This is my week thirteen fantasy hockey report for those competing in
head to head categories or rotisserie leagues. There are both standard and deep
league acquisition targets. 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) Nico Hischier, C, New
Jersey, (41% Yahoo ownership): If Hischier were eligible on the wing, his Yahoo
ownership would double. He’s currently stuck in the “Kevin Hayes zone” of players
who would be more widely owned if not for the fact that everyone has too many
centers. The former 1st overall pick has 9 PTS in his last 10 GP.
Taylor Hall is day to day with an injury, and Nico will need him back to
maximize his performance.
2) Carter Hart, G, Philly,
(42% Yahoo ownership): Count me among the people who tried to pump the brakes
on the Carter Hart enthusiasm when he was first called up from the minors. The
kid has been mostly good over his first 4 games, with a 2.28 GAA and .917 SV %.
The Flyers have a great schedule, so at the very least Hart has value as a streamer
this week, and I wouldn’t necessarily drop him until you start to see the
regression.
3) Noah Hanifin, D, Calgary,
(27% Yahoo ownership): Hanifin is a great streaming candidate this week with
the Flames playing a busy schedule. The kid has scored 4 PTS with 14 shots in
his last 6 GP. He’s playing on the second power play unit, but still gets heavy
even strength deployment. The Flames are the 2nd highest scoring
team in the Western conference, so there’s plenty of opportunity for Hanifin to
get his name on the scoresheet.
4) Kevin Fiala, W, Nashville,
(22% Yahoo ownership): It hasn’t been a great season for Fiala, but he’s
managed to produce 5 PTS in his last 6 GP and the Predators have a strong
schedule this week (Mon-Tues and Fri-Sat), making Fiala an intriguing streaming
option, even if you just add him for Monday-Tuesday. He’ll be heavily added for
the New Year’s Day game. He’s also got Detroit on Friday, so if you do stream
him for Jan 1, he’s worth holding onto for a few extra days.
5) Blake Coleman, W, New
Jersey, (22% Yahoo ownership): Coleman didn’t make this list because he’s been
hot lately (only scoring 3 PTS in his last 10 GP), but what he’s got is a great
schedule and reliable peripheral production. In those last 10 GP he has put up
21 hits and 28 shots. The Devils play Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun on days when he’ll be
easier to get into your line-up and pad some of your other categories.
Last Week: Kevin Hayes, Alex
Tuch, Nick Schmaltz, Alex Edler, Jacob Markstrom
Best Deep League Adds (under 15% ownership):
1) MacKenzie Blackwood, G,
New Jersey, (15% Yahoo ownership): Normally I try not to recommend the same
player in back to back weeks, but I need to make an exception here. Blackwood
posted a 37 save shutout against the Hurricanes Saturday and is one of the most
added players on Yahoo today. 5 games into his NHL career he’s sporting a 1.58
GAA and .956 SV %. It’s unlikely he’ll finish the season with those numbers,
but in the meantime he’s worth a roll of the dice.
2) Dylan Strome, C, Chicago, (7%
Yahoo ownership): Strome has been getting great deployment since arriving in Chicago,
playing on a line with Patrick Kane. He has rewarded owners with 7 PTS in his
last 3 GP. That warrants greater than 7% ownership. There will always be the
risk that he’ll get bumped off the Kane line, but in the meantime, he needs to
be owned in more leagues. With his talent and that deployment, I like Strome
beyond just next week.
3) Jakob Chychrun, D, Arizona,
(11% Yahoo ownership): His ownership % shot up today because it’s the Sunday of
a shortened week and Arizona plays in the only game (the most added list is all
Vegas and Arizona guys). The fact that he’s scored 4 PTS and 20 shots in his
last 7 GP (averaging almost 21m in ice time) does help boost his stock. The
Coyotes only play 3 games next week. I’m more interested in Chychrun as a
long-term play in deep leagues. He’s a youngster with abundant upside, probably
already owned in many dynasty leagues.
4) Jake Virtanen, W, Vancouver,
(10% Yahoo ownership): Virtanen continues to put up good numbers, with 6 PTS,
35 shots, and 36 hits in his last 13 GP (averaging almost 16m per game of ice
time). The Canucks play 4 games this week and Virtanen can help your hit and
shot numbers while putting up a few PTS. The kid is becoming a fan favourite here
in Vancouver.
5) Ty Rattie, W, Edmonton, (3%
Yahoo ownership): McDavid alert! To all those who have been streaming McDavid’s
revolving door of linemates this season, there’s an old familiar face back on
the top line. Everyone’s favourite sleeper heading into the season (at one
point leading preseason scoring) had 3 assists on Saturday. The downside is
multiple healthy scratches in his recent game log, so he’s not even a guarantee
to play. But hey, McDavid linemate roulette has been a popular game this season,
if your league is deep enough. I’m not dropping anyone good to add him. In my
18-team league I dropped Vinnie Hinostroza (a 1-day streamer) to add Rattie.
Last Week: Jesse Puljujarvi, Alex
Iafallo, Darcy Kuemper, Alex Goligoski, MacKenzie Blackwood
The 1% (best adds 1% owned or less):
1) Barclay Goodrow, W, San
Jose: Goodrow still has limited deployment, but he’s made the most of that
opportunity with 5 PTS in his last 2 GP. There’s no reason to think that is in
any way sustainable, but he’s worth a short-term gamble in really deep leagues
if you’ve got a hole in your roster. Being eligible at every forward position makes
him easy to plug into your line-up.
2) Niklas Kronwall, D,
Detroit: Kronwall may be near the end of his career, but that hasn’t stopped
the Red Wings from leaning on him heavily with Green and DeKeyser injured (averaging
22.5m of ice time in his last 6 GP, scoring 3 PTS). The Red Wings play 4 games
next week, which gives Kronwall strong streaming appeal in deep leagues.
3) Casey Cizikas, C, Islanders:
Cizikas has been scoring at a 41-point pace this season (after a 22-point pace last
year). Over his last 6 GP, he has scored 3 PTS with 12 shots, 8 hits, and 31 faceoff
wins, which gives him some value in the deepest formats.
Last Week: Connor Murphy, Connor
Brown, Brian Boyle
Safe to drop in Standard Leagues:
1) Brady Tkachuk, W, Ottawa:
The rookie is still 37% owned in Yahoo leagues despite only scoring 4 PTS in
his last 12 GP. It’s common for young players to have dry spells, so there
should be brighter days ahead. In the meantime, you don’t need to burn a
permanent roster spot in shallow leagues. The Sens do play 4 games this week,
so maybe don’t drop him right away…
2) Semyon Varlamov, G,
Colorado: I’m not sure why Varlamov is still 82% owned. Over the last 30 days he’s
got a 3.87 GAA and .884 SV %. Grubauer is their goalie of future, despite his own
poor play over that same stretch. At this point I wouldn’t want to own either
Avalanche goalie in a shallow league. Varlamov has the worst GAA and SV % of all
goalies over 60% ownership in the last 30 days.
Last Week: Dougie Hamilton, Yanni
Gourde
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