Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Rankings, Trade Deadline Winners/Losers (3/10)

Welcome to the Week 23 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire article here at FTN Fantasy. For some playing in head-to-head formats, this is the final week of the fantasy hockey regular season before playoffs. 

Below you’ll see some of the best waiver wire pickups, players to stash for the playoffs, players to buy low and sell high in dynasty leagues, which players to drop and who to stream. I’ll also highlight some of the injuries, what it means for you and the Fantasy Hockey landscape.

I’ll also highlight some of the NHL’s trade deadline winners and losers from a fantasy hockey perspective on Dangle Bet Celly. 

There are 14 teams scheduled to play four games in Week 23 (Mar. 11 – Mar 17), and five teams scheduled to play two games. You’ll see streams from each team with four games below. The team to stream this week is the New York Rangers. The Blueshirts play five games in Week 23. 

Fantasy Hockey Playoff Strategy

With only a couple of weeks left in the Fantasy Hockey season, every move is critical. You may have to cut a struggling player for a four-game stream or someone trending up to punch your ticket to the dance. Sometimes you have to make uncomfortable moves, but the way to get the best of your opponents moving forward is to have more games while taking advantage of the matchups each week. Streaming is more important than ever at this time of the season. If you’re comfortably in a playoff spot, start looking ahead to some of the weeks that will matter to you.  I will have a Fantasy Hockey playoff guide THIS WEEK. 

The strategy I like to call “attacking the schedule” can be the difference in winning a championship. Each week, find out which borderline players or streamers wouldn’t crack your lineup on the busy days on the schedule. 

Drop those players for players scheduled to play on the lighter scheduled nights. Those days are usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. If you’re in a shallow league or a roto league, this strategy may not mean that much to you. But if you’re not going to play an average player on a busy night like Thursday or Saturday, you’re better off dropping him for someone playing on those lighter days. This strategy is similar to “two-start” pitchers in Fantasy Baseball.

Please be sure to check out our fantasy hockey Discord channel. Reach out to me anytime with questions!

My fantasy hockey rankings  – Updated 7 ET Sunday, March 10

Please subscribe, rate and review our podcast Dangle Bet Celly at FTN.

Injuries 

• Jake Guentzel, CAR
• Mark Stone, VGK
• Gabriel Vilardi, WPG
• Josh Norris, OTT
• Tyler Seguin, DAL
• Patrik Laine, CLS
• Viktor Arvidsson, LA
• Tomas Hertl, VGK
• Logan Couture, SJ
• Trevor Zegras, ANH
• Adam Fantilli, CLS
• Dougie Hamilton, NJ
• Mikhail Sergachev, TB
• Alec Martinez, VGK
• Aaron Ekblad, FLA

Quick Thoughts 

• Guentzel is close to returning to the lineup. Nothing will be as good as playing with Sidney Crosby, but he’ll still be productive in Carolina. 
• Logan Stankoven continues to be impressive alongside Wyatt Johnston and Jamie Benn. 
• Hertl has been one of the most added players since getting traded to Vegas from San Jose. However, he won’t play until playoff time, so he’s useless to you in redraft leagues. 
• Pinto is the biggest winner with Josh Norris sidelined. 
• Stash Vilardi if you can. 

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire 

The waiver wire consists of players owned in fewer than 60% of Yahoo leagues. They are ranked in order of how I value them for the rest of the season. I dug deep for those playing in NFHC High Stakes leagues.

Last Chance 

• Nick Suzuki, MTL
• Artturi Lehkonen, COL
• Valeri Nichushkin, COL
• Vladimir Tarasenko, FLA
• Patrick Kane, DET
• Wyatt Johnston, DAL
• Pavel Zacha, BOS
• Charlie Coyle, BOS
• Boone Jenner, CLS
• Gustav Nyquist, NSH
• Shane Pinto, OTT
• Yegor Sharangovich, CGY
• Sam Bennett, FLA
• Zach Werenski, CLS
• Travis Sanheim, PHI
• Frederik Andersen, CAR
• Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF

Vladimir Tarasenko, W 

Pavel Zacha & Charlie Coyle, BOS

The Bruins didn’t add a center at the deadline, so Zacha and Coyle are safe to stick in the top six. Zacha is feeling it of late and should stick with David Pastrnak the rest of the way. 

