With the calendar now flipped to February, it’s time to bear down and ensure we are making the right moves toward the postseason!
Let’s dive into some names on the waiver wire that can deliver value down the stretch.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Targets (Week 17)
(Rostertships courtesy of ESPN)
Lucas Raymond (LW/RW – DET) | 39.8% rostered
Lucas Raymond’s fantasy hockey production doesn’t fall into the ‘cross-category’ department but he is currently offering solid value in what has become a bounce-back season.
The Swede tallied a healthy 23 goals and 57 points across 82 games as a rookie in the 2021-22 season but fell to 17 goals and 45 points across 74 games last season. Fast forward to this season and Raymond has notched 13 goals and 41 points in just 50 games — a 21-goal, 62-point pace in a full 82-game season.
Raymond isn’t just a short-term addition. After all, the Red Wings don’t return to action until Feb. 10, meaning he will miss most of the remainder of Week 17. Also, it’s worth keeping an eye on how head coach Jeff Blashill plays Raymond when Patrick Kane returns from injury, likely later this week.
For now, Raymond is skating with Dylan Larkin on the Red Wings’ top line and top power-play unit. The result has been a goal and seven points over his last five games with a trio of two-helper games in that frame. Raymond has a decent 11 power-play points on the season.
He has his faults, namely just 92 shots and a minus-13 rating on the season, but Raymond could be a fine points and special teams contributor if he remains in his current role.
Alex Lyon (G – DET) | 41.4% rostered
We’ll go right back to the Motor City with our goaltender advice as the Red Wings’ Alex Lyon has firmly entrenched himself as the team’s No. 1 goaltender.
Again, the club isn’t back in action until Saturday, so Lyon needs to be viewed as at least a multi-week option. Ville Husso has struggled, as has James Reimer. Thankfully, for the Red Wings, Lyon has stepped up and posted a stout 2.51 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in 21 games, going a healthy 13-6-2 in that time.
As a result, it’s been Lyon between the pipes in seven straight and in 14 of the team’s last 15 games. He has allowed more than two regulation goals in just two of his last seven outings.
With the Red Wings battling for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, they will play to win every night. That means Lyon will continue to get the… lion’s… share of the starts moving forward.
For fantasy managers looking for goaltending help you likely have a No. 1 keeper on a contending team on your waiver wire.
Nazem Kadri (C – CGY) | 48.2% rostered
The Calgary Flames’ top six has taken a notable hit of late with the trade of No. 1 center Elias Lindholm to the Canucks, along with the off-ice issues facing winger Dillon Dube. This means an even bigger role for veteran pivot Nazem Kadri.
The former first-round pick has had a fine season on a suspect Flames team, tallying 16 goals and 39 points across 49 contests. Furthermore, after recording just one assist across his first eight games of the season, Kadri has 16 goals and 38 points over his last 41 games.
He’s also contributing nicely across the board. He has a healthy 159 shots on the season, 34 hits, 25 penalty minutes and a zero plus-minus rating on a Flames team sporting a minus-six overall goal differential. In other words, he isn’t a liability in any fantasy hockey category and has produced nearly a point per game for more than three months.
There are surely competing fantasy hockey rosters that could use Kadri’s quiet, yet big-time production of late.
Mason Marchment (LW – DAL) | 16.7% rostered
After a down 2022-23 season, Mason Marchment is another player enjoying a fine bounce-back campaign.
The gritty winger broke out with 18 goals and 47 points in just 54 games with the Florida Panthers in the 2021-22 season. However, he slipped to 12 goals and 31 points after signing a free-agent deal with the Stars last season. He did so despite seeing a notable jump from 14:07 of average ice time two seasons ago to a 15:42 mark last season.
He is skating about a minute less per game this season but has been much more efficient with 16 goals and 47 points on the season, easily surpassing last year’s production in 20 fewer games. He is on pace to record new career highs across the board.
A physical player, Marcment has laid 38 hits and has recorded 40 penalty minutes. However, one of his very best fantasy hockey traits is a hefty plus-17 rating on a very good Dallas Stars team — the fourth-best mark among NHL left-wingers this season. He hasn’t been a complete liability on the power play, either, with a palatable five man-advantage points on the Stars’ second unit. He skates with Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin on the team’s second line and second power-play group.
He’s flying under the fantasy radar but Marchment has been far better than he’s been given credit for this season.
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