Welcome to Week 8 of the fantasy hockey season!
We continue to cruise our way toward the new year as we are, somehow, nearly two months into the NHL season. It’s never too early or too late to scour through that waiver wire, even if it’s just for the short term!
Let’s dive in and check out some names to consider this week.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 8)
(Rosterships courtesy of ESPN)
While position flexibility is always welcomed, Cole Perfetti’s production certainly warrants a look.
The young forward has enjoyed a nice season so far with six goals and 16 points across 19 games. He’s also a hefty plus-nine on a contending Jets club, with six penalty minutes and four power-play points to boot. Look away if you are counting hits (he has one on the season), but he is producing quite well for a player who is averaging only 14:06 of ice time per game.
Of course, we’d like to see his playing time increase, but Perfetti is currently in a top-six role while getting reps on the club’s top power-play unit. He’s recorded two goals and five points over his last five games and is a plus-six in that time. He’s earning his stripes in his age-22 season.
Welcome to Week 8 of the fantasy hockey season!
We continue to cruise our way toward the new year as we are, somehow, nearly two months into the NHL season. It’s never too early or too late to scour through that waiver wire, even if it’s just for the short term!
Let’s dive in and check out some names to consider this week.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 8)
(Rosterships courtesy of ESPN)
While position flexibility is always welcomed, Cole Perfetti’s production certainly warrants a look.
The young forward has enjoyed a nice season so far with six goals and 16 points across 19 games. He’s also a hefty plus-nine on a contending Jets club, with six penalty minutes and four power-play points to boot. Look away if you are counting hits (he has one on the season), but he is producing quite well for a player who is averaging only 14:06 of ice time per game.
Of course, we’d like to see his playing time increase, but Perfetti is currently in a top-six role while getting reps on the club’s top power-play unit. He’s recorded two goals and five points over his last five games and is a plus-six in that time. He’s earning his stripes in his age-22 season.
He is certainly worth a strong look in dynasty leagues, but Perfetti’s production is outweighing his rostership in redraft leagues, as well.
By no means are we recommending Alex Lyon as a long-term solution in goal but, right now, he is probably the best option on the waiver wire. This is a “ride-him-while-he’s-hot” type of addition for those in need of help between the pipes in the short term.
James Reimer and Ville Husso were the combination in goal for the Red Wings for much of the season, but Lyon is stealing the show. He’s started three of the team’s last four games while turning in a 1.53 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage in that time, winning two of those three outings. His lone loss came against the Maple Leafs in Sweden when the team in front of him blew a 2-0 third-period lead. He was solid in that game, too.
The journeyman netminder is on a bit of a roll in the NHL. He was a major asset down the stretch for the Panthers last season when Sergei Bobrovsky was struggling. He posted a .912 Sv% in 15 appearances and won nine of his 14 starts. His 2.97 GAA and .904 Sv% in 41 NHL appearances isn’t anything to write home about, but what he’s doing right now is what counts.
The Wings have a tough matchup against the Rangers to open their week on Tuesday but also have the Blackhawks and Canadiens on tap. If Lyon can start those final two games this week, you’re likely in business.
The Trevor Moore train is moving quickly, so it’s time to hop on now before you miss the stop.
It’s obvious to point out players riding hot streaks, as Moore has four goals and six points over his last three games. However, he’s been a strong waiver wire consideration for the last couple of seasons.
The California native notched a career-high 17 goals and 48 points in the 2021-22 campaign while breaking the 200-shot barrier with 202 pucks on net. He was hampered by injury last season but still tallied a solid 10 goals and 29 points with 163 shots across 59 games, increasing his shot volume to 2.76 shots per game over his 2.49 clip the previous season.
This season, Moore has 11 goals and 19 points in as many games with 53 shots on goal, good for a 2.78 shots-per-game rate. He has also contributed 11 hits, a plus-five rating, 10 penalty minutes and a sneaky five power-play points. He’s seeing second-line minutes while skating on the Kings’ second power-play unit.
There is rock-solid cross-category production with Moore and he’s certainly being undervalued relative to his production.
When Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci both hung up their skates this past offseason, big-time questions lingered down the middle of the ice for the Boston Bruins. Between Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha (who was a waiver-wire recommendation recently), those questions have all but disappeared.
Coyle, specifically, is on pace to blow past career highs offensively. With nine goals and 19 points in 20 games, he’s riding a 78-point pace in an 82-game season, while sizzling at a 37-goal pace. He’s a plus-four on another dynamite Bruins team and is also contributing nicely in leagues that reward hits. He has 22 of those on the campaign to go with his 12 penalty minutes and 39 shots on goal.
To temper expectations, his 23.1% shooting percentage will not last. The veteran pivot also has just a pair of power-play points on the Bruins’ second unit. Nonetheless, he will continue to be on the plus side of the plus/minus ledger, while his 17:15 of ice time per game should keep him producing nicely offensively. A career year is certainly more likely than not at this point.
Coyle is hot right now with four goals and seven points over his last five games, so it’s time to consider him while the iron is hot.
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