Tuesday, January 2, 2024

2023/24 Week 13 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Report

Week 13 of the NHL season is 3 is here and I've got a few potential streaming targets. The award for best schedule this week goes the Winnipeg Jets, who play 8 games in the next 13 days, only 1 against a team sitting in a playoff spot. You could almost justify adding Brossoit in a standard league. Washington faces tougher opponents, but has 3 games on light nights. If you scroll down to the bottom, you can view my team strength of schedule graphic and the aforementioned final watchlist used to compile this report, including their upcoming schedules.
 
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) Gabe Vilardi, Wpg, (62% Yahoo ownership): Gabe Vilardi has been featured in 3 consecutive waiver reports, and with the Jets winning the best schedule award in week 13, you should let it ride if he’s on your roster. They also play a back-to-back against Minnesota on Saturday-Sunday, then Tampa, Anaheim, San Jose, Arizona next week. You’ll get 6 games in the next 9 days from any Jets you might add. In his last 12 GP, Vilardi has 14 PTS, 34 shots, and a +13. Also eligible at both C and RW. Another player quietly heating up with an upcoming 4-game sched is Nazem Kadri, scoring 11 PTS (2 on the power play) in his last 13 GP with 49 shots. He is centering the second line and playing top power play.
 
2) Elias Lindholm, Cgy, (63% Yahoo ownership): The Calgary Flames don’t have the best schedule coming up, only one light night and a few good defensive teams (Chicago notwithstanding), but what they do have is more options that you’re more likely to find on waivers. Elias Lindholm isn’t the hottest option, but he does center the top line and top power play, scoring 8 PTS (3 on the PP) in his last 13 GP with 37 shots and 13 hits. The downside is center-only, so make sure you’ve got room. Another option that’s also line 1, PP1 in Calgary and is more widely available (eligible at more positions (C/LW)) is Yegor Sharangovich, with 12 PTS (3 on the PP) in his last 13 GP with 29 shots.
 
3) Charlie Lindgren, Wsh, (48% Yahoo ownership): This slot was slated to feature Charlie Lindgren, until I noticed right before posting that he had left tonight’s game in the first period and did not return. The Caps have a flexible schedule with 3 games on light nights, so if Lindgren’s injury isn’t serious and he’s back Monday, he is sporting a .929 SV% in the last 8 games and is probably the best option. Even if Charlie is healthy, it’s not going to be an easy schedule for Washington. One team who does have an easier schedule is Toronto, and Martin Jones was my top recommendation last week, finding his way onto both my teams. The Leafs are playing LA, Anaheim, and San Jose this week, (it will almost certainly be Samsonov vs Ducks). I may bench Jones against LA.
 
4) Noah Hanifin, Cgy, (44% Yahoo ownership): This must be an exciting waiver report for Flames fans, who are up to 4 recommended additions. Noah Hanfin has been productive in his last 13 GP, scoring 7 PTS (1 on the PP) with 23 shots and 10 hits. He might only play on the 2nd power play unit, but his productivity at even strength has been plenty effective to make up the difference. Besides, there weren’t any glaring PP1 defense options in this ownership range to sink Noah. Neal Pionk earned consideration, who also plays PP2 except for the Jets, who do have a more appealing upcoming schedule. Pionk won’t score the PTS Hanifin should, but does have 25 shots and 23 hits in his last 12 GP if that’s something you need.

5) Tom Wilson, Wsh, (62% Yahoo ownership): I’ve been banging the Tom Wilson drum for much of the first half and his ownership seems to have hit a plateau. I can only assume this means 40% of Yahoo leagues don’t count both hits and shots, because if your league does and Wilson is available, go grab him. He’s still playing top line and top power play in Washington, which may not be as appealing as past years given Ovechkin’s struggles, but Caps play 3 times on light nights this week, so Wilson still has value in non-banger leagues (9 PTS in his last 14 GP with 44 shots and 40 hits). Also keep an eye out for his teammate Max Pacioretty who is nearing return from surgery, who could end up bouncing Wilson from the top line and power play.
 

