The NHL season is getting into the home stretch and so is the fantasy hockey season! We’re back with our Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire article with the teams to stream and the best pickups at forward, defenseman, and goalie for Week 19 (February 20th to 26th)
We have a typical week upcoming with four lighter nights on Monday (6 games), Wednesday (3), Friday (6), and Sunday). Those are the days to focus on to get an edge in your matchups while you should already be covered on Tuesday (9), Thursday (10), and Saturday (11).
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 19: Teams to Stream
There are two teams that play on all four of the lighter nights this week: the New York Islanders and the Winnipeg Jets. We’ll be taking a deeper look at these two teams — who play each other twice this week — with a few different options for each squad.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Week 19: Best Pickups
New York Islanders
- Monday @ Pittsburgh Penguins
- Wednesday vs. Winnipeg Jets
- Friday vs. Los Angeles Kings
- Sunday @ Winnipeg Jets
Bo Horvat, Noah Dobson, Mathew Barzal, Brock Nelson, and Anders Lee are all rostered in over 50% of leagues and I would recommend picking up any of them if they’re available on waivers.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Adds: Forward
Kyle Palmieri (W – 8% Rostered)
Palmieri plays on the second line with Nelson as well as the second power-play unit for the Islanders.
The grizzled veteran only has 18 points (9 G, 9 A) in 32 games this season but he is riding a two-game point streak. He’ll throw the body for some hits in banger leagues and is shooting the puck more recently with 10 shots in his last three games.
Zach Parise (W – 5% Rostered)
Parise is the other winger on the Islanders’ second line and is another option for deep leagues.
The winger is more likely to score than Palmieri, but perhaps not by too much. He has two goals and 21 shots on goal in seven games since the All-Star break.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Adds: Defenseman
Ryan Pulock (D – 23% Rostered)
Pulock plays on the top pair and gets some run on the second power-play unit. The defenseman contributes across the board with blocked shots, hits, shots on goal, and even has three points in his last five games.
Adam Pelech (D – 3% Rostered)
Pelech anchors the top pair with Pulock and is more widely available. He’s actually been better than Pulock over the last two weeks, according to Yahoo’s ranks, with two assists, 11 shots, 14 hits, and 16 blocks.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Week 19: Best Adds
Winnipeg Jets
- Monday @ New York Rangers
- Wednesday @ New York Islanders
- Friday vs. Colorado Avalanche
- Sunday vs. New York Islanders
The Jets also have most of their top six — and top defenseman — rostered in over half of leagues. Kyle Connor, Josh Morrissey, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Mark Scheifele are all rostered in over 85% of leagues.
Fantasy Hockey Waivers Pickups: Forward
Blake Wheeler (C, W – 55% Rostered)
Wheeler technically doesn’t fit the guidelines for this article at 55% rostered but he’s worth a writeup — and he needs to be rostered in more leagues.
Wheeler has 42 points (15 G, 27 A) in 46 games this season and has been on fire recently. He has six points (3 G, 3 A) in his last four games and 16 points (6 G, 10 A) in his last 15 games. Go pick him up if he’s available in your league.
Cole Perfetti (C, W – 14% Rostered)
Perfetti is showing a bit of his potential this season with the Jets. He’s currently on their second line and second power-play unit.
However, the 21-year-old forward is in the midst of a bit of a drought with no points in his last six games after picking up nine points (1 G, 8 A) in his previous eight games.
He has the opportunity and talent to get back on the scoresheet and this week could be the time with four games on lighter nights.
Fantasy Hockey Waivers Pickups: Defenseman
Neal Pionk (D – 48% Rostered)
Pionk holds his own on the Jets’ second pair and second power-play unit behind Morrissey.
He’s another defenseman that will fill up the box score with blocks, hits, shots, and the occasional point or two. He plays well over 20 minutes per game which gives him plenty of opportunity to produce.
Fantasy Hockey Waivers Pickups: Goalie
David Rittich (G – 6% Rostered)
Connor Hellebuyck is the Jets’ bonafide starter but he’s been under the weather recently, and Rittich has filled in admirably.
Big Save Dave is 9-5-0 with a 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% this season. He’s been great over the past month-plus with just eight goals allowed on 109 shots (.927 SV%) while going 3-1-0 in five appearances (four starts).
Hellebuyck should be back at some point this week, but don’t sleep on Big Save Dave.
Follow Ryan Gilbert on Twitter (@RGilbertSOP)
