Fantasy Hockey 2022/23 Week 17 Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my 2022/23 Week Seventeen 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) K’Andre Miller, NYR, (53% Yahoo ownership): K’Andre Miller earned a mention here last week and 7 days later is at the top of the list. While he did not score any points in his 3 games, he delivered 15 hits. In his last 13 GP, the defenseman has recorded 9 PTS (3 on the power play), with 22 shots and 32 hits. No points this week, but the outlook remains strong. It’s also a busy week for Vancouver and Luke Schenn is available in a little under half of Yahoo leagues. If your format counts hits, he’s must own. I also like Jared Spurgeon this week if you can find him on your waiver wire.
  
2) Troy Terry, Ana, (60% Yahoo ownership): Troy Terry was 79% owned on December 1^st, and his stock has dropped all the way down to 60%. He might have suffered a cold stretch with the rest of his teammates in December, but the Ducks have been lighting up the scoreboard lately, with Terry notching 9 PTS in his last 7 GP. If he got dropped in your league, he’s worth an add, especially with the Ducks busy slate this extended week (they tend to have an advantageous streaming schedule). Brock Nelson in New York has 6 PTS in his last 5 GP with a nice schedule ahead.

3) Filip Gustavsson, Min, (48% Yahoo ownership): The Minnesota Wild play 4 times in the extended week 17 and Gustavsson is sporting a .929 SV% in his last 5 games. Fleury has started the last 2 in a row, but previously they had been alternating starts. Stuart Skinner’s fantasy value has taken a hit with the re-emergence of Jack Campbell, and is starting to get dropped in some leagues. I’m holding Skinner stock on both my rosters and am going to wait until after the Oilers next 4 games before possibly dropping. They’re one of the busier teams, so Skinny is going to see action. Carolina has a back-to-back before the all-star break, so Antti Raanta is worth a stream too.
 
4) Kevin Hayes, Phi, (49% Yahoo ownership): It’s strange that Kevin Hayes has publicly drawn the ire of Torts despite scoring at nearly a point per game clip for most of the season.  In his last 15 GP, the center has potted 15 PTS (4 on the power play) while also firing 50 shots on goal. Hayes was 25% owned on New Year’s day, as his stock value has doubled in the last month. Meanwhile; Anders Lee is showing signs of life for the Islanders, scoring 4 PTS in his last 4 GP. The Isles have some weak opponents coming up, so this is a good opportunity for a cup of coffee with Anders.
 
5) Andrei Kuzmenko, Van, (52% Yahoo ownership): Andrei Kuzmenko continues to play top line and top power play with Elias Petterssen in Vancouver, scoring 13 PTS in his last 15 GP. The Canucks are among the 4-game teams, with Kuzmenko eligible at both wings and available in 48% of leagues. You may also want to take Kuzmenko’s teammate Brock Boeser for a spin. Brock is not producing at Andrei’s level, scoring a respectable 6 PTS in his last 8 GP, but he’s playing a productive second line with Bo Horvat, as well as the second power play.
 
Honorable Mentions: Anders Lee, Luke Schenn, Brock Boeser, Stuart Skinner, Brock Nelson
 
Last Week: Sam Bennett, Michael Bunting, Dylan Cozens, Seth Jones, Pheonix Copley Spencer Knight (PS: I should have stuck with Copley)
 
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):
 
1) Adam Henrique, Ana, (12% Yahoo ownership): As mentioned above, the Anaheim Ducks have been scoring goals lately and have a busy schedule ahead. Adam Henrique plays top line and top power play with the aforementioned Troy Terry, and has produced 9 PTS in his last 7 GP (2 on the power play). On the other hand, if you added J.G Pageau last week on my advice, you might want to let it ride. Pageau didn’t score any PTS but put up some nice peripheral stats and brings extra value in category leagues. I like their upcoming schedule.
 
2) Cam Fowler, Ana, (11% Yahoo ownership): Cam Fowler has made a few appearances on my waiver report this season, as his fantasy ownership remains low despite scoring at a 43-point pace, playing top unit power play in Anaheim. He’s not a sexy name, but he’s putting points on the board and is available in 89% of leagues. The Ducks play 4 times this extended week, and Cam is worth a stream. Calen Addison is available in even more leagues and is also pacing for 43 PTS. The Wild have a busy schedule ahead.
 
3) Alex Killorn, TB, (24% Yahoo ownership): The Tampa Bay Lightning have a 4-game slate coming up with some desirable opponents, and Alex Killorn is currently deployed on their second line and second power play. The dual-eligible winger has scored 6 PTS in his last 7 GP with 15 shots and 5 hits. The Rangers also have a busy schedule and Filip Chytil has scored 7 PTS in his last 6 GP with 15 shots, finding success on the kid line with Lafreniere and Kakko, who also join him on the Rangers second power play unit.
 
4) Casey DeSmith, Pit, (17% Yahoo ownership): Tristan Jarry is injured in Pittsburgh, so Casey DeSmith will be getting a majority of their starts in the meantime. He does have a few stinkers on his game log the last 2 weeks, but at least has a .904 SV% on the season. This recommendation is not for the faint of heart as there is blow-up potential, but he’s the #1 goalie on a quasi-good team who might get you a couple wins. The Seattle Kraken play 4 games and Philipp Grubauer has improved considerably as of late. Martin Jones is still the majority starter, but Grubauer’s streaming value is higher than it had been previously, posting a .914 SV% in his last 5 games.
 
5) Oliver Bjorkstrand, Sea, (9% Yahoo ownership): It’s remarkable how often there are 4 to 6 Seattle Kraken players on my short-list for waiver wire recommendations, especially the deep league section. They get production from up and down the line-up, and this week the winner is Oliver Bjorkstrand, scoring 7 PTS in his last 9 GP with 24 shots (playing 3rd line and 2nd power play). His line-mate Yanni Gourde was also a nominee, scoring 13 PTS in his last 16 GP, but the center does not see power play duty.
 
 
Honorable Mentions: Filip Chytil, Yanni Gourde, J.G Pageau, Philipp Grubauer, Calen Addison
 
Last Week: Calle Jarnkrok, Pavel Zacha, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, J.G Pageau, Matt Grzelcyk