Dobber checks in every Thursday to force-feed you the latest fantasy hockey trends. The founder of DobberHockey.com and a columnist for The Hockey News website, he long ago immersed himself into this rollercoaster world and is unable to escape.

Looking at the scoring leaders today is like slipping on a comfortable shoe. So familiar. So reassuring. Sid the Kid is on top, because his injury isn't scheduled to happen for another six or seven weeks. Martin St. Louis is right up there again. Even Henrik Sedin is poking his nose around, seeing if there's an Art Ross to be had. Joe Thornton, Steven Stamkos, John Tavares, Henrik Zetterberg, Alex Ovechkin - all in the Top 15, just like the good old days. Now if we can just get that pesky Tomas Hertl out of there.

I like to fiddle with the various Frozen Pool tools from over at Dobber Hockey and present you with something different here every week. This time I'm using this "Bargain Bin" report. It takes the roto ranking of players over a given window (I used the past seven days) and compares it to cap hit and point-per-cap hit composite scores to spit out a list of "bargain players". This is great for leagues with a salary cap, but it can also be used to quickly spot some roto bargains because the cheaper players tend to be available more than the expensive big-name players. Here is a snapshot:

Rank Player Pos Team G A Pts PPPnts %Team

PPTOI PP/TOI TOI Pos

Score NHL

Score 1 FRANSON, CODY D TOR -1.50 5.66 2.89 6.11 2.68 2.97 3.03 12.68 24.00 1 RAYMOND, MASON L TOR 4.58 2.98 4.39 4.18 1.17 1.34 1.46 11.87 24.00 2 HERTL, TOMAS C S.J 9.12 0.71 5.31 2.46 0.31 0.97 0.12 11.16 22.00 2 CHIASSON, ALEX R DAL 3.06 1.95 2.89 4.29 3.04 2.45 0.67 11.35 22.00 3 JOKINEN, JUSSI L PIT 4.58 0.62 2.78 6.00 1.97 0.98 0.15 9.56 19.00 3 ARCOBELLO, MARK C EDM -1.50 8.14 4.50 0.64 0.87 1.02 1.11 10.05 19.00 3 GERBE, NATHAN C CAR 3.06 0.71 2.08 4.29 1.41 2.00 1.52 9.89 19.00 4 FAULK, JUSTIN D CAR -1.50 4.42 2.08 0.64 1.86 2.53 4.40 9.60 18.00 5 BRODIN, JONAS D MIN 1.54 1.95 2.08 2.46 0.74 1.10 4.56 9.05 17.00 5 ELLER, LARS C MTL 6.09 0.71 3.70 0.64 0.68 1.00 1.29 8.79 17.00 6 NISKANEN, MATT D PIT 0.02 4.42 2.89 0.64 2.52 1.49 2.29 8.55 16.00 6 BOYES, BRAD R FLA 4.57 0.71 2.89 0.64 1.56 1.64 0.40 8.19 16.00 7 GALLAGHER, BRENDAN R MTL 3.06 0.71 2.08 2.46 1.43 1.83 -0.06 7.86 15.00 7 ATKINSON, CAM R CBJ 1.54 0.71 1.27 2.46 2.51 2.33 0.90 7.81 15.00 8 DEMERS, JASON D S.J -1.50 3.18 1.27 2.46 1.46 2.43 1.77 7.40 14.00 8 SAAD, BRANDON L CHI 1.45 1.80 1.97 2.36 0.77 0.93 0.65 6.81 14.00 8 GLENCROSS, CURTIS L CGY 1.45 0.62 1.17 2.36 2.22 2.63 2.18 6.86 14.00 9 SILFVERBERG, JAKOB R ANA 4.57 0.71 2.89 -1.19 0.53 1.39 0.34 6.65 13.00 9 BENOIT, ANDRE D COL -1.50 1.95 0.46 0.64 2.38 2.76 3.08 7.11 13.00 9 MURPHY, RYAN D CAR 0.02 1.95 1.27 0.64 2.17 2.72 1.38 6.98 13.00 9 KRUG, TOREY D BOS 0.02 0.71 0.46 2.46 2.89 2.95 1.30 6.88 13.00

Tied for fourth on the list is Toronto's Mason Raymond, and sure enough:



Studs...

These fellas are wielding a hot stick. Take that into consideration when you go after them in trade talks...

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (3-4-5-9, plus-4, 0 PIM, 12 SOG) – It usually takes the Kid three or four weeks to climb to the top of the scoring heap, but this season he's there in two. And that's where he'll stay, unless and until he gets hurt. The very reason he was drafted first overall in your league.

Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks (4-1-6-7, plus-3, 0 PIM, 2 PPPts, 5 SOG, 0 RS*) – Big Joe is off to his usual hot start, though this year he only has a measly nine points in seven games. Last year after seven games he already had 15.

*RS=Rooster Strokes

Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning (4-3-4-7, plus-7, 0 PIM, 12 SOG) – Last seen wearing a walking boot, the reigning Art Ross winner decided it was just a flesh wound and was back on the ice Thursday night. He can’t be stopped

P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens (5-2-7-9, plus-5, 8 PIM, 18 SOG) – Dating back to last season, Subban has 48 points in his last 49 games. Looks like Erik Karlsson isn't the only potential 80-point defenseman around these here parts.



Duds

Somebody wake these guys up – their fantasy owners are counting on them...

Thomas Vanek, Buffalo Sabres (4-1-0-1, minus-1, 0 PIM, 14 SOG) – This is strange for Vanek owners who are used to seeing him surge to the top of the NHL scoring race in October before fading as the season continues.

Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes (7-0-0-1, even, 2 PIM, 13 SOG) – We knew going into this season that there was a fellow defenseman on the Coyotes looking over Yandle's shoulder, waiting to steal his PP time. We just didn't know that defenseman's name was Michael Stone. Yes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson sees more ice time on the power play - per game - than Yandle. But it's shocking to see that Stone does, too. Still a safe bet for 45 points, Yandle will need to be traded before he can reach the 60 that he is capable of hitting.

Story continues