The fantasy hockey season is underway, so here are a handful of players owned in less than 60 percent of FanTrax leagues to keep tabs on and consider adding. Each week we’ll look to help you pull value from the fantasy hockey waiver wire.
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Last Minute Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Adds
LW Chris Kreider, NYR (59%): A blood clot limited Kreider to just 58 games last season, but the 27-year-old winger is at full health entering the 2018-19 campaign. He’s a year removed from three consecutive 20-goal showings and is locked into a top-six gig with the rebuilding Rangers. A career-best season isn’t out of the question, and Kreider is especially valuable in formats rewarding hits and penalty minutes.
D Tyler Myers, WPG (59%): While playing meaningful minutes for a Stanley Cup contender can’t be understated, Myers’ ability to move the needle in the majority of fantasy categories also makes him a valuable asset. Additionally, he also played a full 82-game season for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2009-10.
C Derek Stepan, ARI (59%): After a slow start in his first year in the desert, Stepan recorded 12 goals, 36 assists and 15 power-play points through the final 62 games of the season. The veteran is locked in as Arizona’s No. 1 offensive center, and the Coyotes are a team on the rise. Stepan is never going to stuff the goal column, but if healthy, he’s a lock for 50 points.
D Erik Johnson, COL (59%): Injuries have hindered Johnson’s production throughout his career, and his scoring upside is capped because Tyson Barrie is the top offensive defenseman in Colorado. Still, Johnson tilts the scales in the peripheral categories and has been a reliable fantasy contributor when healthy.
RW Mats Zuccarello, NYR (56%): The Norwegian’s 26-goal showing in 2015-16 is a clear outlier at this stage of his career, but with an average of 56.2 points over the past five seasons, Zuccarello’s a solid secondary scorer. He projects to return double-digit power-play points again this year, and he’ll chip in across the peripheral categories, too.
LW/RW Valentin Zykov, CAR (53%): Coming off an impressive AHL showing with 33 goals and 21 assists, Zykov is set to log middle-six minutes and power-play time with the Hurricanes. He collected three tallies and four helpers through 10 games at the highest level to finish last season, and the 23-year-old winger recorded six preseason points through four contests.
D Dmitry Orlov, WAS (49%): A well-rounded defender to fill out a defense corps, Orlov has recorded consecutive 30-point campaigns. His minutes jumped to a career-high 23:08 per game last year, and he continued to pile up plenty of hits and blocked shots. There is also still some untapped offensive upside given his skill set and exceptional skating ability.
G Malcolm Subban, VGK (39%): While a .910 save percentage and 2.68 GAA aren’t ratios to write home about, Subban went 13-4-2 as a rookie, and he projects to settle back in again behind the balanced Golden Knights. There’s potential for Subban to face a lot of weaker opponents, which makes him a solid plug-and-play option when receiving the starting nod.
C Jordan Kyrou, STL (38%): Projected to start the season alongside Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz, Kyrou is positioned to succeed out of the gate. The OHL graduate recorded 109 points — 39 goals — through 56 games last season, so the offensive upside is also legit.
D Alex Goligoski, ARI (34%): The veteran has topped 30 points and 100 shots, hits and blocked shots in each of the past four seasons. Goligoski isn’t flashy, and he won’t pile up power-play points, but his ability to contribute in the secondary categories makes him a high-floor asset to round out a blue-line corps.
LW/RW Artturi Lehkonen, MON (33%): The high-volume shooter is projected to skate with the No. 1 power-play unit and offers a respectable fantasy floor in deep settings. Lehkonen recorded 9.0 shots and 12.1 shot attempts per 60 minutes last season and notched two goals, an assist and 11 shot attempts through three exhibition games.
G Jaroslav Halak, BOS (31%): Boston opens the season with a back-to-back set, and Halak has already been announced as Thursday’s starter against the Sabres. After starting his past 170 games for the defensively-inept Islanders, Halak’s surroundings are much improved behind the Bruins. His value could also skyrocket in the event of a Tuukka Rask injury.
D Henri Jokiharju, CHI (29%): The 2017 first-round pick filled the scoresheet in the WHL last season and has impressed the Chicago brass enough to earn a roster spot to open the season. Jokiharju’s been skating on the top pairing with Duncan Keith, and the rookie has the potential start hot. Note that this is more of a keeper/dynasty and deep-league recommendation.
LW/RW Nikolay Goldobin, VAN (25%): A first-round selection from the 2014 draft, Goldobin has paid his dues in the minors and should spend the entire 2018-19 campaign with the Canucks. He’ll begin the season in a top-six role and offers offensive upside for deep settings.
LW Mathieu Perreault, WPG (24%): The veteran is a serviceable asset in deep settings. Perreault is expected to open the season skating on the second line and receive power-play time with the No. 2 unit. He’s a cross-category contributor attached to a high-scoring offense and has proven to be a streaky scorer in the past.
G Anton Khudobin, DAL ($23): The Dallas backup is nursing a minor injury, so his status for the immediate future is a little murky. However, No. 1 Ben Bishop is also nicked up with a muscle strain, so there could be early-season opportunities for Khudobin. Additionally, Bishop’s .914 save percentage over the past two seasons is nothing more than a mediocre mark. Khudobin has the potential to push this to a near timeshare and is a strong option when starting against weaker teams.
Hopefully you found our fantasy hockey waiver wire column to be helpful.? Please stay tuned in to all of our Fantasy Hockey content as the regular season gets underway and check out our rankings and player profiles linked below.
Fantasy Hockey Rankings: Goalie | Left Wing | Right Wing | Centers | Defensemen
Player Profiles: Goalie | Left Wing | Right Wing | Centers | Defensemen