2019/20 Week 22 NHL Fantasy Hockey Report

This is my week Twenty-two 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) Juuse Saros, Nsh, (39% Yahoo ownership): The Pekka Rinne era in Nashville appears to be over, as Saros has firmly entrenched himself in the primary starters role with the Predators fighting for their playoff lives. Saros has posted consecutive shutouts, and over his last 7 GP, has a 1.63 GAA and a .953 SV%. The Preds have a 4-game week ahead and Saros looks like a safe bet for 3 winnable starts. I made a bid to pick him up last night, but did not bid enough.

2) Jason Zucker, Pit, (58% Yahoo ownership): Zucker’s ownership rapidly increased following his trade to Pittsburgh, but has hit a plateau just under 60% owned. It’s possible that 40% of Yahoo leagues are largely inactive, but man, if JZ is still on your waiver wire, you need to add this guy. Over his last 15 GP, Zucker has scored 12 PTS with 38 shots and 17 hits. He may not be on the top power play unit, but he’s still getting PP time and plays even strength with Sid. The Penguins have some juicy opponents coming up this week.

3) Tyler Toffoli, Van, (59% Yahoo ownership): It’s entirely possible that Toffoli is owned in 100% of active Yahoo leagues, but as with Zucker, if he still happens to be on your waiver wire, you need to add him this week. Since his arrival in Vancouver, Toffoli has been a point per game player, with 49 shots and 16 hits in his last 12 GP. He’s been playing top line and top power play, showing no signs of slowing down, with the Canucks playing 4 games this week. But be warned Boeser is back on the ice and could return in a week or two.

4) Kailer Yamamoto, Edm, (40% Yahoo ownership): The Oilers have a very streaming friendly schedule this week, playing Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun, and Yamamoto is back healthy playing on the Draisaitl line. I grabbed Yamamoto myself. Over his last 12 GP, Yams has scored 13 PTS with 23 shots, 13 hits, and a +6. The Oilers drop to 3 games the following week, so I may need to re-evaluate my Yamamoto ownership at that time. I added him before clinching a bye.

5) Matt Niskanen, Phi, (57% Yahoo ownership): Niskanen has scored 33 PTS in 67 GP since arriving in Philadelphia and is on pace to have his best season since leaving Pittsburgh. Over his last 14 GP, Niskanen has scored 9 PTS with 31 hits and a +14. He certainly gets a value boost in leagues that count hits and plus/minus. The Flyers don’t have a great streaming schedule, but do play 4 games (Tue-Thu-Sat-Sun), albeit it with some tough opponents on the slate.

Last Week: Dominik Kubalik, Kevin Fiala, Corey Crawford, Ondrej Palat, Jared Spurgeon

Best Deep League Adds (under 30% ownership):

1) Pavel Buchnevich, NYR, (17% Yahoo ownership): After sustaining minor injuries in a car wreck, Buchnevich returned from a brief 2 game absence to score 7 PTS in his last 5 GP. He continues to play on the top line with the red-hot Zibanejad, and is only more firmly entrenched in that role with the injury to Kreider. This is my 4th time recommending Buchnevich in the last 6 weeks

2) Kevin Hayes, Phi, (30% Yahoo ownership): It’s been a hot and cold season for Hayes and the temperature is currently heated. The center has been especially sweltering if you need shots and goals, scoring 6 goals with 38 shots over his last 14 GP. You may have trouble fitting him into your starting line-up as a center playing Tue-Thu-Sat-Sun, so make sure you’ve got room before pulling the trigger.

3) Scott Laughton, Phi, (7% Yahoo ownership): The Flyers have been red hot and Laughton has been a major contributor to that success with 9 PTS in his last 7 GP, including 10 hits and a +11. His deployment is not terribly exciting, playing on the 3^rd line with Grant and Pitlick, but he’s played over 15 minutes in 8 of his last 10 games and has been very productive. Has C-LW eligibility and provides strong peripherals.

4) Sam Girard, Col, (27% Yahoo ownership): Cale Makar still has not returned from injury and Girard has been the beneficiary, scoring 5 PTS in his last 6 GP. The Avs have a strong schedule this week, including LA and New York on Mon-Wed. I’d like to continue riding the Girard train until Makar returns. My plan B if Girard is already owned or Makar returns Monday would be Damon Severson, who you may want to consider anyway if you are more interested in peripheral stats like hits, shots, and blocks.

5) Tatcher Demko, Van, (29% Yahoo ownership): It hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride for Demko since Markstrom was injured. Over his last 5 starts, the young goalie has posted 2 wins with a 3.22 GAA and .902 SV%. I had added him in a 12-team standard league after the Markstrom injury and have since dropped him. The good news is that he’s widely available and the Canucks play 4 games this week. There are slim pickings ahead for deep league goalies you can stream.

Last Week: Duncan Keith, Alex Stalock, Valeri Nichushkin, Tyler Ennis, Conor Sheary