We’re back with the NHL Fantasy Guide this week! It was a holiday weekend in the States last week, with American Thanksgiving being super late this year, but we’re here to bring you more fantasy streamers and waiver wire pickups. A small change for this week: there will be no light night section, as only two teams fit the bill and both of them are also four-game streamers–kill two birds with one stone by claiming a guy from either the New York Rangers or the Buffalo Sabres!
Four-Game Streamers
It’s not the best week for four-game streamers, as five of the eight teams with a full slate are out of playoff position–and two of them Anaheim and Chicago, notoriously starved for fantasy value. There are, of course, opportunities for excess value, but streaming candidates this week aren’t as exciting as other weeks.
Kent Johnson, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets | 41.9% ESPN
Holy smokes, talk about a come back. Johnson returned from injury and went on a five game point streak, racking up four goals and seven points in that span. That kind of production likely isn’t sustainable, but he’s getting top-six minutes and has a spot on the first power play unit. If he does keep up that production, however? Johnson might be a keeper through the end of the season.
Dylan Cozens, C, Buffalo Sabres | 49.9% ESPN
Talk about a rough season. Just this past week, the Sabres blew a 4-0 lead against the Colorado Avalanche, and Tage Thompson didn’t make Team USA (let us know in the comments if you think that’s a snub). Dylan Cozens has been a part of the downward spiral, too: he’s not playing like a guy signed to a $7.1-million AAV contract. The good news for fantasy managers is that Cozens has started scoring again–not a lot, but enough to be an option for those desperate to squeeze a few more points out of their roster. Despite his struggles, Cozens still has a spot in the top six and on the first power play unit–and the Sabres are one of the two teams with three light nights this week.
Alex Vlasic, D, Chicago Blackhawks | 35.4% ESPN
We mentioned Vlasic in our last fantasy guide, and he’s earned another mention here. Seth Jones is still out, and Vlasic has risen to the occasion with power play production to boost his fantasy stats. Even when he’s not scoring, he blocks enough shots to provide some additional value in deeper leagues.
Jared Spurgeon, D, Minnesota Wild | 11.3% ESPN
The Wild are dealing with an injury to Jonas Brodin so, in the short term, Jared Spurgeon is getting top-four minutes and power play rotation. Spurgeon doesn’t bring much in other categories but, as long as he gets to share the ice with Kirill Karpizov and Matt Boldy, he’s going to have an opportunity to get points.
Will Cuylle, LW, New York Rangers | 46.6% ESPN
A healthy Filip Chytil has reunited arguably the Rangers’ strongest line with Will Cuylle on the wing. Very little of the Rangers roster has positive fantasy value right now but, despite Cuylle’s scoring cooling off, he’s still the best option that’s most widely available. You could make an argument for streaming Reilly Smith on the second line, but eh, Cuylle’s got the better track record of late.
Philip Broberg, D, St. Louis Blues | 11.4% ESPN
Since returning from injury, Broberg’s scoring has more or less picked up from right where he left off. He’s playing on the top pair in St. Louis and, if he keeps scoring, could end up on the top power play unit. His underlying numbers aren’t that great as he gets back into rhythm, but that’s mostly irrelevant in fantasy as long as he’s producing points.
Chris Tanev, D, Toronto Maple Leafs | 34.3% EPSN
The Leafs have been running a five-forward first unit power play, which depresses the fantasy value of Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who are points-first defensemen. Power play time matters very little for Chris Tanev, who’s been getting over 20 minutes a night lately and has contributed more offense than he’s known for. Even if the scoring doesn’t continue, he’s a shot blocking machine, and there’s some depth value to be had there.
Bonus: Robert Thomas, C, St. Louis Blues | 61.6% ESPN
Thomas has been on a tear since returning from injury, and it is shocking how few managers have him rostered–pick him up now for a season-long keeper.
Back-to-Back Goalie Options
There aren’t many prime back-to-backs to try and take advantage of this week for goalie streaming; in fact, by my count, there may only be two–and it’s the same goalie for both games. That said, if you want to roll the dice on Jonathan Quick playing behind a mediocre Rangers team against the St. Louis Blues, be my guest.
Joseph Woll, G, Toronto Maple Leafs | 56.1% ESPN
The Leafs get two teams on the second halves of back-to-backs this week: the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, and the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. How head coach Craig Berube deploys his goalies this week is up in the air, but you’d have to assume Woll gets the start for one of those games, right? The only word of warning is that the Leafs themselves are on the second half of a back-to-back against Buffalo, so it’ll just come down to who’s the more tired team.
