Ryan Garbutt – McKeen's Hockey

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Top Line Additions

McKeen's Hockey — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 13:03:24 +0000

As the season progresses we are starting to see some trends that can have a strong impact on your fantasy hockey team but a keen waiver wire addition. There are players who have suddenly found themselves either on their team’s top line or with a plum fantasy line mate and are widely available. Some rookies have survived the nine game mark and are now worth investing in and there are always injuries and call ups to keep an eye on.

Benoit Pouliot – Edmonton Oilers, Left Wing 39% owned

While Connor McDavid and Nail Yakupov are widely owned across fantasy leagues, Pouliot is the third man in on that line and number 67 has shown to have some chemistry with number 97 and at only 39% owned is available in many leagues. Coming off a five game point streak don’t sleep on Pouliot.

Pascal Dupuis – Pittsburgh Penguins, Left Wing 31% owned

The Crosby – Kessel combination that many thought would be deadly has failed to click early on and Sid is struggling. As a result, he has been reunited with his old running mate who is healthy again in Pascal Dupuis. Along with Patrick Hornqvist on that line it is only a matter of time before Crosby breaks out and if Dupuis is along for the ride, you want to own him.

Ryan Garbutt – Chicago Blackhawks, Right Wing 15% owned

No, Ryan Garbutt has not scored a goal yet this season, and has only one assist. So why is he on the waiver wire list? He does have 25 shots and 34 hits in ten games and has found himself playing on a line with Jonathan Toews and Teuvo Teravainen. He is generating scoring chances and playing with quality line mates so expect the production to come shortly.

Colin Miller – Boston Bruins, Defence 28% owned

Perhaps you were sleeping on Colton Parayko and missed out on this years John Klingberg, if so step right up and grab Colin Miller. Miller has three points in the last three games, is paired with Zdeno Chara and has worked his way into the Bruins top four. It is not a fluke either as Miller was a key piece in the Lucic deal. He was the second highest scoring defenceman last year in the AHL with the Calder winning Monarchs. He was a sleeper heading into the season, but don’t sleep on him now.

Victor Rask – Carolina Hurricanes, Centre 36% owned

Rask is centering the top line with Kris Versteeg and Eric Staal, which is as god as it gets in Carolina. Rask had an impressive rookie season scoring 33 points and should have no trouble eclipsing that as the Canes top centre this year. His three point game against Tampa on Sunday may be a harbinger of things to come.

Brett Connolly – Boston Bruins, Right Wing 36% owned

Connolly has found himself on a red hot line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand and has a six game point streak to show for it. The 2010 first round pick of Tampa has fallen under the radar as a result of injuries which slowed his development. Still only 23 he could have a breakout season and be a great value add as a waiver or free agent claim.

Torrey Mitchell – Montreal Canadiens, Right Wing 34% owned

Mitchell has been red hot this season for the Habs with nine points in 13 games including a current four game point streak. He is very valuable in leagues that count peripheral categories as well as he has produced 20 penalty minutes, 14 hits, 10 blocks 18 shots and is a plus -6.

Paul Byron – Montreal Canadiens, Centre 6% owned

For those of you in super deep leagues, Byron was claimed off waiver from Calgary by Montreal and has three points in his first three games. Both his goals are shorthanded goals to boot for leagues that have multi category scoring. Byron is centering a line with Torrey Mitchell and DSP.

All ownership numbers based on Fantrax leagues

All line combinations are from Frozen pools via Dobber Hockey

SHOOTING STARS

McKeen's Hockey — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 23:25:58 +0000

The Dallas Stars were big winners this offseason adding Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky from the Ottawa to provide the secondary scoring GM Jim Nill felt the team needed. Their AHL affiliate team Texas Stars were the Calder Cup Champions as well. With a fully loaded NHL roster and a Championship roster in the AHL, Dallas is poised to contend with the big dogs of the Western Conference.

The forward depth is as good as any teams now with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn pairing on the first line. New comers Spezza and Hemsky pair up on the second line allowing Ryan Garbutt and Antoine Roussel to drop down to third line duties where they will excel in the peripheral stats categories and agitation in a checking role. Insert the likes of Valeri Nichushkin, Erik Cole and Cody Eakin throughout the top nine and Dallas has impressive depth and a variety of roles with a balance of age and youth.

