The NHL season is officially its second month and the fantasy hockey season continues rolling along. There have been some key injuries around the league as well as the usual early-season hits and misses. As always, we’re back again with the teams to stream and best pickups in fantasy hockey for this week!
The busier nights in the NHL are typically Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. You should be able to fill out your lineup with your studs on those nights. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday are the typical “light nights” with only a handful of games, so getting extra games in there is crucial.
Week 5 follows a pretty typical schedule. There are double-digit games on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, with six games or fewer the rest of the week. That makes the light nights this week Monday (3), Wednesday (4), Friday (4), and Sunday (6).
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) or in the SGPN Discord!
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Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Week 5: Teams to Stream
Nearly a dozen teams play four times this week, but only two of them play on more than two of the light nights. The Capitals play on all four lighter nights, with the Wild playing twice on those nights. The Bruins and Canucks each play four games total and two games on light nights this week.
Washington Capitals
- Monday vs. EDM
- Wednesday vs. PIT
- Friday vs. TBL
- Sunday @ TBL
Minnesota Wild
- Tuesday @ LAK
- Wednesday @ ANA
- Friday @ SEA
- Sunday vs. SJS
Boston Bruins
- Monday vs. STL
- Thursday vs. CGY
- Saturday @ BUF
- Sunday vs. VAN
Vancouver Canucks
- Tuesday @ OTT
- Wednesday @ MTL
- Saturday @ TOR
- Sunday @ BOS
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Week 5: Best Pickups Off Waivers
Washington Capitals
The Capitals have been bit hard by the injury bug early in the season so some lesser-rostered players are getting more opportunities. Washington is a very top-heavy team as Alex Ovechin (100%), John Carlson (98%), and Evgeny Kuznetsov (85%) are the only three players rostered in more than half of Yahoo! leagues.
There is really only one skater worth adding in most leagues.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Forward
Dylan Strome (C, RW – 25% Rostered)
Strome should be available in most leagues and is worth a pickup this week. The Capitals’ second-line center has seen a downgrade in linemates with multiple top-six wingers injured, but he’s still playing on the top power-play unit with Ovi & Co.
Strome had 48 points (22 G, 26 A) in 69 games with the Blackhawks last season and is off to a solid start with nine points (2 G, 7 A) in 13 games this year. He had a goal and two assists in four games last week.
Connor Sheary (LW, RW – 7% Rostered)
Sheary is benefitting from those injuries to T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson up front. He’s playing on the top line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. While he’s gone a bit cold with just two assists in his last six games, the veteran winger had 43 points (19 G, 24 A) in 71 games last season so he could be due for a few points in four games this week.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenseman
Nick Jensen (D – 22% Rostered)
The Capitals are dealing with injuries to John Carlson and Dmitry Orlov (day-to-day as of Sunday), but no one has really stepped up in their absence. If anyone, it’s Jensen.
Jensen is averaging well over 20 minutes a night this season and is putting up points (1 G, 6 A), shots on goal (19), and blocks (22). While those aren’t numbers that are going to necessarily sway a matchup, he’s playing a lot and everything helps, especially from a guy playing on all four lighter nights this week.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have five players rostered in most leagues, one right below that on IR, and a few depth guys that haven’t done much … yet.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Forward
Joel Eriksson Ek (C – 55% Rostered)
Eriksson Ek is rostered in more than half of leagues, but it’s still not enough.
The second-line center jumps up to the top power-play unit with the Wild’s weapons. He has three assists in his last three games, giving him nine points in 11 games this season.
The Wild play four times this week against some cushy opponents. Eriksson Ek should continue to put up points.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenseman
Calen Addison (D – 21% Rostered)
After Jared Spurgeon (65% rostered), there really aren’t many fantasy-worthy defensemen on the Wild. Even Spurgeon has been a bit disappointing this season. Anyway, keep an eye on Addison as a guy that could start putting up points.
The 22-year-old defenseman has seven assists in 10 games so far this season and is getting time on the top power-play unit. Add Addison if you need some depth on defense.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins are off to a terrific 10-2-0 start so far this season and there are plenty of fantasy-relevant players to go around.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Forward
Jake DeBrusk (LW, RW – 54% Rostered)
I’m cheating a bit here again with DeBrusk just over the 50%-rostered mark, but it needs to be more. He’s solidified himself as a top-line winger in Boston, seeing virtually all of his 5-on-5 minutes with Patrice Bergeron so far this season.
DeBrusk has earned that spot with nine points in 11 games so far this season. He’s only shooting 9.1%, too, which is below his career average of 12.3%. He picks up a lot of shots on goal as well with 44 in 11 games.
Add DeBrusk before someone else does.
Charlie Coyle (C – 4% Rostered)
You shouldn’t touch a hot coil, but you should touch a hot Coyle.
Charlie Coyle is red-hot for the Bruins with a four-game goal streak prior to the 2-1 loss in Toronto on Saturday night. He’s not playing in the top-six, but he does see some added time on the power play. Nevertheless, Bruins’ depth is giving Coyle easier matchups and he’s taking advantage of that.
Coyle could end up as the second-line center if David Krejci falters. That would give him linemates like Taylor Hall and David Pastrnak. This 4% rostered number just seems too low.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Defenseman
Connor Clifton (D – 29% Rostered) & Matt Grzelcyk (D – 12% Rostered)
Player’s choice, here.
Clifton plays on the top pair at 5-on-5 but his only special teams minutes come on the penalty kill. He’s played in all 12 games this season and averages over 21 minutes a night.
Grzelcyk has a higher ceiling as he sees time on the second power-play unit but plays on the second pair at 5-on-5 as well. He has four points, 16 shots, and 14 blocks in eight games this season.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have a player that absolutely needs to be picked up.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Forward
Andrei Kuzmenko (LW – 33% Rostered)
Kuzmenko flew under the radar a bit as a signing from Russia in the offseason.
The 26-year-old rookie has played 315 games across eight seasons in the KHL, registering 200 points (85 G, 115 A). Last season, Kuzmenko had career-highs in goals (20), assists (33), and points (53) while playing just 54 games. He added 14 points in 16 playoff games as well.
Kuzmenko is playing on Vancouver’s second line with Elias Pettersson, and the top power-play unit with Bo Horvat, J.T. Miller, and Quinn Hughes. He has 11 points (7 G, 4 A) in 12 games this season with six goals and three assists in his last four games.
He’s not eligible for the Calder Trophy, but he can still help you win in fantasy hockey.
