As we approach American Thanksgiving, the NHL has graciously given us a wonky week for fantasy: every team except for two plays on Saturday, which will make for some tough roster decisions. There are also only three four-game streamers, and not many light-night options. Worse yet, seven teams only play two games; managers will have to squeeze as much fantasy value as they can out of their stars and be active on the waiver wire to maximize their points in a week that’s not particularly easy to navigate. Don’t worry though: we gotchu with some options.
Four-Game Streamers
There are only three teams with four-game slates this week: a Cup contender (Edmonton), a team that could surprise (Utah), and a cellar dweller (San Jose). Funny enough, managers will have a better opportunity for fantasy value out of the overlooked Sharks–nobody’s rostering their players, which means a few useful skaters have slipped under the radar. We’ll start there.
Jake Walman, D, San Jose Sharks | 23.7% ESPN
He’s back! Walman’s long been a fantasy guide favorite and, with a four game slate (half of them on light nights), there’s a lot to like about him–except his “Day to Day” injury status. Should he be healthy, Walman’s a great pickup for his shot blocking ability and rotation on the power play units.
Viktor Arvidsson, RW, Edmonton Oilers | 32.2% ESPN
Speaking of day-to-day players, enter Viktor Arvidsson. It’s difficult to find hidden fantasy value on the Oilers because they’re so top heavy, and those stars are usually off the board early on draft day. So what should managers look for? Whoever’s playing in the top six alongside one of Connor McDavid (congrats on 1,000 points!) or Leon Draisaitl–and when Arvidsson’s healthy, that’s him. He’s had a slow start but should rebound (right??), though if he remains out of the lineup next week: check the Oilers’ lineup and see who’s playing in his place. At time of writing, it’s Corey Perry, and I just…I can’t recommend using a waiver claim on Corey-freakin’-Perry.
Nick Schmaltz, LW, Utah HC | 16.6% ESPN
Similar to the Sharks, it’s tough to find fantasy value on Utah, since the team’s scoring can be very hit or miss; they got shut out twice last week, but also put up four on the Carolina Hurricanes, so…wildcard! Of all the available players, Schmaltz is probably the most useful: he gets top-line minutes and plays on the first power play unit. The team may not be scoring much but, if scoring were to happen, it’ll probably come from one of those two places.
Light-Night Specials
There’s only one team with three light nights this week, and it’s the Anaheim Ducks, who aren’t exactly teeming with excess fantasy value. Utah, Edmonton and San Jose each have two light nights, so see above for streaming options there, and Buffalo, Dallas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Winnipeg and Toronto also have two light nights. Fair warning, though, that Toronto only plays two games this week, so they may not be the best use of a waiver claim. We’ll skip the Penguins this week because we talked about Rickard Rakell last week, and he remains the best streaming option for the Pens.
Radko Gudas, D, Anaheim Ducks | 40.9% ESPN
The former Flyer, now-captain of the Ducks, Gudas is not going to get you much in terms of scoring. He does, however, play a heavy, physical game, and is good for a couple shot blocks and a bunch of hits each game. How your league scores those categories will determine his usefulness but, given the awkward schedule this week, there’s value to be had.
Mason Marchment, LW, Dallas Stars | 20.6% ESPN
Riding the hot hand is usually a sound approach, and boy have Marchment’s hands been hot–he had a one goal, four assist game against the Pittsburgh Penguins last week, and followed it up with a one goal, one assist game versus Boston. He’s not seeing much special teams time, but the secondary scoring punch makes him a useful depth streaming option.
Logan Stankoven, RW, Dallas Stars | 29.3% ESPN
We’ll stick with Dallas and skip the Flyers this week in favor of Matvei Michkov’s (though stream him if he’s available!) fiercest Calder competitor, Logan Stankoven. Stankoven’s having a great rookie season and is already nearly a point-per-game player. What’s finally given him the fantasy value boost? At last, Stankoven has cracked the top power play unit, ousting Wyatt Johnston in the process. Stankoven’s up and down the lineup, but that power play time could provide a major fantasy scoring boost.
Gabe Vilardi, RW, Winnipeg Jets | 39.4% ESPN
The Jets have been an absolute force this season, and a big reason they’ve continued to be so strong is Vilardi’s emergence as a top-line and top power play unit scorer: before the Jets’ loss to Tampa, Vilardi was riding an eight-game point streak. We all know goal scorers are streaky, and the no-points game against Tampa may’ve been the end of Vilardi’s usefulness, but Vilardi may be the streaming option in the best position to succeed outside of Stankoven.
Matthew Knies, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs | 41.8% ESPN
Frankly, it’s a little shocking Knies is rostered in so few leagues: he plays top-six minutes and on the first power play unit, and appears to be coming into his own this season. Toronto may only play two games this week, but Knies could end up being a keeper for the remainder of the season if he’s paired with Auston Matthews and sticks on the first power play unit.
Back-to-Back Goalie Options
There aren’t too many back-to-back goalie options this week because a) the teams with back-to-backs aren’t very good and are matched up against significantly better teams or b) even the good teams have decent competition and could be dicey to bet on. I won’t highlight Vegas here because there’s too much uncertainty in net to predict this far out: Ilya Samsonov is day-to-day, which leaves backup duties to Akira Schmid, who isn’t great and would be getting the high-scoring Ottawa Senators. A healthy Samsonov backing up Adin Hill would make that a safer bet.
Cal Pickard, G, Edmonton Oilers | 4.1% ESPN
The Oilers seem to have finally gotten it together, and they have a somewhat cushy back-to-back against the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators–though both games are on the road. Montreal is very bad and should be an easy win for the Oilers; the Sens have some offensive pop but again, the Oilers are in a different tier. Pickard is a decent backup goalie and, with such a strong team in front of him, should be able to get a win.
Devon Levi & James Reimer, G, Buffalo Sabres | 2.3% & 1% ESPN
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the starter for the Sabres but, while he’s on the shelf with injury, backup Devon Levi gets starting duties and journeyman James Reimer takes over as backup. Buffalo is aggressively mediocre, but their back-to-back is against the downright bad Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks. Both are on the road, but the offensive pop the Sabres have should be enough to seal the deal in one or both games–and that means an easy streaming option in goal.
Eric Comrie, G, Winnipeg Jets | 2.6% ESPN
It is Connor Hellebuyck’s show in Winnipeg, but Comrie has wins in all three of his starts this season. The Jets get the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators in a back-to-back this weekend and, while both those teams have the potential to be a challenge, Winnipeg has been rolling this season; streaming Comrie in one of those games is a bet I’d be willing to take.
