I don’t know about all you fine folks, but my roster got smacked on the chin with injuries last week. We’re far enough into the season that the waiver wire is relatively barren of secret pickups, and most rosters are solidified enough that every player has their role–and little space for surplus fantasy value.
But those injuries do present opportunity: depth players get elevated to more important roles. Some flourish, some flounder, but they’re absolutely worth taking a flier on when the opportunity arises (see: Alex Vlasic while Seth Jones is sidelined). Where possible, we’ll make some suggestions for players who’ve been tasked with filling in for injured teammates and have a chance to make an impact.
Four-Game Streamers
We’ve got several four-gamers this week, and most of them are good teams–that means players are primed to succeed because of a solid environment. Let’s get into it.
Shane Wright, C, Seattle Kraken | 9% ESPN
It’s been an up-and-down start to Wright’s professional career (literally: he was yo-yo’d between the AHL and NHL a bunch since being drafted), but it looks like he’s finally hitting his stride. In the month of December, Wright is just a shade under a point per game centering the Kraken’s third line. At the moment, he’s only on the secondary power play unit but, if he continues scoring, he may be able to find his way onto the first unit. The Kraken aren’t the best team in the league, but young players like Wright stepping up are how they’re going to take the next step.
Mackenzie Blackwood, G, Colorado Avalanche | 23% ESPN
New digs, who dis? Blackwood’s numbers on the season may not shine because he was playing behind a miserable San Jose team, but the Avs are loaded with talent–he should find plenty of opportunity to get some wins now that he has an actual good team to support him.
Vasily Podkolzin, LW, Edmonton Oilers | 0.6% ESPN
“Who?” you might be asking. It doesn’t matter: Podkolzin is playing on the wing of Leon Draisaitl, and you pick up guys who play with superstars. Podkolzin isn’t the most consistent player, but he did have two assists against the Wild last week.
Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers | 44.3% ESPN
The departure of Brandon Montour in the off season left a glaring hole on the Panthers’ first power play unit, and the team has tried fixing it with Adam Boqvist and Uvis Balinskis, though neither worked out as well as hoped. Enter Ekblad, who’s taken over QBing the top unit once again, playing alongside stars Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart–plenty of points to be had there.
Trevor Moore, LW, LA Kings | 49.5% ESPN
He may not be getting first unit power play time, but Trevor Moore’s back on the top line playing with Anze Kopitar. As always, putting a goal scorer in a position to succeed around other talent is a recipe for fantasy value, and Moore provides a fair bit this week.
Nick Cousins, LW, Ottawa Senators | 0.8% ESPN
Yeah, I didn’t think Cousins would make the fantasy cut, either, but he’s put up a handful of points lately. Not exactly a “hot hand,” per se, but the Sens roster is starved for value available on the waiver wire.
Kieffer Sherwood, RW, Vancouver Canucks | 20.9% ESPN
The long and short of it: Sherwood’s on the top line with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk. If he holds that spot, the scoring will follow.
Aliaksei Protas, LW, Washington Capitals | 12.7% ESPN
Protas has been killing it lately in a second line role alongside P.L. Dubois (also a decent fantasy pick up this week, see below) and Tom Wilson. He’s got five points in his last four games, so now’s the time to get buy low while Alex Ovechkin’s still out.
Light-Night Specials
The Florida Panthers play all four of their games on light nights this week, so definitely see what’s available there if you’re looking to squeeze some extra fantasy value out of your roster. We highlighted Ekblad above, but we’ll give you one more below in case he’s not available.
Evan Rodrigues, LW, Florida Panthers | 5.8% ESPN
He’s not the flashiest of players, nor is he getting prime special teams time, but Rodrigues is on the second line with Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk. You’re going to get scoring opportunities playing next to such high-end talents, so Rodrigues might get some even strength points if he holds onto that position.
Val Nichushkin, LW, Colorado Avalanche | 48.7% ESPN
Somehow, Nichushkin is still available in more than 50-percent of fantasy leagues. He may not be a marquee name, but he plays in the top six of a team with Cup aspirations and gets regular first unit power play time next to Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar–that’s a recipe for fantasy points if I’ve ever seen one.
P.L. Dubois, C, Washington Capitals | 11% ESPN
Seems like Dubois has finally found himself a home; he’s the second-line center the Caps have been searching for, and the production has finally started to come around for him. There are some inconsistencies to his game, and his linemates aren’t always the best (Taylor Raddysh? Really??), but he’s stepped up his game while Alex Ovechkin’s been out.
Ian Cole, D, Utah H.C. | 19.3% ESPN
Don’t expect a lot of scoring from Cole, but he’s been blocking shots like a machine, and that’s usually worth something in most fantasy formats. There’s a case to be made for Olli Maata, as well, as he does bring the occasional bit of offense that Cole doesn’t, but isn’t nearly as consistent on the physical side of things.
Jackson Lacombe, D, Anaheim Ducks | 1.5% ESPN
There’s very little to like about the Ducks, and their free agents in most fantasy leagues are some of the most underwhelming in the game, but Lacombe has taken over the first unit power play–that’s always a chance to get some points.
Logan Stankoven, RW, Dallas Stars | 19.8% ESPN
Tyler Seguin’s going to be sidelined for quite a while, which means Logan Stankoven’s going to try and fill his shoes in the top six. It’s unclear which line he’ll spend most of his time on but, rest assured, he will get his scoring opportunities.
Back-to-Back Goalie Options
There are a few solid goalies to stream this week–or, rather, goalies that play behind strong teams. See if you can stream any of tendies when they get a team on the second half of a back-to-back.
Scott Wedgewood, G, Colorado Avalanche |
Now that the Avs have acquired Mackenzie Blackwood, Wedgewood likely moves into a backup role. Wedgewood is a proven veteran backup and, behind a stout Colorado team, should have an easy time of things when the Avs host the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. The Kraken have been better of late, but they’re still certainly a lesser team on paper than Colorado.
Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals |
This is probably the riskiest stream of the bunch, but the Caps have been rolling in no small part thanks to Logan Thompson. They host the LA Kings on Sunday, and the Kings are flying in from Nashville the night before; under normal circumstances, this should be a gimme for Thompson, but the Kings have been one of the best teams in the league lately and are coming off a lengthy win streak. If you need a Hail Mary at the end of the week, this is probably it.
Spencer Knight, G, Florida Panthers |
The St. Louis Blues aren’t true bottom feeders and can give any team a run for their money, but they still aren’t great–and on Thursday they get the Tampa Bay Lightning followed by the Florida Panthers on Friday. Spencer Knight hasn’t been outstanding this year, but the Panthers are one of the best teams in the NHL; they make his life a lot easier and, unless the wheels totally come off, he should be able to hold it down against St. Louis.
