Week 1 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my first waiver wire report of this brand spanking new season, both my teams drafted, free agents added, ready to rock and roll. If you read my Draft Bargains post, you’ll recognize a few names below, even some of the exact same text copy/pasted (apologize in advance for self-plagiarism). The award for best schedule this week goes to the two teams opening in Europe, Buffalo and New Jersey. Though my usual “strength of schedule” graphic will not be appearing until next week when there’s fresh data. You can still see my Watchlist graphic with player stats from last season. Even if you don’t like fantasy and follow me just for the betting advice, the stat graphics below can help you with player props.

Every week I’ll be listing players who are hot, play often in the week ahead and show their stats from the last 30 days. Players on my fantasy radar tend to be strong targets for prop bets too, the obligatory disclaimer being I don’t track or care about player prop markets. I don’t understand the appeal of betting an individual player to get 3 shots, but if that’s what floats your boat, I’m happy to help you find fresh fish. Subscriptions are free and will remain so for at least the remainder of the current season, possibly longer. But don’t worry, my fantasy content will never be behind a pay wall. That will always be my bait to lure new fish.

Best Standard League Adds (25% to 65% Yahoo ownership):

1) Joonas Korpisalo, Bos, (49% Yahoo ownership): Arguably the most egregious oversight in my fantasy draft prep material was my belief that Swayman would be signed by the opening of the season. Evidence of this brewing storm was already showing by the compilation of my bargain and bust posts, yet neither contained a Boston goalie. My penance is to tell you right now to go add Joonas Korpisalo if he’s still available on your waiver wire (unless you don’t need another netminder, which I don’t). He’s available in half of Yahoo leagues and needs to be owned until the Swayman saga is resolved. Another option is Filip Gustavsson, also available in half of leagues, but he struggled early last season and faces competition from Fleury for #1 billing. Minnesota might have the best schedule of the goalie options on my watchlist at the bottom of the page.
 
2) JJ Peterka, Buf, (52% Yahoo ownership): As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the Buffalo Sabres have a 4-game week ahead and there’s a few different options widely available on waiver wires, with the top option being JJ Peterka (who received an honorable mention in my bargains), currently slated to play top line and top power play with Thompson and Tuch. He notched 50 PTS in his sophomore season and could easily eclipse that mark with a full season next to Tage, if he can hold on to that gig. Teammate Dylan Cozens cracked my fantasy Draft Bargains list back when he was listed on that top power play, but looks like he was bounced to the 2nd unit. Still, he’s on one of my teams for at least opening week, but I had no intentions of keeping him long-term. In 12-team leagues, my entire bench tends to be a revolving door, except for my 3rd goalie.

3) Jake Neighbours, Stl, (26% Yahoo ownership): Jake Neighbhours scored 27 goals in his first full NHL season with 145 shots and 138 hits in 77 GP. That has earned him a spot on the Blues top line and top power play, and also why Jake received a plug in my Draft Bargains post. The dual-eligible winger certainly has more value in leagues scoring hits or ascribe added value to goals, but the possibility of a breakout season is real if he can thrive in this role. He was 149 in my draft rankings, whereas Yahoo ranks buried him at 410. If you’d like to take a swing at a higher PTS upside, his teammate Pavel Buchnevich has 80-point potential, currently listed on line two and power play one. He’s on one of my rosters, but no guarantee to stay given job security on my bench is volatile.

4) Bowen Byram, Buf, (45% Yahoo ownership): I’m fascinated to see what Bowen Byram can do with a full healthy season in Buffalo, but the risk of injury is the primary reason I’ll never lay high draft capital on Bo. As a waiver add or later pick, I’m happy rolling the dice and cheering for this kid to touch his ceiling. Daily Faceoff currently has him playing 2nd pair and 2nd power play, paired with former first overall pick Owen Power on both units. This is a good week to take a swing because of the 4 games, and if he plays well, maybe he earns some job security on your roster. Another option (plugged in my Draft Bargains post) is Sean Durzi, who has been demoted to the Coyotes second power play unit, but should still see time on the power play. He scored at a 44-point pace the last two seasons and is a threat to poach first unit minutes from Sergachev, who is also an injury risk.

