Tuesday, March 12, 2024

2023/24 Week 22 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Report

Week 22 of the NHL season is here and I have some streaming targets. The award for best schedule this week goes to the New York Rangers, who are going to be very busy with 5 matches in 7 days. The Blue Jackets had the next best schedule in terms of opponent goal allowing, while the Winnipeg Jets are the only team playing on all 4 light nights (Kings and Blues each have 3). As always, make sure you can actually fit a streamer into your starting line-up before adding. 

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) Alexis Lafreniere, NYR, (42% Yahoo ownership): The New York Rangers have a 5-game week coming up, and former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere plays 2nd line with Artemi Panarin, along with power play two. He has received a few plugs here this season, finally starting to deliver on his high pedigree. In his last 12 GP, Lafreniere has 9 PTS (1 on the power play) with 37 shots and 10 hits. He’s pacing for 51 PTS, is available in more than half of Yahoo leagues, and eligible at both wings. If you’d rather have the player drafted 3 spots later (and has 23 more career PTS in 60 fewer GP), Lucas Raymond in Detroit has scored 10 PTS in his last 12 GP (again outpacing Lafreniere) with 21 shots and 10 hits. Wings play 4. I’m still a little jaded Detroit lost that lottery…
 
2) Quentin Byfield, LA, (47% Yahoo ownership): What else can I say about Quentin Byfield that hasn’t already been said in one of the other 10(ish) plugs he has received here this season? He’s eligible at all 3 forward positions, plays line one and power play one (I did see him on line 3 with Dubois at one point recently, but he’s back up top), scoring 12 PTS (1 on the PP) in his last 14 games with 31 shots and 20 hits. Delivering in multiple categories, super flexible positioning and available in more than half of leagues, with Kings playing 3 light nights. Another player plugged here frequently recently is Sean Monahan, who will be playing 4 games on light nights, plays line 2 and power play 1, scoring 8 goals (9 PTS, 3 PP) in his last 12 GP, with 32 shots.

3) Shayne Gostisbehere, Det, (61% Yahoo ownership): The Red Wings might be missing their high-end first line center, but they’ll be playing 4 games against non-playoff teams this week, and at least 2 of them have been leaking lately. The power play may have lost some potency without Larkin doing his elite first unit centering, but Shayne Gostisbhere does an effective job quarterbacking the unit. In his last 12 games, Ghost has 8 PTS (3 on the PP) with 26 shots. If you’d rather a blueliner who delivers more hitting, K’Andre Miller will be playing 5 games and has 5 PTS (1 on the PP) in his last 12 GP with 12 shots and 25 hits. It been a minute since his last plug here, but he’s popped on the radar from time to time.

4) Michael Bunting, Pit, (27% Yahoo ownership): Micheal Bunting was already nominated for my watchlist as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, but was traded to another 4-game team, and Daily Faceoff has him slated to play on the top line with Sidney Crosby and PP1. It remains to be seen how long it takes to develop chemistry between the two, but they might be a great match. Bunting had not been hot prior to the move, scoring just 5 PTS (2 on the PP) in his last 12 GP, but the 36 shots is nice for people in category leagues. If you’d rather someone hotter, it doesn’t get much warmer than Dylan Strome, scoring 17 PTS (7 on the PP) in his last 13 GP, with 23 shots. Washington does have a tougher schedule.
 
5) Frederik Andersen, Car, (71% Yahoo ownership): While Freddy is owned in more leagues than my normal upper limit in these reports, this is just letting everyone know to have a look on your waiver wire to see if he happens to be there. I managed to grab him in one on a $5 bid (for context, I had spent $1 of my $100 waiver budget to this point), dropping Connor Ingram. Not sure what his start share will be or if he can even stay healthy, but he’s worth a shot for the chance he’ll resume his role as their #1 guy. Spencer Martin has played well, so Kochetkov could get sent down again (warning if you’re holding him, but hang on for now). Another option more widely available is Jonathan Quick, with Rangers playing 5 and one of the best teams. Quick has a .905 SV% in the last 30 days and will get at least 2 starts.
 
