2023/24 Week 10 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Report

Week 10 is here and I have a few potential streaming targets. The award for best schedule this week goes to the Colorado Avalanche, who plays the most porous opponents and 3 times on light nights. The Islanders and Sabres also have 3 games on light nights, while Arizona has 2, but the 2nd best low quality of opponent. This was originally published Friday on my Substack site, and these Detroit recommendations were made before the Larkin injury, which downgrades my optimism about Fabbri and Raymond.
 
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.
 
Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
 
1) Drake Batherson, Ott, (64% Yahoo ownership): Judging by the Senators lines on Daily Faceoff, looks like they are trying to spread out their scoring evenly among the top two, putting Batherson with Stutzle and Tarasenko. He does also play first power play, scoring 13 PTS (4 on the PP) with 28 shots and 13 hits in his last 11 GP. Batherson is available in one of my leagues and I’m planning to make a claim sometime this weekend. If he’s not available in your league, Josh Norris is 72% available playing line one power play one with Brady Tkachuk. Norris has not been performing as well offensively, netting just 5 PTS in his last 11 GP, but his 28 shots and 18 hits can provide additional value if your league counts them.

2) Alex Lyon, Det, (44% Yahoo ownership): Alex Lyon received an honorable mention here last week when he was 25% owned and his stock continues to climb, posting 4 wins and a .947 SV% in his last 5 games. The difference this week is Detroit playing 4 games instead of 3. The Wings have been rotating him and Husso, which if the rotation holds Lyon would get St Louis and Philadelphia instead of Dallas and Carolina. Speaking of which, it’s been a rocky season for Pyotr Kochetkov, posting an .886 SV% and 4 wins in his last 9 games, but Carolina will be facing an easier schedule than Detroit, so Kochetkov should provide you with more wins (unless Raanta has a great game and establishes himself as the clear #1 option).
 
3) Lucas Raymond, Det, (59% Yahoo ownership): Lucas Raymond is enjoying a bounce-back season playing most of it on line with Dylan Larkin, also joining him on the top power play (looks like Kane’s addition has them splitting into 2 even units). In his last 12 GP, Raymond has scored an impressive 12 PTS (3 on the PP) with 28 shots and 12 hits. Maybe I’m a little biased as a Red Wings fan who owns multiple Raymond rookie cards, but those numbers are solid. Another top line, top power play option is Elias Lindholm in Calgary. In his last 14 GP, Lindholm has contributed 9 PTS (only 1 on the PP) with an impressive 39 shots and 13 hits. Might have the edge over Raymond if your league counts shots.
 
4) Nick Schmaltz, Ari, (34% Yahoo ownership): If the Arizona Coyotes play 4 games, solid chance you’ll find my guy Nick Schmaltz on my report. Not only do the Yotes play 4 (twice on light nights), but there are some potentially porous opponents coming up (Buffalo twice and San Jose) with Schmaltz still playing line one and power play one. The production in the last 30 days is a little lower than I’d like (8 PTS in last 13 GP) but 4 of those PTS were on the power play and I love the schedule. If you’d rather someone providing more shots and hits, his teammate Lawson Crouse has 7 goals in his last 13 GP, adding 39 shots and 24 hits. Frankly if your league counts shots and hits, does it even matter if he scores points?

5) Owen Power, Buf, (37% Yahoo ownership): The Buffalo Sabres might have the toughest schedule of all the 4-game teams this week, but one cool feature is 3 of their games are on light nights, which makes the widely available Power easy to fit into your starting line-up. I’ll admit that the stats are a little underwhelming last 30 days (5 PTS, 22 shots in 14 GP) and he doesn’t get much power play time, but he plays Mon-Wed-Fri and I like that flexibility (and availability). If you would rather grab a power play 1 option, check out Noah Hanifin in Calgary (6 PTS, 24 shots last 14 GP). Daily Faceoff currently has him on PP1, but he only plays on 1 light night (Monday) so make sure there’s room in your line-up.
 

