Week 24 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my week 24 fantasy hockey waiver wire report, with one of my teams on the brink of a round one elimination, a season murdered by Stuart Skinner and Jacob Markstrom. I was done dirty by the Commish, who changed the format shortly before playoffs. There was supposed to be 8 teams with no byes, but he switched it to 6 with byes, then changed the schedule to have a “rivalry week” (which I thought was a new thing Yahoo was doing in every league), matching me with the top 2 teams while I got passed by a team with easier rivals and missed the bye by a very slim margin. I was the one who initially complained in September that 8 playoff spots in a 12 team league was too many, but the Commish said he couldn’t change it, then figured it out right before playoffs.

I can’t even remember my last first round exit, but knew that team was doomed for the last few weeks, so it’s not a hard pill to swallow. Oh well, better luck next year. Neither of those goalies will be on any of my rosters next season, unless they drop to the later rounds. My other team still hasn’t started playoffs, but only top 4 qualify, so I’m guaranteed a final four appearance. I’ve saved all my adds for tonight or tomorrow, but without care of winning my current match. Stay tuned to my Twitter account for who was added. Nashville won the best schedule of the week award, while Minnesota is the only team playing all the light nights.

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

1) Valeri Nichushkin, Col, (63% Yahoo ownership): Val Nichushkin was on one of my fantasy teams for a few weeks until he sustained a multi-week injury and Colorado never put him on IR, so he was day-to-day and burning a roster spot, earning a drop. When he returned, Avs put him on line 2, power play 2 (without either MacKinnon or Rantanen), so I didn’t reclaim him, someone else did, and now he’s back on line 1 PP1, helping knock me out of the playoffs. In his last 13 GP, the dual-eligible winger has 13 PTS (5 on the PP) with 35 shots and 18 hits. If he’s still available in 63% of leagues, those are probably mostly 10 teamers or less (Yahoo standard leagues dropped from 12 to 10 this season), but you can still cash cheap line 1, PP1 residuals with the 75% available Jonathan Drouin, who also has 13 PTS (8 on the PP) in his last 13 GP with 17 shots and 8 hits.

2) Jonathan Huberdeau, Cgy, (56% Yahoo ownership): The Calgary Flames are battling to make playoffs and production from their highest paid player has played a big role keeping them in the race (Kadri deserves the most credit and he’s been plugged here plenty recently). In his last 14 GP, Huberdeau has 15 PTS (7 on the PP) with 32 shots and 8 hits. He already has more points than his first 2 Flames seasons, on pace to score 66. That’s still considerably short of his pay grade so he’s not necessarily earning an exemption from my 2025 worst contracts list, but it’s less bad than it looked 1 year ago. Calgary plays 4 times this week, but it’s the toughest schedule of the 4-gamers. If you’d like a more widely available option with a better schedule, Mason Marchment in Dallas is rounding back into form after an extended absence. In his last 14 GP, the winger has 10 PTS (2 on the PP) with 24 shots and 23 hits.

3) Dylan Cozens, Ott, (43% Yahoo ownership): When Dylan Cozens was recommended in last week’s waiver report, it was mentioned that Ottawa plays 4 in week 24 as well, so anyone who added him on my advice can let it ride. Sens have him playing line 2 and power play 1, the biggest knock being he’s only eligible at center and Ottawa plays on all the busiest days, so you might have issues fitting him into your line-up. In his last 15 GP, he has collected 9 PTS (3 on the PP) with 39 shots and 51 hits. Not the best addition if all you want is PTS, but excellent if you’re also scoring shots and hits. Another option is Sam Bennett in Florida, who just added Brad Marchand as a new linemate. Also, only available at center, but Florida has an east upcoming schedule and Bennett has 12 PTS (3 on the PP) in his last 13 GP with 44 shots and 20 hits.

4) Brady Skjei, Nsh, (45% Yahoo ownership): The Nashville Predators have the best schedule this week for opponent goals allowed, but only have 2 players between 20% and 65% ownership on Yahoo. Ryan O’Reilly is the other, but was a late cut from the watchlist. In his last 15 GP, Skjei has 6 PTS (4 on the PP) with 30 shots and 8 hits. Daily Faceoff lists Blankenburg on PP1 and Skjei on PP2, but has fewer PP PTS last 30 days than Brady. Hopefully that earns him more PP time, but at least the shot volume will benefit those of you scoring that category even if he stays on the 2^nd unit. Another option with a higher offensive ceiling is Jared Spurgeon in Minnesota, scoring 8 PTS (4 on the PP) in his last 15 GP with 20 shots and 12 hits. He missed some time due to injury, but scoring at a 40-point pace when healthy, playing 4 times this week Mon-Wed-Fri-Sun.