Honorable Mentions: Sean Monahan, Lucas Raymond, Jonathan Quick, K’Andre Miller
 
Last Week: Gustav Nyquist, Rickard Rakell, Noah Hanifin, Charlie Coyle, Anthony Stolarz 
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 26% ownership):
 
1) Jack Roslovic, NYR, (4% Yahoo ownership): Jack Roslovic was already nominated for this list as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets, getting plugged here last week because Columbus was giving him line 1, PP1 duty showcasing him for trade. He was traded to the Rangers, who have a 5-game week coming, and Daily Faceoff has Roslovic penciled onto the top line with Zibanejad and Kreider. Jack was hot in Columbus before the deal, scoring 13 PTS in his last 13 GP with 44 shots, eligible at center and RW. One guy safe from deadline talk because nobody wants his contract is Ryan Strome, but he’s been productive with 10 PTS (7 on the PP) in his last 12 GP with 18 shots and 10 hits, eligible at both wings.

2) Fabian Zetterlund, SJ, (2% Yahoo ownership): If I told you there was a guy available in 98% of leagues, playing line 1, power play 1, with 6 PTS (3 on the PP) in his last 5 GP, adding 15 shots, is that something you might be interested in? The Sharks just shipped out several pieces, so there will be plenty of ice time available for Fabian Zetterlund to stretch his legs. They have a 4-game week coming up, ranking as the 5th best schedule by total opponent goal leakage. He generated substantial buzz at one point in his New Jersey career, then faded into the shadows until now. If you bought the Koolaid I just sold you, can I interest you in his center? Mikael Granlund (who is also eligible at RW) has 9 PTS (6 on the PP) in his last 11 GP with 22 shots.

3)  Alex Nylander, Cbj, (3% Yahoo ownership): Alex Nylander was recently traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets, and in 7 games is averaging 15:16 ice time, listed on the third line and top power play. The departure of Roslovic could create an opening for Nylander on line 1, or they leave him in the current role because it’s been clicking. In his last 7 GP, Nylander has 7 PTS (1 on the PP) and 20 shots. He’s eligible at both wings, was a highly regarded prospect once upon a time and BJs have a few weak opponents ahead. If you’d rather have an established veteran, Max Pacioretty has 5 PTS (3 on the PP) in his last 6 GP with 15 shots and 13 hits. He’s healthy, playing line 2,power play 1, and he’s putting up numbers, available in 85% of Yahoo leagues.
 
4) Matt Roy, LA, (24% Yahoo ownership): Matt Roy is another guy plugged here often this season, who I’m reasonably sure has been on my watchlist every week LA played 4 games, but going back to check would not be worth the effort. The reason he keeps popping up is continued production across multiple categories. In his last 14 GP, Roy has 6 PTS with 19 shots, 30 hits, and a +7. It’s not a high offensive ceiling, but he checks a few other boxes for those of you in category leagues (or any format counting hits). Another more widely available blueline option is Ryan Pulock, who has 6 PTS (2 on the PP) with 24 shots and 22 hits in his last 12 GP. He might have been top billing here if not for the Isles difficult schedule.
 
5) Laurent Brossoit, Wpg, (24% Yahoo ownership): The Jets have an appealing schedule coming up, and there’s a very high probably Brossoit will be getting the call March 15 vs Anaheim. In all likelihood that will be his only start, but with Anaheim banged up and moving out players, it could be an easy win. Brossoit continues playing well with a .906 SV% and 3 wins in his last 4 starts. If your risk tolerance is higher and need a little more volume, the New Jersey Devils just added Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen, both of whom have struggled last 30 days and are arguably heading to a worse defensive environment, but Devils play 4 (the risk is Rangers, Stars, and Golden Knights) and these two should split the duty. Pick your poison or add both if desperate. It’s not impossible Allen suddenly gets good with a change of scenery.
 
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Strome, Mikael Granlund, Max Pacioretty, Jake Allen, Ryan Pulock
 
Last Week: Torey Krug, Tyler Bertuzzi, Matthew Knies, Philipp Grubauer, Jack Roslovic
 

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