Fantasy Hockey 2022/23 Week 2 Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my 2022/23 Week Two 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) Matty Beniers, Sea, (50% Yahoo ownership): Beniers is still available in half of fantasy hockey leagues, and his career is off to a tremendous start. Already the betting favorite to win the Calder trophy, Matty is becoming a hot commodity. The Kraken have a very favorable streaming schedule this week, playing Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun; so while only being eligible at center hurts, your other centers are less likely to be playing those nights. I’m jammed up at center, but could still fit him in my starting line-up for all his games (and have a pending waiver claim). My back-up waiver claim if I don't get Beniers is teammate Andre Burakovsky.

2) Josh Morrissey, Wpg, (56% Yahoo ownership): Morrisey is currently deployed on the top power play unit in Winnipeg, and is available in 44% of leagues. If that sticks, he might be worth a permanent hold in standard sized leagues. Yahoo ranked him too low, so he went undrafted more than deserved. He was often on the most added player list throughout preseason. If your D slots are filled up on Thursday and Saturday, then you may want to try either Radko Gudas (in hits leagues) or Gustav Forsling for a Friday-Sunday stream. Morrissey, Gudas, Forsling weren’t available in one of my leagues (the last 2 are on my team), so I added Ivan Provorov instead (3 PTS, 9 shots, 9 hits, in 2 GP with 4 games this week).

3) Carter Verhaeghe, Fla, (46% Yahoo ownership): Verhaeghe plays on the top line with Barkov and Reinhart, but is not currently deployed on the top power play unit. Best to look at everyone available on the Florida Panthers in your league as they have Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun schedule when you are more likely to have roster space. Verhaeghe has an unimpressive stat line through 2 games, but I’m not too quick to judge. In my league where Verhaege is already owned, I added Mason Marchment instead. Not a great streaming schedule, but 3 goals, 8 shots, 4 hits in 2 games and he was drawing comparisons to Mario Lemieux on the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast last night.

4) Mathew Barzal, NYI, (63% Yahoo ownership): If you are competing in one of the 37% of leagues where Barzal is on the waiver wire, he’s a fantastic streaming target this week. The sample size is still small, but Barzal has already potted 3 PTS in 2 GP with 7 shots on goal. With Trotz getting fired, you have to hope the new regime removes the handcuffs. If Barzal is already off the table (or you can't fit him onto your roster), Andrei Kuzmenko was also a finalist for this list and is only 40% owned. I had to submit a claim for Kuzmenko over Barzal because the center's schedule conflicted too much with the 3 centers I already have. 

5) Linus Ullmark, Bos, (58% Yahoo ownership): The Bruins will be playing 4 games next week, and Linus Ullmark should be starting at least 2 of them. It’s hard to own either Bruins goalie in a standard league, as they are going to steal starts from each other, and give each a shorter leash (you could own both as a decent handcuff). In a 4-game week, either goalie is a great streaming target. I was considering John Gibson for this slot, until he got lit up by the Islanders last night. The Ducks play 4 and on some light schedule nights, but do have 2.5 tough match-ups. Semyon Varlamov could get 2 starts this week for the Islanders.

 

Honorable Mentions: Ivan Provorov, Andrei Kuzmenko, Mason Marchment, Andre Burakovsky, John Gibson

Last Week: Matt Murray, Tanner Jeannot, Vincent Trocheck, Tomas Hertl, Mark Giordano

 

Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):

1) Travis Konecny, Phi, (28% Yahoo ownership): Konecny received an honorable mention on my draft bargain list and is off to a hot start with 4 PTS in his first 2 games. I watched the Canucks-Flyers game and he was arguably the most impressive player on the ice. Not sure what the actual possession numbers were, but the puck was on his stick a lot and he looked dangerous. He was 24% owned when I started this report last night, and has jumped up to 28% as the third most added player on Sunday (behind Mason Marchment and teammate Ivan Provorov).

2) James Reimer, SJ, (25% Yahoo ownership): If you took my advice last week and added James Reimer, you had to be pleased with the results. Sure, they didn’t win any of his starts, but Reimer sported a .924 SV%, which had to help you. The Sharks have another 4-game week ahead, 3 of them against teams who missed the playoffs last season. If you want to hold Reimer permanently, be warned the Sharks should challenge for last place. Cal Petersen was the runner-up for my deep league goalie slot, then he got torched by the Minnesota Wild for 6 goals, though still picking up the win.

3) Luke Schenn, Van, (18% Yahoo ownership): If your league doesn’t count hits, then you might want to try either Brandon Montour or Jamie Drysdale (who have more ideal streaming schedules). If you’re in a category league with hits, then Luke Schenn is who I want (averaging 19 minutes of ice with 11 hits through 2 games), just verify that you can fit him onto your roster for Vancouver’s 4 games. I’m even considering him for a stream in my 12-team standard league. Montour is averaging over 23 minutes per night in Florida’s first two games with one point and 4 shots.

4) David Krejci, Bos, (24% Yahoo ownership): Like Konecny, David Krejci also received a shout out on my draft bargain list (but in the 10% owned or less section). That number has more than doubled after scoring 4 PTS in his first 2 GP, centering the 2nd line with David Pastrnak. The Bruins play 4 games, but some on busy nights, so make sure you actually have roster space. You could bank Krejci-Pasta residuals for a cheaper price with the 5% owned Pavel Zacha, who is the 3rd wheel on that line, scoring 3 PTS with 7 shots in his first 2 GP. Like Krejci, Zacha also received a should out on my draft bargain list in the 10% owned or less section.

5) Oliver Bjorkstrand, Sea, (26% Yahoo ownership): As mentioned above, Seattle has a very favorable streaming schedule this week, and Bjorkstrand is playing on the 2nd line and top power play unit. In 3 games played he has scored 2 PTS with 15 shots. He’ll be one of the most added players for their Sunday game against Chicago. If Bjorkstrand is not available, you could stream the 3% owned James van Riemsdyk with Philly playing 4 games. JVR is only playing 3rd line, but also top power play, scoring 3 PTS in his first 2 GP.

Honorable Mentions: Pavel Zacha, James van Riemsdyk, Brandon Montour, Cal Petersen, Ryan Strome 

Last Week: Mikael Granlund, Phil Kessel, James Reimer, Mattias Ekholm, Vitali Kravtsov