2023/24 Week 8 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Report

Week 8 is here and here are a few potential streaming targets. The award for best schedule this week goes to the Boston Bruins and a whopping 12 teams will be playing 4 times. This is going to be a busy week. Building my watchlist in preparation for this report had a rare problem, I reached the maximum of 100 players too soon and had to start trimming before the list was even finished. 
 
My blog has been moved to Substack this season and I’ll be repeatedly encouraging everyone to sign-up for a free subscription to alleviate my dependence on Twitter for traffic. I’m concerned that Elon will follow through on his threat to charge everyone for Twitter and ostensibly destroy his own company. Subscribers receive an email notification each time a new post is published, and even if Twitter stays free, the algorithm likes to hide Tweets with links so you don’t leave. I have already started sending out bonus betting content exclusive to subscribers, and may start a Sunday Fantasy Thoughts. You just need to email me and tell me if you want bonus betting picks, bonus fantasy thoughts, or both.
 
Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
 
1) Zach Werenski, Cbj, (49% Yahoo ownership): The Columbus Blue Jackets do have the 2nd toughest 4-game schedule in the week ahead for opponent goal prevention, but I’m still interested in Zach Werenski (who has been on one of my teams the whole season). I have a high standard for permanent roster spots and Werenski has 12 PTS in his last 15 GP with 33 shots. He needs to be added in more leagues and is worth hanging onto permanently when healthy. If you want someone with a better schedule who is more widely available, Erik Gustafsson has 9 PTS in his last 12 GP for the Rangers who have the 2nd best schedule this week. He loses value when Fox returns, but there’s no news updates besides Fox’s name.
 
2) Alexis Lafreniere, NYR, (42% Yahoo ownership): If you added Lafreniere last week on my advice, you may as well let it ride for at least another week. The Rangers have a strong schedule and Lafreniere is still playing with Artemi Panarin. Yes, he only recorded 1 point on their 4-game road trip but the opponents were better defenders than who they’re going to be facing. Another player that I recommended last week who performed better that Alexis was Ryan O’Reilly. I added him in a league and might hold on for a little bit longer. The Preds don’t have a great schedule in terms of opponent goal prevention and the center-only designation might force me to drop him, but he’s not necessarily someone you want to cut loose quite yet (scoring 14 PTS in his last 12 GP).

3) Tom Wilson, Wsh, (46% Yahoo ownership): The Washington Capitals play 4 games this week and Tom Wilson is on the Capitals top power play with Alex Ovechkin (though only the 2nd line according to Daily Faceoff, which was different yesterday). Their opponents are decidedly average at goal prevention, but you shouldn’t be adding Wilson for points-only leagues. You add him if your league counts hits. In his last 12 GP, Wilson has 7 PTS, 37 shots, and 34 hits. He had 7 shots and 6 hits in their loss to Edmonton. If your league doesn’t count hits, you could try Johnny Gaudreau, who does have 3 PTS in his last 4 GP (though he did only record 1 point in his previous 7 GP).

4)  Jonathan Quick, NYR, (35% Yahoo ownership): Igor Shesterkin has returned to the New York Rangers and resumed his #1 starter duties. Jonathan Quick held down the fort in his absence and shutout the Penguins in his last start. Not sure he’ll play in the Buffalo or Detroit games, but he’ll for sure get Nashville or San Jose, which in theory should be an easy win. He has a .936 SV% and 4 wins in his last 5 games, so he’s earning his ice time. Charlie Lindgren is another option, though he just lost to the Oilers 5-0. Washington plays 4 games and Lindgren had been on a nice heater entering that one, but Kuemper seems likely to get the San Jose game. Their next 3 opponents are LA, Anaheim, and Vegas.  Two of those worry me. Lindgren did shutout Vegas recently.

5) Jake DeBrusk, Bos, (39% Yahoo ownership): The Boston Bruins won the best schedule of the week award (playing Columbus, San Jose, Toronto, Columbus), and DeBrusk is the best forward option in this ownership range. Daily Faceoff lists him on the Bruins 3rd line plus the top power play, and the dual eligible winger has scored 3 PTS in his last 4 GP. It’s worth noting that he gets more ice time than your typical 3rd line winger. If you prefer an option that is both top line and top power play, Boone Jenner in Columbus is eligible at center and wing, scoring 5 PTS with 17 shots and 13 hits in his last 8 GP. They do have a tougher schedule than Boston, in part because they’re playing the Bruins twice.
 

