We’re back to a more stabilized NHL schedule again this week, with a handful of four-game streamers (LA, Minnesota, Nashville, and New Jersey) and a smattering of teams playing on two light days. A bit of a shame, really: last week’s schedule with several games a night was the ideal schedule for fantasy and regular hockey fans alike. Nine teams play two games on light nights this week so, in the interest of saving time we’ll highlight a couple glaring availabilities instead of every team getting a shoutout.
Entering week five, we’ve seen enough action to start making judgements on players that have flopped and others that are trending in the right direction. As a result, I invite everyone in the comments to submit their “Keep or Drop” submissions: players you’re on the fence of keeping rostered and dropping, or maybe packaging to trade for someone else.
Four-Game Streamers
Jake Middleton, D, Minnesota Wild | 65.1% ESPN
It’s slim pickings for surplus fantasy value in Minnesota, but Middleton has impressed in the early goings of the season. He’s been a defensive stalwart for years, blocking shots and laying hits, but he’s supplemented that with some offense in these first few weeks with two goals and five assists. All seven of his points have come at even strength, so you won’t get any special teams boosts, but if any of the defensemen on your roster have been middling, consider Middleton.
Stefan Noesen, RW, New Jersey Devils | 32% ESPN
By some miracle, Noesen is still being utilized on the Devils’ first power play unit, which puts him in prime position to provide extra fantasy value. Outside of scoring, he lays a decent number of hits (30 on the season), so any of you in bangers leagues could take advantage of his physical play as well. However, his lack of top-six usage dings him a bit, so if you’ve got a better option available in your league (a lot of folks are hot on Dawson Mercer getting top-line usage), give that a go, too.
Gus Nyquist, RW, Nashville Predators | 17.8% ESPN
It’s been an awful start for the Predators, and that means there aren’t many productive fantasy options to stream–and I may avoid the team all together for alternative option. Still, Nyquist put up 75 points last year; that’s likely not repeatable, but he’s on the second line with Steven Stamkos and on the Preds’ second power play unit, so there are scoring opportunities there. The Predators just need to figure out how to do score consistently.
Brandt Clarke, D, LA Kings | 51.8% ESPN
Clarke has been given a lot of love in this column in previous weeks, and he keeps doing the most to earn that praise as the quarterback of the Kings’ first unit power play in Drew Doughty’s absence. In fact, Clarke may be so good that he retains that position even when Doughty does eventually return; now’s a great time to ride the premium usage and, should Clarke stay on PP1, lock in an everyday defenseman. Or, if you’re looking for a forward, LA’s Alex Laferriere plays all over the lineup at 5-on-5 and on the first unit power play, making him a decent fantasy streaming option as well.
Light-Night Specials
Three of the four-game streamers play on light nights this week, the odd one out being LA, so a pickup from one of those teams could give you a bit of roster flexibility. The other teams playing two of their games on light nights are the Anaheim Ducks, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Detroit Red Wings, the Edmonton Oilers, the Washington Capitals, and the Vegas Golden Knights. Let’s take a look at a few waiver wire players to fill out those quieter hockey nights.
Troy Terry, RW, Anaheim Ducks | 22.5% ESPN
Poor Troy Terry just doesn’t get enough love. He’s been a relatively consistent fantasy producer for years, despite playing on a miserable team, and nobody’s taking him seriously now that some of that budding talent is actually making an impact. Terry’s getting prime usage on the top-line and the first power play unit, giving him a major scoring boost. If you’re looking for someone in net, Lukas Dostal has been outstanding behind a leaky Ducks team; he may not get you wins, but he put up two 40+ save games last week if you’re in a categories league.
Simon Edvinsson, D, Detroit Red Wings | 12.7% ESPN
A rising tide lifts all boats, and Edvinsson’s elevation to the top pair opposite Mo Seider has been a boon for his fantasy value. Edvinsson’s not getting any power play usage, just the penalty kill, but he blocks a lot of shots and does contribute to the offense from time to time. There’s potential here for a keeper if the Wings get it together, but in the short term Edvinsson isn’t much more than a streaming option.
Connor McMichael, LW, Washington Capitals | 17.1% ESPN
He may not be getting much special teams use, but McMichael’s been on a roll the past few games, and the Capitals as a whole have surpassed expectations so far this season. Alternatively, if you’re in a bangers league, Tom Wilson (60.5% rostered) is still fairly available and scoring at a decent clip as well. Both are skating on the second line and second power play unit, with Wilson getting some PK time as well.
William Karlsson, C, Vegas Golden Knights | 62.4% ESPN
This might be the only time we get to highlight Karlsson this season, but he’s back from injury and lighting it up for the Golden Knights. He slipped through the cracks due to a season-opening injury, but now’s a great time to claim him off waivers and–if he keeps this up–through the season. Vegas only plays twice this week, and both are on light nights, but there’s a lot of long term value in nabbing Karlsson now.
Back-to-Back Goalie Options
Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Minnesota Wild | 53.1% ESPN
The farewell tour continues for the league’s most beloved goalie, and the Wild get a cushy back-to-back against the Sharks and the Ducks. MAF’s sure to start one of those games, and though the Wild’s hot start has run into a couple bumps, they should still be able to get a win.
Jake Allen, G, New Jersey Devils | 7.9% ESPN
The Devils have a back-to-back with the collapsing Islanders and barrel-scraping Sharks, so Allen’s likely to get one of those two starts. It’ll probably be San Jose, but you never know: we all thought New Jersey’s goaltending was fixed, but neither Allen nor Markstrom has been all that strong. The Isles and the Sharks aren’t good teams, though, so the Devils netminder should find a way to win.
Logan Thompson, G, Washington Capitals | 40.4% ESPN
The Capitals have another easy back-to-back and were featured in last week’s fantasy article, so read up on their two netminders here.
Joseph Woll, G, Toronto Maple Leafs | 43.6% ESPN
Ditto for Woll and Anthony Stolarz, but from an article two weeks ago. Why have the Leafs gotten three consecutive weeks of back-to-backs??
