RADIO
What’s up RotoBallers? Welcome to my week 21 edition of the fantasy hockey waiver wire. Below are a few skaters at each position that can help steer your fantasy hockey team toward a championship.
Whether your fantasy hockey team is dealing with injuries or lack of production, these NHL players will help you get back on track. These players can be considered waiver wire pickups or sleepers depending on the league format.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire – Forwards
Brendan Gallagher (F, MON) - 42% Owned
Now in his third year in the league, Brendan Gallagher is in line for a new career-high in points this season. He has 38 points and a +20 rating in 63 games. He has been especially productive as of late, posting eight points and a +7 rating over his last six games. Gallagher has been streaky this year, so fantasy owners may want to take advantage of his hot play while it lasts.
Chris Stewart (F, MIN) - 7% Owned
While he has offensive skill, Chris Stewart’s biggest fantasy asset is his ability to rack up penalty minutes. There aren’t too many players capable of posting 20 goals and 100 PIM, but Stewart has the potential. Now that he’s been traded away from Buffalo's plus/minus black hole, Stewart once again has fantasy value. He could be a difference maker for the Wild throughout the remainder of the season.
Erik Cole (F, DET) - 15% Owned
Recent acquisition Erik Cole will provide some offense to the Red Wings over the final stretch of the season. Detroit could use the help while dealing with injuries to Johan Franzen and Darren Helm. Cole had six points over his final six games with the Stars and looks to carry that momentum over to his new club.
Antoine Vermette (F, CHI) - 33% Owned
In his Blackhawks debut, Antoine Vermette lined up between Patrick Sharp and Brandon Saad on the second line. Not a bad situation in terms of fantasy value. Now that the trade deadline stress is over with, Vermette can concentrate on playing hockey. Vermette can do a little bit of everything and is likely to see some special teams play with the Hawks as well. His -23 rating should definitely be on the rise and his talented linemates should help him post some offensive numbers over the next few weeks.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire – Defensemen
Brian Campbell (D, FLA) - 12% Owned
His offensive numbers may be a bit down this season, but Brian Campbell is still a workhorse. He has skated over 22:00 minutes in 14 straight games and is averaging 23:38 on the year. He has three points in his last two games and maintains a positive plus/minus rating. Fantasy owners can do a lot worse.
Jonas Brodin (D, MIN) - 5% Owned
Game after game Jonas Brodin is near the top of the ice-time list for the Minnesota Wild. He is second only to Ryan Suter (29:06 are you kidding me?). Brodin is averaging 24:26 minutes in 51 games this season and has recorded an assist in five of his last seven games. Brodin also has a +16 rating this season, making him quite an undervalued defenseman.
Karl Alzner (D, WSH) - 3% Owned
For most of his seven year career in Washington, Karl Alzner has been known as a defensive-minded player. He is currently in the middle of one of his most productive stretches as a professional. He has four assists and a +4 rating over his last six games and has tied his career-high in points with 18. There isn’t a whole lot of value here yet but if he continues to score points he could be an option in deeper formats.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire - Goaltenders
Andrew Hammond (G, OTT) - 23% Owned
The main detriment to Andrew Hammond’s fantasy value is the eventual return of Craig Anderson. The results speak for themselves, though. Hammond has five straight wins with a total of five goals allowed. He is sporting a .957 save percentage and a 1.31 goals against average in six games played. He’s still available in over three-quarters of standard fantasy leagues. It remains to be seen how long he’ll be the starter, but he’s worth owning in the meantime.
Cam Talbot (G, NYR) - 41% Owned
While he hasn’t exactly been setting the ice ablaze, Cam Talbot has been performing good enough in the wake of Henrik Lundqvist’s injury. He has earned the victory in eight of his last 10 starts and is giving the Rangers a chance to win every night. For fantasy owners in need of victories, Talbot is an excellent option until Lundqvist returns.
