The end of the fantasy hockey season is just over a month away and it’s time to bear down before the trade deadline hits.
Let’s look at some names worth buying and selling in Week 18 of the fantasy hockey season!
*Rosterships courtesy of ESPN
View daily consensus odds from all major sportsbooks for the NHL at BettingPros 
NHL Fantasy Hockey Week 18 Trade Advice
Buy
It’s going to cost a pretty penny, but if you’re in the hunt, this is the type of target that could get you over the hump.
It’s clear Pierre-Luc Dubois’ production isn’t going to drop off as part of a Jets’ dangerous top six, whether you want to call him or Mark Scheifele the club’s No. 1 center or not. Dubois is skating with the club’s top goal-scorer and one of the best-scoring wingers in the league, Kyle Connor, so he gets my vote.
In any regard, Dubois has notched 23 goals and 53 points in 54 games. With nine more points, he notches a new career-high while he has 28 games to do so. Not only is he on a point-per-game pace, but Dubois is contributing across the board.
The 24-year-old has recorded 155 shots on goal, 53 hits, a plus-10 rating, 54 penalty minutes, and 18 power-play points. That type of production plays in a big way and factors into his near-97% rostership. Only Rasmus Dahlin and the Tkachuk brothers have more points than Dubois among players with at least 54 penalty minutes.
He’s at least bringing something to the table every night he steps out there and could be a key piece to a fantasy championship of a career year.
Vladimir Tarasenko was the first significant bomb to drop in this year’s trading season, getting shipped to the Rangers as the Blueshirts’ key forward pickup well ahead of the March 3 deadline.
The good news for current fantasy managers — and what makes him attractive to rivals — is he’s been put onto the team’s top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. That remains a fluid situation, as Artemi Panarin has seen time on that line as well.
Nonetheless, the opportunity in New York should prove fruitful. His 13:42 of average ice time through his first two games will certainly rise, as he was handling 17:31 per game in St. Louis. Head coach Gerard Gallant is likely easing the Russian into his system, but the top-line role is promising.
It’s disappointing to see him skating on the second power-play unit, but I’d imagine that situation also remains flexible. The red-hot Filip Chytil — one of last week’s waiver-wire suggestions — has been promoted to the top unit, but it’s fair to wonder how long that will last once he inevitably cools off.
Tarasenko wasted little time in scoring his first goal as a Rangers in his first game, giving him 11 goals and 30 points in 41 games on the season. He’s also put 105 shots on goal in that time with 47 hits. His plus-minus stands to significantly improve following a minus-18 mark posted this year with the scuffling Blues.
THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG. ?
VLADIMIR TARASENKO SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL AS A RANGER! pic.twitter.com/pFWQlHVGP9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 11, 2023
The first-line opportunity in a change of scenery is an attractive situation to target in the trade market.
Sell
Pavel Buchnevich (RW, LW – STL)
There’s nothing wrong with the season Pavel Buchnevich is putting together, but if you’re looking to make a two-for-one deal for something like Dubois, he’s a player that’s been good enough to include in the deal.
The Russain has notched 15 goals and 42 points in 40 games. He’s also managed just 76 shots in that time (1.9 per game) with a 19.7% shooting rate that seemingly has nowhere to go but south moving forward.
He’s been decent enough in the other peripheral categories with 37 hits, 22 penalty minutes, 18 special teams points, and a plus-three rating. However, his current center is Ryan O’Reilly, who seems all but guaranteed to be traded at this point. This Blues’ forward group is going to get thinner, with Ivan Barbashev likely on his way out as well. This doesn’t bode well for future production.
With 118 points over his last 113 games, he’s been a quality fantasy producer. However, he’s not doing enough for me in the peripherals to hang onto him for a stretch run on a bad team about to get worse.
See if you can include the productive winger in a trade for a true difference-maker down the stretch.
With all due respect to the reigning Calder Trophy winner but there’s no way Moritz Seider should be even close to 98.2% rostered.
I mean, the production isn’t terrible. He’s notched a solid 29 points in 52 games, but he’s only truly valuable in leagues that count both hits and blocks. He’s tallied 119 hits and another 125 blocks on the season, the latter of which is tied for fourth in the NHL. However, there’s not much else to hang your hat on.
He’s averaging just 1.7 shots per game, has just 10 power-play points, and is a minus-10. His 24 penalty minutes are palatable but nothing special. In terms of what a defenseman can deliver in fantasy, we’re down to assists, hits, and blocks. Again, if your league counts just one or neither of those latter two categories, Seider just isn’t doing much for your roster.
Yet, here were are approaching 100% rostered! That’s positive news for current managers who are looking to make an impact deal before their respective deadlines. Plenty of managers put too much stock into rostership than the story the numbers are telling.
Add it up, and Seider should be on the block and targeted to a non-playoff team that will consider him as a keeper heading into next season.
Whether you’re new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our Sports Betting 101 Section – including 10 Sports Betting Tips for Beginners – or head to more advanced sports betting strategies – like Key Numbers When Betting Against the Spread – to learn more.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio
