We’ve got plenty of streaming and waiver options for you this week, plus a few back-to-back goalie options, so let’s skip the fanfare and dive right in.
Four-Game Streamers
There are some nifty pickups for most of this week’s four game streamers, and then there’s the Nashville Predators–they have been awful so far and, as a result, none of the players widely available hold much fantasy value. That said, the Preds do play a back-to-back against Edmonton and Calgary; if you’re feeling confident in backup Scott Wedgeweood, that is an option to entertain. Enough of the sad Preds though–let’s get into the better options.
Jack Roslovic, RW, Carolina Hurricanes | 1.9% ESPN
It’s difficult to find fantasy value sitting on the waiver wire for the Carolina Hurricanes, but Roslovic has found himself elevated to the top line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. That’s prime position to put up some fantasy points. He hasn’t cracked the top power play unit yet, but there could be opportunity if one of the other Canes forwards starts to slide.
Jake Neighbours, RW, St. Louis Blues | 7.8% ESPN
It’s been a slow start for Neighbours, but of the Blues players widely available, he may be the best streaming option as he gets top-line minutes. For some reason, he’s not been on the first power play unit lately, but Neighbours has a better claim to it than defenseman Scott Perunovich, who isn’t exactly an offensive dynamo. Maybe Neighbours just needs to prove himself and earn that role, as he’s been able to claim it before.
Joey Daccord, G, Seattle Kraken | 26.6% ESPN
It’s a cushy week for the Kraken: all four of their games at home, and two of them are against the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Chicago Blackhawks, plus a third against an underwhelming New York Islanders team (though Grubauer may get that start, see below). If you’re lacking in the goalie category, Daccord is a solid enough choice that should be able to get a couple wins against bottom-feeder teams.
Kevin Lankinen, G, Vancouver Canucks | 60.6% ESPN
Sticking with goalies, the Canucks have a pretty easy week too: the Calgary Flames, the Islanders, the Blackhawks, and the underwhelming Nashville Predators. With Thatcher Demko still sidelined, it’s Lankinen’s net, and he’s doing his part to keep the Canucks in the Cup-contender conversation.
Rickard Rakell, RW, Pittsburgh Penguins | 36.7% ESPN
This pickup hinges entirely on the “Evgeni Malkin on Sidney Crosby’s wing” experiment they’re conducting over in Pittsburgh, but Rakell is the forward who’s been placed on that line for now. Playing with two future Hall of Famers should boost Rakell’s offensive output and make him a solid streaming option for the week.
Pavel Dorofeyev, RW, Vegas Golden Knights | 21.8% ESPN
What a breath of fresh air Dorofeyev has been for the Knights. The 24-year old winger is playing next to Tomas Hertl on the second line and is on the first power play unit–great opportunities for fantasy value on a Vegas team that’s been red hot to start the season. Picking up Dorofeyev has the added bonus that all four of Vegas’ games fall on light nights, so you’re guaranteed to play him all week if you snag him off the waiver wire.
Light-Night Specials
As mentioned in Pavel Dorofeyev’s description, the Golden Knights have all four of their games on light nights this week. If you’ve got the roster space and they’re available, consider picking up Noah Hanifin or William Karlsson, the latter of who has been on a tear since returning from injury. The Preds also have three light nights this week but, like we said earlier, they don’t really have anyone worth streaming; ditto for the Penguins after Rakell.
Anyway, nobody wants to hear more about Vegas and the lowly Preds, so let’s look at a few other streaming options that play on three light nights each.
Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Carolina Hurricanes | 61.3% ESPN
It’s a bit shocking that the quarterback of a very good Canes power play, Shayne Gostisbehere, is still available in nearly 40-percent of leagues. Finding point-producing defensemen this far into the fantasy season is a big ask, and there’s a lot to be said for taking advantage of Ghost’s availability. In a cruel twist of fate for Flyers fans, Ghost and other former-Flyer Sean Walker have been outstanding together in Carolina.
Matt Coronato, RW, Calgary Flames | 0.6% ESPN
The hot start the Flames got off to is now long gone, and the whole team is now struggling. Coronato isn’t a flashy name, nor is he getting prime opportunities, but he’s hot right now with a three-game point streak and three goals in that same span. On the flipside, Jonathan Huberdeau is ice cold–which means he’s poised for a streak this week, so he might be worth a streaming look too.
Artturi Lehkonen, LW, Colorado Avalanche | 65.5% ESPN
He’s back! This may be the only time to write about Lehkonen, given his rostered percentage is still relatively low after returning from injury. There will be injury concerns all season with Lehkonen, but he’s looked good on the Avalanche’s top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, as well as on the first power play unit. The Avs have been limping through the season due to a rash of injuries, and Lehkonen’s return provides a lot of fantasy value: he’s a good player utilized next to great ones.
Connor McMichael, LW, Washington Capitals | 46% ESPN
The 23-year old has been outstanding for the Caps, and has been producing points at an solid clip skating in the top six and on the Alex Ovechkin-led first power play unit. McMichael may not get a future fantasy blurb as his usage in fantasy leagues has more than doubled in the past week; if he keeps this up, he could be a solid season-long add.
Back-to-Back Goalie Options
Joey Daccord or Philipp Grubauer, G, Seattle Kraken | 26.6% & 5.4% ESPN
The Kraken play the Islanders on Saturday, and the Rangers on Sunday. Obviously, don’t stream either goalie against the Rangers (they’re a Cup contender, after all), but the hapless Isles are completely devoid of offense with so many of their top producers out with injuries. Grubauer has been poor to start the season and is the backup in Seattle, but even he should be able to handle an anemic Islanders offense if he starts the first of those two games; if Daccord gets the nod, that’s the easiest stream of the week (and see above, if you can afford a roster spot for the entire week).
Arturs Silovs, G, Vancouver Canucks | 3.4% ESPN
Vancouver gets two home match ups against Chicago and Nashville this weekend, and neither team has been especially threatening offensively this season. The Canucks are a solid enough team that their backup goalie (Silovs) should be able to handle either opponent.
Spencer Martin, G, Carolina Hurricanes | 0.1% ESPN
Streaming Spencer Martin hinges entirely on Freddie Andersen’s availability, as the oft-injured goalie is out once again. It’s Pyotr Kochetkov’s net for now, but if Andersen remains out in the Ottawa/St. Louis back-to-back this weekend, then Martin’s an under-the-radar pick up to backstop a stingy Carolina team.
Any of the three Pittsburgh Penguins goaltenders
This might be a desperation move, given how the biggest story in Pittsburgh this season has been the abysmal goaltending, but the Pens get the Columbus Blue Jackets and San Jose Sharks back-to-back this week, and neither of those teams is especially good, either. Any one of Tristan Jarry, Alex Nedeljkovic, or Joel Blomqvist should be able to get a win, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they got their doors blown off, either.
