Fantasy Hockey 2022/23 Week 16 Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my 2022/23 Week Sixteen 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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Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
 
1) Sam Bennett, Fla, (64% Yahoo ownership): Sam Bennett centers the Panthers second line with Verhaeghe and Tkachuk, as well as the second power play unit. Sammy is especially valuable in category leagues that count shots and hits, with 43 shots and 32 hits in his last 14 GP (with 8 PTS). The Panthers play 4 games in the week ahead, albeit not against the easiest opponents. You may also want to consider his linemate Carter Verhaeghe, who has 9 PTS and 38 shots in his last 14 GP, and also plays on the 2nd power play unit.
 
2) Michael Bunting, Tor, (65% Yahoo ownership): The Leafs have a very appealing Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun schedule, except that they’ll be facing some quality goaltending. Bunting still plays with Matthews and Nylander, scoring 10 PTS in his last 13 GP (3 on the power play) with 32 shots. Frankly he should probably be owned in more than 65% of leagues. Speaking of “needs to be owned in more leagues”, you could also stream David Krejci in for Boston’s 4-game week, with the center scoring 13 PTS in his last 14 GP with a +15.
 
3) Dylan Cozens, Buf, (55% Yahoo ownership): If you count the number of times the Sabres have played 4 games in a week, that’s probably the exact number of times Dylan Cozens has appeared on my fantasy report. If he were LW/RW eligible he’s be 80% owned, scoring at a 76-point pace. Evan Rodrigues is interesting in Colorado playing top line with Nathan MacKinnon and 2nd power play. They only play 3 games, but some against bad goal preventers and Evan is averaging over 21 minutes per game in the last 2 weeks (8 PTS in his last 7).
 
4) Seth Jones, Chi, (57% Yahoo ownership): The Chicago Blackhawks only play 3 games (on busy nights) in the upcoming week, but Jones has still earned a shout out here because of outstanding production the last 30 days. The defenseman has scored 11 PTS in his last 13 GP (4 on the power play) with 34 shots and 23 hits. They also play Sat-Sun in the current week, if you’re looking for a weekend streamer who is on fire. If you’d rather stream in a 4-game D, you could try Owen Power in Buffalo, 5 PTS and 25 shots in last 12 GP. Also K’Andre Miller plays 3 games on light schedule nights and has 10 PTS in his last 12 GP with 19 shots and 19 hits.
 
5) Pheonix Copley, LA, (52% Yahoo ownership): The Pheonix Copley “Cinderella clock” may be approaching midnight, putting up just an .888 SV% in his last 4 games. The only reason he received a recommendation is because there are slim pickings among the 25% to 65% owned goalies. The Kings only play 3 games, including a back-to-back in Tampa and Florida that would make me nervous. 

5) Spencer Knight, Fla, (64% Yahoo ownership): Pheonix Copley was my original recommendation Friday night, despite my fears that the Cinderella clock was approaching midnight. That was until he let in 2 goals on 3 shots and got yanked Saturday night. If Spencer Knight is available, he's a much better option, having been activated from IR and sent to the AHL for conditioning. Bobrovsky will miss a few games with injury, so Knight will be back up soon for the Panthers 4-game week. It might downgrade my Alex Lyon enthusiasm below, but he's still worth a spot-start when he gets the call. 

Meanwhile; Filip Gustavsson is on fire in Minnesota, but alternating starts with Fleury and should only play once against Philly on Wednesday. Or maybe John Gibson for their two games against Arizona? Johnny is hard to trust against good teams, but Arizona is not good.

 
 
Honorable Mentions: Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Rodrigues, Owen Power, Filip Gustavsson, David Krejci
 
Last Week: Brandon Hagel, Pheonix Copley, Rickard Rakell, Erik Gustafsson, Tom Wilson
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):
 
1) Calle Jarnkrok, Tor, (7% Yahoo ownership): As previously mentioned, the Leafs have the ideal streaming schedule coming up, and Jarnkrok plays on their 2nd line with Tavares and Marner, in addition to the second power play unit. In his last 13 GP, Jarnkrok (eligible at all 3 forward positions and 93% available) has scored 11 PTS with 16 shots and 11 hits. Kirill Marchenko in Columbus has been showing up on my radar lately, scoring 6 goals with 27 shots in his last 13 GP and the Blue Jackets play 4 games, including against some bad defensive teams.
 
2) Pavel Zacha, Bos, (10% Yahoo ownership): This is going to be a busy week for the Bruins, and Zacha plays on their 2nd line with Pastrnak and Krejci, as well as their second power play unit, and is eligible at all 3 forward positions on Yahoo. In his last 14 GP, Zacha has potted a respectable 11 PTS with 17 shots, 11 hits, and a +5. His teammate Charlie Coyle has scored 9 PTS in his last 14 GP with 30 shots and 15 hits, centering their 3rd line and 2nd power play, available in 95% of Yahoo leagues if you need a streamer.
 
3) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buf, (19% Yahoo ownership): UPL was briefly sent to the minors when Eric Comrie returned from IR, but only because he was waiver exempt. Comrie struggled upon his return, and UPL was soon recalled, starting 4 of their last 5 games. The Sabres have been slumping a bit lately, but have a decent 4-game schedule coming up. You may also want to consider Alex Lyon in Florida, as both Panther goalies are currently injured. Not sure when Bob is coming back, but Florida has a 4-game week and Lyon should see some action.
 
4) J.G Pageau, NYI, (25% Yahoo ownership): His 5v5 deployment is not exciting, but Pageau does center the top power play unit on an Islanders team that plays 4 games in the week ahead. Pageau is especially valuable in category leagues, with 30 shots and 41 hits in his last 14 GP (to go along with 9 PTS, 2 of those with the man advantage). Another option on the Islanders top line and 2nd power play is Anthony Beauvillier, who has only scored 6 PTS in his last 14 GP, but his 34 shots and 13 hits in that span could help you.
 
5) Matt Grzelcyk, Bos, (8% Yahoo ownership): The downside of Grzelcyk is that he’s not playing special teams, but 5v5 he’s paired with McAvoy and gets plenty of time on ice the Bruins top two forward lines.  He’s not a big help in shots and hits, but with the Bruins playing 4 games, he’s a solid points and +/- option, scoring 6 PTS in his last 7 GP. You’ll get more shots, hits, and power play time from Timothy Liljegren, who plays 4 games on light schedule nights and is available in 97% of Yahoo leagues.
 
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Beauvillier, Kirill Marchenko, Charlie Coyle, Timothy Liljegren, Alex Lyon
 
Last Week: Cam York, Samuel Ersson, Scott Laughton, Morgan Frost, Joel Farabee