Welcome back to the weekly Fantasy Hockey waiver wire article. We’ll be taking a look at the teams with the most favorable fantasy hockey schedules and the fantasy hockey waiver wire.
The NHL is back from the All-Star break with a relatively balanced schedule this week, but there are still a few lighter nights. Less than half of the league plays on Monday (two games), Wednesday (three), Thursday (seven), Friday (three), and Sunday (two). You
Optimizing your lineup is crucial in any fantasy sports league, and fantasy hockey is no different. Given the NHL’s unbalanced scheduling, there are certain teams that have better schedules on certain weeks throughout the year.
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Fantasy Hockey Schedule Week 17: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds
The New York Rangers play three times this week, all coming on lighter nights. The Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks, and play four times, including two lighter nights as well as Tuesday when there are eight games.
New York Rangers
- Monday vs. COL
- Wednesday vs. TBL
- Friday @ CHI
The Rangers have six skaters rostered in at least 81% of leagues, so we’ll be looking for some opportunity plays here.
Blake Wheeler (RW – 8% Rostered)
Blake Wheeler is on the Rangers’ top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, as well as the second power-play unit. The veteran forward has 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 49 games this season but entered the break with goals in two straight games (plus an assist).
Wheeler should be rostered for at least this fantasy hockey week, with the Rangers playing on three of the lightest nights.
Alexis Lafreniere (LW, RW – 31% Rostered)
Fourth-year pro Alexis Lafreniere is the other top-six Rangers forward available in most leagues. He’s up to 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 49 games this season.
The former first-overall pick also scored in the last game before the break with an assist as well. He’s been fairly consistent in shooting the puck and should be good for a few points this week.
Colorado Avalanche
- Monday @ NYR
- Tuesday @ NJD
- Thursday @ CAR
- Saturday @ FLA
The Avalanche are another top-heavy team with depth players looking to break through.
Ross Colton (C, LW – 26% Rostered)
Ross Colton is having a nice breakout season during his first year with Colorado. The former Tampa Bay forward has 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 47 games, including six points in his last three games and nine points in his last seven contests.
Colton is centering the second line, with the Avalanche electing to have Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen together on the top line. However, he has been up on the top power-play unit with the big dogs and is worth a look for this week and beyond.
Logan O’Connor (RW – 16% Rostered)
Second-line winger Logan O’Connor has been red-hot for over a month now. He has 16 points in as many games since December 23rd, including a six-game point streak from January 2nd to 13th and seven points in his last five games, highlighted by a hat trick against the Flyers.
Ride the hot hand during a favorable week.
Samuel Girard (D – 12% Rostered)
Give Girard a look if you need help on defense. He plays nearly 20 minutes a night while racking up the blocked shots, hits, and occasional assists.
Vancouver Canucks
- Tuesday @ CAR
- Thursday @ BOS
- Saturday @ DET
- Sunday @ WSH
The rich got richer during the break, with the Canucks adding Elias Lindholm from Calgary.
Ilya Mikheyev (LW, RW – 3% Rostered)
Ilya Mikheyev is available in virtually every league and is getting first crack at playing on the top line with the two Eliases: Pettersson and Lindholm. He has 23 points in 45 games this season but has gone cold in recent weeks.
If he can find his form from before Christmas (20 points in 31 games) or, better yet, the start of the season (eight points in his first nine games), you’ll be very happy. At worst, he’s worth a flier, given his opportunity on the top line.
Pius Suter (C – 4% Rostered)
Pius Suter is another forward getting a chance in the top six as he’s on the second line with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser. He had a three-game point streak heading into the break and 14 points in his last 18 games.
There are certainly worse options out there in deep leagues.
