Week 11 is here and I've got a few streaming targets. The
award for best schedule this week is a tie between Detroit and Minnesota, the
only 4-game teams in a shortened week pre-Christmas. This is an interesting
schedule because everyone else plays exactly 3 games. The busy nights are going
to be VERY busy, so while the Wild play 4 times, 3 of them are on busy nights. So,
you may have to bench your Wild streamers on those days, whereas the Red Wings
play 3 times on light nights, but tougher opponents. The Leafs play 3 on busy
nights, but have the most ideal opponents for scoring.
If you scroll down to the
bottom, you can view my strength of schedule graphic and the final watchlist
used to compile this report, including their upcoming schedules. I made a
change this week, and the strength of schedule is now using last 30 days
instead of the full season. Smaller sample size, but a fresher sample. My blog
has been moved to Substack this season and I’ll be repeatedly encouraging
everyone to sign-up for a free subscription to alleviate my dependence on
Twitter for traffic. I’m concerned that Elon will follow through on his threat
to charge everyone for Twitter and ostensibly destroy his own company.
Subscribers receive an email notification each time a new post is published,
and even if Twitter stays free, the algorithm likes to hide Tweets with links
so you don’t leave.
Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
1) Nikolaj Ehlers, Wpg, (46% Yahoo ownership): My number one add for the week ahead wherever I can find him is Nikolaj Ehlers, who is now top line and top power play with Kyle Connor injured. After a slow start to the season, the winger is picking up steam scoring 9 PTS in his last 6 GP, adding 17 shots and a +11. Connor won’t be coming back anytime soon, so Ehlers might be worth considering as a longer-term hold, certainly if this production continues. Ehlers doesn’t hit much, but one option who does is Tom Wilson. I’m still a little confused why he’s only 60% owned on Yahoo, unless 40% of leagues don’t count hits and shots. Tommy is playing 1st line, 1st power play in Washington with 9 PTS, 42 shots and 34 hits in his last 12 GP.
2) Lucas Raymond, Det, (64% Yahoo ownership): If you added Raymond on my advice last week, you may as well let it ride for the 4-game week with 3 on light nights. My initial recommendation was made before the Larkin injury, but he still managed 2 PTS in 3 GP without Larkin. Daily Faceoff lists him 2nd line with Veleno-DeBrincat and top power play, as the dual-eligible winger has scored 13 PTS in his last 14 GP with 33 shots. That sophomore slump appears to have passed. If you care less about PTS and more about shots and hits, Owen Tippett has been a machine in Philly. In his last 14 GP, Tippett has amassed 50 shots and 32 hits, with 8 PTS (2 on the power play).
3) Charlie Lindgren, Wsh, (41% Yahoo ownership): Charlie Lindgren is currently on one of my fantasy rosters, and I’m faced with a difficult decision now that Elvis Merzlikins is off IR. I’m not keeping both beyond maybe a few days. Lindgren has a .918 SV% last 30 days, while Elvis is .916. Washington will be facing higher scoring opponents (average last 30 days), so you could do well with either option, depending on availability. As least Washington has an extra game this weekend and one light night next week compared to the Blue Jackets zero. Alex Lyon was strongly considered for this spot with Detroit playing 4 times, but they’re rocking a 3-headed monster right now (Husso sucks but gets paid the most so they keep rolling him out). Lyon should start 1, maybe 2.
4) Jake Walman, Det, (44% Yahoo ownership): Jake Walman might not be the hottest defenseman available on waivers, but he certainly has the most agreeable schedule. He’s going to be among the most added players Mon-Wed-Fri just because his team will be playing. Walman has scored 6 PTS in his last 12 GP, playing on the top defensive pairing with Moritz Seider and the second power play unit. The shot and hit numbers are indeed underwhelming the last 2 weeks, and if that’s something important to you, Mattias Ekholm is even more widely available (less flexible schedule and 1 fewer game), scoring 6 PTS in his last 13 GP with 31 shots and 26 hits. Oilers are on fire right now.
Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
1) Nikolaj Ehlers, Wpg, (46% Yahoo ownership): My number one add for the week ahead wherever I can find him is Nikolaj Ehlers, who is now top line and top power play with Kyle Connor injured. After a slow start to the season, the winger is picking up steam scoring 9 PTS in his last 6 GP, adding 17 shots and a +11. Connor won’t be coming back anytime soon, so Ehlers might be worth considering as a longer-term hold, certainly if this production continues. Ehlers doesn’t hit much, but one option who does is Tom Wilson. I’m still a little confused why he’s only 60% owned on Yahoo, unless 40% of leagues don’t count hits and shots. Tommy is playing 1st line, 1st power play in Washington with 9 PTS, 42 shots and 34 hits in his last 12 GP.
2) Lucas Raymond, Det, (64% Yahoo ownership): If you added Raymond on my advice last week, you may as well let it ride for the 4-game week with 3 on light nights. My initial recommendation was made before the Larkin injury, but he still managed 2 PTS in 3 GP without Larkin. Daily Faceoff lists him 2nd line with Veleno-DeBrincat and top power play, as the dual-eligible winger has scored 13 PTS in his last 14 GP with 33 shots. That sophomore slump appears to have passed. If you care less about PTS and more about shots and hits, Owen Tippett has been a machine in Philly. In his last 14 GP, Tippett has amassed 50 shots and 32 hits, with 8 PTS (2 on the power play).
3) Charlie Lindgren, Wsh, (41% Yahoo ownership): Charlie Lindgren is currently on one of my fantasy rosters, and I’m faced with a difficult decision now that Elvis Merzlikins is off IR. I’m not keeping both beyond maybe a few days. Lindgren has a .918 SV% last 30 days, while Elvis is .916. Washington will be facing higher scoring opponents (average last 30 days), so you could do well with either option, depending on availability. As least Washington has an extra game this weekend and one light night next week compared to the Blue Jackets zero. Alex Lyon was strongly considered for this spot with Detroit playing 4 times, but they’re rocking a 3-headed monster right now (Husso sucks but gets paid the most so they keep rolling him out). Lyon should start 1, maybe 2.
