Welcome back to the weekly Fantasy Hockey waiver wire article. With the fantasy hockey playoffs just around the corner, we’ll be looking at the teams with the most favorable fantasy hockey schedules and the fantasy hockey waiver wire.
The NHL has its typical schedule this week. Most teams are playing on Tuesday (10 games), Thursday (12), and Saturday (14). That leaves Monday (four games), Wednesday (four), Friday (two), and Sunday (seven) as the lighter nights we’ll be targeting this week.
Optimizing your lineup is important in any fantasy sports league, and fantasy hockey is no different. Given the NHL’s unbalanced scheduling, certain teams have better schedules on certain weeks throughout the year.
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 Schedule Week 22: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds
The Winnipeg Jets are the team to target this week, with all four of their games coming on those lighter nights. The Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues also play four times but with three games on lighter nights.
Winnipeg Jets
- Monday vs. WSH
- Wednesday vs. NSH
- Friday vs. ANA
- Sunday @ CBJ
Not only do the Jets have a favorable schedule in terms of days but also in terms of their opponents, especially with the Ducks and Blue Jackets to close out the week.
Adam Lowry (C – 14% Rostered)
Adam Lowry is centering the third line, but you couldn’t tell that by looking at his recent point totals. He has five points (two goals, three assists) in his last five games, with the Jets spreading the offense around. Tread lightly, though, as Lowry only has 30 points in 60 games this season.
Nino Niederreiter (RW – 19% Rostered)
Niederreiter is also a part of that third line for the Jets. He also is at about 0.5 points per game on the season (33 points in 63 games) but has five points (four goals) in his last five games as well.
Vladislav Namestinkov (C, LW – 3% Rostered)
Namestnikov is getting a chance on the top line, and this is the perfect week for you to give him a chance. Mind you, these lines could be juggled around with the addition of Tyler Toffoli.
Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele are two of the Jets’ best offensive weapons, and Namestnikov should be able to get some vulture points if he stays up there. He, too, has had five points recently, but in his last six games,
Sean Monahan (C – 35% Rostered)
Monahan was the Jets’ early trade addition, and he’s fitting in well in Winnipeg. He has 10 points (eight goals) in 15 games with the Jets after putting up 35 points in his 49 games in Montreal.
The second-line center is also on the top power-play unit to add some value to him.
Los Angeles Kings
- Monday vs. NYI
- Wednesday @ STL
- Friday @ CHI
- Saturday @ DAL
The Kings have a more favorable schedule early in the week with the Islanders and Blues. Perhaps pick up a few Kings players early in the week and then switch to the Jets for the late-week push.
Phillip Danault (C – 21% Rostered)
Danault isn’t known for his offensive game, but the two-way center has been finding the back of the net recently. He has five points (four goals) in his last six games, bringing his total to 37 points in 63 games this season.
Expect Danault to pick up a few points this week as he centers Kevin Fiala and Trevor Moore on the second line.
Matt Roy (D – 25% Rostered)
Roy isn’t going to light up the scoresheet, but he’s a solid defenseman who can contribute this week. He’s been averaging well over 20 minutes per game — playing as high as 26:42 last week — while putting up a handful of hits and blocks in each contest. He even has three assists in his last five contests.
St. Louis Blues
- Monday @ BOS
- Wednesday vs. LAK
- Saturday vs. MIN
- Sunday vs. ANA
It’s tough to find any Blues players that are fantasy-relevant, but let’s take a crack at it.
Toery Krug (D – 28% Rostered)
Krug is the highest-ranked Blues player over the past two weeks, but that’s not saying much. He has three points with 15 shots and 15 blocked shots in that span. However, he has been held off the scoresheet in four straight contests.
Expect Danault to pick up a few points this week as he centers Kevin Fiala and Trevor Moore on the second line.
Jake Neighbours (LW, RW – 10% Rostered)
Neighbours plays on the second line and has a knack for getting hot. He only has two points in his last 11 games after putting up seven points in his first four games out of the All-Star break.
