Week 3 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my week three fantasy hockey waiver wire report, preparing you for a challenging schedule ahead with very busy Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, and few teams playing on the light nights. The award for best schedule this week goes to the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils. There are 5 teams playing 4 games (Detroit, New Jersey, Philly, Tampa, and Toronto) but only Jersey and Philly play multiple light nights (Devils get Isles-Ducks, Flyers get Caps-Canadiens). One note, my dividing line between “standard” and “deep” leagues was adjusted today because there’s not enough players in the standard range. Yahoo dropped standard leagues to 10-teams and that’s the largest format, so more players are free agents.

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

1) Barrett Hayton, Uta, (31% Yahoo ownership): The Utah Coyotes have scored at least 4 goals in 4 of their first 5 games, and the biggest driver of their offense has been the top line with Barrett Hayton, Nick Schmaltz, and Clayton Keller. In 5 GP, Hayton has 4 goals and 6 PTS (2 on the power play) and 13 shots; while Schmaltz has 6 assists (2 on the PP) with 13 shots. Anyone you can grab from that top line may could be worth holding until they go cold. Hayton got the higher billing because he has more goals which are scored higher in some formats, but Schmaltz does have multi-position eligibility and more flexibility to fit into your starting line-up. They only play 3 games this week, but those are against Ottawa, Colorado, and LA, all teams who have been leaking goals lately. Bad news is they’re all on the busy nights, so check if you even have room.

2) Samuel Ersson, Phi, (21% Yahoo ownership): The Philadelphia Flyers opened their season with a 4-game west coast road trip, returning home with a 1-3 record. Ersson played well in their win over Vancouver, but was pumped for 4 goals against Edmonton. Whereas back-up Ivan Fedotov, who sucked last season has given up 10 goals on his first 55 shots for an .818 SV%. Bet the over when Fedotov is named starter (my sister cashed one last game). Ersson had a few rough patches last season, but was solid for a long stretch. Philly plays 4 next week, but if there’s goalie scarcity in your league, Ersson isn’t a bad hold because he could soon be a high-volume starter on a quasi-decent team. The Red Wings play 4 games also and Cam Talbot is a viable option, but the Wings have given up 4 or more goals in 3 of their first 4 games. There’s some volatility here.

3) Teuvo Teravainen, Chi, (51% Yahoo ownership): Teuvo Teravainen’s return to Chicago has been explosive with his placement on the top line and top power play with Bedard, scoring 7 PTS (5 on the power play) in his first 5 games, with 11 shots and no hits. The Hawks only play 3 times this week, but they get Nashville on a light night, who have allowed 18 goals in their first 4 games. They may even get Wedgewood. Teuvo is eligible at both wings, providing added roster flexibility. My only concern long-term is that the power play points may not be sustainable, but short-term it’s worth riding the heater. Another dual-position option off to a hot start is Jared McCann in Seattle, also scoring 7 PTS (1 on the PP) in his first 5 games also with 11 shots. McCann is playing on the top line, but currently only listed on the 2nd power play.

4) Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tor, (31% Yahoo ownership): This is a 4-game week for Toronto and OEL is available in 70% of Yahoo leagues. Through 4 games he has recorded 3 PTS, 15 shots, and 5 hits. He has not yet recorded a power play point, but is currently listed on their top unit. If that becomes a permanent gig, expect his stock to climb. At the very least, it’s a good week to stream him in and re-evaluate 7 days later. Leafs only play 1 light night, but it’s Monday against Tampa (with Columbus on Tuesday and St. Louis Thursday), and front-loaded schedule means you can stream him out Friday if you need help somewhere else. Another option off to a hot start getting top power play deployment (but only plays 3 games) is Justin Faulk, with 4 PTS (2 on the PP) with 6 shots and 10 hits in 5 games. Blues have a tough schedule (except Montreal Saturday) and play all busy nights.

5) Paul Cotter, NJ, (21% Yahoo ownership): Paul Cotter opening the season with 6 PTS (5 goals), 15 shots, and 20 hits in the first 7 games wasn’t on my forecast, but he’s addable in most formats this week given New Jersey’s schedule. The bad news is he’s only eligible at center, but playing on 2 light nights so you should still be able to get him into your line-up if you have too many Cs. He’s especially valuable in leagues that count hits and shots, so will be considered for addition to 1 of my 2 teams. There aren’t many appealing 4-game players in this ownership range. Another center with added value in hits/shots leagues is Sam Bennett, who was plugged here last week after the Barkov injury news. Sammy has been getting plenty of ice since the injury and in 6 GP has 5 PTS, 21 shots, and 16 hits.