5) Charlie Lindgren, Wsh, (30% Yahoo ownership): Charlie Lindgren has been reduced to a 1/3 start share in Washington with an .887 SV% last 30 days, so he hasn’t been plugged here much in the last couple months, despite limited quality options in the lower end of the ownership range. He spent a few months on one of my rosters when he was alternating starts, but never earned that spot back once dropped, despite a barren waiver wire among goalies in that league (he was replaced with Daccord who is still on that roster). The reason I’m expecting Charles to be in charge this week is Caps play 4 games, and Lindgren could be getting Boston and Chicago where WSH will be a heavy favorite. Another option is Lukas Dostal, who should be starting vs San Jose and Vancouver if the Ducks rotation holds. In his last 11 GP, Dostal has 5 wins with an .893 SV%.

Honorable Mentions: Sam Bennett, Jonathan Drouin, Mason Marchment, Lukas Dostal, Jared Spurgeon

Last Week: Dylan Cozens, Patrick Kane, Juraj Slafkovsky, Luke Hughes, Karel Vejmelka

Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):

1) Matt Coronato, Cgy, (8% Yahoo ownership): If you found my Huberdeau review enticing but he’s not available in your league, his wingman on line 2 and power play 1 Matt Coronato is 92% available. In his last 5 GP, the young winger has 6 PTS (2 on the PP) with 15 shots and 4 hits. Have you heard he’s a Harvard graduate? Apparently, this makes him extra special and deserving of your respect. Calgary only has 1 light night, but it’s Monday and they have a front-loaded schedule Mon-Tue-Thu, so you can add him early then drop for a weekend streamer. If you’d rather get more hits, his teammate Martin Pospisil is a battering ram playing on the top line with Kadri and Sharangovich. In his last 14 GP, the winger has 4 PTS with 19 shots and 60 hits. Not much utility in a points-only league, but awesome if you want collisions.

2) Luke Evangelista, Nsh, (1% Yahoo ownership): We already discussed Nashville’s desirable schedule, and Luke Evangelista is currently deployed on their top line with O’Reilly-Forsberg and second power play. Pretty sure this is his first plug here this season, but was a more frequent guest in the past before his stock hit the floor. In his last 14 GP, Luke has 10 PTS (3 on the PP) with 25 shots and 6 hits. If he gets dropped down the line-up, he loses most of his value, but he’s available in 99% of leagues and worth adding for the week ahead while that deployment holds. If you’d rather have a top power play option playing all the light nights, Frederick Gaudreau in Minnesota is 98% available. In his last 15 GP, Freddy has 9 PTS (2 on the PP) with 22 shots and 10 hits, not all that time spent on the top unit.

3) Mackie Samoskevich, Fla, (15% Yahoo ownership): Mackie Samoskevich recently earned a plug on this report as a result of his line 2, power play 1 deployment on line with the aforementioned Sam Bennett. Marchand returned from injury and joins the dynamic duo, with Mackie holding his spot on that line. In his last 13 GP, the young winger has 9 PTS (6 on the PP) with 32 shots and 38 hits. He’s even worth adding in shallower category leagues with those peripheral stats, but getting bumped from the power play and/or Matthew Tkachuk returning early from injury would have a substantial negative impact on his stock value. Another option is David Perron in Ottawa, playing line 2 and power play 2. In his last 13 GP, the dual-eligible winger has 10 PTS (3 on the PP) with 14 shots and 28 hits. Shooting value is low, but the hits make up the difference.

4) Jayden Struble, Mtl, (1% Yahoo ownership): If you’re competing in a league scoring hits and like filling that category with blueliners, Montreal D-man Jayden Struble is available in 99% of leagues and an excellent choice to boost your totals. In his last 14 GP, Struble has 5 PTS with 12 shots, 39 hits, and a +7. Montreal has a desirable schedule, but playing all the busiest nights, so make sure there will be room on your roster. He’s only getting 3^rd pair minutes with no power play time but you won’t find many reliable PP quarterbacks under 20% owned. If you’d rather a higher points and shots ceiling, Matt Roy is playing 4 times this week. In his last 14 GP, Roy has 6 PTS with 22 shots, 10 hits, and a +13. He spent 2-3 weeks on one of my rosters earlier in the season when Caps had a busy schedule, but hasn’t been recalled since his last drop.

5) Calvin Pickard, Edm, (17% Yahoo ownership): Stuart Skinner is currently day-to-day with injury, thrusting Calvin Pickard into the primary gig. The latest press release says Skinner is probably out for a week and the Oilers will be playing 3 games, downside being 2 of those are against Vegas and LA on the road. San Jose is in between, but if Pickard has a bad showing vs Vegas, he may not get the Sharks start. Draisaitl is probable to return tonight vs Calgary but will be a game-time decision, still no word on McDavid. In his last 7 GP, Pickard has 3 wins with a .906 SV%. Skinner is on my team about to be eliminated, but I’ll probably add Pickard Monday for my consolation match if he’s still on the board. Another option is Scott Wedgewood, who may only get 1 start, but a likely win. In his last 5 GP, the Avs back-up has 5 wins with a .939 SV%.

Honorable Mentions: Scott Wedgewood, Matt Roy, Martin Pospisil, Frederick Gaudreau, David Perron

Last Week: Tony DeAngelo, Warren Foegele, Marco Kasper, Barrett Hayton, Petr Mrazek