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. How much production can you expect from the Penguins in their single game next week? Not as much as you should from the Rangers, Coyotes, Capitals and Canucks, who all play four times. The Flames also play four times, but those burnouts are better left for other league-mates.
Not quite as lonesome as the Penguins, the Red Wings only have two games next week, meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning have five. Martin St. Louis could outscore the Pittsburgh Penguins this week. Let that sink in for a minute as you’re going over your waiver wire list and searching for available Lightning Bolts. All other teams play three games this week.
Five Games: Tampa Bay Lightning
Four Games: Calgary Flames, New York Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals
Two Games: Detroit Red Wings
One Game: Pittsburgh Penguins
Additionally, it is also important to consider which teams play on the nights where their 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. For example, the Capitlas play three games on night’s with four games or less next week.
Monday – Four Games | Wednesday – Three Games | Friday – Two Games | Sunday – Three Games
Teams with multiple games on those lighter scheduled nights: Anaheim Ducks, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks, Washington Capitals.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Schedule Based Adds
*All players are available in less than fifty percent of Yahoo! Leagues.
C Marcus Kruger, Chicago Blackhawks: Kruger is a defense first player, but is getting a shot in the top six, between Kris Versteeg and Patrick Kane.
C Mike Santorelli, Vancouver Canucks: Playing significant minutes with Henrik and Daniel Sedin is a positive for anyone. Even beyond this week, Santorelli could maintain fantasy value.
C/LW Jordan Staal, Carolina Hurricanes: It hasn’t been a banner beginning to Staal’s tenure in Carolina, but he contributes across categories and has been solid of late.
LW/RW Kris Versteeg, Chicago Blackhawks: A fringe fantasy option regardless of the scheduling benefits, Versteeg can chip in across the fantasy board.
RW Eric Fehr, Washington Capitals: Perhaps only a deep league target, Fehr is lining up with Alex Ovechkin and Mikhail Grabovski, which increases his fantasy value significantly.
D Francois Beauchemin, Anaheim Ducks: Sees power play time, logs big minutes, is a plus 22 on the season and takes penalties. Need anymore reasons?
D Dan Hamhuis, Vancouver Canucks: His fantasy game will never match what he does on the ice, but he is solid enough to roll out this week as a fringe fantasy starter anyway.
D Connor Murphy, Phoenix Coyotes: The young rearguard is completely off the fantasy radar, but might even have value going forward. He has a nice stat line in limited action.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Talent Based Adds
*All players are available in less than fifty percent of Yahoo! Leagues.
C/RW Mikhail Grabovski, Washington Capitals: Now centering Alex Ovechkin, Grabovski’s fantasy upside skyrockets and he has points in back-to-back games.
LW Matt Beleskey, Anaheim Ducks: Riding shotgun with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry bangs your fantasy value up faster than a speeding bullet and Beleskey is feisty.
LW Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning: Has an eight game point streak going and plays with Martin St. Louis. Palat is showing every sign of a legit fantasy force.
LW/RW Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes’ Captain has three points in his last two games and should continue to produce now that he is healthy again.
RW Nathan Horton, Columbus Blue Jackets: Surprisingly widely available, get Horton on your roster. He’ll pick up steam and is a must own fantasy commodity.
RW Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues: The Blues’ winger is as hot as they get and oozes offensive upside. He should be owned in all leagues.
RW Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers: Riding a four game point streak, the Rangers’ Captain is a solid fantasy contributor in all categories and a plus player if hits and blocked shots are included.