Honorable Mentions: Sam Bennett, Nick Schmaltz, Jared McCann, Justin Faulk, Cam Talbot

Last Week: Tyler Toffoli, Quinton Byfield, Joey Daccord, Lane Hutson, Evgeni Malkin

Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):

1) Stefan Noesen, NJ, (13% Yahoo ownership): The New Jersey Devils were co-winners of the best schedule but only have 1 player between 20% and 65% owned (Cotter was at 19% two days ago). In the deep league section, they have plenty of options to plug, starting with Stefan Noesen, poached from Carolina in the summer. He might only be playing 3rd line, but is also deployed on their dangerous top power play unit. Through 7 games the dual-eligible winger has 6 PTS (1 on the PP) with 11 shots and 16 hits, so extra value gets added in banger leagues. His center on that 3rd line, Erik Haula, is also off to a nice start with 5 PTS (1 on the PP) and 12 hits in 7 GP. You won’t find Haula on the top power play unit, but he does play on the second.

2) Jake Allen, NJ, (19% Yahoo ownership): Jake Allen is making his 3rd consecutive appearance on my weekly fantasy report with the Devils playing 4 games yet again. If the rotation continues at its current pattern, Allen would only get 1 start against Detroit, but the Devils are 5-2 and look like a legit contender since fortifying their back-end. I’m a Markstrom owner in one league and would have been much better off with Jake Allen on my bench than Alexandar Georgiev. In deeper leagues with goalie scarcity, Markstrom owners need to acquire Allen (who has stopped 37 of his first 38 shots). If you’re looking for an option with longer term high-volume potential, Joel Blomqvist looks on his way to becoming the Penguins #1 goalie, just not a great schedule for them in the week ahead.

UPDATE: Just saw Nedeljkovic is back, which hurts Blomqvist’s “high-volume potential).

3) Jonathan Kovacevic, NJ, (8% Yahoo ownership): Jonny Kovacevic wasn’t featured on my fantasy report last week, but did crack the watchlist after a quality opening week. The young defender averaged 21:38 ice time through 7 games, with 5 PTS, 7 shots and 11 hits. He’s absent from both power play units, but has produced well at even strength. Long-term he’s likely to get a substantial decrease in ice time when Luke Hughes returns, he’s more or less just a good streaming target this week because of the schedule. If you’d rather have a power play one option, Jamie Drysdale also has a strong schedule but is off to a slower start with 1 point in 4 games (at least it was on the power play). Only 3 shots and 1 hit is the knock on Jamie, but he’s available in more leagues than Jonny.

4) Morgan Frost, Phi, (5% Yahoo ownership): Morgan Frost is currently deployed on Philly’s top line with Tippett and Mitchkov, as well as the top power play. As previously mentioned, Flyers have a desirable schedule, with Frost scoring 3 PTS (all on the power play) with 12 shots through 4 games. If this ice time continues and that power play gets rolling, Frost stock will climb much higher. He’s currently available in 95% of Yahoo leagues, though is only eligible at center. If you’d rather have a 4-game center with wing eligibility, Nick Paul is 90% available and playing 2nd line and 2nd power play for the Lightning. Paul scored 3 PTS (1 on the PP) in his first 3 games (plus a goal against Ottawa today) with 5 shots and 4 hits. Tough schedule for Tampa though.

5) Max Domi, Tor, (16% Yahoo ownership): Max Domi is off to a nice start for Toronto, scoring 5 PTS in his first 4 games, centering their 2nd line and 2nd power play. Both those lines currently include Bobby McMann, who cracked the watchlist and is also a sneaky good streamer, with 3 goals, 8 shots, and 6 hits through 3 games. The knock on Domi is low shot and hit totals early in the season, so if you’re sensitive to that, maybe go with Bobby instead. The knock on Bobby is no guarantee he dresses every game, but at least the hot start should buy him a little more leash. Another 4-game option centering a line 2, power play 2 is J.T Compher in Detroit. Through 4 games he has 3 PTS (1 on the PP) with 11 shots, eligible at all 3 forward positions for max flexibility.

Honorable Mentions: Nick Paul, Joel Blomqvist, Jamie Drysdale, Erik Haula, JT Compher

Last Week: Kevin Lankinen, William Eklund, Jake Wallman, Mikael Granlund, Anton Lundell

My strength of schedule graphic will return next week.