Week 4 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report

Welcome to my week four fantasy hockey waiver wire report, spanning 7 days with one of the most “balanced” day-to-day schedules I’ve seen in a while. There are no “light nights” Monday to Sunday, so that variable will be absent from my strength of schedule graphic, making its 2024/25 debut. The award for best schedule this week goes to the Boston Bruins, mostly a product of playing twice against Philly averaging 4.4 goals against per game. Chicago is not far behind, playing Colorado, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim, all teams you can score on (Ducks have been getting good goaltending from Dostal). There are 11 other teams playing 4 games, with the Toronto Maple Leafs having by far the toughest 4-game schedule (Minnesota and Winnipeg have been very tough to score against (Philly just lit up Minnesota as this was being finished)).

Even if you don’t play fantasy and just follow me for gambling advice, my stat graphics at the bottom of this page can be very useful for player prop betting. We’re still playing with relatively small samples, with values like San Jose’s 0% winning percentage skewing some multipliers. 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.

If you have any specific questions about adds or drops, please reply on social media posts linking this report. I have always answered 99% of fantasy related questions from followers. Engaging with the Tweet containing the link helps me overcome algorithmic disadvantages. Likes help too. Though I understand some of you may not want league-mates who follow you to see specific questions, or even find this blog. There may be tactical advantages to letting the algorithm screw me…

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

1) Mikael Granlund, SJ, (32% Yahoo ownership): The San Jose Sharks might be winless, only scoring 9 goals in their last 5 games, but Mikael Granlund has 8 PTS (5 on the power play) in that span. Yes, some fantasy analysts will look at his “points participation” and say this is not sustainable. Obviously 8 PTS in 5 GP is ostensibly “unsustainable” for any Sharks forward, but he’s currently on a roll logging big minutes (per game: 22:58, 22:11, 21:14, 22:05, 19:57, 23:40, 24:27). That ice time is the reason for the 29 shots in 8 GP. He was recently streamed onto one of my rosters, but shuffled out this week. If he’s not scooped up on waivers, he may rejoin my squad in the week ahead. The player he was streamed out for was Teuvo Teravainen, who has scored 7 PTS in 8 GP playing top line and top power play with Bedard, though pointless in his last 3. I’m hanging on for their California road trip.

2) Tom Wilson, Wsh, (48% Yahoo ownership): Tom Wilson is not quite the hitting machine we have seen in years past, recording only 1 hit in 3 of his first 6 games, but had 7 against New Jersey. What’s more impressive is his 5 goals in 6 GP, adding 1 goal, 14 shots and 15 hits. He may only be playing 2nd line, but does play on their top power play unit (only 1 of his 6 PTS have come on the power play, so he’s not cashing out big dividends there quite yet). This is a much better play in leagues counting hits and shots, but because of that power play deployment is not completely radioactive for PTS leagues. If you want more PTS, his teammate Dylan Strome has 9 (2 on the PP) in 6 GP with 11 shots and no hits. That’s the guy I’d be grabbing from Washington for PTS leagues, playing top line and top power play with Ovie.

3) Cole Perfetti, Wpg, (28% Yahoo ownership): Jets youngster Cole Perfetti is off to a hot start, with 8 PTS (3 on the PP) in his first 7 games with 18 shots and a +7. Those numbers have come playing 2nd line and 2nd power play, which does cast some doubt on the sustainability, and if you’re looking for hits from your streamers, Perfetti is not for you. But my attitude is always ride the heaters while they last and if they go cold, just catch the next shooting star on waivers. At least Nikolaj Ehlers joins him on a line two, and that’s a talented offensive player to be paired with. If you’d rather have a power play one option, Jonathan Huberdeau in Calgary is more than 50% available and has 7 PTS (3 on the PP) in his first 7 games. Sadly, both his shot and hit numbers are low, so if you’re scoring those, maybe avoid Jonny. At least Perfetti shoots more.

4) Neal Pionk, Wpg, (65% Yahoo ownership): There are stunningly few quality waiver options between 20% and 65% owned on Yahoo. Going through all the many 4-game teams, only 3 D were nominated for my watchlist from this range, so nobody got cut. At the top of that list was Neal Pionk, who has 8 PTS (3 on the PP) in 7 GP with 18 shots and 10 hits. Yes, Pionk is now at 67% owned, but it was 65% when he has chosen for this spot Friday night. Jets play 4 times this week and Pionk is a quality streaming option if you can find him, despite only playing 2nd unit power play. If you’d rather a more widely available option who does play top PP, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is 50% available, scoring 5 PTS in 8 GP with 22 shots and 15 hits. Not an easy schedule for Toronto this week and OEL still has not recorded a PP point, so it’s not all sunshine and lollipops.

UPDATE: Reilly looks to be playing Leafs top unit tonight. Daily Faceoff still has OEL.