Perhaps the biggest question is on defense. Dallas lacks a Norris Trophy quality stud, but there is good depth there with Alex Goligoski, Trevor Daley, Jordie Benn, and Brenden Dillon. It remains to be seen if Sergei Gonchar can be a factor for one more season, or if a youngster like John Klingberg or Jamie Oleksiak can make the jump to the NHL.

In goal Dallas is secure with incumbent Kari Lehtonen who is in his prime and had a solid season with33 wins, a 2.41 GAA and a career high five shutouts. At a cap hit of $5.9 million he is a bargain.

The addition of Spezza will help boost the fantasy value of the whole team as Dallas should improve on last seasons 10th best offensive record of 231 goals. Go big on Dallas players.

Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza, Ales Hemsky, Valeri Nichushkin, Cody Eakin, Ryan Garbutt, Rich Peverley, Erik Cole, Antoine Roussel, Alex Goligoski, Kari Lehtonen

Fantasy Hockey Waiver and Future Watch

Peter Harling — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 13:10:13 +0000

It is the home stretch for the hockey season. As NHL teams scratch and claw to punch their ticket to the post season, fantasy owners are doing the same.

Most leagues are in a trade freeze period, but some still offer waivers and free agents. For those who do not or for owners who are looking to the future here are some fantasy hockey sleeper options which may be available in your league.

Jamie McGinn – Colorado Avalanche, LW 35% Fantrax Owned

McGinn is lining up on a regular basis with Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly. In 68 games he has 32 points and 128 hits. While he is not as skilled as his line mates, he is used to playing with elite centres since his junior days with the Ottawa 67’s where he played with Logan Couture.

Zemgus Girgensons – Buffalo Sabres, C 29% Fantrax Owned

The man with the best name in hockey had a breakout performance at the Sochi Olympics for Latvia. Since the trade deadline purge, he has established himself as one of the team’s premier players along with Cody Hodgson and Tyler Myers. He is currently on the IR with a lower body injury so not a great option this season, but for keeper leagues he has tremendous long term upside, particularly in leagues that have peripheral stat categories such as hits, and faceoff wins.

Anders Lee – New York Islanders, LW 29% Owned

Lee has been turning some heads since joining the Islanders in late February after being called up from Bridgeport of the AHL. In ten games he has had three two point games and has a total of ten points. He is 6’3” and 227 pounds making him a big scoring threat on a line with fellow rookie Ryan Strome. His size and skill make him a keeper in deep dynasty leagues.

Nick Holden – Colorado Avalanche, D 21% Owned

Holden has made vast improvements this season under Coach Patrick Roy and has shown steady improvements. He was not an option at the start of the season and a virtual unknown. He has been a healthy scratch at times but seems to have secured a full time job with his partner Tyson Barrie and even sees time on the powerplay where he has not looked out of place. He has played 40 games and has produced 18 points and is a respectable plus seven.

Ryan Garbutt – Dallas Stars, RW 21% Owned

Garbutt is not the only Star to enjoy a breakout season, line mates Cody Eakin and Antoine Roussel have formed a formidable trio. Garbutt has played 61 games in his first full season and has 24 points with 119 hits for leagues with peripheral stats. The loss of Peverley on the right wing gives Garbutt an opportunity for more ice time behind Valeri Nichushkin and Alex Chiasson to see more ice time.

Quinton Howden – Florida Panthers, LW 15% Owned

Howden had a brief and unspectacular 18 game audition last season. After playing in the AHL this season, he has been recalled and has four points in four games, including three goals. In his late season audition he has not looked out of place and is playing on a line with Jimmy Hayes and Brandon Pirri who could also be on this list. All three have size, two-way acumen and will either be bottom six energy players, or second line fantasy contributors. All three are well worth keeper consideration in dynasty leagues

Mike Hoffman – Ottawa Senators, LW 9% Owned

Hoffman has shown signs of his prolific scoring ability in his 12 games this season with the Sens. In his career in the QMJHL he scored 227 points in 180 games and scored another 102 points in the AHL. He is small, but has good speed, a nose for the goal and above average skills. The Sens have no chance of making the playoffs anymore, but players like Hoffman are playing for their career so expect him to have a strong finish.