Week 13 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report
Welcome to my week 13 fantasy hockey waiver wire report, the first since putting readers on blast over my conspiracy theory that one of you is competing in one of my leagues and using these reports to steal players from me. That’s okay, my team is pretty stacked, and last week’s blast was for entertainment value. In other news, Tom Wilson has gone pointless in 5 games and was dropped in that league, replaced with Kirill Marchenko, who I noted was available and someone on my radar (but added Laine instead). There won’t be any investigations identifying the thief and/or banning from the blog. It’s also possible these adds and drops are entirely a coincidence, they all happened to be among the hottest available players in that league when “stolen”.
Back to business, the best schedule award this week went to the Toronto Maple Leafs, with Winnipeg and Boston as the runners-up. Some of these players are available in my leagues, but I’m not identifying which specifically I’m targeting. Both my teams are stacked (one struggling in goal with Bobrovsky-Sorokin) and don’t have many streaming slots available. My add/drop totals are substantially lower than an average campaign.
Even if you don’t play fantasy and just follow me for betting advice, my stat graphics at the bottom of this page can be very useful for player prop betting. Every week these reports feature 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.
Best Standard League Adds (20% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
1) Gabe Vilardi, Wpg, (52% Yahoo ownership): The Winnipeg Jets have the 2nd best upcoming schedule and Gabe Vilardi continues producing on their top line and top power play with Connor and Scheifele, scoring 14 PTS (6 on the PP) in his last 13 GP with 23 shots and only 1 hit. He’s eligible at multiple positions and available in nearly half of all Yahoo leagues. Winnipeg plays Mon-Tue-Thu, so you can front-load their streamers then swap them out for a different option playing twice Fri-Sat-Sun. The downside mentioned earlier is very little hitting, and if that’s something you need help with, Matthew Knies is still playing top power play in Toronto and line 2 with Matthews out. In his last 14 GP, Knies has 7 PTS (1 on the PP) which isn’t great, but 17 shots and 26 hits. Leafs have porous defensive teams ahead.
2) Karel Vejmelka, Uta, (42% Yahoo ownership): Karel Vejmelka was first featured here weeks ago when his stock was 7% owned, around which time he was added to one of my teams, managing to hold that roster slot ever since. In his last 10 games, Karel the Thrill has 5 wins with a .915 SV%. Utah is giving him a heavy workload with Ingram on IR, and the Coyotes have 4 games in the week ahead. Two of those are against Edmonton and Dallas, so there is some risk, but he just stopped 33 of 35 against Colorado and looked very sharp. Another option on one of teams pumped here often lately is Charlie Lindgren, who is alternating starts for a really good Washington team that’s getting Ovechkin back. In his last 6 starts, Charlie has 4 wins with a .907 SV%. The downside being he’s likely only to start once against Minnesota.
3) Luke Hughes, NJ, (52% Yahoo ownership): For the 2nd consecutive week Luke Hughes is my top featured defenseman, and the Devils don’t even play 4 games. The kid is up to 13 PTS (3 on the PP) in his last 13 GP with 25 shots and a +6. He’s still not playing on the top unit power play, but New Jersey’s scoring depth provides fertile ground to harvest points at even strength. He’s not available in either of my leagues, but if you’re in one of the 48% of Yahoo leagues where he’s on waivers, he’s someone you want to hold long-term, or at least until the scoring slows down to your league’s “replacement” level. If you need hits, then Nikita Zadorov is who you’ll want to add with Boston’s schedule, throwing 33 in his last 13 games (only 2 PTS in this span, so this is a banger only play). Radko Gudas in Anaheim is another, but tougher schedule.
4) Logan Cooley, Uta, (51% Yahoo ownership): Another major contributor to the Utah Coyotes 2nd quarter improvement is the offense Logan Cooley is driving from the 2nd line and top power play with Dylan Guenther. In his last 13 GP, Cooley has 14 PTS (7 on the PP) with 22 shots and 12 hits. He’s still available in nearly half of leagues and might be breaking out to a higher level. The Coyotes have a 4-game week ahead, so this is a perfect time to try him as a streamer, possibly a longer-term hold if the scoring sustains. If you don’t have room for a center or Cooley is gone in your league, teammate Nick Schmaltz is 75% available, playing line 1 and power play 1 with Clayton Keller, eligible at multiple positions. In his last 13 GP, Schmaltz has 11 PTS (5 on the PP) with 37 shots.
