Fantasy Hockey 2022/23 Week 13 Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my 2022/23 Week Thirteen 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.

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Also if you scroll down, you can see a screen shot of the "watchlist" used to compile this Report with all these players along with their upcoming schedules to help with your streaming decisions.

Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):

1) Erik Gustafsson, Wsh, (50% Yahoo ownership): Are you interested in adding a defenseman who is playing top unit power play with Alex Ovechkin, scoring 10 PTS in his last 6 GP with 18 shots and a +8, who has 4 games scheduled for the upcoming week? His name is Erik Gustafsson, and he’s available in half of fantasy leagues. Shayne Gostisbehere is also a great option (12 PTS in his last 14 GP) with a 4-game slate. I streamed Ghost in 2 weeks ago and he’s been too good to drop. I’ll let it ride a little while longer. If you need hits, go with Connor Clifton.

2) Michael Bunting, Tor, (63% Yahoo ownership): The Leafs have a fantastic schedule coming up, at least in terms of opponent goal prevention. St. Louis, Seattle, Detroit, and now Philadelphia without Carter Hart are all teams you can score on. Granted three of those games are Tue-Thu-Sat, so you need to verify that you’ve got room first. Bunting still plays with Matthews and Nylander, scoring 10 PTS in his last 12 GP. Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes are on fire and Teuvo Teravainen is back playing with Aho. Carolina only plays 3 games on Tue-Thu-Sat, so Teuvo not an ideal streamer, but a possible long-term hold.

3) Karel Vejmelka, Ari, (51% Yahoo ownership): The Arizona Coyotes will be playing 4 games this week, and Vejmelka gets most of their starts. Only one of those opponents is a playoff team (Pittsburgh who is tied for the last wildcard), so you may even get a couple wins with a high shot volume. I’m also somewhat interested in John Gibson as a streamer, at least if he starts their games against Philly or San Jose, less so if he starts against Dallas and Boston. He has been better in the second quarter, and stole a win from Vegas with 49 saves on Thursday.

4) Brayden Schenn, Stl, (58% Yahoo ownership): In his last 14 games played, Brayden Schenn has scored 10 PTS with 31 shots and 22 hits. He’s eligible at both center and left wing, with the Blues playing 4 games in the upcoming week. Schenn plays top line with O’Reilly and Buchnevich, as well as the top power play unit. I’m also interested in adding Carter Verhaeghe, who is on Florida’s top line with Barkov and the second power play unit (11 PTS in last 13 GP), though Florida only plays 3 times.

5) Robert Thomas, Stl, (55% Yahoo ownership): The biggest issue with Robert Thomas is that he’s only available at center and he will be playing Tue-Thu-Sat, so you first need to check if you even have room to fit him into your starting line-up. He won’t give you much peripherally, but has scored 13 PTS in his last 14 GP, and everyone loves points. Or you could wait until Wednesday and stream in David Perron for Wed-Fri-Sat. In his last 13 GP, Perron has scored 11 PTS (4 on the power play) with 36 shots and 20 hits.

 

Honorable Mentions: Shayne Gostisbehere, Teuvo Teravainen, John Gibson, David Perron, Carter Verhaeghe

Last Week: Dylan Cozens, Andre Burakovsky, Seth Jarvis, Vince Dunn, Filip Gustavsson

 

Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):

1) David Krejci, Bos, (25% Yahoo ownership): Feels like Krejci has been stuck at exactly 25% owned for most of the season, one in which he has scored 26 PTS in 30 GP (pacing for 71). He plays with David Pasternak and the Bruins have 4 games in the week ahead. Krejci has made a few appearances on this list in 2022/23 and should be owned in more leagues. If you need hits, Lawson Crouse and Nick Bjugstad are getting tons of ice time in Arizona and laying out a lot of bodies (combining for 40 hits in the Yotes last 7 games).

2) Marcus Bjork, Cbj, (1% Yahoo ownership): Marcus Bjork is available in 99% of Yahoo leagues, is getting time on the power play in Columbus (scoring 4 PTS in his last 5 GP, 2 on the PP) and can help pad your hit total (17 hits in last 13 GP). The Anaheim Ducks have a better schedule and Cam Fowler still plays on their top power play unit, but he’s starting to cool down while Bjork is heating up. Also, the Leafs have a juicy schedule against bad defensive teams, and Conor Timmins has 8 PTS in his last 10 GP.

3) Nick Schmaltz, Ari, (25% Yahoo ownership): Nick Schmaltz and Clayton Keller seem to have recaptured their magic (both on the top line and top power play), with Schmaltz scoring 9 PTS in his last 7 GP, with 14 shots and a +3. The Yotes have a 4-games schedule ahead (including some week opponents), and Schmaltz is eligible at C + RW. Or you could try Mason McTavish if your starting line-up is full Tue-Thu-Sat given Anaheim’s Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun slate. He only plays 3rd line, but is also on the Ducks top power play.

4) Joonas Korpisalo, Cbj, (5% Yahoo ownership): It’s somewhat risky to use a Columbus goalie, but Korpisalo is sporting a respectable .926 SV% in his last 6 games. The Blue Jackets play 4 games and Korpisalo is 95% available, so you can find him on waivers in most leagues. If you don’t have the stomach for BJ goaltending, then there are some spot-start options you can stream in for their turn, like Scott Wedgewood in Dallas (they have a back-to-back against Anaheim and LA), or perhaps Mackenzie Blackwood in New Jersey.

5) Dylan Strome, Wsh, (24% Yahoo ownership): Dylan Strome continues to play top line and top power play with Alex Ovechkin, scoring 9 PTS in his last 14 GP. The point production is a little underwhelming considering who is on his wing, but Washington has some tantalizing opponents on the schedule (including Columbus twice…yeah I just recommended Korpisalo, but at your own risk), so you might get a bump. Or go with the 3rd wheel on that line (also top PP) Conor Sheary, who received an honorable mention here last week (90% available and dual-wing eligible).

 

Honorable Mentions:  Cam Fowler, Mason McTavish, Conor Sheary, Lawson Crouse, Scott Wedgewood

Last Week: Alexander Barabanov, Shane Pinto, Craig Anderson, Justin Schultz, Brandon Tanev