Sunday, February 24, 2019

NHL 2018/19 Week 20 Fantasy Hockey Report


This is my week twenty fantasy hockey report for those competing in head to head categories or rotisserie leagues. Yahoo standard league playoffs are a week away. There are both standard and deep league acquisition targets to help your playoff seeding. This is more of a “waiver wire” report, looking for those who are more likely to be available in your league as opposed to the universally owned players. I also do not recommend any players who play 2 games or less over the next 7 days (Monday to Sunday), with a preference for those with 4 or more games.

Best Standard League Adds (20% to 60% Yahoo ownership):

1) Frank Vatrano, W, Fla, (29% Yahoo ownership): The Panthers are going to be playing 5 games this week, some of them against weak opponents. Over his 12 GP Vatrano has scored 7 PTS with 23 shots and 27 hits while averaging 15:45 of ice time. The team also plays 4 games in the first week of the Yahoo standard league playoffs, so there’s value in hanging on to him beyond just the upcoming match-up.

2) Reilly Smith, W, LV, (43% Yahoo ownership): Vegas is going to be playing 4 games next week, none of them against strong defensive teams. Smith has scored 5 PTS in his last 6 GP, with 17 shots while averaging 18:15 of ice time, playing on a line with Marchessault and Karlsson. He’s been heating up, getting great deployment, with a really good schedule. Stream him where available.

3) Brian Elliot, G, Phi, (22% Yahoo ownership): Carter Hart has been injured and is expected to miss a week. In 3 games since returning from injury himself, Elliot has posted a 2.28 GAA and .938 SV%. This is not a goalie that I trust long-term, but the Flyers play 4 games next week, all against average to below average offensive teams. He’s a sneaky sleeper if you desperately need goalie starts to make the playoffs.

4) Shea Theodore, D, LV, (36% Yahoo ownership): As stated above, Vegas has a great schedule coming up. The kid has scored 5 PTS in his last 12 GP, with 30 shots on goal, on pace for a 35-point season. There aren’t many better streaming options who are widely available, especially for the Friday Sunday games against Anaheim and Vancouver. Also plays Thursday, so I love him as a Wednesday night addition.

5) Vincent Trocheck, C, Fla, (60% Yahoo ownership): Trocheck has only scored 4 PTS in his last 12 GP (with 32 shots and 23 hits), so people have started dropping him. If he was dropped in your league, Trocheck is a great streaming target, especially for that Sunday game against Ottawa. Last season he was a 75-point player, so the offensive upside is there even if the scoring pace has slowed down lately.


Last Week: Erik Gustafsson, Josh Anderson, Mats Zuccarello, Jason Zucker, Darcy Kuemper


Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):

1) Carl Soderberg, C, Col, (17% Yahoo ownership): The Avalanche have a fantastic schedule next week, playing Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun against Fla, Van, SJ, and Ana. Soderberg is on pace for a 54-point season (which would be a career high) and has scored 7 PTS in his last 8 GP with 29 shots and a +7 while average 18:48 of ice time. He’ll probably be on my bust list next season, but in the meantime strike while the iron is hot.

2) Alex Killorn, W, TB, (13% Yahoo ownership): There are a few blowout candidates coming up for the Lightning. Killorn may be playing on the 3rd line with Cirelli and Gourde, but has still scored 5 PTS in his last 8 GP, with 19 shots. He has good upside this week and can help you out in a deep league. Not worth consideration in shallow leagues.

3) James Reimer, G, Fla, (16% Yahoo ownership): The Panthers play 5 games next week, so Reimer will see 2-3 starts guaranteed. He’s had some rough patches this season, but has calmed down over the last 30 days with a 2.70 GAA and .916 SV%. There is some risk to picking up this guy, so you’ll need to be desperate for starts and saves to make this add.

4) Nikita Zadorov, D, Col, (14% Yahoo ownership): If your league does not count hits, you can scratch this recommendation (instead take a look at Severson or Sanheim). Over his last 12 GP, Zadorov has recorded 52 hits (with 4 PTS and only 14 shots). You can almost add him in a 12-team standard league if you need to win that category to make the playoffs.

5) J.T Compher, W, Col, (5% Yahoo ownership): We have already established that the Avalanche have a very appealing schedule, and Compher is another guy who has been productive lately, scoring 6 PTS in his last 8 GP. He’s only owned in 5% of leagues, so he’ll be widely available for deep league streaming.


Last Week: Dominik Kahun, Brandon Saad, Anders Nilsson, Jordan Oesterle, Pavel Buchnevich



The 1% (best adds 1% owned or less):

1) Troy Stecher, D, Van: The Canucks have continued playing Stecher big minutes (averaging 27:05 over last 6 GP) with Edler and Tanev injured, and the team has a stacked schedule at the start of next week (Ari, Col, Ana) with 3 games in the first 4 days. Stecher is a great deep league streamer.

2) Matt Calvert, W, Col: Over his last 12 GP, Calvert has scored 6 PTS with 11 PIMs, 26 shots, and 20 hits while averaging 15:16 of ice time. Has more value in a categories league than a straight up PTS league, but even his scoring production has been decent. I just added him as a streamer in my 18-team league.

3) Riley Sheahan, C/W, Fla: Sheahan is a good volume play next week, with the Panthers having a 5-game schedule. He’s got limited offensive upside, scoring 2 PTS in his last 7 GP, but he’s got LW eligibility and will probably give you around 25 faceoff wins and 8 shots next week. You need to count FW in your league for Sheahan to be relevant.


Last Week: Derek Ryan, Vinnie Hinostroza, Cody Ceci

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