Is calling Jacob Trouba the most exciting defenseman in the NHL right now hyperbole?
— Neil Parker (@naparker77) January 26, 2014
No Fantasy Hockey League is the same, so being savvy and strategical on the waiver wire can take many forms. Ultimately, there are players who are worth an addition to your team based on their talent and situation alone.
However, looking ahead at the NHL’s Schedule may yield further information to help you fully take advantage of the available options on your waiver wire.
Zigging where others zag is a fantasy strategy discussed and used in all fantasy sports and in a number of ways. The NHL’s Schedule often provides an excellent opportunity to increase your fantasy production if approached strategically.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Schedule Analysis
You cannot win if you do not play and taking a quick peek at the upcoming schedule can be extremely beneficial for fantasy hockey owners.
This week seven teams have four games and the rest have three, so there aren’t significant advantages to be had. However, an under-performing defenseman with three games likely isn’t as strong a play this week as an available defender with four games on their docket.
Four Games: Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, Washington.
Additionally, it is also important to consider which teams play on the nights where there are fewer scheduled games. Maximizing your lineup each night keeps the fantasy production on the scoreboard and not wasted on your bench when there are ten games on the docket. Finding favorable matchups on the nights with a light schedule and pouncing on available players in advance can further separate you from your opponents.
This week has two nights with a light schedule.
Wednesday’s Schedule: New York Rangers at New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks.
Sunday’s Schedule: Detroit Red Wings at Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets at Montreal Canadiens.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Adds: From Last Week
*All players are still available in fifty percent of Yahoo! Leagues of less.
LW/RW Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes: It has been a slow week for Doan, but there is upside here as the proven scorer plays a gritty game and the position eligibility is a bonus.
RW Nathan Horton, Columbus Blue Jackets: Still available in two-thirds of leagues, Horton certainly has the highest pedigree of anyone available on your waiver wire and is playing well. Get him on your roster kids.
RW Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues: You need to know two things about Tarasenko, he is a streaky a scorer, who is offensively gifted and an elite release. Just ask Kevin Poulin.
RW Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers: The Rangers’ Captain isn’t rolling offensively of late, but he is capable of fantasy production even if he isn’t scoring given the intangibles he brings to the game.
C Tyler Bozak, Toronto Maple Leafs: His production has cooled over the past six games, but he is in an excellent opportunity to succeed and is scoring at a .83 points per game pace.
C David Legwand, Nashville Predators: He should be owned in all deeper leagues and is a fringe player in all leagues, if he gets rolling again, pounce.
C Nick Bonino, Anaheim Ducks: The Ducks pivot has notched 40 points, plays on the first power play unit and is showing no signs of slowing down.
C/LW Chris Kreider, New York Rangers: If he is available, he shouldn’t be, Kreider should be owned in all leagues.
C/LW Alex Killorn, Tampa Bay Lightning: You could do a lot worse than Killorn, but he is a high floor, low ceiling upside guy.
C/RW Kyle Palmieri, Anaheim Ducks: He can score, but cannot seem to lock down a specific spot in the lineup and his best days are ahead. For now, Palmieri is a deep league only player.
RW Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets: The undersized winger put up a goose egg this week and worse going a negative three. He has some value, but might be too streaky to rely on.
D Radko Gudas, Tampa Bay Lightning: Still far to widely available, Gudas will chip in points, penalty minutes and plays on an excellent hockey team.
D Andrej Meszaros, Philadelphia Flyers: Beyond his potentially horrendous plus/minus, Meszaros could be a beauty down the fantasy hockey stretch run.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Latest Adds:
*All players are available in fifty percent of Yahoo! Leagues of less.
C Tyler Johnson, Tampa Bay Lightning: Mentioned in this week’s PPPP Rankings, Johnson might just end up on the wing with Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis soon.
C/LW Antoine Vermette, Phoenix Coyotes: With points in four of his last five games, the gifted Vermette could be on the brink of an offensive surge. He is a fringe fantasy option when he is scoring.
C/RW Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings: Six points in his last four games, with back-to-back multi-point games, Nyquist has found a niche alongside Henrik Zetterberg.
LW Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning: He is streaky, but with five points in his last three games, Palat is trying to carve out a permanent role in the Lightning’s top six.
LW/RW Justin Abdelkader, Detroit Red Wings: An ideal thrid line checking winger, Abdelkader often gets the tap to jump up the depth chart and when he is getting offensive minutes he succeeds and should be a fantasy consideration.
RW Valeri Nichushkin, Dallas Stars: As long as he is playing top line minutes with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn you’re gold. If you haven’t seen him play, Nichushkin is freaky talented. Beware of wear and tear though, he is headed to the Olympics too.
RW Reilly Smith, Boston Bruins: A five game point streak lands Smith at thirty-seven points and far too few fantasy rosters. He is getting excellent offensive opportunities and producing.
D Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg Jets: This is the most exciting defenseman in the NHL right now. Get him on your team, he is electric and has all the tools to carry your fantasy team to a championship.
D Andrej Sekera, Carolina Hurricanes: He is playing excellent hockey right now, although, being skepitcal it’ll continue is understandable. He is getting the chances though on the power player.
D Christian Ehrhoff, Buffalo Sabres: Buffalo has turned their season around, somewhat, but if Ehrhoff gets dealt his value skyrockets. He has a big shot and gets pucks on net a lot.
D Roman Josi, Nashville Predators: Playing with Shea Weber will take you a long way and his minutes are huge. He is posting solid offensive numbers lately and is getting all kinds of pucks on net.
