Fantasy Hockey 2022/23 Week 19 Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my 2022/23 Week Nineteen 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) Rickard Rakell, Pit, (63% Yahoo ownership): Rakell is likely already owned in the most competitive leagues, playing top line and top power play with Sidney Crosby, eligible at both wings. But if he happens to be on your waiver wire, he’s absolutely worth adding with Pittsburgh playing 4 games. In his last 11 GP, Rakell has potted 9 PTS with 32 shots and 15 hits. It’s also hard for me to see that Dylan Cozens has a 4-game slate coming up without recommending you add the young center who has scored 7 PTS in his last 9 GP and is available in 44% of leagues.
 
2) Filip Chytil, NYR, (43% Yahoo ownership): If you’re looking for someone more widely available, look no further than the kid line in New York. Both Chytil and Lafreniere are solid options available in a majority of leagues and eligible at multiple positions with an upcoming 4-game schedule. Chytil is the better choice (he gets top power play time), scoring 9 PTS in his last 10 GP with 27 shots but only 1 hit; while Lafreniere has also scored 9 PTS in his last 10 GP, with 21 shots and 23 hits. Lafreniere might be my second choice, but he’s available in more leagues and you’re more likely to find him on waivers.
 
3) Filip Gustavsson, Min, (53% Yahoo ownership): The Minnesota Wild have fallen on hard times lately, but one bright spot has been the play of Filip Gustavsson, who has not posted a save % below .917 in his last 5 GP. He does still split time with Fleury, but has started 3 of their last 4 games. The Wild are desperately chasing a playoff spot right now, and Filip just stopped 29 of 30 to beat the Dallas Stars. You could also go with Pheonix Copley, who has a slightly tougher schedule, but is starting most of the King’s games, posting a quality start in a majority of his last 7 matches.
 
4) Erik Gustafsson, Wsh, (39% Yahoo ownership): Gustafsson was 53% owned on January 1st and has seen his stock price sink in the last 6 weeks. But be aware, in his last 5 GP the defenseman has scored 6 PTS with 12 shots and 6 hits. The Capitals have a 4-game week ahead including some opponents prone to struggling defensively. He’s available in 60% of leagues and is a strong streaming target. Some other 4-game D-men that are worth considering are Noah Hanifin and K’Andre Miller. Both have similar stat lines in the last 30 days, with Hanifin providing more shots, and Miller more hits.
 
5) Blake Wheeler, Wpg, (52% Yahoo ownership): If you’re looking for shots or hits in the week ahead, Blake Wheeler is not the option for you. But if you want points (and who doesn’t), Wheeler is an excellent choice, scoring 12 in his last 10 GP, 4 of those on the power play. He’s available in nearly half of leagues, and has a flexible Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun schedule. The downside is they’ll be facing some really good goaltending. If you’d like an option facing weaker opposition, Alex Killorn is available in 74% of leagues and plays 2nd line and 2nd power play (with 9 PTS in his last 12 GP).
 
 
Honorable Mentions: Dylan Cozens, Pheonix Copley, Noah Hanifin, Alexis Lafreniere, Alex Killorn
 
Last Week: Pavel Francouz, Seth Jones, Brayden Schenn, David Perron, Tanner Jeannot
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 27% ownership):
 
1) Dillon Dube, Cgy, (22% Yahoo ownership): Dillon Dube is playing top line and top power play in Calgary, scoring 11 PTS in his last 10 GP, with 25 shots and 14 hits. The Flames have a decent schedule coming up, with Dube eligible at both wings and available in 78% of leagues. That deployment and stat-line is also appealing for shallower leagues, so Dube isn’t just a deep league option. Or how about this stat-line from a dual-eligible winger: last 10 GP, 9 PTS, 30 shots, 13 hits, and a +9. That belongs to Dube’s teammate Blake Coleman, who is also worth a stream.
 
2) Dan Vladar, Cgy, (27% Yahoo ownership): With Jacob Markstrom continuing to struggle in Calgary, Dan Vladar has moved into a nearly equal time share. The Flames will be playing 4 games next week, and the slate of opponents is less daunting than the other deep league options. The downside is that he has posted a sub .900 SV% in 4 of list last 5 starts, so you’re really banking on strength of schedule and hoping for the best. The Lightning also have some weak opponents on their 4-game slate, so if you can catch Brian Elliot for a spot-start or two, you might have a better shot at a win.
 
3) Cam Fowler, Ana, (13% Yahoo ownership): I’ve lost count of how many times Cam Fowler has been my deep league D of the week, but he has been a regular here. He continues scoring points, netting 11 in his last 11 GP, with 27 shots. The Ducks have another 4-game week ahead, albeit against some tough opponents that can be difficult to score on. The Flyers have a better schedule and Rasmus Ristolainen could be a decent addition. This might have been the first time this season Risto showed up on my radar, but he’s worth a stream, scoring 7 PTS in his last 11 GP with 25 hits.
 
4) Kaapo Kakko, NYR, (9% Yahoo ownership): I may as well complete the hat trick and recommend the Rangers entire kid line. Kakko is a little less exciting than Chytil and Lafreniere, but that’s also why he’s available in 91% of leagues. He has also scored 9 PTS in his last 10 GP just like both his linemates, but only 12 shots and 3 hits. You’re getting weak peripheral stats from Kakko, but who doesn’t like points? Or you may want try Adam Henrique who is playing 2nd line and top power play in Anaheim, scoring 8 PTS in his last 11 GP with 31 shots, available in 85% of leagues.
 
5) Jimmy Vesey, NYR, (1% Yahoo ownership): Vesey is currently deployed on the Rangers second line with Trocheck-Panarin, and is available in 99% of leagues. The dual-eligible winger has scored 6 PTS in his last 10 GP, adding 21 shots and 13 hits. That’s not an overwhelmingly good stat-line, but you’re taking a swing for some Panarin residuals (they could have the Jonathan Quick on the last game of the week, with a Kings back-to-back). Also, Matt Martin has 62 hits in his last 12 GP and plays 4 times next week, so if you’re in a categories league with hits, Martin could win the category for you almost by himself.
 
 
Honorable Mentions: Adam Henrique, Blake Coleman, Brian Elliot, Rasmus Ristolainen, Matt Martin
 
Last Week: Ondrej Palat, Samuel Girard, MacKenzie Blackwood, Nick Schmaltz, Michael Rassmussen

Also, here are the stats last 30 days and upcoming schedule for my top goalie streaming targets.