Week 19 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my week 19 fantasy hockey waiver wire report, a week that will last 9 days with the league rebooting on a Saturday. Most teams will play 5 times, while 3 are playing 6. The Pittsburgh Penguins ranked as the best schedule, but their only 2 players between 65% and 10% ownership are injured. Bunting and Grezlcyk did not survive the watchlist downsize. Over the break my free subscribers received a remaining games schedule analysis to provide a big picture view to aid roster building leading into fantasy playoffs. Be warned though, NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and it could get nuts with projected cap increases. Players you add now might get moved out into a lesser role with a better team.

Best Standard League Adds (20% to 65% Yahoo ownership):

1) Dylan Holloway, Stl, (53% Yahoo ownership): The St. Louis Blues are one of only 3 teams playing 6 games in this extended week, and Dylan Holloway is their top available option, playing line 2 and power play 1. In his last 12 GP, the youngster has 8 PTS (3 on the PP) with 22 shots and 35 hits, eligible at center and wing on Yahoo. The Blues downside is tough opponents at goal prevention on the upcoming slate, but easier than Nashville, while Pittsburgh is limited to unappealing options, so Blues are by default the best 6-game team. A more widely available option is Ryan Donato, playing line 1 and power play 1 in Chicago. He’s eligible at all 3 forward positions and scored 13 PTS in his last 12 GP. He could get shipped out by the deadline, but until then he’ll get premium minutes while they try to boost is trade value.

2) Kevin Lankinen, Van, (56% Yahoo ownership): Thatcher Demko is week-to-week with another injury, which could be month-to-month given his history. That puts Lankinen in line for a big share of the playing time with Vancouver hanging on to the second wildcard. Silovs has a sub .850 SV% this season, so Lankinen could become a work horse on a team battling to make playoffs when every game counts. In his last 5 games, he’s sporting a respectable .901 SV%, at .905 full-season. If you need goaltending help and he’s available, go scoop him up and hang on until performance declines or Demko returns. Another option is Jake Allen, carrying a heavy load in New Jersey (and for one of my fantasy teams) replacing Jake Markstrom. Allen is sporting a .934 SV% in his last 7 games and will lose much value when the #1 is healthy (like Lankinen), but it’s been a nice ride in the meantime.

3) Filip Hronek, Van, (46% Yahoo ownership): Quinn Hughes has battled injury the last few weeks and this could be an ailment that needs an offseason to recover. The absence of Hughes boosts Filip Hronek’s power play time, but it’s unclear how much more time he’ll miss, if any. He was ready to play for USA tonight if needed. Even if Hughes plays the rest of the season, Hronek is a likely linemate, so could still bank residuals sharing ice with their best player. Even apart, Hronek has been productive the last month, scoring 9 PTS in his last 13 GP with 21 shots and 18 hits. Only 2 of those 9 PTS were power play, so he’s producing at even strength too, which is encouraging. If you’d rather add a 6-game player, Brady Skjei is a decent option in Nashville. In his last 9 GP, Skjei has 7 PTS (2 on the PP) with 16 shots and 8 hits.

4) Cole Perfetti, Wpg, (28% Yahoo ownership): The Winnipeg Jets have the 2nd best schedule despite only playing 5 games, playing 4 teams sitting outside the playoffs, a few of them with porous defense. Cole Perfetti, who is eligible at all 3 forward positions on Yahoo, has been rolling with 11 PTS (4 on the PP) in his last 12 GP, with 23 shots and 14 hits. He might only be playing line 2 and power play 2, but that hasn’t negatively impacted production, as the opposition’s best defenders are always going to be stacked against that top line. They’re playing 4 next week, so you can always hang on a little longer if satisfied with his output. Another option is Nazem Kadri, with 11 PTS (5 on the PP) in his last 10 GP, with 30 shots and 5 hits. Naz has become a regular on this report, with a few streams on my own rosters as well. If he hit more, he might hold a spot permanently.

5) Artturi Lehkonen, Col, (61% Yahoo ownership): It’s going to be a quiet week for Colorado, but Lehkonen is here as a long-term hold, playing line 1 and power play 1 with MacKinnon and Necas. He’s still available in nearly 40% of leagues, is eligible at both wings, and finds himself in a fantastic situation. In his last 13 GP, the winger has 12 PTS with 29 shots and 2 hits. Only one of those PTS came on the power play, but it doesn’t matter because the line is dominating even strength minutes. Colorado only plays 3 next week, but against bad teams, which should make up the difference. If you’d rather stream a player with center/wing eligibility who provides a few more hits, you could go with Frank Vatrano. Anaheim has a strong upcoming slate and Frank the Tank has 7 PTS with 40 shots and 15 hits in his last 12 games.