Deep-League Adds

• Logan Stankoven, DAL
• Jamie Benn, DAL
• Alexis Lafreniere, NYR
• Nick Schmaltz, ARI
• Juraj Slafkovsky, MTL
• Casey Mittelstadt, COL
• Sean Monahan, WPG
• Anthony Duclair, TB
• Dylan Guenther, ARI
• Jack Roslovic, NYR
• Evgeny Kuznetsov, CAR
• Mikael Granlund, SJ
• Alex Nylander, CLS
• Bobby McMann, TOR
• Seth Jones, CHI
• Philipp Grubauer, SEA
• Connor Ingram, ARI
• Anthony Stolarz, FLA

Anthony Duclair, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning 

Duclair’s ice time and top power-play time will take a hit in Tampa Bay, but he’ll trade that in for much better linemates. Duclair skated on the second line with Steven Stamkos and Anthony Cirelli in his Lightning debut, and he scored a goal on three shots. He had two points, including one on the power play. He only played 13:56, compared to 21:10 in his final game with the Sharks. Tampa Bay only has two games this week, but they play four games next week. Plan accordingly. 

Banger Leagues 

• Radko Gudas, ANH
• Jeremy Lauzon, NSH
• David Savard, MTL
• Kaiden Guhle, MTL
• Cam York, PHI
• Nick Seeler, PHI
• Adam Larsson, SEA
• Jake McCabe, TOR
• Mario Ferraro, SJ
• Connor Murphy, CHI
• Yakov Trenin, COL
• Alexander Romanov, NYI
• Ryan McDonagh, NSH

Consider Dropping 

• Sean Couturier, PHI
• Evan Rodrigues, FLA
• Matty Beniers, SEA
• Jonathan Drouin, COL
• Brayden Schenn, STL
• Mason Marchment, DAL
• Evgeni Malkin, PIT
• Elias Lindholm, VAN
• Alex Tuch, BUF
• Jeff Skinner, BUF
• Jordan Kyrou, STL
• Thomas Harley, DAL
• Jake Sanderson, OTT

Week 23 (Mar. 11 – Mar. 17)

Five Games 

New York Rangers

(MON vs NJ, TUE @ CAR, THU @ TB, SAT @ PIT, SUN vs. NYI)

Jack Roslovic, C/RW

I streamed Roslovic a couple of weeks back, and although I think his ice time and power-play time will take a hit with the move to New York from Columbus, he’s worth holding onto this week. Not only do you get five games, but Roslovic skated on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider in his debut. That trio played 10:34 at 5v5 together – more than any line – and they finished with a team-high 17 shot attempts, eight scoring chances and two high-danger chances. 

Alexis Lafreniere, W 

The consistency isn’t there, but Lafreniere is having a solid season for the Rangers and is a threat to pick up a point every game as he continues to play with Artemi Panarin. 

Jonathan Quick, G 

Igor is feeling it, but Quick will get a couple of starts this week if you’re in trouble in goal. 

Four Games

Anaheim Ducks

(TUE @ CHI, THU @ MIN, FRI @WPG, SUN @ STL)

Alex Killorn, W 

Frank Vatrano is the only Duck I’d hold, but there are several worth streaming in deeper formats. I think Mason McTavish and Troy Terry have higher ceilings than Killorn, but the former Lightning has goals in four of his last five games. With all the injuries in Anaheim and Adam Henrique in Edmonton, Killorn will get all the ice time he can handle. 

Ryan Strome, C 

Strome is also headed for more ice time. He’s currently skating in the middle of Vatrano and Terry, so you can expect a few FOW along the way. 

Carolina Hurricanes 

(TUE vs. NYR, THU vs. FLA, SAT @ TOR, SUN @ OTT)

Teuvo Teravainen, W 

Teuvo enters Sunday’s game on a six-game point streak. He has three goals and eight points over that span, with two on the power play. He lost his top spot on the first PP with the addition of Evgeny Kuznetsov, but he’s locked into a first-line role with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov. 

Evgeny Kuznetsov, C 

A change of scenery could do Kuznetsov good, but he’s been one of the most overrated fantasy players over the past couple of years. He doesn’t like to shoot the puck and won’t hit anyone. You’re really just hoping for a few assists and power-play production. He’d be a sell-high candidate if trade season wasn’t over. However, Carolina is starving for a second-line center, and he could take that role along with top PP time. He’s someone I’ll have my eye on in the NHL betting community. 