5) Justus Annunen, Col, (38% Yahoo ownership): Alexandar Georgiev struggled out of the gate and Justus Annunen has started and won their last 3 games, giving up only 4 goals (spoiling some of my over/under picks). He has a .917 SV% in 5 games, but that’s .949 in his starts. He’s worth picking up just to see how long this lasts and if he can sustain his role as their permanent starter. I just dropped Georgiev in a league, who was a waiver wire pick-up because a clown drafted all goalies and Commish reset his line-up. Georgiev was on my bust list, so hopefully none of my readers spent significant draft capital on him and his .810 SV%. Another option who is in a 50:50 time share with a decent schedule is Joey Daccord, sporting 3 wins and a .907 SV% through 4 games. The downside is the current rotation slots him into their 2 toughest games against Toronto and Boston, so Grubauer might be the better play despite worse numbers.

Honorable Mentions: Teuvo Teravainen, Joey Daccord, Dylan Strome, Jonathan Huberdeau, Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Last Week: Barrett Hayton, Samuel Ersson, Teuvo Teravainen, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Paul Cotter

Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):

1) Jordan Eberle, Sea, (15% Yahoo ownership): In his first 8 GP of the season, Jordan Eberle has recorded 8 PTS (only 1 on the PP, but 6 are goals) while playing top line and top power play for the Kraken. Seattle has the 3rd best schedule by cumulative opponent goals against, and have several options available on many waiver wires. Obviously Eberle’s 60-goal pace isn’t going to stick around much longer, but it’s also not guaranteed to end immediately. Eberle is a steady veteran with a low ceiling and high floor. Another line 1, PP1 option is Nick Foligno in Chicago, scoring 4 PTS (2 on the PP) with 19 shots and 26 hits in 8 GP. He’s certainly worth more in leagues counting hits and shots, but the proximity to Bedard does give him some value in deeper PTS-only formats. Frankly I think Chicago is taking this mentorship thing a little too far with this deployment for this guy, but it’s helping him put up numbers.

2) Anthony Cirelli, TB, (15% Yahoo ownership): The Tampa Bay Lightning have averaged 4 goals per game through 7 games, and a big contributor was Anthony Cirelli on the 2nd line and 2nd power play, scoring 9 PTS (1 on the PP) with 13 shots and 7 hits. His linemates are Brandon Hagel (who scored a hat trick on my bench this week) and Conor Geekie, so there is potential for quasi-sustainability of Cirelli’s production, but it’s unlikely he’ll finish at a point per game. He scored 45 PTS last season, so 50 to 60 isn’t out of the question, but it’s another example of strike while the iron is hot. Another option who joins him on power play 2 is Nick Paul, who is also scoring at a point per game clip, adding 12 shots and 8 hits through 7 games. The downside with Paul is his even strength linemates Essymont and Chaffee limiting his upside/sustainability.

3) Petr Mrazek, Chi, (17% Yahoo ownership): The Chicago Blackhawks have only won 2 of their first 8 games with Mrazek sporting an .892 SV% through 6 GP. Adding Mrazek is not a risk-free bet, especially if you plan to start him their first game against Colorado (which I would not advise). But they head to California next and those will be some winnable games, hence why Chicago has the 2nd best schedule. The other risk here is that if Pete gets lit up by Colorado, Soderblom could start against San Jose, then Mrazek against LA, then Soderblom on the back-to-back. So Mrazek could only start 2, and their 2 toughest. The aforementioned Philipp Grubauer is arguably safer (despite a worse SV%) and available in more leagues. He’s likely to get Montreal and Ottawa. The Sens can score so that’s not risk-free either, but Montreal is a strong chance for a win.

4) Cole Koepke, Bos, (6% Yahoo ownership): Fourth liners averaging 11:03 per game with no power play time rarely get plugged on this report, but in the first 8 games, this one has 6 PTS, 13 shots and 21 hits. That scoring rate is entirely unsustainable given his current deployment, so you really need to be in a bangers league to be taking this advice. He is +9, which is a testament to the effectiveness of that 4th line at even strength, and with a pair of games against Philly coming up, that line may get a little extra ice time. Strong schedule for Boston ahead, and his teammate Pavel Zacha is available in more than 80% of Yahoo leagues. Zacha plays top line and top power play with Pasta, but has only recorded 2 PTS in his first 8 GP (none on the PP). This might be a good week to roll the dice that the slump will soon end, but if it doesn’t, just stream him out for fresh meat next week.

5) Ryker Evans, Sea, (5% Yahoo ownership): Ryker Evans played 36 games last season, his first in the NHL. He managed to record 9 PTS (5 on the PP) with 44 shots and 62 hits. 8 games into his sophomore season, Ryker has 5 PTS (1 on the PP) with 14 shots and 12 hits. The loss of Vince Dunn will open up more power play time for Evans, with Montour currently quarterbacking the top unit. Last game Evans logged 1:06 on the PP, Montour 2:54. This recommendation does carry more weight in leagues counting hits and shots, but the point production has been respectable too, currently on pace for 51 PTS. If you want less points but more hits, Nikita Zadorov has a great schedule with a pair of games against Philly where he’ll surely be throwing that big body around plenty. He has 3 assists, no goals in 8 GP and is not playing power play.

Honorable Mentions: Pavel Zacha, Nick Paul, Philip Grubauer, Nikita Zadorov, Nick Foligno

Last Week: Stefan Noesen, Jake Allen, Jonathan Kovacevic, Morgan Frost, Max Domi