Honorable Mentions: Josh Norris, Elias Lindholm, Lawson Crouse, Noah Hanifin, Pyotr Kochetkov
 
Last Week: Eeli Tolvanen, Zach Werenski, Robert Thomas, Pyotr Kochetkov, Dawson Mercer
 
 
Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):
 
1) Robby Fabbri, Det, (5% Yahoo ownership): If you can’t find Lucas Raymond in any of your leagues, his linemate Robby Fabbri is 95% available and also joins him on the top power play (which might become a 1A/1B situation). In his last 11 GP, Fabbri has 12 PTS (3 on the power play) with 7 goals. The shot and hit totals are low and Fabbri is an injury risk, but we’re only talking about a short-term commitment while the iron is hot. If you do want more shots and hits, Blake Coleman is a decent option in Calgary. In his last 14 GP, Coleman has 11 PTS with 39 shots and 16 hits. The Flames have him playing on line two with Backlund and Huberdeau, who are capable of creating scoring opportunities for Coleman.
 
2) Martin Jones, Tor, (12% Yahoo ownership): If you are wondering why Martin Jones is among the most added goalies today, it’s because Joseph Woll suffered an injury last night and might be out for a while. Samsonov has been dealing with issues (both health and performance), so Jones might be starting most of Toronto’s 4 games this week. I’d be a little nervous starting him against the Rangers, but the other opponents are beatable. He may very suck, but this is allegedly a Cup contender and he might have this job for a while. Another injury opportunity has opened in Calgary losing Markstrom. Either Dan Vladar or Dustin Wolf might be decent streaming options available in 90% of Yahoo leagues.
 
3) Ross Colton, Col, (21% Yahoo ownership): Injuries and illnesses have led the Avalanche to split up Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, which could just be temporary, but could also last into next week. The Avs have the best schedule, including 3 light nights and the leakiest opponents. Most of the guys you’d want are either owned or injured, so you need to target some 3rd wheels. Daily Faceoff has Ross Colton and Miles Wood with Rantanen, Jonathan Drouin and Logan O’Connor with Mackinnon. We’ll see who drops out when Nichuskin is back, but Colton has 8 PTS, 28 shots and 19 hits in his last 15 GP, while Drouin has 7 PTS (2 on the power play) in his last 14 GP, with fewer shots and hits than Colton.

4) Alex Kerfoot, Ari, (12% Yahoo ownership): It was mentioned earlier that Arizona a desirable upcoming schedule, and one Yote on a heater is Alex Kerfoot, scoring 12 PTS (3 on the power play) in his last 13 GP with 18 shots. He might only be on the 3rd line, but he’s also on the top power play unit, which is helping his elevate his production. His shot and hit totals do leave much to be desired. If that’s something you’re seeking, you may want to consider his teammate Nick Bjugstad. Nick is doing similar things as his linemate Lawson Crouse, but is available in many more leagues. In his last 13 GP, Bjugstad has scored 8 PTS with 23 shots and 15 hits. Less impressive than Crouse, but much more widely available.

5) Alexander Romanov, NYI, (5% Yahoo ownership): Much for the same reason that Owen Power was recommended in the previous section, Alex Romanov plays on a 4-game team playing on 3 light nights. Romanov has the same point total as Power in his last 30 days, but provides substantially more hits and shots (28 shots and 17 hits in his last 14 GP), so he might even be a better option if you want some peripheral stats. Romanov is 95% available. If you’d like a higher scoring ceiling, you may want to try J.J Moser in Arizona, scoring 7 PTS in his last 13 GP, but with fewer shots and hits. Arizona has the 2nd best schedule for opponent goal allowing and play on 2 light nights.
 

Honorable Mentions: Blake Coleman, Jonathan Drouin, Nick Bjugstad, J.J Moser, Dan Vladar
 
Last Week: Charlie Lindgren, Jake Neighbours, Gustav Nyquist, Jared Spurgeon, Mason Marchment