Columbus Blue Jackets 

(TUE @ MTL, THU vs. OTT, SAT vs. SJ, SUN vs WPG)

Alex Nylander, W 

Nylander has an impressive five goals, seven points and 25 shots on goal in eight games with the Blue Jackets. He can’t keep this pace up, but he’s getting a shot to play in Columbus. He’s averaging a career-high 15:40, which is two more minutes than he received in Pittsburgh. The winger played 18:28 in his last game and picked up five shots. He’ll cool off, but the schedule is nice this week. Nylander has been skating on the first power-play unit. 

Yegor Chinakhov, RW

It’s hard to stream a player who has one goal in his last nine games, especially on a team like Columbus. As mentioned, the schedule is decent, the Blue Jackets’ 5v5 game has been much better of late and Chinakhov has taken Jack Roslovic’s spot on the first line. 

Detroit Red Wings

(TUE @ BUF, THU vs. ARI, FRI vs. BUF, SUN @ PIT)

J.T. Compher, W

With Dylan Larkin sidelined, Compher is getting a crack to skate in the middle of Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat. He scored on Saturday but has been pretty quiet of late. I’d give him a shot in 14-team leagues with faceoff wins as a category. 

Los Angeles Kings

(MON vs. NYI, WED @ STL, FRI @ CHI, SAT @ DAL)

Quinton Byfield, F 

Byfield has been serviceable most of the season and is back on the first line. He also has triple eligibility. Not that you’ll need it this week with Los Angeles scheduled to play Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW

PLD continues to disappoint, but the schedule is nice this week, and he’s touching other categories. 

Matt Roy, D 

Blocks.

New Jersey Devils 

(MON @ NYR, THU @ DAL, SAT @ ARI, SUN @ VGK)

Ondrej Palat, LW 

Palat played on the top line with Nico Hichier and Timo Meier this week, so there’s a chance he’ll fall into a couple of points. Meier has seven goals over a current five-game goal streak.

New York Islanders 

(MON @ LA, THU @ BUF, SAT vs. OTT, SUN @ NYR)

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C

A lot of players from the Islanders were added late in the week, as they play Sunday in Anaheim and Los Angeles on Monday. The top line is loaded, so JGP has moved up to C2 and has been playing with better wingers in Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri is more of a shooter, and he has a better chance of scoring. If you’re looking for FOW, consider Pageau. He has four points, six hits and 29 faceoff wins in his last three games.

Ryan Pulock, D 

Hits and blocks. 

Ottawa Senators 

(TUE vs. PIT, THU @ CLS, SAT @ NYI, SUN vs. CAR)

Shane Pinto, C

Pinto has been one of our favorite shot prop targets on the betting side, as he’s had at least three in eight of his last 10 games. He has six goals and 18 points in 21 games this season. With Josh Norris sidelined Pinto will continue to skate in the top six and will get top power-play time. The Sens are a mess, but Pinto is worth your time. 

Pittsburgh Penguins 

(TUE @ OTT, THU vs. SJ, SAT vs. NYR, SUN vs. DET)

Bryan Rust, RW

The Pens waved the white flag with the trade of Jake Guentzel. They’ve lost three straight games and six of seven. They have one goal in their last three games and have been held to one or zero goals in five of their last seven games. Rust returned Sunday, and although he went scoreless, he had six shots. Michael Bunting could play inside the top six, but I don’t really care. 

San Jose Sharks 

(TUE @ PHI, THU @ PIT, SAT @ CLS, SUN @ CHI)

Thomas Bordeleau, C

I streamed Bordeleau in a 16-team league and will hold him this week. He has three goals, six shots and three power-play points in his two games since getting called up. He should get every chance to play big minutes for SJ. Mikael Grandlund and Fabian Zetterlund are better streaming options, but you have to be in deep formats to consider either. 

Mario Ferraro, D

Hits and blocks. 

St. Louis Blues 

(MON @ BOS, WED vs. LA, FRI vs. MIN, SUN vs. ANH)

Torey Krug, D 

The Blues are not really scoring outside of their top line. I don’t care for their schedule this week either. Krug is on the first power play and is touching other categories. 

Washington Capitals 

(MON @ WPG, WED @ EDM, THU @ SEA, SAT @ VAN)

Dylan Strome, C 

Strome lost his good wingers, but he keeps producing, especially on the power play. I’ve wanted to cut him loose, but it’s hard to drop a guy who has 16 points in his last 10 games. Most of those points have been assists, and half of them have come on the power play. He’ll probably live on my roster on Monday and Wednesday before I drop him for a weekend stream. 

