Welcome back to the Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Teams to Stream & Best Pickups article! The Fantasy Hockey Playoffs are getting underway for some in Week 23 while other leagues have one final week to gear up for the postseason. This is another busy week with at least five games on each day, and no day has more than nine games. As always, I’ll be focusing on the teams that play primarily on the lighter nights of the week. I’ll be your guide to help you win your fantasy hockey matchup this week with the best pickups, goalie options, teams to stream, and teams to avoid.
There are nine games on the typical busy nights (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) as well as Sunday, making Monday (5), Wednesday (6), and Friday (7) the three nights we’ll be focusing on here.
If you are in a shallower or deeper league –– or just have a question or comment –– feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (@RGilbertSOP), in the Reddit comments, or in the SGPN Slack!
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Teams to Stream & Best Pickups – Week 23
Arizona Coyotes
Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
The Coyotes aren’t a great offensive team but they have one of the better schedules this week.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Watch
Nick Schmaltz (C, W – 43% Rostered) L1, PP1
Schmaltz has 19 points (8 G, 11 A) in 11 March games, inflated by his seven-point game earlier in the month. He has three points (2 G, 1 A) in his last five games to go with 10 shots on goal. His usage on the top line and power-play unit, as well as his flexibility at center or wing, gives him some value this week.
Lawson Crouse (W – 24% Rostered) – L2, PP1
Crouse has been heating up recently. He has 10 points (6 G, 4 A) in his last 10 games to bring him up to 34 total on the season. He’s also been shooting the puck a bit with 19 shots in those 10 games. Crouse is also a physical player that can help you out in the hits category. The 2015 first-round pick has the talent and upside to be worthy of a pick up this week.
Fantasy Hockey Goalie Watch
Karel Vejmelka (G – 14% Rostered)
Vejmelka has been fine this season for the Coyotes. He has 10 wins, a 3.39 GAA, and .904 SV%. He’s not going to be someone you can rely on for a ton of points, but he should get three starts this week on lighter nights.
Buffalo Sabres
Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
The Sabres have a few more offensive weapons than the Coyotes.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Watch
Tage Thompson (C, W – 56% Rostered) L1, PP1
I’ve written about Thompson a few times now and he’s up above 50% rostered now. If he’s available in your league, you should be giving him a long look.
The 24-year-old forward is one of the driving forces on a bad Buffalo team. Heading into Sunday, he had seven points (4 G, 3 A) in his last six games. Thompson is up to 49 points (27 G, 22 A) with 207 SOG in 61 games on the season. Given his usage and flexibility, Thompson is a valuable fantasy hockey commodity.
Jeff Skinner (W, 24% Rostered) L1, PP1
Skinner plays on Thompson’s left flank and while he’s not living up to his huge contract, he’s been a productive winger for the Sabres. He had a six-game point drought bookended by two three-game point streaks. If he gets hot he’ll help you out a ton this week.
Fantasy Hockey Goalie Watch
Craig Anderson (G – 13% Rostered)
Anderson isn’t going to help your GAA or SV%, but the Sabres have been getting him some wins recently. He’s 6-2-0 with 25 goals against and a .902 SV% in March. With games this week against Chicago, Winnipeg, Nashville, and Florida, Anderson could pick up a win or two.
Edmonton Oilers
Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
The Oilers have two of the best players in the league and their running mates are thankful for them.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Watch
Evander Kane (W – 77% Rostered) L1, PP2
I’m not going to write much here because Kane shouldn’t be available in your league, but those of you in shallow leagues need to pick him up. He has 23 points and 89 shots in 27 games with the Oilers and is on the top line with Connor McDavid.
Kailer Yamamoto (W – 24% Rostered) L1, PP2
Yamamoto rides on the right side with McDavid and Kane. He’s severely under-rostered at just 24%. He has 12 points (7 G, 5 A) and 18 SOG in his last nine games.
Cody Ceci (D – 7% Rostered) D1
Look, this is a bit of a reach, but I wanted to give you a defensive option. Ceci won’t light up the scoresheet but he’s a consistent contributor in the hits and blocks column. He could get a point here or there while playing on the top pair.
Seattle Kraken
Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
The Kraken have even fewer fantasy-relevant players than Arizona or Buffalo.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Watch
Carson Soucy (D – 1% Rostered)
Soucy is seeing top-pair minutes after the Mark Giordano trade, and he’s making the most of them. He has three points and 11 SOG ins his last two games. Give him a look in your deeper leagues.
Fantasy Hockey: Increased Minutes
St. Louis Blues
Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
The Blues are a top-heavy team with most of their top-six players being rostered in most leagues, but let’s take a look.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Watch
Brayden Schenn (C, W – 70% Rostered) L3, PP1
Schenn is a guy that can go on short hot streaks. He had 10 points (2 G, 8 A) in a six-game span before being held off the scoresheet in his last two games. Still, if he’s available his versatility makes him valuable in a busy week.
Fantasy Hockey Week 23: Teams to Stream
The five teams above are the only five teams playing on three light nights this week.
Four games, two on light nights: Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers
Three games, two on light nights: Detroit Red Wings, Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights
If you have any questions about players to pick up on these teams, or any players in general, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (@RGilbertSOP), in the Reddit comments, or in the SGPN Slack for any questions!
Fantasy Hockey Week 23: Teams to Avoid
The Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals only play twice this week.
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