Memo to roto league owners: It’s time to stock up on Vancouver Canucks.
While most of you in head-to-head leagues are winding down for another fantasy campaign, there’s still plenty of racetrack ahead for those of you in season-long formats.
Again, it’s time to utilize the schedule to your advantage to gain the best statistical boost possible coming down the stretch. Due to all the postponements this season, there are some teams playing a crazy game of catch up — namely Travis Green’s Canucks.
VAN – 15 GR
LAK – 11 GR
STL – 11 GR
COL – 11 GR
EDM – 11 GR
MTL – 10 GR
1. Let’s take a look at this week’s schedule (Apr. 26 – May 2):
Monday: 8 Games
Tuesday: 8 Games
Wednesday: 7 Games
Thursday: 9 Games
Friday: 5 Games
Saturday: 15 Games
Sunday: 1 Game
Total: 53 Games
2. In total, there are 13 four-game teams to target for roster manipulation purposes (ANA, ARI, CAR, COL, DAL, EDM, FLA, LAK, MTL, SJS, STL, TBL, VAN).
Take a closer look at these three slates:
Carolina Hurricanes: Mon (@DAL), Tues (@DAL), Thurs (DET), Sat (CBJ)
Waiver Looks: Jaccob Slavin, Steven Lorentz
SN Fantasy Pool: CAR Goalies 4, Sebastian Aho 3, Dougie Hamilton 2
Colorado Avalanche: Mon (@STL), Wed (@VGK), Fri (SJS), Sat (SJS)
Waiver Looks: Andre Burakovsky, Brandon Saad
SN Fantasy Pool: COL Goalies 4, Nathan MacKinnon 4, Cale Makar 2
Florida Panthers: Mon (@NSH), Tues (@NSH), Thurs (@CHI), Sat (@CHI)
Waiver Looks: Sam Bennett, Anthony Duclair
SN Fantasy Pool: FLA Goalies 4, Aleksander Barkov 3, Anthony Duclair 1
3. Columbus, who’s dropped eight in a row, is the lone team with a quiet two-game week, so stay away. In general, I’d say everyone on the Blue Jackets excluding Seth Jones and maybe Oliver Bjorkstrand is droppable at this point. They’ve been awful.
4. From Vancouver: Braden Holtby, Nate Schmidt, Nils Hoglander and Tanner Pearson are worth rest-of-season fliers. Lots of hockey ahead for the Canucks.
5. Be ready to activate Evgeni Malkin and/or Tyler Seguin, both of whom are expected to return at some point this upcoming week. Malkin’s been out since March 16 with a lower-body issue, Seguin hasn’t played a game this season following off-season hip surgery.
6. Kudos to Stars rookie Jason Robertson for his unexpected rise into fantasy prominence this season. Having said that, I still think it’s Dollar Bill Kirill’s Calder Trophy to lose. At any rate, it’s been fun to watch it unfold. I still remember when Robertson was six per cent owned in standard leagues. Times have changed.
7. Pick up Nick Foligno. Skating on Toronto’s top line with Auston Mathews and Mitch Marner, the former Jackets captain has tallied two assists in two games. That’s elite exposure, there’s too much value to pass up there.
8. With numerous high-profile wingers on the shelf, Andre Burakovsky, Jaden Schwartz, Anthony Beauvillier and Denis Gurianov are worth a flier. Seeing as he’s filling in for Mikko Rantanen on Colorado’s top line, Burakovsky is probably your best bet.
9. Additionally, you can find plenty of value on Florida’s second line right now. You won’t be able to attain Jonathan Huberdeau, but his linemates – Sam Bennett and Anthony Duclair – are the next best thing. Both can be had.
10. If Jared McCann is available on your wire, snatch him up immediately! Since Feb. 1, the 24-year-old has quietly tallied 11 goals and 21 points (9 PPP) in 26 games.
11. Take a flier on Mattias Janmark. Not only has the 28-year-old been propelled onto Vegas’ first power-play unit but he’s also been skating on the second line with Jonathan Marchessault and William Karlsson.
12. Scoop up Jesse Puljujarvi. The 22-year-old is currently riding a mini three-game point streak (3 G, 1 A, 4 P, +4). Most importantly, he’s really starting to jell with Connor McDavid.
13. With Carey Price on the shelf again, scoop up Jake Allen. Just be cautious, Montreal has been slumping big-time lately.
14. Sweet seeing Spencer Knight win in his NHL debut. That said, the phenom should be considered no more than a streamer option at this point. With the Panthers fighting for the Central Division crown, I doubt the 20-year-old gets much playing time down the stretch. Regardless, Knight’s future is bright.
15. Ditto for Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who unlike Knight should see a couple more starts for Buffalo over its remaining eight contests. Surprisingly, the Sabres have been much better over the last month or so.
16. With Jaroslav Halak now back from the COVID list, Boston has three viable crease options. Rask remains the number one, but I’d say the backup job is up for grabs. Jeremy Swayman was 5-1-0 with a 1.89 goals-against and .933 save percentage in Halak’s absence. Hashtag It’s On. If you own Halak, you can probably drop him.
17. Injury problems up the middle? Sam Reinhart, Josh Norris and Joel Eriksson Ek are three centre-eligible options to contemplate rostering.
18. Also, Nick Bonino is worth an add right now, too. The veteran pivot has tallied three goals and 11 points over the past 11 games for the red-hot Wild. Who saw that coming?
19. Dump out on Logan Couture. The Sharks captain has one point in the past eight games.
20. Another captain, Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux, is droppable at this point, too. The 33-year-old has two measly helpers over his past eight outings. Yikes!
