Week 8 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report
Welcome to my week eight fantasy hockey waiver wire report, with the second quarter of the schedule now officially underway. This is going to be a very busy week, with no games Thursday for American Thanksgiving. The award for best schedule goes to the Calgary Flames, facing Ottawa, Detroit, Columbus, and Pittsburgh. All teams you can score on. There will be 24 teams playing 4 games, so you’ll have plenty of options, they just may be difficult to squeeze into your roster on those busy nights. Edmonton and Toronto only play twice, so if you’re rostering any bubble players from those teams, they’re expendable. In the current week, one of my teams is up 10-0 while the other is losing 9-0. At least that’s a net positive. They’re both head-to-head with playoffs, so even if one of my teams goes cold, I only need to finish top 6 out of 12 and can still win the league.
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. 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.
Best Standard League Adds (20% to 65% Yahoo ownership):
1) Kiefer Sherwood, Van, (35% Yahoo ownership): Kiefer Sherwood’s stellar play in the first quarter has earned him a promotion to the top line with Elias Petterssen and the second power play unit. In his last 12 GP, the dual-eligible winger has 6 PTS with 24 shots and 71 hits. If you’re in a categories league with hits (like me), his physical play increases total value. Sherwood is sitting on waivers in one of my leagues, and is a likely candidate to join my team tomorrow. Hopefully nobody in my league is reading this and scoops him up first, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take in order to max the value of this report to readers. If you’d rather more PTS than hits, look for Gabe Vilardi in Winnipeg, playing top line and top power play with Kyle Connor. In his last 14 games, Gabe has scored 8 goals, 13 PTS (5 on the PP) with 33 shots and 4 hits.
2) Mason Marchment, Dal, (62% Yahoo ownership): Mason Marchment has become a frequent finalist for my weekly watchlist, even when Dallas only plays 3 games. They haven’t had many 4-game weeks lately and are in a 3-way tie for fewest games played in the NHL. In his last 10 GP, Marchment has 12 PTS (4 on the PP) with 21 shots, 17 hits and a +6. That Marchment-Duchene-Seguin trio has been consistently productive dating back to last season, joining each other on the Stars 2nd power play unit. Dallas does have a difficult schedule, but Marchment is worth a longer look than just a quick stream. Another option who currently occupies one of my own roster spots is Tom Wilson. Ovie might be injured, but Wilson is playing line 1, power play 1, scoring 8 PTS with 29 shots and 39 hits in his last 13 GP. I’m in no rush to drop. Available in nearly half of leagues.
3) Stefan Noesen, NJ, (49% Yahoo ownership): Stefan Noesen made his first appearance here in week 3 when he was 13% owned on Yahoo, the production never slowed down, and the stock price continued climbing. In his last 13 games, the dual-eligible winger has 7 goals, 9 PTS (5 on the PP) with 23 shots and 34 hits, giving added value in banger formats. He’s playing on a line with Meier and Hischier, in addition to top unit power play. There’s a good reason that his adds have continuously outpaced his drops on waiver wires, and the Devils have some weak opponents ahead. Another player plugged repeatedly here lately is Fabian Zetterlund, playing top line and top power play in San Jose. In his last 15 GP, Zetterlund has 11 PTS (1 on the PP) with 28 shots, 31 hits, and a +10. Yeah, a Sharks forward is +10 in the last 30 days.
4) Jake Walman, SJ, (42% Yahoo ownership): Jake Walman’s ownership growth stalled after missing 5 games due to injury, but he’s back healthy scoring 3 PTS in 4 games back with 15 shots. The concern is that he’s only listed on the 2nd power play and played zero minutes in their last game, but St. Louis only took 2 penalties and Sharks scored a PP goal. The Sharks also play a difficult schedule, but Walman is featured here regardless because he has 10 PTS in his last 10 GP with 31 shots and 8 hits. It’s only 50-50 Liljegren holds that PP1 spot, and Walman is producing well enough even strength, then he’s worth holding longer-term. Another option more widely available and featured here last week is Rasmus Sandin, who has 8 PTS in his last 13 GP with 13 shots, 17 hits, and a +11. He gets even less power play time than Walman, but productive even strength.