Hendrix Lapierre, C

Lapierre has been skating on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and has been productive. The 22nd overall pick from 2020 has goals in back-to-back games and five over his last six games. He has seven points in those six games since returning to the lineup. 

Winnipeg Jets 

(MON vs. WSH, WED vs, NSH, FRI vs. ANH, SUN @ CLS)

Sean Monahan, C 

I love the look of the Jets’ top six with the addition of Tyler Toffoli. Monahan should skate with either Toffoli, Gabriel Vilardi (when he returns) or Nikolaj Ehlers. I love that for his outlook, and I like the schedule this week for the Jets. Ehlers has a higher ceiling than Monahan. Hold Vilardi if you can. 

Neal Pionk, D

Hits and blocks. 

Two games

• EDM
• NSH
• TB
• TOR
• VAN

Desperate fantasy managers who need wins may cut players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, Gustav Nyquist, Ryan O’Reilly and Brandon Hagel. Edmonton, Tampa Bay and Toronto all play four games next week. Scan the wire because some good players will get dropped at this time of the season.

Attack the Schedule 

• Monday – 4 games
• Tuesday – 10 games
• Wednesday – 4 games 
• Thursday – 12 games
• Friday – 2 games
• Saturday – 14 games
• Sunday – 7 games 

Having players on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday will give you an edge this week. 

NYR – MON, TUE, THU, SAT, SUN
WPG – MON, WED, FRI, SUN
LA – MON, WED, FRI, SAT
STL – MON, WED, SAT, SUN
NYI – MON, THU, SAT, SUN
NJ – MON, THU, SAT, SUN
WSH – MON, WED, THU, SAT
ANH – TUE, THU, FRI, SUN
CHI – TUE, FRI, SUN

• The Rangers having five games is huge. They start and finish the week with two games. The Rangers are the only team to have a game on Monday and Tuesday. 
• The Jets have the next-best schedule, as they have a game on each of the four smaller scheduled slates. 
• The Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Red Wings, Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Penguins, Sharks, and Blues play on Saturday and Sunday. 
• The Ducks, Blackhawks, and Jets play on Friday and Sunday.

Back-to-Backs

• BUF
• CGY
• CAR
• CLS
• EDM
• FLA
• LA
• MIN
• NJ
• NYI
• OTT
• PHI
• SEA
• TB
• TORx2
• WPG

Anthony Stolarz, G, Florida Panthers 

Sergei Bobrovsky has been fantastic this season, but the Panthers may ease off his workload down the stretch to keep him fresh for the playoffs. They have a solid backup in Anthony Stolarz, so they can afford to give him a few more starts. He played Saturday when the Panthers didn’t have a back-to-back game and turned aside 34 of the 35 shots he faced for his 13th win in 19 appearances. He has a rock-solid 2.02 GAA and .925 SV%. Stolarz has won his last five starts and the Panthers have rattled off wins in 17 of their last 20 games. I’d consider rostering Stolarz where I own Bobrovsky. 

Frederik Andersen & Pyotr Kochetkov, G, Carolina Hurricanes

Both of these goalies are most likely owned, but I wanted to highlight them anyway. Andersen returned to the lineup this week and looked great in his start. I’d say he’s 1A and Kochetkov is 1B for the Hurricanes. I believe they’ll split most of the starts down the stretch, with Andersen as the lead. I wouldn’t drop Kochetkov though, as Andersen has a long history of injuries. 

Trade Deadline Winners 

• Vladimir Tarasenko, FLA
• Pavel Zacha & Charlie Coyle, BOS
• Tomas Hertl, VGK (dynasty)
• Evgeny Kuznetsov, CAR
• Anthony Duclair, TB 
• Sean Monahan, WPG
• Jack Roslovic, NYR
• Michael Bunting, PIT
• Casey Mittelstadt, COL
• Dylan Cozens, BUF
• Alex Nylander, CLS
• Bowen Byram, BUF
• Jake Allen, NJ
• Sam Montembeault, MTL

Slight Decline 

• Jake Guentzel, CAR (still fine)
• Sidney Crosby, PIT (still fine)
• Tyler Toffoli, WPG (loses Jack Hughes and maybe PP1 time; still fine)
• Anthony Mantha, VGK (loses PP1, but has better linemates)
• Adam Henrique, EDM (loses PP1, better linemates; wouldn’t hold)
• Noah Hanifin, VGK (loses PP1; still fine)
• Sean Walker, COL