Another week of fantasy hockey is in the books. If you want to take your squad to the next level, you’ve come to the right place. Below I’ve listed five players who are prime candidates to grab off of the waiver wire.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 6)
(Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN)
Kyle Palmieri (F – NYI) | 52.0% rostered
There’s no denying the Islanders are a bottom-tier offense. They’re averaging only 2.4 goals per game — 24th in the NHL. However, what if I told you that their top scorer, a nearly point-per-game guy, is available in roughly half of all fantasy leagues?
That’s Kyle Palmieri, who has logged a team-leading 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 15 games. His six goals also top the team, while his 40 shots (2.7 shots on goal per game) are fifth. Palmieri’s not too flashy, but the natural centerman could make a solid depth piece if you need a boost in scoring.
Pavel Dorofeyev (F – VGK) | 25.2% rostered
I snagged Mark Stone off waivers earlier this season, and it has been magical. The captain has been lighting it up, notching 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) on a Vegas offense averaging 4.4 goals per game (second).
Why do I lead with that anecdote? Well, because Stone is currently listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. With the veteran sidelined, I am grabbing Pavel Dorofeyev out of the free-agent pool. Dorofeyev has been elevated to the top six, and he’s tearing it up already.
Dorofeyev scored a goal in Stone’s first game out against the Kraken. He surprisingly leads Vegas in goals scored (eight). The Russian-born winger also has three assists. His 11 points are 87th in the NHL. Dorofeyev has a high ceiling and should mesh well in this powerful offense.
Brendan Gallagher (F – MTL) | 3.0% rostered
Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher has scored goals in three straight games, bringing him to seven goals on the season. That’s the 28th-most in the NHL. He trails only Cole Caufield (10 goals) on the Canadiens. Gallagher’s 31 shots on goal (2.1 shots per game) is also second to only Caufield’s 39 shots this season.
The reason why I like Gallagher above other available players is that the Habs are going to find themselves trailing quite a bit this year. They own the league’s worst defense, conceding 3.80 goals per game. This means Montreal will need to take risks offensively to try and erase their deficits.
If those risks turn into high-quality chances, Gallagher could be a major beneficiary. It’s clear this offense runs through Caufield and Gallagher, so I think it’s worth a flier on the latter if you need a boost.
Chris Tanev (D – TOR) | 27.9% rostered
Toronto’s Chris Tanev is available in roughly a quarter of ESPN’s leagues. He’s one of the better defensemen available on the market. It’s not because of his scoring, where he has just three assists this year. It’s mainly because he’s constantly stepping in front of pucks and blocking shots. Tanev’s 52 blocked shots are the most in the NHL.
Toronto has a high-caliber offense and should find themselves with a lead a lot of the time this season. Tanev will be anchoring down in their defensive zone and eating pucks to close out games. There’s more to fantasy hockey than simply lighting the lamp. Blocking shots is a good way to pick up extra points.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (G – BUF) | 35.3% rostered
The Sabres are out to a 7-7-1 start this year, which includes a current three-game winning streak. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been between the pipes in each of the three recent wins, improving his record to 6-4-1 on the season. Luukkonen’s six victories are the eighth-most in the NHL.
He also boasts respectable goaltending metrics — 2.64 GAA (17th) and .910 SV% (14th). There are only so many quality netminders in the NHL, and Luukkonen is shaping up to be one of them this season.
Luukkonen’s heater could very easily continue over the next few weeks, as five out of the Sabres’ next six games are against teams ranked 23rd or worse in goals per game (GPG).
Their next six opponents:
- Canadiens (2.6 GPG, 23rd)
- Blues (2.5 GPG, 24th)
- Flyers (2.5 GPG, 25th),
- Kings (3.4 GPG, 12th)
- Ducks (2.1 GPG, 32nd)
- Sharks (2.4 GPG, 30th)