Welcome to my 2021/22 Week Eighteen Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report for those competing in head-to-head categories or rotisserie leagues. There are both standard and deep league acquisition targets. This report focuses on the best options among those who are 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. Some of these are only short-term targets, while others you may want to keep permanently.
Best Standard League
Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
1) Jake Oettinger, Dal, (63% Yahoo ownership): The Stars might only play 3 games this week, but Oettinger has risen to the top of my weekly waiver targets because he needs to be owned in all leagues. He has finally assumed control of the Stars net, getting a majority of their starts with a .944 SV% in his last 8 GP. There are a few other options worthy of consideration this week. Petr Mrazek in Toronto, Grubauer in Seattle has been decent lately and should get 3 starts, even James Reimer has a good schedule. It’s a deep week in net.
2) Michael Bunting, Tor, (32% Yahoo ownership): It’s a little confusing why the 3rd wheel on the Matthews-Marner line is still only 32% owned. If only he joined them on the top power play, then we’d really see his ownership numbers explode. Bunting has scored 9 PTS in his last 11 GP with 28 shots and 12 hits. Even without top power play deployment, he’s worth streaming in all formats for the Leafs 4-game slate. You may even want to hang on to Bunting beyond just this week while this deployment continues.
3) Josh Morrissey, Wpg, (43% Yahoo ownership): It was a competitive race for my top defenseman recommendation this week, and Morrissey took top honors because of the amount of time he’s seeing on the mighty Jets power play (helping him score 5 PTS in his last 5 GP while adding 10 shots and 6 hits). Winnipeg plays 4 games this week, and Josh is the guy you want. That being said, you do have options if Morrissey isn’t available. Mark Giordano and Noah Dobson will also be playing 4 games and also get significant power play time.
4) Boone Jenner, Cbj, (48% Yahoo ownership): The more stat categories that your league counts, the more valuable Boone Jenner becomes. But it doesn’t matter if your league only counts points, because Boone is worth streaming in all formats for that category alone (scoring 11 PTS in his last 11 GP with 32 shots and 23 hits). Boone plays on the top line and top power play with Laine and Voracek, and they’ve been on fire. Voracek was also a finalist for this list. The Blue Jackets play 4 games this week, and both Jenner and Voracek are worth considering.
5) Mason Marchment,
Fla, (29% Yahoo ownership):
Honorable Mentions: Petr Mrazek, Tyler Toffoli, Jakub Voracek, Mark Giordano, Logan Couture
Last Week: Zach Hyman, Alex
Tuch, Mike Smith, Evan Bouchard, Joel Eriksson Ek
Best Deep League Adds
(under 25% ownership):
1) Gustav Nyquist, Cbj, (9% Yahoo ownership): Nyquist missed last season due to injury, and he’s struggled to gain fantasy traction this season. Yet the winger has managed to quietly score 30 PTS in 48 GP and Columbus has a 4-game slate this week. In his last 11 GP, Gustav has potted 10 PTS with 22 shots and 9 hits while averaging 17:41 minutes per game of ice time. He plays on the Blue Jackets 2nd line and 2nd power play, but that hasn’t stopped him from getting on the scoresheet. He’s certainly worth a stream this week.
2) Brock Nelson, NYI, (18% Yahoo ownership): Brock Nelson isn’t a very flashy name for fantasy hockey managers, but he plays on the Islanders 2nd line and top power play. They are going to play 4 games this week on a west coast road trip. In his last 12 GP, Nelson has scored 10 PTS (2 on the power play) with 25 shots. He averaged 40% ownership last season, but has spent most of the current schedule languishing around the 20% mark. He can provide decent upside when things are going good, which they are right now.
3) Yanni Gourde, Sea, (16% Yahoo ownership): Seattle will be playing 4 games this week, and the Kraken present a few deep league fantasy options. Jordan Eberle plays top line and top power play, but has only scored 5 PTS in his last 12 GP. Over that same span, Yanni Gourde has netted 8 PTS with 15 hits. That’s the component of Gourde’s game that always sucks me in. It’s also worth pointing out, Calle Jarnkrok is only 1% owned and playing on the top power play for Seattle, scoring 7 PTS with 23 shots in his last 11 GP.
4) Nate Schmidt, Wpg, (22% Yahoo ownership): I’ll admit that I’m not terribly excited about Nate Schmidt, but he was the last D standing after my weekly process of elimination. Schmidt is your least worst deep league D target this week. In his last 13 GP, Nate has scored 6 PTS (2 on the power play), with 23 shots. Right now I’m more interested in Noah Hanifin long-term, but if you’re deciding between the 2 as streamers, I would take Schmidt for the extra game. It just depends how bad you need that extra game.
5) Eric Comrie, Wpg, (4% Yahoo ownership): In all likelihood, Connor Hellebuyck will be starting the Jets first 3 games of the week. They play Arizona on Sunday, and that’s where you should be targeting Comrie. It’s possible Hellebuyck plays all 4 Jets games (and as a Helley shareholder, I’m hoping he does), but I want Comrie if he’s starting that Coyotes game. I’m also mildly interested in Casey DeSmith in Pittsburgh, who has a .918 SV% over his last 4 games. The Pens have a back-to-back, so DeSmith is getting at least one start, possibly 2.
Honorable Mentions: Noah Hanifin, Casey DeSmith, Calle Jarnkrok, Jordan Eberle, Alexander Barabanov
Last Week: Matt Boldy, Noah
Hanifin, Dylan Strome, Jeff Skinner, Craig Anderson
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