2019/20 Week 21 NHL Fantasy Hockey Report

This is my week Twenty one 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 (30% to 60% Yahoo ownership):

1) Dominik Kubalik, Chi, (48% Yahoo ownership): After a cold streak with 1 point in 7 GP, Kubalik has once again caught fire, with 11 PTS in his last 8 GP. The winger has found continued success playing with Toews and Saad at even strength, and is also playing on the top power play unit. The kid is a goal scoring machine and the Blackhawks have a very favorable schedule this week. If he was dropped in your league during his mini-slump, go add him now.

2) Kevin Fiala, Min, (47% Yahoo ownership): Fiala might soon pass Blake Coleman as the most featured player on my weekly waiver wire report this season, and he is not slowing down, scoring 19 PTS in his last 14 GP. The Wild have 4 games this week, and Fiala needs to be owned in every league. His ownership is low considering how good he’s been for most of the season, maybe the stink of being a Paul Fenton acquisition has made people weary.

3) Corey Crawford, Chi, (40% Yahoo ownership): With the departure of Robin Lehner at the trade deadline, Crawford is now the number one undisputed starter in Chicago. Over his lasts 10 GP, Crawford has posted a 2.56 GAA and .927 SV%. My own goaltending this season has been Sergei Bobrovsky and a rotating cast of streamers, which has included a few cups of coffee with Corey, and I’m currently sitting in a bye. Last night I dropped Tatcher Demko and added Crawford

4) Ondrej Palat, TB, (43% Yahoo ownership): The final forward slot in my weekly standard league report came down to Palat or Athanasiou, and Ondrej got the nod for being promoted to the top line with Kucherov and Point, while Stamkos is expected to miss the rest of the regular season. Athanasiou is banged up and only played 13:46 last night. Palat also provides hits. The Lightning play 4 games, but mostly on busy nights and facing the Bruins twice. They should blow out the Red Wings on Sunday.

5) Jared Spurgeon, Min, (33% Yahoo ownership): I added Spurgeon as a streamer in a 12-team standard league last week, and am going to let this ride based on the Wild upcoming schedule. The D-man has scored 8 PTS in his last 14 GP, mostly goals, with 31 shots and 14 hits. He’ll be facing Nashville, San Jose, LA, and Anaheim. Spurgeon’s goal scoring rate is not sustainable, but I’m hanging on due to the scarcity of productive defensemen on my waiver wire.

Last Week: Igor Shesterkin, Kevin Fiala, Tyler Toffoli, Jared Spurgeon, Kailer Yamamoto

Best Deep League Adds (under 30% ownership):

1) Duncan Keith, Chi, (12% Yahoo ownership): The former Norris trophy winner seems to have found the fountain of youth and a reoccurring role on the Blackhawks power play (with less competition after the Gustafsson trade). Over his last 7 GP, Keith has scored 7 PTS while averaging 26:18 of ice time. That ownership is far too low if he’s going to continue quarterbacking the Hawks power play. I’m considering adding him over Spurgeon in my 12-team standard league.

2) Alex Stalock, Min, (28% Yahoo ownership): There aren’t many appealing deep league options in goal this week, but Stalock is one you should add if he’s still available. Over his last 9 GP, the former back-up has posted 7 wins with a 1.76 GAA and .932 SV %. He has firmly supplanted Dubnyk as the primary starter, and is probably somebody you should be considering in a shallow league too, so long as this hot streak continues.

3) Valeri Nichushkin, (6% Yahoo ownership): The injury to Mikko Rantanen has created a vacancy on the top line that is currently being filled by the Russian reclamation project. Over his last 15 GP, Nichushkin has scored 8 PTS with 26 hits and a +10. That’s not overwhelming production (he’s also pointless in 5 games) and that spot on the top line is not guaranteed to last, but he’s still a lottery ticket given his deployment and you just might hit the jackpot.

4) Tyler Ennis, Edm, (22% Yahoo ownership): Ennis scored 2 PTS in his first game playing with McDavid, and none in the 2 games since. The theme of my deep league recommendations this week is “lottery tickets” and Ennis fits into that category. There is no guarantee this deployment will last, but so long as it does, the potential upside is very appealing. The Oilers have a front-loaded schedule this week if you’re looking for a Mon to Thu streamer.

5) Conor Sheary, Pit, (9% Yahoo ownership): There is nothing particularly encouraging in Sheary’s recent game log and the Pens have lost 6 in a row (4 of those to non-playoff teams). The only reason Sheary is appearing on my Fantasy Report is that he’s playing with Crosby and the Pens have a busy schedule ahead. He’s another lottery ticket with the potential for a big jackpot any given night...or he could be 4th line before the week ends.

Last Week: Pavel Buchnevich, Alex Stalock, Markus Nutivaara, Andrew Mangiapane, Nikita Gusev