5) Elias Lindholm, Bos, (38% Yahoo ownership): The Boston Bruins have the 3rd best upcoming schedule and Elias Lindholm currently centers their 2nd line and top power play. Second line duty isn’t as bad as it might sound when his linemates are Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle. After a 7-game scoreless drought, Elias is up to 6 PTS (1 on the PP) in his last 6 games, with 15 shots and 5 hits. He’s only eligible at center and Boston only plays1 light night, so be sure there’s room in your starting line-up. Another 4-game option is Will Cuylle, who is still on one of my teams after being added for Tom Wilson 2 weeks ago. He rewarded me with 2 PTS in his last 7 GP, but did throw 19 hits, and is holding his roster spot for at least 2 more games (but is the next out the door if a more desirable player becomes available).
Honorable Mentions: Matthew Knies, Nick Schmaltz, Will Cuylle, Charlie Lindgren, Nikita Zadorov
Last Week: Luke Hughes, Maclin Celebrini, Charlie Lindgren, Tom Wilson, Rickard Rakell
Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):
1) Bobby McMann, Tor, (7% Yahoo ownership): As mentioned in the intro, this is a good week to add Toronto Maple Leafs and their 3rd line of Bobby McMann, Max Domi, and Nick Robertson has been rolling, with Bobby on top of my wish list for the shots and hits. In his last 7 GP, the winger had 7 PTS (none on the power play) with 17 shots and 16 hits, while Domi put up 6 PTS, 14 shots and 2 hits in the same span. Domi is eligible at center and wing, so does provide more roster flexibility. Neither player has recorded a power play point in the last 30 days, but are listed on the Leafs 2nd power play, so there is at least the potential of advantaged ice time bearing fruit. Robertson is not listed on either power play, which is why he was a late cut from my weekly watchlist, but did receive strong consideration.
2) Morgan Geekie, Bos, (5% Yahoo ownership): One of the reasons the Bruins have the luxury of stacking their second line with Brad Marchand is because Morgan Geekie has been productive playing up with Pastrnak, also playing on their second power play unit. In his last 13 GP, Geekie has 9 PTS (3 on the PP) with 31 shots and 20 hits. Those peripheral stats will be very appealing to those of you in category leagues, along with center/wing eligibility, available in 95% of leagues. It’s an inexpensive way to cash some Pastrnak residuals. Another option is their teammate Charlie Coyle, who is on the aforementioned 2nd line with Lindholm-Marchand, joining Geekie on power play 2. In his last 13 GP, Coyle has 6 goals, 8 PTS, 23 shots, and 14 hits. I’d rather have Geekie, but Coyle is a decent alternative.
3) Pavel Zacha, Bos, (12% Yahoo ownership): If you’re looking for a line 1, power play 1 option with a strong upcoming schedule that’s nearly 90% available, Pavel Zacha is centering the aforementioned Pasta line, and playing wing on PP1. In his last 13 GP Zacha has 7 PTS (0 on the PP) with 21 shots and 10 hits. Yes, that stat line is underwhelming, but relative to the other “under 20%” options, those numbers put him near the top of the streaming list and he’s eligible at multiple positions. You’d be hoping that special teams production sees some positive regression. Maybe the better option if your league counts his is William Carrier, 98% available, throwing 52 hits in his last 13 GP, adding 4 PTS. The Hurricanes play 4 times and Carrier could lead the NHL in hits and help you win the category.
4) Justus Annunen, Nsh, (7% Yahoo ownership): Justus Annunen struggled in Colorado when given the opportunity to replace Georgiev before getting traded to Nashville for Scott Wedgewood. The Predators play 4 times this week, all back-to-backs, so there is a high probability of Annunen getting 2 starts. In his last 4 games, he has 2 wins with a .941 SV%. He’s playing well enough to earn a greater share of the starts, and Nashville is 12 PTS out of the wildcard with no incentive to run Saros into the ground. Best see what they have in Annunen 2nd half. Another option is Matt Murray, who is starting today against Washington. The Leafs have an easy schedule ahead and Murray should be a good candidate to collect a win when he’s starting. Or it could be Dennis Hildebeast if he’s up and Murray is down, so keep an eye on that.
5) Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tor, (19% Yahoo ownership): We have already established the Leafs desirable schedule, and if none of their forward options float your boat, perhaps you’d be interested in their power play two defenseman OEL. He may not have any PP PTS in the last 30 days, but in his last 14 GP does have 5 PTS with 18 shots, 16 hits, and a +8. Has a solid floor across a few different stat categories, but the offensive ceiling is lower than those of you in points leagues would prefer. One 4-game option with a more enticing ceiling (but a much tougher schedule) is Jackson LaCombe in Anaheim. Yes, he was usurped by Zellweger on PP1 (the player he overthrew to get the gig) but he does have 7 PTS in his last 11 GP, with 24 shots and 7 hits.
Honorable Mentions: Charlie Coyle, Max Domi, William Carrier, Jackson LaCombe, Matt Murray
Last Week: Alex Vlasic, Dmitri Voronkov, Michael Bunting, Victor Olofsson, Alex Lyon