Honorable Mentions: Martin Jones, Nazem Kadri, Yegor Sharangovich, Neal Pionk, Max Pacioretty
 
Last Week: Gabe Vilardi, Matt Duchene, Martin Jones, Robert Thomas, Mattias Ekholm
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):

1) Anthony Mantha, Wsh, (6% Yahoo ownership): BREAKING NEWS you may not be aware of, Anthony Mantha is on a heater, scoring 8 goals and 12 PTS (2 on the PP) in his last 14 GP, with 32 shots on net. You already know Washington has a flexible schedule, and Mantha is currently deployed on their 2nd line and top power play. His career looked dead in the water a few months ago when he taking significant flak from Caps fans. It’s nice to see a little redemption arc unfolding. His linemate Aleksi Protas has also been scoring lately with 10 PTS in his last 14 GP, currently available in 100% of Yahoo leagues. Protas ceiling is currently limited by a lack of power play time, but productive 5v5.

2) Laurent Brossoit, Wpg, (7% Yahoo ownership): As previously mentioned, the Jets are going to be playing 6 games in the next 9 days, which includes a pair of back-to-backs and some weak opponents (they actually play 8 in the next 13 days, and only 1 of those opponents currently occupies a playoff spot). You’ll get 3, possibly 4 starts out of Laurent Brossoit in that span (available in 93% of Yahoo leagues) who is sporting a .951 SV% in the last 30 days. Another team with a busy schedule is Calgary, and their back-up Dan Vladar isn’t quite as hot but they play 7 games in 12 days starting Sunday. He has posted an .891 SV% in his last 4 games and is available in 98% of Yahoo leagues.
 
3) Dakota Joshua, Van, (24% Yahoo ownership): The Canucks only play 3 games this week, all on busy nights, but Ottawa-St. Louis-New Jersey are all easy to score on most games. This is not Joshua’s first appearance here, as my man has been on the radar nearly every week, catching fire with 6 goals and 10 PTS in his last 13 GP. But the points aren’t the reason he's here, rather his 45 hits in those 13 GP. He’s becoming must own in banger formats. If your league doesn’t count hits and you’d like an extra game, you could try Mikael Backlund in Calgary, centering line 3 and power play 2. In his last 13 GP, Backlund has 7 PTS (1 on the PP) and 33 shots on goal.

4) Cole Perfetti, Wpg, (21% Yahoo ownership): Cole Perfetti might only have 3 PTS in his last 10 GP, but he also has 3 PTS in his last 4 GP. That frame of reference is more appealing. But he’s here more for Winnipeg’s upcoming schedule than for his individual scoring. I’m just bullish on the Jets, and he’s playing 2nd line and 2nd power play. He’s eligible at both center and wing, firing 31 shots on goal in his last 12 GP. He’s creating chances, and I’m hoping a few more bulge the twine coming up. His teammate Nino Niederreiter isn’t a bad option either, putting up 6 PTS (2 on the PP) in his last 12 GP, with 26 shots and 19 hits. Certainly, Nino is a better category filler than Perfetti if that’s your jam.
 
5) Rasmus Sandin, Wsh, (15% Yahoo ownership): As previously discussed, this is a good week to add Washington Capitals, and Rasmus Sandin is deployed on their second power play unit. He caught fire last season after being traded to Washington, but his production has been limited behind Carlson on the PP depth chart. He does only have 3 PTS in his last 14 GP, and if that point production is too low for your liking, there are alternatives. The Ducks might not play 4 games this week, but all their matches fall on light nights. That makes Pavel Mintyukov a tempting target with 6 PTS (3 on the PP) in his last 12 GP. He does provide a higher offensive ceiling than Sandin.
 
Honorable Mentions: Nino Niederreiter, Pavel Mintyukov, Mikael Backlund, Aleksi Protas, Dan Vladar
 
Last Week: Nick Paul, Jonathan Drouin, Thomas Harley, Mason Marchment, Samuel Ersson
 



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