Honorable Mentions: Nazem Kadri, Ryan Donato, Jake Allen, Frank Vatrano, Brady Skjei

Last Week: Nick Schmaltz, Juraj Slafkovsky, Patrick Laine, Thomas Chabot, Connor Ingram

Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):

1) Vlad Namestnikov, WPG, (12% Yahoo ownership): We already mentioned the Jets cream-puff schedule, and Vlad Namestnikov is currently centering their 2nd line and 2nd power play (with the aforementioned Cole Perfetti), eligible at multiple positions. In his last 9 GP, Vlad has scored 9 PTS (3 on the PP) with 19 shots and 7 hits. The Jets offense is potent and anyone getting ice time in a top 6 or power play role has appeal. We’ll see how the Jets line-up gets re-shuffled with Lowry returning, but feels like Lowry will go back to 3rd line center with Niederreiter and Appleton. Another option available in 99% of leagues and playing 6 games this week is Tommy Novak in Nashville. In his last 9 GP, Tommy Boy has 9 PTS (2 on the PP) with 18 shots and 1 hit. He’s only playing 3rd line and 2nd power play, but productive none the less.

2) Alex Laferriere, LA, (20% Yahoo ownership): In the remaining schedule analysis recently emailed to my free subscribers, the Kings emerged as the #1 team rest of season, at least in terms of total opponent goals against (being in the Pacific division helps). Week 19 they’re further down the ranks, but at least play the most light nights. Alex Laferriere plays second line with Byfield/Fiala and top power play, but currently finds himself on a cold streak, scoring 4 PTS (none on the PP) in his last 8 GP. At least he fired 28 shots and threw 10 hits in that span, so has a good peripheral floor if the points don’t rebound. You could also stream Bobby McMann in Toronto, playing 3rd line and 2nd power play. Leafs have a better upcoming schedule and Bobby has 8 PTS (4 on the PP) in his last 11 GP with 32 shots and 14 hits.

3) Mason McTavish, Ana, (12% Yahoo ownership): After a disappointing first half, Mason McTavish is gaining momentum, helping the Ducks win 6 of their last 7 games (at a time when ideally they’d be tanking for higher draft capital). In his last 12 games, the young center has 10 PTS (1 on the PP) with 31 shots and 12 hits. He might only be playing third line, but productive at even strength and centering their top power play unit. The Ducks have a strong upcoming schedule, and among the best for total remaining games. 7 of his last 8 PTS were goals, which might be difficult to sustain rest of season. Another option with a similar profile (but younger) is Marco Kasper in Detroit. Their upcoming schedule is less appealing, but in his last 14 GP, Marco has 11 PTS with 27 shots and 28 hits. Available in 91% of leagues and a tempting target in banger formats.

4) Sean Durzi, Uta, (19% Yahoo ownership): Sean Durzi was featured this fall in my annual draft bargains list, but he succumbed to long-term injury before the offensive upside could be fully realized. That being said, I was more bullish on the offensive upside of the Utah Coyotes prior to the season and they’ve disappointed, expecting a raising tide raises all boats type of situation. Whether or not he’s worth rostering for the remainder of the schedule (in deep leagues) depends on how much power play time he receives/earns, with Sergachev currently getting the lion’s share. Sergachev injury risk was another reason for Durzi pre-season optimism, but the Russian has stayed healthy thus far. Or you could go with Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Toronto, who has 7 PTS in his last 11 GP, 2 of those coming on the power play.

5) John Gibson, Ana, (15% Yahoo ownership): The Anaheim Ducks might suck, but maybe not as much as you think. They have won 3 in a row, 6 of their last 7, and are closer to a playoff spot than last place. One big contributor to that recent success is John Gibson, with his .934 SV% last 6 games. Ducks finished 2nd big picture in my remaining games ranking (another Pacific team), but more for the goalies they’ll facing than the teams they are playing. The downside is alternating starts with Dostal, but he’s 85% available and stopping pucks. Another option alternating starts is Alex Lyon in Detroit, who did get yanked vs Tampa after giving up 2 goals on 3 shots last outing, but his SV% last 6 games is still .910 and the Wings are battling for a playoff spot. Talbot is playing better though, so that rotation could be subject to change.

Honorable Mentions: Tommy Novak, Bobby McMann, Marco Kasper, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Alex Lyon

Last Week: Barrett Hayton, Shane Pinto, Alex Nedeljkovic, Darren Raddysh, Nick Paul