Right Winger Alexei Kovalev was dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins today boosting his value and making him not so under the radar anymore. Kovalev is available in about forty percent of fantasy leagues nationwide so now is the time to pick him up.
Analysis: Remember, Kovalev is still playing for a new contract and now that he’ll be playing for the Pens his plus/minus rating will certainly become an asset to fantasy owners. He’s been on fire lately with 6 goals, 3 assists, about 17 minutes of ice time and is a plus 3 in his last ten games. His move to the Pens will certainly help their fifteenth ranked power play. Also, the Pens have what Ottawa does not, better forwards to play with in Jordan Staal or Tyler Kennedy at center and Matt Cooke or newly acquired James Neal at left wing. If you’re lucky Sidney Crosby may come back to center the Russian sniper.
Projection: This is a great trade for Kovalev’s value. He’s motivated, he’s on a playoff caliber squad and his plus/minus won’t be suspect anymore playing on a solid team with Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Five to ten goals and over eighteen minutes of ice time with a handful of power play points is what you’ll get from Kovalev as he’ll try to push the Pens into the fourth seed in the east.