After the trade deadline there is typically a mad dash to the waiver wire to scoop up players who were acquired by NHL contenders with the assumption that their value has improved because they’re on a better team.
Sometimes that’s true, but sometimes their value actually declines. Are Jiri Hudler and Teddy Purcell better off in Florida than they were in Alberta? Probably not, at least as far as their fantasy value is concerned. How about Eric Staal’s trip up the coast? It’s unlikely he is going to do more for the Rangers centering their third line than he was for the Hurricanes on their second line.
This week’s Waiver Wednesday will sift through the wreckage of the trade deadline and find six widely available players to snap up off the waiver wire in your league. (All ownership figures based on Yahoo! leagues.)
Jamie McGinn – LW/RW – 3 per cent owned
Now here’s a deadline acquisition who could improve in his new destination. Recently, the Ducks have utilized the likes of Mike Santorelli and Nick Ritchie as wingers on their top two lines. They have some skills, but McGinn brings more to the table. He may even fit on the Ducks’ top power-play unit.
McGinn’s best skills are in puck retrieval and as a net-front presence, which makes him a good fit with either Ryan Getzlaf or Corey Perry. The Ducks have 21 games remaining and McGinn could score as many as 14, with some production in hits and PIM as well.
Mikkel Boedker – LW/RW – 29 per cent owned
Another rare contender with some real holes to fill, the Avalanche added Boedker who was a popular name in this column early in the season. He slowed quite a bit as the Coyotes started to run out of magic, but finds himself in a great spot in Colorado. Using our Frozen Pool line combination tool we can see that Boedker skated with Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog in his Avalanche debut. He was also used on the top power play unit, where he notched an assist for his first point as an Av.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau – C – 8 per cent owned
The Senators’ new No. 1 centre is woefully under-owned considering the tear he is on. With Kyle Turris now out, the previously struggling Pageau has taken over as a go-to offensive threat. He has 15 points in 14 games since the all-star break and has combined with Mark Stone to form one of the league’s hottest lines. His production since the break is tied with Claude Giroux, Sean Monahan and Kris Letang for 15th in scoring. Continue to ignore Pageau at your own peril.
Mark Streit – D – 44 per cent owned
The revelation that is Shayne Gostisbehere pushed Streit to the backburner, but no more. Oh sure, Gostisbehere is still the No. 1 defenceman in Philly, but the recent injury to Jakub Voracek has opened up a spot on the Flyers’ lethal power play for a second defenceman. Enter Streit, who has four assists in two games since jumping back on to the top power-play unit. With Voracek projected to miss the next two weeks, look for two weeks of great production out of Streit.
Nikolaj Ehlers – LW/RW – 15 per cent owned
Ehlers had already taken over the top line LW slot before Andrew Ladd was dealt to Chicago, but now he’s not looking over his shoulder. He is firmly on that top line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. The Jets may be headed into the tank, but that top line should still be highly productive. Ehlers loves to shoot the puck and he has a couple of capable passers on his line.
Joe Colborne – C/LW/RW – 1 per cent owned
With Jiri Hudler shipped to Florida, the Flames have empty slots on their top line and top power-play unit. Colborne has filled the latter of the two openings, while also bumping up to the second line with Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik. He has two points in three games since Hudler was dealt and promises to produce more if he continues to see these fruitful opportunities.
Steve Laidlaw is the Managing Editor of DobberHockey. You can follow him @SteveLaidlaw.
