Welcome to my 2021 week 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 your best options among those who are more likely to be available in your league as opposed to the universally owned players. Some of these players I'm interested in adding long-term, others are here for a short-term cup of coffee.
Best Standard League
Adds (20% to 60% Yahoo ownership):
1) Matt Grzelcyk, Bos, (53% Yahoo ownership): It’s clear through 2 games that Grzelcyk is going to log a ton of ice this season, including significant minutes on the power play. The Bruins don’t have a great schedule this upcoming week, but I’m buying all the Grzelcyk stock I can get my hands on while it’s still available. This is a long-term recommendation, not a short-term streaming option. The window to add him is shrinking, and when Pastrnak returns, that B’s power play will get a big boost.
2) Cam Talbot, Min, (51% Yahoo ownership): It was a rocky start to the season for my fantasy goaltending portfolio, with Cam Talbot carrying one of my teams on his shoulders. 2 Games Played, 2 Wins, with a 2.85 GAA and .910 SV% may not be outstanding, but it’s the best I’ve got after half a week. The Wild play 4 games against the Ducks and Sharks this week, so there’s a decent shot at a few wins. He was only 33% owned at Christmas, as the stock has been on the rise with people searching for value on their waiver wires.
3) Dylan Strome, Chi, (45% Yahoo ownership): There isn’t much to get excited about in Chicago this season outside of the top unit, fortunately, that’s exactly where Strome is playing (with Kane and DeBrincat). Strome is not in any danger of losing that job anytime soon given the Hawks sudden lack of top line center options. I’m very much excited about the Blackhawks schedule over the next 7 days (their next 4 games are against the Panthers and Red Wings) and Strome is surely worth a stream.
4) Anthony Duclair, Fla, (37% Yahoo ownership): We still haven’t seen the Florida Panthers play a single game this season, but there is plenty of reason to be excited about Duclair and their next 2 games are against the lowly Blackhawks. He is expected to play with Barkov on the 1st line and the top power play unit. The bad news is that Huberdeau is currently being slotted onto the 2nd line, and the optimal conditions for Anthony is being the trigger man on a loaded top line. Still worth rolling the dice. I did.
Anthony Duclair continues to be the most added player in Yahoo #FantasyHockey where his ownership has nearly doubled in just a few days from 15% to 29% 📈 I've made a waiver claim myself in a 12-team league. I'll pass on Joe Thornton, who is up to 20% owned. Take Duclair instead.
— Hockey Economist (@Hockeconomics) January 7, 2021
5) Joel Farabee, Phi, (46% Yahoo ownership): When the NHL season began a few days ago, Farabee was 2% owned on Yahoo. After a 4-point opening night, he dominated waiver wires with his stock growing exponentially. The young winger followed that up with a zero-point game, and a few thousand fantasy owners cut him loose. The market overreacted to the 4-point game, then some overreacted to the 0-point game. He’s currently skating on a line with Kevin Hayes and Claude Giroux. Overreactions notwithstanding, I’m curious to see where his production normalizes with those linemates once we add more games to the sample.
Joel Farabee today is 7th on the most added player list and also 2nd on the most dropped list on Yahoo. The market overreacted to the first game, he dominated waivers for 2 days, then after a single zero point game, many sold their stock. Others are still buying. 🤷♂️#FantasyHockey
— Hockey Economist (@Hockeconomics) January 17, 2021
Honorable Mentions: Pavel Buchnevich, Kevin
Hayes, Matt Dumba, Conor Garland, Alexandar Georgiev
Best Deep League Adds
(under 20% ownership):
1) Drake Batherson, Ott, (8% Yahoo ownership): Currently deployed on a line with Brady Tkachuk and Josh Norris, getting big minutes, including on the power play. This ownership will increase substantially the longer this continues. I’m not convinced the Sens will be a playoff team, but they are absolutely better than last season. Batherson has looked good early, is getting plenty of opportunity, and may finally be ready to break-out. Norris also received serious consideration for this list after a strong opening performance.
2) Adam Boqvist, Chi, (14% Yahoo ownership): As previously mentioned, the Blackhawks have a juicy upcoming schedule and the kid is quarterbacking their top power play unit. The peripheral stats are lacking and the 5v5 ice time is lower than you’d like to see, but he’s going to collect power play points. He’s a top prospect with a bright future, and I’m absolutely buying stock in deeper leagues. Right now, the peripherals are the only thing holding him back from possibly progressing into the top tier of fantasy defensemen.
I'm already regretting not including Adam Boqvist on my #FantasyHockey sleepers list, especially considering that Yahoo ranked him 792. He's currently practicing on the top PP unit in Chicago and needs to be more than 7% owned. That ownership will skyrocket if he sticks on PP. 📈
— Hockey Economist (@Hockeconomics) January 10, 2021
3) Nino Niederreiter, Car, (10% Yahoo ownership): If Nino is going to be playing on the top line with Aho and Teravainen, he needs to be owned in substantially more leagues. My concern is that he won’t be able to sustain that deployment, so be careful who you drop if you’re buying an equity stake in Nino. It will only take 1 or 2 multi-point games before he shoots up the most added player list. He had success with Aho early in his Carolina tenure, but was bumped after disappointing last season.
4) Chris Driedger, Fla, (19% Yahoo ownership): Sergei Bobrovsky is unfit to start the season, so Driedger has been elevated into primary starter status. He flourished in a small sample size last season, flashing tremendous upside until an injury prematurely ended his campaign. It could have just been a fluke, but if you’re in a deep league with slim pickings on waivers, he’s worth a roll of the dice. I’m not making any promises, but down at this ownership level, there aren’t many tantalizing options. Deep league goalie recommendations are always a crap shoot.
5) Mikhail Grigorenko, Cbj, (9% Yahoo ownership): Mikhail Grigorenko did not record a point in the Blue Jackets first 2 games, so I’m mildly reluctant to include him on this list. He has landed an optimal line assignment to start the season, playing with Dubois and Bjorkstrand on the top line. Columbus did lose both those games, so there is risk that he’ll lose that deployment, or that Dubois will be traded in the near future. My apprehension was overruled by their schedule, with back-to-back games against the Red Wings to start the week. There may be long-term risk, but as a short-term streamer, he’s very tempting.
Mikhail Grigorenko is among the most added players in #FantasyHockey after scoring 4 PTS in a Blue Jackets inter-squad game playing with Bjorkstrand and Dubois. He's worth a speculative add in deep leagues, but I was really hoping/expecting Liam Foudy would win that role.😢 #CBJ
— Hockey Economist (@Hockeconomics) January 11, 2021
Honorable Mentions: Josh Norris, Robert Thomas, Oskar Lindblom, Rasmus Andersson, Nils Hoglander, Casey DeSmith
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