5) John Gibson, Ana, (24% Yahoo ownership): John Gibson has returned from his injury hiatus, winning 3 of his first 4 games with a .906 SV%. The downside is splitting starts with Dostal, but the Ducks look like they’re heating up, Gibson is playing well and available in 75% of Yahoo leagues. 3 of their 4 games are against teams outside the playoffs, so those are winnable even if the current heater in unsustainable. If you are the Dostal owner, grabbing Gibson to get all the Ducks starts this week is not a bad play. It feels like the chariot is destined to transform back into a pumpkin eventually, but bust a move on that dance floor before the clock strikes midnight. If you want a widely available option who could get 4 starts on a playoff team, Dave Rittich in LA is sporting a .920 SV% in his last 7 games, also available in 75% of leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Gabe Vilardi, Fabian Zetterlund, Tom Wilson, Rasmus Sandin, Dave Rittich
Last Week: Mikael Granlund, Logan Stankoven, Darnell Nurse, Dylan Guenther, Connor Ingram
Best Deep League Adds (under 20% ownership):
1) Matt Coronato, Cgy, (2% Yahoo ownership): The Calgary Flames have the best upcoming schedule, and Matt Coronato currently finds himself on 2nd line and 1st power play. The young winger isn’t doing much hitting, but does have 7 PTS and 26 shots in his last 11 GP. He arrived in Calgary as a highly touted NCAA prospect, but required some seasoning in the minors (scoring 44 PTS in 43 GP) before earning a regular shift in the NHL. If you like getting in on the ground floor of a rising asset, he’s available in 98% of leagues, but that should continue to shrink if he can hold that power play gig. If you’d rather more hits, Trent Frederic in Boston has 39 in his last 14 games. Only 5 PTS, but at least 1 of those was on the power play. Boston will be facing some weak opponents; they just lack tantalizing options under 65% owned.
2) Joonas Korpisalo, Bos, (19% Yahoo ownership): Jeremy Swayman has struggled in Boston after missing training camp and pre-season, playing a big role getting the coach fired. Meanwhile his back-up Joonas Korpisalo has quietly posted a .937 SV% with 2 shutouts in his last 6 games. The Bruins have an easy schedule coming up and Korpisalo will get at least 1, hopefully 2 starts. If you’re the Swayman owner, you should have already added him as an insurance policy, because they could fall into an equal time share if the new coach figures that’s the best way to get Swayman going. Another option is Karel Vejmelka, who was featured here last week after heating up. The downside of Utah is very difficult schedule and only 3 games. They play Montreal on Tuesday so that’s a great opportunity, but their next 3 are against VEG-EDM-DAL then it looks like they go into bye. You could spot-start Dan Vladar for Calgary’s back-to-back vs Columbus-Pittsburgh.
3) Olen Zellweger, Ana, (20% Yahoo ownership): Another youngster whose stock is climbing, Olen Zellweger, who is quarterbacking the Ducks top power play, scoring 8 PTS (4 on the PP) in his last 13 games, with 31 shots and 9 hits. He is a blue-chip prospect who is cashing early dividends after earning consistent playing time. He had 4 PTS in their little 3-game winning streak that cost me a few wagers. If this team can get consistent scoring on top of stellar goaltending, that aforementioned proverbial clock may not strike midnight as soon as expected. They may not be playing many playoff teams this week, but they’re also facing opponents who don’t give up many goals. The Islanders have a better schedule and Ryan Pulock is available in 90% of leagues, scoring 6 PTS in his last 14 GP with 25 shots and 26 hits.
4) Pius Suter, Van, (1% Yahoo ownership): Injuries and absences in Vancouver have elevated Pius Suter into a line two, power play one role and the Canucks have among the best upcoming schedules (with more light nights than Calgary). In his last 6 GP, Suter has 4 PTS (1 on the PP) with 13 shots and 4 hits. Needless to say, Suter has not received many plugs here in the last couple years, but his linemates on line two are Dakota Joshua and Connor Garland, who were a very effective duo last season including playoffs. If Suter can build chemistry with them and the power play gets going, he’s a decent option until Miller returns. Or you could go with Yegor Sharangovich in Calgary, who does have disappointing production the last 30 days, but still shoots a ton and plays top unit power play. Eventually more of those shots will start going into the net.
5) Eric Robinson, Car, (2% Yahoo ownership): Confusion was my initial reaction to seeing Eric Robinson ping my radar, but Carolina has him playing up on the second line with Marty Necas. Sadly, he’s not on the power play, but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring 11 PTS in his last 14 GP with 16 shots, 20 hits, and a +8. The shot totals are weak, but who doesn’t love points? He’s available in 98% of leagues, so even in deeper formats you’re likely to find him on waivers. These reports are for people in leagues of all shapes and sizes. The Hurricanes do have a difficult schedule ahead, so if you’d rather add a player with an easier schedule, more light nights, top line, top power play, 96% available, look for Kirby Dach in Montreal. That line 1 duty is replacing Cole Caufield and might be short lived, but Dach has 3 PTS in his last 5 GP with 8 shots and 13 hits.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Pulock, Yegor Sharangovich, Karel Vejmelka, Kirby Dach, Trent Frederic
Last Week: William Eklund, Michael Kesselring, Karel Vejmelka, Anders Lee, Nick Bjugstad