4) Jake Walman, Det, (44% Yahoo ownership): Jake Walman might not be the hottest defenseman available on waivers, but he certainly has the most agreeable schedule. He’s going to be among the most added players Mon-Wed-Fri just because his team will be playing. Walman has scored 6 PTS in his last 12 GP, playing on the top defensive pairing with Moritz Seider and the second power play unit. The shot and hit numbers are indeed underwhelming the last 2 weeks, and if that’s something important to you, Mattias Ekholm is even more widely available (less flexible schedule and 1 fewer game), scoring 6 PTS in his last 13 GP with 31 shots and 26 hits. Oilers are on fire right now.
5) Evan Rodrigues, Fla, (57% Yahoo ownership): E-Rod flanks one of the league’s best lines with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart, with the knock on Rodrigues being that he doesn’t join them on the top power play unit (instead playing PP2). The Panthers have a decent schedule (Vegas is the only bummer offensively) and do play Monday. One of E-Rod’s best features is eligibility all 3 forward positions, scoring 6 PTS in his last 6 GP with 12 shots and 5 hits. If you’d like an extra light night game instead, the Seattle Kraken had a few nominees for this report, namely Oliver Bjorkstrand (12 PTS (4 PP) 50 shots last 15 GP) and Eeli Tolvanen (11 PTS (2 PP) 38 shots, 33 hits last 15 GP). Oliver is more widely available.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Wilson, Elvis Merzlikins, Mattias Ekholm, Owen Tippett, Oliver Bjorkstrand
Last Week: Drake Batherson, Alex Lyon, Lucas Raymond, Nick Schmaltz, Owen Power
Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):
1) Gabe Vilardi, Wpg, (18% Yahoo ownership): A player joining Ehlers and Scheifele on Winnipeg’s top line and top power play is Gabe Vilardi, who has returned from injury and helping to fill the void left in Connor’s wake. Vilardi has amassed 6 PTS in his last 6 GP, with 14 shots and a +6. He offers eligibility at both center and wing, playing 3 times on light nights. I’m almost considering adding him in my standard leagues where Ehlers is owned. Joe Veleno in Detroit has received a big ice time boost in Larkin’s absence, centering DeBrincat and Raymond (as well as the top power play). He was ice cold offensively before his recent outburst (3 PTS in his last 3 GP since Larkin’s injury, averaging over 22 minutes per game).
2) Ivan Prosvetov, Col, (12% Yahoo ownership): Something is wrong with Alexandar Georgiev and his back-up has started 2 of the last 3 games (coming in relief between starts). Prosvetov is suddenly sporting a .930 SV% in his last 5 games, and should be in line to get more starts while Georgiev works out his problems. Avs play twice this weekend and 3 times next week (all busy nights, all winnable) and Ivan is widely available. If you don’t have room on the busy nights, Joey Daccord in Seattle offers a little more flexibility with 2 light nights. Philipp Grubauer is on IR and Daccord is suddenly sporting a .935 SV% in his last 5 games. Martin Jones could also be in line for more Toronto starts with Samsonov struggling.
3) Michael Rassmussen, Det, (6% Yahoo ownership): The absence of Larkin-Perron has created opportunity for other players to step up, and Michael Rasmussen is among them. J.T Compher should be returning next game and Daily Faceoff has him centering the top line with Patrick Kane and Rasmussen (who is eligible at both wing and center). He’s not on the power play, but that hasn’t stopped him from collecting 5 goals and 8 PTS in his last 7 GP, with 15 shots and a +5. He’s got 3 light nights in a busy night kinda week. That’s why you might also be interested in his teammate Daniel Sprong, who does play on the Wings 2nd PP unit, scoring 10 PTS (3 on the PP) with 33 shots in his last 14 GP.
4) Marco Rossi, Min, (9% Yahoo ownership): Sadly, Marco Rossi is no longer centering the top line with Kirill Kaprizov, but line 2 with Mats Zuccarello is still decent. Rossi does center the 2nd power play, scoring 9 PTS with 23 shots in his last 12 GP. Just make sure you have room to fit him into your starting line-up given that the Wild will be playing 3 of their 4 games on busy nights and Rossi is listed at center-only (which can make him more difficult for some to roster). If you’d rather have a top power play winger, Kyle Palmieri is on the red-hot top unit with the Islanders. In his last 14 GP, Palmieri has scored 10 PTS (6 on the PP) with 29 shots and a +3. Isles play 1 light night, and 2 busy.
5) Jake McCabe, Tor, (11% Yahoo ownership): The Maple Leafs have the best schedule in terms of average opponent goals against last 30 days, but there weren’t many options under 65% owned that were interesting enough to make my final list. Jake McCabe was the only Leaf who survived the watchlist pruning process, thanks to scoring 5 PTS in his last 6 GP with 18 hits (albeit only 7 shots). He even has a point on the power play and is averaging 21:31 of ice time in the last 2 weeks. Another option with a very similar stat profile is Josh Manson in Colorado, who has 6 PTS, 15 shots, 14 hits in his last 7 GP. Neither of these players have appeared on many if any fantasy reports of mine the last year or two. Congrats to both for pinging my radar this week.
Honorable Mentions: Joe Veleno, Joey Daccord, Daniel Sprong, Kyle Palmieri, Josh Manson
Last Week: Robby Fabbri, Martin Jones, Ross Colton, Alex Kerfoot, Alexander Romanov
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