5) Yegor Sharangovich, Cgy, (44% Yahoo ownership): May as well direct quote my Draft Bargains: “the disrespect shown to Sharangovich in Yahoo’s 404 ranking after a 30-goal, 60-point campaign is shameful. He landed 157 in my final rankings, but belonged at 132 ranking strictly by projections (mine is 61 PTS). He’ll be top line and top power play in Calgary this year, dual position eligibility, and should get plenty of ice time and opportunity to improve on last season. Yeah, the rest of the team might stink, but Yegor will be getting all the premium minutes with the best center.” Another option who won’t get as much power play time is Viktor Arvidsson, currently expected to play with Draisaitl and Skinner. It will be interesting to see what that trio can do, if you buy low now, you can always shuffle him out in a couple weeks if he’s not earning a permanent slot.

Honorable Mentions: Filip Gustavsson, Dylan Cozens, Pavel Buchnevich, Sean Durzi, Viktor Arvidsson

Best Deep League Adds (under 25% ownership):

1) Jack Quinn, Buf, (20% Yahoo ownership): Both Jack Quinn and projected linemate Zach Benson were among my draft bargains, currently slated to join Dylan Cozens on the 2nd line and power play. Though Daily Faceoff currently has Quinn on PP1 and Benson-Cozens on PP2, so Quinn might have the highest upside of that trio for the opening week. Quinn was added to one of my teams, actually blowing my number one waiver priority, but that’s rarely something I strive to preserve. My foot enjoys being on the gas pedal. My final projections had Quinn notching 44 PTS in 65 GP, with Benson at 37 in 74. The best part this week are the extra games, which can help you get out to a quick lead.

2) Dawson Mercer, NJ, (14% Yahoo ownership): Speaking of busy weeks, Dawson Mercer also falls into that category, playing against Buffalo in Europe. That’s exactly why he joined one of my rosters on the same squad as Quinn. He’s not currently listed on either power play, so is not somebody you’ll want to hold long-term outside of deep leagues. I’m likely dropping him once they get back from Europe, it was just a free add and the league has 3 IR+ slots. I had some day-to-day injuries that should be healed up by opening night, moved them to IR+ and used 2 adds for players heading for Czechoslovakia. If you’d rather go for a top line, top power play option, Pavel Zacha is listed on both for Boston and is available in 80% of leagues. He scored at a 60-point clip last year, so we’ll see what Elias Lindholm adds to that top line with Zacha-Pasta.

3) Adam Boqvist, Fla, (9% Yahoo ownership): Daily Faceoff currently has Adam Boqvist listed on Florida’s top power play and if he can hold that role long-term, there’s potentially a high ceiling. Aaron Ekblad received an honorable mention in my Draft Bargains post because of the power play void vacated by Montour and OEL, but that rosy outlook takes a hit if Boqvist starts consuming the void. Given that he’s available in 91% of leagues, throwing him on your bench and waiting to see this play out is a low risk, high reward possibility. Or there’s a good reason Columbus bought him out. Speaking of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, he’s currently listed on the Leafs 2nd power play and should get more 5v5 time than Boqvist, providing more hits and shots. Decent option if you want more peripheral stat support.
 
4) Jake Allen, NJ, (7% Yahoo ownership): It remains to be seen exactly how much action Jake Allen sees in a Markstrom tandem, but at least they play 4 games in the first week and Allen is all but guaranteed the 2nd Europe game. If he plays well and Markstrom loses to Toronto, Allen could get the Washington game. Whether he’s worth rostering permanently in your league, too soon for me to say for certain. Whereas Lukas Dostal should get a majority of Anaheim starts with Gibson out, but the Ducks only play twice (on a back-to-back at the end of the week). If he gets the Sharks game, that’s winnable. Otherwise, he might be a better week 2 play. It’s not impossible that the Ducks take a step forward this year and Dostal had some nice heaters last season.
 
5) Victor Olofsson, Veg, (5% Yahoo ownership): The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Victor Olofsson this offseason to be reunited with former linemate Jack Eichel, a pair that showed strong chemistry in Buffalo. Victor is currently penciled into line one and power play one on Daily Faceoff, and is another potential low risk, high reward investment available in 95% of leagues. Buy the stock at 5%, sell it at 40%, if you’re in a deep league. In 12-team leagues, anyone under 80% owned is expendable to me. There’s so much talent on waivers that taking swings on lottery tickets as permanent roster holds makes less sense. If you’d rather get more hits and job security from your roster slot, Ivan Barbashev is set to join Olofsson on that top line (but the second power play), available in 80% of leagues.

Honorable Mentions: Zach Benson, Ivan Barbashev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Lukas Dostal, Pavel Zacha