came on the power play. Marleau finished plus-one and attempted three shots on goal in the 4-1 win.
Insight: Marleau has scored at least 30 goals in six of the last seven seasons, including four straight.
Description: San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns is questionable for Sunday's game against Calgary with a lower body injury. He missed Sunday's practice.
Insight: Burns posted 37 points last season on 11 goals and 26 assists after 46 points in the previous season with Minnesota. He's a top-scoring defenseman with plenty of fantasy value when healthy.
