2019 Week 7 NHL Fantasy Hockey Report

This is my week seven 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) Tony DeAngelo, NYR, (44% Yahoo ownership): The Rangers play 3 games this week and 4 games next week. DeAngelo has been absolutely on fire since the start of the season, scoring 15 PTS in 18 GP. He is a great 2-week streaming target that may be worth owning permanently afterwards, even in shallow leagues. The ice time has not been consistent, which is a minor red flag, but that doesn’t matter so long as he continues scoring.

2) Clayton Keller, Ari, (49% Yahoo ownership): Keller has been a difficult player to figure out in fantasy hockey over the past 2 years and was on my sleeper list heading into the season. He’s on pace for 50 PTS, which is below my expectation. He’s been hurt by the Coyotes forward deployment, which has tried to even out the talent across 3 lines, rather than stacking scoring lines. In his last 8 GP, Keller has scored 4 PTS, which might be underwhelming, but the Coyotes have a great schedule this week, facing Los Angeles twice. I’ve got my doubts about his long-term viability, but there is surely short-term streaming value.

3) Tyler Bertuzzi, Det, (56% Yahoo ownership): Bertuzzi has been enjoying a breakout season and is owned in a majority of fantasy leagues. The Red Wings play 4 games this week, so Tyler has streaming value in 100% of leagues, having scored 6 PTS in his last 7 GP (up to 20 PTS on the season, on pace for 75 PTS). Add Bertuzzi anywhere you can find him, even if it's only for this week.

4) Zack Kassian, Edm, (46% Yahoo ownership): Kassian brings extra value in leagues that count hits, but his scoring has been shockingly good, on pace for 56 PTS this season (which would almost double his career high). The Oilers play 4 games this week and Kassian sees a ton of ice time with McDavid and Draisaitl, which helps explain his scoring explosion. He should be added in 100% of leagues that count hits, at least on a short-term basis.

5) Antti Raanta, Ari, (49% Yahoo ownership): Raanta hasn’t been great, but he also hasn’t been terrible and he’s been getting regular starts. If he ends up starting both the Kings games, that could be 2 easy wins. In 7 GP this season, Raanta has posted a 3.07 GAA and .912 SV%. He’s still 2^nd string to Darcy Kuemper, which hurts his long-term value. But when the Coyotes have a busy week, Raanta floats to the top of the streamers list.

Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):

1) Martin Necas, Car, (4% Yahoo ownership): Necas is currently criminally under-owned, having scored 8 PTS in his last 8 GP. His name has already started circulating in the Calder trophy conversation, on pace for 57 PTS. His ice time has been low, but he may be earning himself a greater role on the team. The Hurricanes play 4 games this week, with some bad defensive teams on the slate. Whether or not you have room for Necas as a long-term hold, at the very least he’s got significant short-term streaming value.

2) Jonathan Bernier, Det, (5% Yahoo ownership): Bernier has started to get a majority of the starts for Detroit lately, posting 3 wins in his last 5 games, with a 2.64 GAA and .897 SV%. That is by no means spectacular, but you aren’t going to find better options that are this widely available. Bernier is a volume play this week with the Red Wings busy schedule. He’ll probably hurt your rate stats, but boost your counting stats. The Wings actually have a winning record since Robby Fabbri came to town.

3) Robby Fabbri, Det, (16% Yahoo ownership): The Red Wings had been doing very well in the race for last place, until Robby Fabbri joined the team and started winning games. In 5 GP since the trade, Fabbri has scored 6 PTS, averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per night. There are reasons to doubt that pace is sustainable, but he’s worth a gamble while he continues to score. At one point this kid was a blue-chip offensive prospect until injuries derailed his career. He looks to be back on track.

4) Conor Garland, Ari, (15% Yahoo ownership): If you had to guess who is leading the Coyotes in goals, you’d probably guess Phil Kessel. You’d be wrong. Phil has only scored 3 goals, while Conor Garland has scored 9. Earlier in the season his ice time was a concern, but he’s been earning greater deployment in the last 2 weeks. The Coyotes have a great schedule this week, and Garland is a guy that I definitely want on my roster for those 2 LA games.

5) Brett Pesce, Car, (5% Yahoo ownership): Pesce may have limited offensive upside, but he’s also got a reliable floor (at near a 30-point pace). With the Hurricanes schedule this week, Pesce is among the best deep league streaming targets on the blueline. He has scored 3 PTS in his last 3 GP. Not necessarily someone I want to hold all season, but is very appealing in the short-term.

The 1% (best adds 1% owned or less):

1) Adam Gaudette, Van: The biggest thing holding Gaudette back is a crowded forward line-up in Vancouver. Despite his limited opportunity, the kid has looked really good when given the chance, with 7 PTS in his last 8 GP. It’s not a great schedule for the Canucks this week, but Gaudette needs to be on your radar in really deep leagues.

2) Tyler Ennis, Ott: Ennis has been the beneficiary of a shallow depth chart in Ottawa, and is on pace for his best season since 2015 when he posted 46 PTS. He has scored 6 PTS in his last 8 GP. It’s not a great schedule for Ottawa this week (with the exception of a Detroit game), but like Gaudette, Ennis needs to be more than 1% owned.

3) Andrew Copp, Wpg: In the absence of Bryan Little, Andrew Copp has stepped into a greater role among the Jets talented forward group, averaging almost 18 minutes per night over his last 6 GP, posting 5 PTS. He averaged just over 12 minutes per game last season. It’s not a great schedule for Winnipeg this week, but they do have a California road trip coming up the following week that could be fruitful.