We are edging ever so close to the fantasy hockey postseason and now is the time to buckle up and ensure we continue to use the waiver wire to our advantage.
Let’s dive in and check out the top options for Week 22 and beyond.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 22)
(Rosterships courtesy of ESPN)
Casey DeSmith (G – VAN) | 10% rostered
We’ll get started with our weekly goalie recommendation in the form of the Canucks’ Casey DeSmith.
With Thatcher Demko entrenched as the No. 1 goaltender in Vancouver while enjoying a Vezina-type season, DeSmith is, of course, a short-term add. That’s because Demko is listed as week to week with a lower-body injury, leaving DeSmith to backstop one of the NHL’s very best teams. Demko will reportedly be back before the playoffs begin but DeSmith could at least help in the short term.
The former Penguin has put forth a 2.91 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage in 20 games (18 starts) this season along with an 8-4-6 record. Of course, those numbers leave plenty to be desired but it’s the playing time that matters most in this scenario. He’s the owner of a much better 2.82 GAA and .910 Sv% in his six-year career, so there’s reason to be optimistic.
If you’re goalie-needy, DeSmith is a great option behind a dominant Canucks offense.
*Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is a great option as well but he has been previously covered in these weekly pieces.
Pavel Zacha (C – BOS) | 22.6% rostered
Bruins center Pavel Zacha has also been covered in this series this season but it was much closer to the start of the campaign as he is fantasy-relevant once again.
He went into a lull following a hot start to the season but his standing as the centerman to sniper David Pastrnak gives him plenty of fantasy credibility.
Zacha has recorded a hefty five goals and eight points over his last five games while skating as much as 19:50 in a contest in that time. He is up to 17 goals and 44 points across 63 games on the season, giving him a shot to surpass his career-best 57 points from a season ago, his first with the Bruins.
He also has a healthy 80 hits as part of his career-high average ice time of 18:05 per game with second-unit power-play duty mixed into that figure. He has a solid 13 power-play points and is a plus-nine on one of the better teams in the league.
Even if he’s hot in the short term, his spot alongside Pastrnak makes him a fantastic option.
Nikolaj Ehlers (LW – WPG) | 49.7% rostered
Line combinations are in a little bit of a flux in Winnipeg right now with a couple of injuries in the top six.
Captain Mark Scheifele and winger Gabriel Vilardi are both out of the lineup at the moment, though both ailments should be settled fairly shortly. As it stands, Nikolaj Ehlers has been bumped up to the top line with Vladislav Namestnikov and Kyle Connor. It appears trade-deadline addition Tyler Toffoli will remain on the second line with Sean Monahan while Ehlers is likely to remain on the top line with Scheifele and Connor when the former is healthy.
That’s a notable downgrade for Vilardi and a boon for Ehlers. The veteran has recorded 19 goals and 45 points in 65 games this season along with a quality 183 shots on goal and a big-time plus-21 rating. One detriment has been the fact he has just four power-play points — all assists — on the season while mostly skating on the second unit. He’s currently back on the first unit but he is likely to get bumped back down upon Scheifele’s return.
Nonetheless, skating with Scheifele and Connor, quietly one of the best goal-scorers and underrated players in the NHL, is a major boon to his fantasy stock. Grab him now before the verdict comes out when everyone returns.
Nick Schmaltz (RW, C – ARI) | 27.8% rostered
He isn’t the perfect fantasy player but Nick Schmaltz is getting it done in certain areas.
He has a solid 19 goals and 44 points in 63 games on the season to go along with 133 shots on goal. However, if you need some power-play production, this is your way. Twenty of those 44 points have come on the man advantage, including 10 of his 19 goals.
Now, he doesn’t contribute much physically with 13 hits and 10 penalty minutes and he is a disastrous minus-23 on the season. If you can’t afford to limp in those areas, perhaps Schmaltz isn’t for you.
However, if you require power-play points and overall offensive production, give the three-time 50-point man a good look on the wire.
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