This
is my 2021 Week Five 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. There are 10 recommendations in
total, 2 goalies, 2 defensemen, and 6 forwards.
Best Standard League
Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
1) Zach Hyman, Tor, (62% Yahoo ownership): You need to be aware that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be playing 3 games against Ottawa to start the week and Hyman has been seeing time with Matthews and Marner on the top line. His ownership has been steadily climbing, as your window to add Hyman is shrinking. He has scored 6 PTS in his last 5 GP, while adding 11 hits with a +9. Hyman happened to be available in both my leagues and both my waiver claims were successful. I’m all in on Zach this week.
2) Cam Atkinson, Cbj, (49%Yahoo ownership): The Blue Jackets do not have a particularly tantalizing schedule coming up, but that’s not deterring me from buying stock in the suddenly dynamic duo of Cam Atkinson and Jack Roslovic, who have been lighting the lamp on the top line with Laine. Atkinson has scored 8 PTS in his last 5 GP and is among the hottest players in the league. This is a guy who scored 41 goals in 2019, then disappointed fantasy owners in an injury riddled 2020. He’s back!
3) Jack Roslovic, Cbj, (43% Yahoo ownership): Nobody’s stock is climbing faster in February than Jack Roslovic, who only scored at a 33-point pace last season in Winnipeg. But ever since he was a throw-in to the Patrick Laine trade, he’s been shot out of a cannon, scoring 9 PTS in his last 7 GP. Torts has been deploying him on the top line and top power play, which is an opportunity Jack seldom saw in Winnipeg. This trade is already starting to look really bad for the Jets, who sold Roslovic for 25 cents on the dollar.
4) Ryan Pulock, NYI, (65% Yahoo ownership): My first choice if he’s available in your league this week would be Jake Muzzin, but at 67% owned, he was above the cut-off for this category. Pulock started the season slow, but has started to find his rhythm, scoring 4 PTS in his last 5 GP with 9 shots and a +6, averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game. The Islanders will (hopefully) play 4 games this week against Buffalo and Pittsburgh, two of the worst defensive teams in that division.
5) James Reimer, Car, (54% Yahoo ownership): With Petr Mrazek on the shelf with an injury, James Reimer has been elevated into primary starter status in Carolina. The Canes will (hopefully) play 4 times in the upcoming week against Columbus, Florida, and Chicago twice. Those are winnable games for a hot Hurricanes squad. While James has given up 3 or more goals in 5 consecutive games, Carolina has still won 4 of those matches thanks to solid offensive output. Reimer is worth riding until Mrazek returns.
Honorable Mentions: Vincent Trocheck, Roope Hintz, Jordan Staal, Chris Driedger, Jake Muzzin
Last Week: Ondrej Palat, Nick Ritchie, Kevin Lankinen, Tim Stuetzle, Mattias Ekholm
Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):
1) Nino Niederreiter, Car, (23% Yahoo ownership): Nino has scored 5 PTS in his last 7 GP, while adding an impressive 24 shots and 14 hits over that span. He’s currently playing on the 2nd line with the red-hot Vincent Trocheck and getting 2nd unit power play time. The Hurricanes will (hopefully) play 4 games against teams that have struggled at times to keep pucks out of their net. You’re going to get strong peripheral output and an opportunity to cash in on some potential blowouts.
2) Rasmus Andersson, Cgy, (25% Yahoo ownership): The Calgary Flames will (hopefully) play 4 games against the Canucks and Oilers, which will provide an opportunity to post some impressive offensive numbers. In 14 GP this season, Andersson has scored 7 PTS (with 4 on the power play), though his peripheral stats have not been particularly impressive. I’ve still found him to be a useful streamer given the weak defenses in that Canadian division. He is continuing to see time on the Flames top power play unit, which has struggled at times.
3) Pekka Rinne, Nsh, (25% Yahoo ownership): This was supposed to be the year that Rinne faded into a supporting role with Juuse Saros becoming the new franchise goaltender. Unfortunately, the apprentice has been struggling, while the aging mentor has been solid. The Preds will (hopefully) play 4 games against struggling teams, giving Rinne a decent shot at a few wins. He did get pulled after giving up 3 goals in 2 periods vs the Red Wings Saturday night, who might be a better team than we thought.
4) Ilya Mikheyev, Tor, (3% Yahoo ownership): The 3 PTS Ilya Mikheyev has scored in the last 6 games won’t knock your socks off, but he’s been getting decent ice time on the 2nd line with Tavares and Nylander. For a player who is available in 97% of Fantasy leagues and will (hopefully) play 3 games against Ottawa on the slate this week, that’s not a terrible option. Though I’m starting to learn that Ottawa might not be quite as atrocious as we all thought they were 2 weeks ago.
5) Brock McGinn, Car, (2% Yahoo ownership): Brock McGinn has been seeing time on Carolina’s top line with Aho and Teravainen, scoring 5 goals in his last 7 GP while adding 15 shots and 8 hits. He is not currently getting any power play time, which lowers his ceiling, but the Canes (hopefully) have a very appealing schedule coming up. Even if he cannot sustain this output in the long-term, you’re going to love getting some Aho residuals in the short-term against Chicago, Florida, and Columbus.
Honorable Mentions: Brett Pesce, Calvin Petersen, Andrew Mangiapane, Pius Suter, Mason Appleton
Last Week: Alexandre Texier, Jesse Puljujarvi, David Krejci, Calvin Petersen, Erik Cernak
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