Welcome to my 2021/22 Week Twenty 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) Michael Bunting, Tor, (52% Yahoo ownership): While the Leafs have been struggling to win games lately, they have not had any issues scoring goals. Bunting has managed to sustain his job on the wing with Matthews and Marner by scoring 14 PTS in his last 12 GP. The Leafs have a juicy schedule ahead, making Bunting a tantalizing target. That being said, I might start a riot if he wins the Calder trophy for rookie of the year. How many points would Lucas Raymond have if he played with Marner and Matthews?
2) Rasmus Andersson, CGY, (49% Yahoo ownership): The Calgary Flames will play 5 games this week and Andersson has scored 10 PTS with 23 shots in his last 12 GP. He remains the top power play option on the Calgary blueline, but Noah Hanifin (listed below) has been getting a fair share too. There are a few Flames worth streaming this week, so check out which are available in your leagues. In terms of defense, another Noah I’m interested in is Dobson with New York. He was among my preseason sleepers and is on pace to score 46 PTS.
3) Adrian Kempe, LA, (53% Yahoo ownership): Kempe was among my waiver recommendations last week, and if you took that advice, you have to let it ride. Not only will the Kings play 4 games, but they’ll face the San Jose Sharks twice, where both James Reimer and Adin Hill are injured. The Sharks got blown out 8-0 by Nashville on Saturday, in Alex Stalock’s first game in 2 years. In his last 9 GP, Kempe has potted 6 goals, 8 PTS (4 on the power play), with 32 shots and 13 hits. He’s on pace to score 40 goals and is somehow available in nearly half of Yahoo leagues.
4) Petr Mrazek, Tor, (46% Yahoo ownership): It is with great reluctance that I’m recommending a Toronto goalie this week, especially one who recently gave up 5 goals to both Buffalo and Montreal. The only reason I’m targeting Mrazek for a stream is because the Leafs play 4 games, all against non-playoff teams. Yeah, Pete has struggled against non-playoff teams lately, but I’m taking a leap of faith that he can pick up 1-2 wins. Pavel Francouz will get at least 1, maybe 2 starts for the Avalanche this week and might be a safer pick.
5) Trevor Zegras,
Ana, (53% Yahoo ownership): As exciting as this Zegras rookie season has been,
he is still only “borderline ownable” in Yahoo standard leagues. I have
probably added and dropped Zegras more than any other player this season, adding
him once again this morning. It’s always nice when you can pick up a Sunday
streamer who also has a full schedule the following week. In his last 9 GP,
Zegras has scored 10 PTS (6 on the power play) with 17 shots and 12 hits. The
Ducks will play 4 games.
Honorable Mentions: Boone Jenner, Tyler Toffoli, Blake Coleman, Noah Dobson, Pavel Francouz,
Last Week: Jesper Bratt, Jeremy
Swayman, Jaccob Slavin, Adrian Kempe, Cole Caufield
Best Deep League Adds
(under 25% ownership):
1) Noah Hanifin, Cgy, (19% Yahoo ownership): Hanifin has been pinging my radar for the last few weeks, and was even recommended in one of my waiver reports when Calgary had a 3-game week. So when I see that the Flames have a 5-game slate coming up, this was a Noah-brainer... In his last 12 GP, Hanifin has posted 8 PTS (3 on the power play) with 24 shots and 13 hits. I’m also interested in Toronto’s Justin Holl, who has received an ice time boost since the injury to Muzzin, scoring 7 PTS in his last 11 GP.
2) Nico Daws, NJ, (3% Yahoo ownership): It’s been a rough year for New Jersey goaltenders, but a rookie has recently taken the reigns with Blackwood on IR, posting a .915 SV% in his last 6 appearances. Daws is 97% available, so you can find him just about everywhere. He’ll get you starts if that’s what you need, though you might want to leave him on your bench when New Jersey plays the Avalanche. Meanwhile, the Ducks play 4 games against struggling teams, and Anthony Stolarz is also widely available with a .917 SV% on the season.
3) Mikael Backlund, Cgy, (17% Yahoo ownership): The Flames 2nd line of Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman has been rolling. In his last 12 GP, Backlund has scored 11 PTS with 33 shots, 13 hits, and a +5. Coleman is owned in twice as many leagues, and is definitely someone I’d target this week if I needed hits. Backlund has both center and right wing eligibility, which will give you some roster flexibility in an otherwise busy week. Several teams play 4 games, so take a moment to ensure you can fit your streamers into your starting line-up.
4) Philip Danault, LA, (22% Yahoo ownership): The King’s 2nd line with Danault-Moore-Arvidsson has been putting up quality numbers for several weeks, with Danault scoring 7 PTS in his last 9 GP. Yes, he is more valuable in real life than in fantasy, which is why he has barely exceeded 20% ownership over the last 2 seasons. Maybe some day in the future we’ll have fantasy leagues where defensive metrics are used to take stats away from your opponents in head-to-head match-ups. That would add a whole new dimension.
5) Trevor Moore,
LA, (10% Yahoo ownership): Moore is making his second consecutive appearance on
this list, and like Kempe, if you added him as a streamer last week, now is not
the time to drop. Hang on for at least those 2 Sharks games (unless of course
Zach Sawchenko turns out to be a good goaltender). Another player who seems to
be pinging my fantasy radar a lot lately has been Fredrick Gaudreau centering
the 2nd line in Minnesota with Boldy and Fiala. He’s just 4% owned,
which is too low for the numbers he’s producing.
Honorable Mentions: Alex Kerfoot, Fredrick Gaudreau, Anthony Stolarz, Justin Holl, Zach Parise
Last Week: Laurent Brossoit,
Yegor Sharangovich, Brady Skjei, Trevor Moore, Jordan Staal
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