Teddy Purcell got little recognition from pro scouts as he was making his way through the junior hockey ranks and was bypassed on draft night the year he became eligible.

Now as an undrafted free agent, Purcell joined the Kings on Dec. 11 for what he hopes to be the last recall of his career.

After enjoying a successful USHL campaign (juniors), the little-known prospect signed with the University of Maine and helped the Black Bears advance to the 2007 Frozen Four in what would be his only year on campus. Purcell led the team with 27 assists and his 43 points and 16 goals were third on the team. He was fifth among freshman averaging 1.07 points per game.

Purcell was no longer an unknown commodity and the Kings were lucky enough to sign the Hockey East Rookie of the Year to an entry-level contract April 27, 2007. Still, Purcell turned pro with a lot of raw talent left untapped.

Lauded as a playmaker, Purcell is a lanky forward with great hands. He is smart and creative with the puck, but also can drive to the net for the timely score. He showed that at Maine and in his first year of pro hockey in 2007-08. Purcell was immediately assigned to Manchester of the AHL where he had little trouble transitioning to the next level.

Purcell ended up being Manchester's top offensive option and even led the AHL for most of the season before a few late call-ups to the NHL took him out of the hunt for the scoring title. Purcell ended up leading AHL rookies with 25 goals and finished third overall with 83 points.

The Newfoundland native didn't make the same kind of impression in limited time last season with the Kings. He recorded just three points in 10 games under coach Marc Crawford, but his time in the minors was enough for him to join Los Angeles in training camp this season.

The Kings had a huge gap on the right side of the ice and many figured Purcell would make the team out of camp and possibly star as a top-six forward off the bat. After one point in five preseason games and failing to connect on 15 shots, first-year coach Terry Murray opted to cut Purcell and send him back to Manchester.

Purcell didn't take the demotion lying down. He was able to post 19 points (nine goals) in 23 games before the Kings opted to bring him back up in December to help an ailing offense. He arrived Thursday in Los Angeles with no equipment and was greeted with the news that he would be put on the top line with Anze Kopitar and Patrick O' Sullivan.

"Those are two of the top offensive players on the team. I just have to go out there, give them the puck and find a way to get open," Purcell told NHL.com. "Hopefully we complement each other well and we find some early chemistry."

Chemistry hasn't been an issue as Purcell has managed three points in his first four games, including a one goal and one assist night Monday against the Sharks.

Purcell might not have come into this league with the recognition of a Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, Rick Nash, Ilya Kovalchuk or Patrick Kane, but he is doing his best to keep up with the head of the class.

Add' Em

Michael Ryder, RW, Boston
Owned: 68 percent of leagues
Analysis: Ryder was one of the Bruins' top-free agent signings as dreams of a 30-goal season danced inside the heads of Boston management. Ryder scored in the season opener against Colorado, but managed just two goals over his next 21 games. Coach Claude Julien had seen enough and dropped Ryder from being a top-six forward to the third line with David Krejci and Blake Wheeler. Well done, coach. In the eight games since the move, Ryder has eight goals and three assists. He has a found a combination that works for Ryder, and even if he has to move back up to the two top-scoring lines, he is going to play with the likes of Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron. Julien knows Ryder from their days in junior hockey and can push all the right buttons.

David Perron, LW, St. Louis
Owned: 31 percent of leagues
Analysis: While Teddy Purcell might not have been an elite prospect, Perron was when he was drafted in the 2007 first round. He had a ho-hum rookie season with 27 points in 62 games, but impressed everyone in the St. Louis organization because of his work ethic. Perron worked his way up to being a top-six forward in 2008-09 and has continued his development. He has 20 points in 29 games, including a current five-game assist streak. He hasn't been much of a goal scorer (two), but Perron showed in juniors like Purcell that he is a playmaker with scoring ability. If you are looking for a cheap low-end buy in Fantasy, Perron is your guy.

Drop' Em

Braydon Coburn, D, Philadelphia
Owned: 80 percent of leagues
Analysis: Coburn appears to be one of the more overrated defenseman in Fantasy. He logs plenty of ice time for the Flyers, who are one of the NHL's top offensive teams, but has just 12 points in 30 games. He also has just a plus-1 rating. The eighth overall pick in 2003 had a breakout season in 2007-08 with 36 points and was strong in the playoffs with six assists in 14 games. Still, the fact he is providing marginal offensive numbers for how much playing time he gets in Philly is alarming. Add to the fact that Randy Jones is about to return from injury, and Coburn has to be taken down a peg in Fantasy.

Maxim Afinogenov, RW, Buffalo
Owned: 28 percent of leagues
Analysis: The Russian forward was one of the NHL's best offensive players in 2005-06 and 2006-07, but that was then and this is now. Afinogenov has been in coach Lindy Ruff's doghouse since an injury-plagued 2007-08, and it appears the free-agent-to-be might only get a fresh start with a new team. He has scored only once this season and has just three points in his last 18 games. He is not logging top-six time and is not worth holding onto in Fantasy.

Jussi Jokinen, LW, Tampa Bay
Owned: 18 percent of leagues
Analysis: Jokinen is another player in Fantasy that isn't worth his weight. He was always a solid player with the Stars and was good enough to come over in a trade deadline deal last season that sent Brad Richards to Dallas. Jokinen managed 14 points in 20 games with Tampa Bay last season and looked as though the change of scenery could dramatically increase his value. Wrong again. Poor coaching from Barry Melrose this season stalled Jokinen's progress and he hasn't picked up with interim coach Rick Tocchet at the helm. He is still not logging top-six minutes, and even with a solid track record, Fantasy owners can't afford to sit on Jokinen while other players are streaking past him.

Avoid' Em

James Wisniewski, D, Chicago
Owned: 11 percent of leagues
Analysis: Wisniewski had quite a riveting season debut Tuesday against the Oilers after missing the first few months following July knee surgery. The veteran defenseman tallied three assists and a plus-1 rating in 17:30 of ice time while playing alongside Cam Barker. It appears Chicago has no qualms about using Wisniewski heavily off the bat, but don't expect too many multi-point nights from the defenseman. The 2002 fifth-round pick has always had solid two-way skills, but much like Braydon Coburn, he doesn't forget he is a defenseman first and offensive player second. Add to the fact that Chicago has plenty of capable defensemen and the points could get scarce for Wisniewski.

Watch 'Em

Trevor Daley, D, Dallas
Owned: 8 percent of leagues
Analysis: Sergei Zubov has been on IR pretty much all season because of injury. Philippe Boucher has been dealt to Pittsburgh. And now Stephane Robidas is nursing a jaw injury. Plenty of playing time has opened up for Daley, who is now one of the Stars' more experienced defensemen just five seasons into his career. Daley has failed to play less than 20 minutes just six times in 31 games this season. He is on pace for a career-high 27 points, but therein lies the problem. Despite the heavy ice time, the 2002 second-round pick has still displayed just marginal offensive skills and the Stars continue to flutter as a team on offense. However, if Dallas ever gets going, Daley could be in for some nice stat lines.

Joel Ward, RW, Nashville
Owned: 1 percent of leagues
Analysis: Ward had the first multi-goal game of his career Saturday against the Stars. The rookie forward has managed just nine points in his first 28 games, but he has logged just 39 NHL games and is still learning the rigors of pro hockey. The Predators have been pleased with the undrafted free agent's intensity, and he has spent a great deal of time on the first line with J.P. Dumont and Jason Arnott. Nashville has been looking all season for a solution on the top line since losing Alexander Radulov in the offseason. Ward has impressed the most thus far, and if he can stick with the likes of Arnott and Dumont, the points might come in a hurry.

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