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. Below are a few players that should be available on waivers for each squad.
The NHL has a fairly normal fantasy hockey schedule this week, with at least half of the league playing on Tuesday (10 games), Thursday (8), and Friday (13). That leaves Monday (4), Wednesday (5), Friday (6), and Sunday (5) as the lighter fantasy hockey nights that you’ll need some help filling out your roster.
In this article, we’ll be highlighting a few teams that play on lighter nights in order for you to maximize your roster for any given week. The Fantasy Hockey waiver wire is key!
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.
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 10 Waiver Wire
The Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Islanders play on all three lighter nights this week and have a fourth game on the docket as well. Those are the teams we’ll be looking to target this week.
Buffalo Sabres
- Monday vs. ARI
- Wednesday @ COL
- Friday @ VGK
- Saturday @ ARI
The Sabres are a bit top-heavy, with Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Jeff Skinner rostered in over 90% of leagues. There are some options in the top six, though.
JJ Peterka (RW – 29% Rostered)
Young Sabres winger JJ Peterka is enjoying a breakout season thus far. After putting up 32 points in 77 games last year, he already has 20 points (11 goals) in 28 games this season. He’s also getting the puck on net with some regularity at 77 shots in 28 games.
The 21-year-old forward has found a home on the second line with Dylan Cozens — someone else you should be targeting this week at 57% rostered –, and he gets some time on the second power-play unit as well.
Peterka had a slow start but has 18 of his 20 points in his last 21 games. Grab him if he’s available in your league.
Casey Mittelstadt (C – 24% Rostered)
Mittelstadt centers Skinner (90% Rostered) and Thompson (99%) on the top line, and he’s on the top power-play unit as well.
The former eighth-overall pick may never hit the ceiling the Sabres hoped, but he has 22 points through 28 games after putting up 59 points in a full 82-game season last year. Give Mittelstadt a look during a favorable week.
Devon Levi (G – 42% Rostered)
Sabres goalie Devon Levi was recalled from the AHL recently after a rough start to the season. He was 3-4-1 with a .876 SV% through his first nine games this season.
Levi has started the last two games with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on the shelf. Levi stopped 29 of 30 shots against the Bruins in a 3-1 win before being the tough-luck loser in the shootout against the Canadiens with two goals against on 31 shots.
The Sabres should be better than they are, and having a confident Levi in net will help that. Scoop him up if you need some goalie help.
Colorado Avalanche
- Monday vs. CGY
- Wednesday vs. BUF
- Saturday @ WPG
- Sunday vs. SJS
Speaking of top-heavy teams, the Avalanche have three players rostered in 100% of leagues and two more above 83%. It drops off after that, though, with the 30% rostered Artturi Lehkonen next up.
Josh Manson (D – 5% Rostered)
While Cale Makar and Devon Toews get most of the shine, the hard-working Josh Manson has been contributing offensively as of late.
After recording just one assist in his first 19 games, Manson has five points (two goals and three assists) over his last five contests. Sure, he may not keep it up, but he’s been confident shooting the puck with 12 shots in that span after having six shots in his previous nine games.
See if you can ride this hot streak if you need help on defense in a deep league.
Top-Six Forwards
Take your pick between Jonathan Drouin, Logan O’Connor, and Tomas Tatar. They’re all widely available and playing in the Avalanche’s top six — at least as of Sunday. Alternatively, take a chance on third-line center Ross Colton to catch fire again — perhaps he’ll get a bump back up to the second line.
New York Islanders
- Monday vs. TOR
- Wednesday vs. ANA
- Friday vs. BOS
- Saturday @ MTL
The Islanders aren’t the most fantasy hockey-friendly team. They have a group of four players rostered in 70% of leagues or more before dropping off again.
Anders Lee (LW – 25% Rostered)
Islanders captain Anders Lee has a most for the net but isn’t quite scoring at his normal pace. After putting up 28 goals in two straight seasons, Lee has seven goals in 26 games — a 22-goal pace.
He is playing on the top line with skilled forwards Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, but he’s only on the second power-play unit in front.
Lee did score twice in Saturday’s comeback win against the Kings. In fact, Lee has been heating up for a few weeks now with eight points (six goals) in his last 11 games after recording just one goal and one assist in his first 15 games.
Buy Lee low.