Honorable Mentions: Johnny Gaudreau, Ryan O’Reilly, Boone Jenner, Charlie Lindgren, Erik Gustafsson
 
Last Week: Valeri Nichushkin, Jacob Markstrom, MacKenzie Weegar, Alexis Lafreniere, Vincent Trochek 
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 26% ownership):
 
1) Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Buf, (17% Yahoo ownership): Rookie Devon Levi has been struggling in Buffalo, and UPL is stepping up. In his last 8 games, he has 4 wins with a .923 SV% and a shutout. The Sabres have a busy week coming up, the only issue being that they face the Rangers, Blues, Hurricanes, and Predators; which isn’t the worst schedule ever, but there’s some risk. Even St. Louis and Nashville have had a few high scoring games. But if UPL keeps this up and the team heats up, that ownership number will climb. Also, Elvis Merzlikins looks to be heating up with a .915 SV% in his last 6 GP and Columbus has won 2 in a row. The only thing that worries me is 2 of their 4 games this week are against Boston.
 
2) Gustav Nyquist, Nsh, (6% Yahoo ownership): Gustav Nyquist was featured here last week, and if you added him on my advice, he did not disappoint scoring 4 PTS in his first 3 GP the last 6 days. There’s no reason to stream him out if he’s on your roster because they’re going to be playing another 4 in the week ahead. He’s playing top line and top power play in Nashville (10 PTS in his last 12 GP), who also plays tomorrow. So, you can add him tonight to help end your current week, then hang on for at least one more. Another unheralded widely available top line top power play option is Kirill Marchenko in Columbus. His 4 PTS and 18 shots in his last 8 GP is less impressive than Nyquist, but he’s the right situation to succeed.

3) J.J Peterka, Buf, (22% Yahoo ownership): JJ Peterka plays on the second line in Buffalo, but unlike his linemates is also deployed on the top power play. The young winger has scored 13 PTS (2 on the power play) in his last 13 GP, adding an impressive 34 shots. It’s not an easy schedule for Buffalo facing the Rangers and Hurricanes, but they also face St. Louis with a potentially unravelling Jordan Binnington. Even the Canes just got blown out by Tampa. If you would prefer a top line top power play option who is more widely available and also plays 4 games, Philipp Kurashev is playing with Connor Bedard in Chicago, scoring 12 PTS (2 on the power play) with 20 shots in his last 11 GP.

4) Charlie Coyle, Bos, (26% Yahoo ownership): As previously mentioned, the Boston Bruins have the best schedule this week and Charlie Coyle has 13 PTS (2 on the power play) with 27 shots and 13 hits in his last 13 GP. He might only be playing 2nd line and 2nd power play, but has been very productive from that position and doesn’t seem likely to slow down with the schedule that lies ahead. But if you’d rather have a top line, top power play option who plays 4 games, you could go with Dylan Strome in Washington. The downside being he only has 6 PTS in his last 11 GP with 21 shots and 1 hit, so he’s unlikely to provide more scoring than Coyle, but he’s available in a few more leagues and gets more ice time.
 
5) Calen Addison, SJ, (3% Yahoo ownership): The Sharks will be facing the toughest of the 4-game schedules in what is likely to be a low scoring week for the fish. But they will inevitably get a few power plays, and that’s where Calen Addison has the opportunity to put up some points. Getting traded to San Jose should help his production in theory because he’s getting more ice time. Another option is Ivan Provorov, who has 4 PTS with 14 shots and 6 hits in his last 8 games. Their schedule isn’t much easier, but the Russian defenseman does have more goals, assists, shots, hits than Addison in the last 14 days, including a better +/-. The season is already a quarter done and Provorov is pacing for 50 PTS, Addison 29.

Honorable Mentions: Philipp Kurashev, Elvis Merzlikins, Ivan Provorov, Kirill Marchenko, Dylan Strome
 
Last Week: Casey DeSmith, Ilya Mikheyev, Mattias Ekholm, Gustav Nyquist, Dakota Joshua