This is my week fourteen 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) Blake Coleman, NJ, (40% Yahoo ownership): Coleman has made so
many appearances on my weekly fantasy report over the last two seasons that I’m
running out of new things to say about him. The guy is a shots and hits beast
(60 shots and 43 hits in his last 14 GP). I’ll have to check with Yahoo, but I
may hold the record for most times adding and dropping Blake Coleman in 2019
(12 team standard categories league). Lately though, he’s earned a permanent
spot on my roster. The Devils play 4 games next week, so if he’s on your waiver
wire, go add him.
2) Elvis Merzlikins, Cbj, (22% Yahoo ownership): With Joonas
Korpisalo on the shelf for 4-6 weeks, Elvis has entered the building. In 3
starts since Korps went down, Elvis has produced 2 wins with a 1.68 GAA and
.945 SV%. He had a rough adjustment period to the NHL, but does seem to have
settled down. The Blue Jackets play 4 games this week (3 of them against
non-playoff teams), so its now or never to roll with this hound dog. I’ll be
streaming him myself this week, so if it doesn’t work out, I’ll be all shook up
in heartbreak hotel…
3) Sami Vatanen, NJ, (25% Yahoo ownership): Vatanen was 6% owned
at the start of December, and over the last 30 days the Finn has scored 12 PTS in
14 GP, with 29 shots and 19 hits. He’s playing on the top power play unit and
making the most of his opportunity. The Devils have a busy schedule and this is
the defenseman you want this week. If this deployment continues indefinitely,
he may be worthy of a permanent roster spot in standard leagues. For now though, we'll take it one week at a time.
4) Ondrej Palat, TB, (44% Yahoo ownership): That ownership is low
for a guy who plays with Kucherov and Point. Palat has produced 9 PTS in his
last 8 GP, and carries extra value in leagues that count hits (34 in his last
14 GP). Tampa has a 4-game week coming up, so this is a great time to
roll Lightning players. Palat is the best Tampa player available in a majority of
leagues. Palat has made a few appearances on my weekly top streamers list this
season.
5) Nikita Gusev, NJ, (22% Yahoo ownership): After a hugely disappointing
start to the season, Gusev has started to find his stride on a line with Blake
Coleman. But more importantly, he’s getting top power play deployment and
making the most of the opportunity created by Taylor Hall’s departure. In his
last 6 GP, the Russian has scored 7 PTS with 17 shots. I’m not ready to give
him a permanent roster spot in a standard sized league, but he’s unquestionably on
my streaming rotation.
Last Week: Alex Killorn, Tony DeAngelo, Brandon Tanev, Vincent Trocheck, Jaroslav
Halak
Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):
1) Nick Suzuki, Mtl, (11% Yahoo ownership): I bought my shares of
Nick Suzuki stock during the preseason. After a slow start to the season, the
rookie is rounding into form with 9 PTS in his last 8 GP. With all these
injuries in Montreal, Suzuki has been logging heavy minutes, over 20m in his
last 3 games. What’s even better, the Canadiens have an incredible schedule
this week, facing Detroit, Ottawa, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. All teams struggling
defensively. I’m even considering Suzuki in my shallow 12 team standard league
for this week.
2) Conor Garland, Ari, (11% Yahoo ownership): Phil Kessel has
been booted off the top line in Arizona and replaced by Conor Garland. It is an
excellent opportunity for this high-volume shooter who has 5 PTS in his last 7
GP. The coach is a frequent line shuffler so we don’t know how long this
deployment will last, but I want to own Garland while it does. This is not my first
trip on the Conor Garland hype-train in 2019, but it has been hard to stay on board
with his inconsistent ice time.
3) Samuel Girard, Col, (15% Yahoo ownership): The Avs may not
play 4 games this week, but it will be a streamer friendly schedule and this
kid is on fire. Girard has scored 9 PTS in his last 6 GP, with 3 on the power
play. He may only be playing on the 2nd PP unit, but he’s making the
most of that time. The Avs play Mon-Tue-Fri, so you may even want to stream
Girard in a shallow league for Monday to Friday, then rotate someone else in
for the weekend. This is a player that I’d love to own in a dynasty league. He’s
got a bright future.
4) Adin Hill, Ari, (2% Yahoo ownership): With Darcy Kuemper
already on IR and Antti Raanta leaving last night’s game with an injury
(shocking), Adin Hill is next in line to get starts for the Coyotes if Raanta
is going to miss time (which we don’t know yet). The Yotes do play 4 games this
week, albeit against some high scoring teams. There is some risk in streaming this
kid, this week in particular. You need to be in a really deep league where starting
goaltenders are hard to find, and maybe leave him on your bench if he’s
starting the Tampa game.
5) Arturi Lehkonen, Mtl, (11% Yahoo ownership): Injuries can
create opportunities, as we are seeing in Montreal, with Lehkonen playing quality
minutes on a line with Suzuki and Domi. Over his last 6 GP, the Finn has 4 PTS
with 13 shots and 15 hits. With the Canadiens incredible schedule this week,
Lehkonen is a sneaky sleeper that you won’t feel bad dropping later. He’ll have
trouble sustaining this deployment when his teammates start to get healthy.
Last Week: Barclay Goodrow, Anthony Cirelli, John Marino, Kevin Hayes, Aaron Dell
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