I thought I’d do something a little different with the fantasy hockey waiver wire column this week. With not many games happening between last week’s installment and this week’s due to the All-Star break, the list of top available players is basically just a cut and paste. Rather than doing that, here are the hottest players over the past two weeks that you should get in on, with the caveat being I think they can keep it going and aren’t just a flash in the pan.
(only includes players rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo Fantasy leagues; stats listed are after Wednesday’s games)
Best Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Forwards
Frank Vatrano – Anaheim – LW/RW – 10% Rostered
(12 G, 13 A, -20, 4 PPP, 153 SOG, 47 BLK)
Matthew Tkachuk is the only player hotter than Frank Vatrano over the last 14 days. Over the past four games, Vatrano put up four goals, an assist, a power play point, 21 shots on goal, and four blocked shots. The Anaheim winger is having a career year, almost eclipsing his career-high in points, and logging the most ice time he’s ever had. Just ignore that plus-minus number.
Logan Couture – San Jose – C – 46% Rostered
(19 G, 24 A, -18, 14 PPP, 120 SOG, 49 BLK)
Another player who you just have to plug your nose and swallow the abysmal plus-minus total for is Logan Couture. That’s because other than that, he helps you everywhere else. The good thing about him is he hasn’t just been hot lately (two goals and four assists in his last two games) but has been good all season for San Jose. Pretty much always a lock for 20 goals a year, he’s on pace to crack the 30-goal mark this season.
Best Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Defensemen
Samuel Girard – Colorado – D – 13% Rostered
(4 G, 13 A, -7, 4 PPP, 70 SOG, 59 BLK)
Samuel Girard has been getting the offensive job done from the Avs’ blueline over the past few weeks. With points in four straight games and six of his last nine, he’s up to 17 points on the year. He’s been the second-best defenseman in terms of fantasy over the past 14 days. Playing on the defending champion’s second defensive pairing and the second power play unit, he’s getting plenty of opportunities to help you out in fantasy hockey.
John Klingberg – Anaheim – D – 38% Rostered
(6 G, 13 A, -25, 4 PPP, 67 SOG, 58 BLK)
We head back to Anaheim and zero in on Duck defender John Klingberg. In two of his last three games, Klingberg has registered two assists. Plus, his six goals on the season equal his total from last year already, and he has an outside shot to top his career high of 13. However, keeping the trend of this week’s waiver wire list going, try to ignore his plus-minus total.
Best Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Goalies
John Gibson – Anaheim – G – 37% Rostered
(10 W, 126 GA, 1257 SV, 1 SHO)
We’re staying in Anaheim, and going with the top-rated fantasy goalie over the past two weeks. Despite losing his last game, goalie John Gibson wasn’t to blame, saving 39 of 41 pucks thrown his way. Going 3-1-1 over his previous five games, the lifelong Duck has turned it around as of late. His goals against average of 3.89 and save percentage of .900 are still lacking, but at least they are headed in the right direction.
Anton Forsberg – Ottawa – G – 46% Rostered
(11 W, 74 GA, 706 SV, 2 SHO)
The second-hottest fantasy goalie is also available on the majority of waiver wires out there. Anton Forsberg has won three straight games for Ottawa, including a shutout of rival Montreal two games ago. After a rocky November, he’s put up two solid months of hockey in December and January, slowly lowering his goals against average and increasing his save percentage.
Other fantasy hockey waiver wire players worth checking out: Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Blake Coleman, Jake Sanderson, Rasmus Ristolainen
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