Fantasy Hockey 2022/23 Week 18 Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my 2022/23 Week Eighteen 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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Scroll down to the bottom to see my goalie "streaming cheat sheet" for the next 2 weeks.
 
Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
 
1) Pavel Francouz, Col, (42% Yahoo ownership): The downside of Francouz is that he has been splitting starts with Georgiev (bad news for us Georgiev owners), but the good news is Francouz posting a .929 SV% in his last 6 GP. The Avs had won 6 in a row before dropping 3 out of 4, but the general direction of the team has improved considerably in the last few weeks as they're getting healthy. Karel Vejmelka has been alternating starts with Ingram, helping him post a .937 SV% in his last 6 games. Filip Gustavsson has settled down (.921 SV% in his last 5 GP) and the Wild play 4 games, but be weary as they’ll be facing some teams who can score.
 
2) Seth Jones, Chi, (64% Yahoo ownership): I have been beating the Seth Jones drum for a few weeks now as the window to add him is closing (probably already has for many of you). Jones has been a point per game defenseman in his last 11 GP, adding 33 shots and 25 hits. Chicago plays 4 times next week, so if Seth is still on your waiver wire, then right that wrong. Torey Krug is back in the St. Louis line-up, scoring 4 PTS in 4 GP (2 on the power play) with 13 shots. The Blues play 4 games and Krug is worth a stream. Also back in the line-up is Bowen Byram in Colorado, who also has 4 games ahead, is 45% available, and is worth keeping an eye on.
 
3) Brayden Schenn, Stl, (55% Yahoo ownership): There is growing evidence that Father Time might finally be catching up with Brayden Schenn, as the 31-year-old center is pacing for 59 PTS, down from 76 last season. In his last 9 GP, Schenn has scored 4 PTS with 17 shots, 14 hits, and a -10. That’s not an awe inspiring stat line, but he’s eligible at multiple positions with a quasi-good 4-game schedule ahead. Blake Wheeler is on a far hotter run (10 PTS in his last 11 GP) and is available in more than half of leagues, but the Jets only play 3 games.
 
4) David Perron, Det, (45% Yahoo ownership): I’ll confess that my enthusiasm for Perron has diminished since earlier in the season, scoring just 4 PTS in his last 11 GP (with 20 shots and 17 hits). What I like about Detroit this week is that they’re departing for a west coast road trip, which has mostly been a fertile scoring ground this season. I’m a bigger fan of Dylan Cozens, who is departing for a California road trip with boom potential, even if they only play 3 games. Sorry, I just needed to make my obligatory Cozens plug. He’s getting a lot of coverage on my weekly fantasy reports this season.
 
5) Tanner Jeannot, Nsh, (31% Yahoo ownership): Tanner Jeannot was 62% owned on October 1st, and has seen his stock plummet with his offensive output diminishing since last season’s high shooting percentage. But he still provides value in leagues that count hits, accumulating 36 in his last 10 GP, with 4 PTS and 16 shots. The Preds play 4 times, so Jeannot is a tempting target in banger leagues. If you want more offensive upside, try Filip Chytil in New York. The Rangers only play 3 games, but Chytil might be worth a long-term hold depending on your league depth, scoring 11 PTS in his last 10 GP, with 26 shots and a +8.
 
 
Honorable Mentions: Torey Krug, Karel Vejmelka, Filip Chytil, Blake Wheeler, Dylan Cozens.
 
Last Week: K’Andre Miller, Filip Gustavsson, Troy Terry, Kevin Hayes, Andrei Kuzmenko
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 27% ownership):
 
1) Ondrej Palat, NJ, (27% Yahoo ownership): Ondrej Palat has scored 9 PTS in his last 10 GP, with 4 of those coming in 2 games since the injury to Jack Hughes (adding 17 shots and 20 hits). Palat is playing top line and top power play with Hischier and Bratt in Hughes absence, and that’s a pretty good place to be. The Devils do have a very favorable schedule coming up and Palat is worth an add. Meanwhile, J.T Compher is playing 2nd line and 2nd power play in Colorado, scoring 6 PTS in his last 11 GP, which isn’t spectacular, but they have a strong schedule.
 
2) Samuel Girard, Col, (18% Yahoo ownership): With the Avalanche playing 4 games, my interest in adding Sam Girard is elevated above normal. In his last 11 GP, the D-man has potted 7 PTS (2 on the power play) with 18 shots and a +4; available in 82% of leagues. If you’d rather choose an option that can provide more help in shots, hits, and blocks, Ryan Graves in New Jersey could be what the doctor ordered. In his last 10 GP, he has scored 4 PTS with 25 shots and 12 hits. His teammate Damon Severson is also widely available and has a higher scoring upside (with 6 PTS in his last 10 GP).
 
3) MacKenzie Blackwood, NJ, (12% Yahoo ownership): The New Jersey Devils might be without their best player for a while, but should still have a competitive team. They play 4 games in the upcoming week, and the scheduled opponents are not particularly daunting. Blackwood has been solid in his last 4 starts, with a .921 SV% and 2 wins. I’m also somewhat interest in Adin Hill now that Logan Thompson is injured. Vegas only plays twice, but against weak opponents. If the Thompson injury is long-term, Hill becomes a more compelling waiver target.
 
4) Nick Schmaltz, Ari, (20% Yahoo ownership): If you’re looking for a player eligible at multiple positions with a 4-game schedule who plays top line + top power play and is available in 80% of leagues, Nick Schmaltz is on that list. He has received a few endorsements from me this season, and is once again worth adding. In his last 12 GP, Schmaltz has scored 11 PTS with 26 shots and a +2. Tyler Johnson is centering top line and top power play in Chicago for their 4-game week, as the Hawks might be trying to pump his trade value ahead of the deadline. T.J is 99% available.
 
5) Michael Rassmussen, Det, (5% Yahoo ownership): One player who has taken a big step forward in offensive output this season is Michael Rassmussen, scoring 7 PTS in his last 11 GP with 17 shots and 24 hits. As previously mentioned, Detroit is departing for a 4-game west coast trip, and Rassmussen is 95% available. You may also want to try Taylor Raddysh in Chicago, who has scored 9 PTS in his last 11 GP with 24 shots and 13 hits. He’s available at both wings and has been putting up good numbers lately.
 
 
Honorable Mentions: J.T Compher, Tyler Johnson, Adin Hill, Ryan Graves
 
Last Week: Adam Henrique, Cam Fowler, Alex Killorn, Casey DeSmith, Oliver Bjorkstrand

The graphic below is the best goaltending options under 65% owned, their stats for the last 30 days (not counting Friday), and what days they play in the next 2 weeks. This can help with your decisions of who to stream and when.