NHL 2017/18 Week 21 Fantasy Hockey Report

Personally I compete in 2 leagues, a very competitive 18 team keeper league and a 12 team standard league (both Yahoo head to head categories). With a month left in the season, I'm in first place in both. A wise man once said "if you ain't first, you're last". I try to focus my fantasy reports on players you can find on the waiver wire.

Players to watch, all formats:

1) Derick Brassard, Pit, (38% Yahoo ownership): I’m not sure how much ice time he’ll get with Crosby or Malkin, but he’ll get a boost by osmosis, just being part of a more dynamic offense. He won’t be asked to trap in the same manner and volume that he was in Ottawa.

2) Evgeni Dadonov, Fla, (27% Yahoo ownership): Dadonov was over 50% ownership in November, but fell due to injury. He has scored 12 PTS in his last 12 GP, putting him at 41 PTS in 51 GP on the season. That works out to 66 PTS over 82 GP, and is worth more than just 27% ownership.

3) Jake Guentzel, Pit, (62% Yahoo ownership): The arrival of Brassard could result in Guentzel getting more ice time in better situations. They play different roles and shouldn’t eat each other’s lunch. We’ll have to see if there’s any effect, in the meantime the kid has 8 PTS in his last 6 GP.

4) Bo Horvat, Van, (34% Yahoo ownership): He’s the #1 center by far in Vancouver, scoring 31 PTS in 41 GP this season, which translates to 60 PTS over a full 82 GP. Bo has 6 PTS in his last 6 GP. At age 22, his best hockey should still be ahead of him.

5) Oscar Klefbom, Edm, (43% Yahoo ownership): He has been a huge disappointment this season, but his ownership has fallen to where he might be a good sleeper for the fantasy playoffs. 4 PTS in his last 7 GP and he takes a ton of shots. It’s a lost season in Edmonton, so there won’t be as much pressure over the last month.

Going Deep: players owned in 10% of leagues or less:

1) Nick Bjugstad, Fla, (4% Yahoo ownership): The big guy is on pace for 220 Shots on Goal and has already doubled his point total from last season. With 6 PTS in his last 7 GP, he can help you in 14+ team leagues.

2) Sam Bennett, Cgy, (5% Yahoo ownership): Bennett has recovered from his terrible start to the season, and has been more the player you drafted him to be, 5 PTS in his last 8 GP. He’s still just 21 years old and has his best hockey yet ahead of him.

3) Carl Hagelin, Pit, (4% Yahoo ownership): It’s unclear whether Brassard’s arrival will hurt or help Hagelin, but either way he’s got 9 PTS in his last 12 GP. There’s a good chance Hagelin will get a boost as a winger with the team adding a 3^rd talented center.

4) Antti Niemi, Mtl, (8% Yahoo ownership): With Price out, Niemi is next in line for regular duty. Be warned though, there’s a really good chance he’ll suck and a kid will leapfrog him. In the meantime, if you’re desperate for starts in a deep league, there it is. If you owned Price in a deep league, you should have already owned Niemi.

5) Anthony Beauvillier, NYI, (9% Yahoo ownership): The kid has been getting plenty of ice time in Brooklyn, scoring 6 PTS in his last 7 GP. He’s a youngster with upside who could be a sleeper pick next season.

The 1%: Top 3 Players to Add that are 1% Owned or Less

1) Mike Cammalleri, Edm: The veteran has 10 PTS in his last 11 GP, and could be a playoff sleeper in deeper leagues. And when I say “playoff sleeper”, I do mean fantasy playoffs. Obviously “the Squid” won’t be playing NHL playoff games this spring.

2) Ryan Callahan, TB: He was invisible for most of the first half of the season, but has seen an increase in ice time over the last few weeks and has responded with 6 PTS in his last 8 GP. With all the talent they’ve got on that roster, a forward playing over 15 minutes per night is going to get time on ice with really good players.

3) Brian Dumoulin, Pit: He’s worth a roster spot in fantasy leagues with 16 more teams, scoring 6 PTS in his last 10 GP. With Cole being shipped out of town, there is one less mouth to feed on the Penguins defense.

Be concerned (safe to drop in standard leagues):

1) TJ Oshie, Wsh, (80% Yahoo ownership): Oshie is 31 years old in the first season of an 8 year, $46M contract. Guess what, his production has already declined. Last season he scored 33 Goals in 68 GP, a year later he’s got 12 Goals in 56 GP. That’s a bad omen for the Capitals. If you own Oshie in a keeper league, it might be time to move on. He has 3 PTS in his last 12 GP and isn’t getting any younger.

2) Ryan Kesler, Ana, (45% Yahoo ownership): Unless you play in a league that counts Face-off wins, Kesler probably shouldn’t be on your roster. Since returning from injury he has not been producing much offense, with 2 PTS in his last 12 GP. He should not be owned in standard leagues.

3) Craig Anderson, Ott, (63% Yahoo ownership): I’m a bit confused how Mr Anderson is still 63% owned with a 3.27 GAA and .901 SV% on the season. There are better options on the waiver wire in standard leagues. Maybe all the Anderson owners are so far out of their fantasy playoff races that most have quit and aren’t updating their rosters anymore.