We are carving our way toward the midpoint of the NHL fantasy hockey season, as it’s tough to believe we are about to dive into Week 11!
The waiver wire remains as important as ever, whether it be for the short or long term. Let’s dive into this week’s fantasy hockey waiver wire advice and see who can help us now and/or down the road.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 8)
(Rosterships courtesy of ESPN)
Connor Ingram (G – ARI) | 58.5% rostered
If you follow these weekly waiver wire pieces, you know that we usually like to keep the advice to players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues. However, we also like to include a goaltender in these suggestions, making the sub-60% rostered Connor Ingram a fit.
Karel Vejmelka was easily the top Coyotes netminder to roster at the outset of the season, but that is no longer the case. Ingram has stolen the crease based on a 2.41 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, alongside 12 wins, across 18 starts on the season.
While he’s hot, this one may not be for the short term. Keep in mind the southpaw-catching netminder is still just 26 years old with only 49 career NHL appearances under his belt. The goaltending position at the NHL level is not for the young bucks but rather a position that usually takes time to conquer. The former third-round pick of the Lightning could just be getting started.
Those in need of help between the pipes should absolutely consider Ingram, who could be a home-run play for now and in the future.
Nikolaj Ehlers (LW – WPG) | 39.7% rostered
It’s rather criminal that the Jets’ Nikolaj Ehlers is rostered in fewer than 40% of ESPN leagues.
Through 29 games, the 27-year-old has recorded 10 goals and 22 points. It’s not elite production, but it’s very solid, especially when you toss in a plus-12 rating along with a hefty 78 shots (2.7 shots per game) and 19 penalty minutes. He’s white-hot of late with three goals, six points and nine shots on goal across his last two games, but a spot on the top line alongside Mark Scheifele will continue to deliver plenty of opportunities.
The Denmark native has just two power-play points on the season, but he is now part of the first unit, which hasn’t been the case much until lately. The power-play production is almost certain to increase if he can maintain a spot on the top group moving forward.
Add it up, and Ehlers is a must-add right now, given his increased role and his blatantly obvious cross-category production.
Quinton Byfield (C, LW – LA) | 22.9% rostered
While Quinton Byfield is producing like a player worth claiming right now, he is a tremendous addition for those in dynasty leagues.
The 21-year-old has enjoyed life alongside Anze Kopitar on the Kings’ dynamite top line, as he’s notched eight goals and 23 points in 27 games. That’s one more point than he accumulated across 53 games last season.
Clearly, he’s taking the steps forward that you would love to see from a high draft pick. He hasn’t shot the puck a ton, with just 53 shots on goal, but he does have seven power-play points and is a plus-12 on a very good Los Angeles Kings hockey team.
Indeed, a spot on the top line is important, but Byfield is also skating on the Kings’ top power-play unit. The Kings are the league’s fifth-ranked overall offense.
Dynasty league manager would be wise to hop on this developing train, but redraft leagues should certainly take notice as well.
Gabriel Vilardi (C – WPG) | 41.2% rostered
Remember that whole Ehlers thing from above? Well, you can go ahead and add Gabriel Vilardi as well.
Ehlers is white-hot at the moment, but Vilardi is also on a tear as part of that top line on the flanks of Jets captain Scheifele.
Vilardi missed a good chunk of time with injury this season and has appeared in just 11 games but has nine points in that time. The 2017 11th-overall pick has notched three goals and six points on seven shots over his last two games and has a solid 28 shots in 11 games as well. Additionally, he’s a plus-seven, averaging 16:03 of ice time per game, by far a career-high.
Like with Byfield, the steps forward are encouraging. Vilardi broke out with 23 goals and 41 points across 63 games with the Kings last season before being packaged as part of the return for center Pierre-Luc Dubois. That trade is working out well for both sides, but it appears the Jets have found a nice one in Vilardi.
The small sample has limited his fantasy usage but Vilardi is likely to enjoy some productive fantasy hockey seasons moving forward.
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