The fantasy hockey week wraps up on Sunday. If you need a boost in scoring production, you’ve come to the right place. Below are four players I believe could offer a solution to any team looking to take the next step forward and compete in their league.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 9)
(Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN)
Anton Lundell (C – FLA) | 52.1% Rostered
Following a six-game scoreless streak, Florida’s Anton Lundell is once again finding his groove offensively. The third-line centerman has scored five points (two goals, three assists) in his last four games while racking up nine shots on goal (SOG) for a mark of 2.3 shots on goal per game (SOG/G) during the stretch.
Lundell is up to 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) on the year, which is 74th in the NHL. As for where he ranks on the Panthers, the Finnish center is fifth on the team in scoring (19 points) and fourth in SOG (53). We’re not going to get Sam Reinhart or Sam Bennett numbers out of Lundell, but I believe the Florida centerman could be useful as a solid depth option or streaming choice.
Conor Garland (RW – VAN) | 32.4% Rostered
Vancouver’s Conor Garland is on an absolute tear right now, riding a seven-game point streak. He’s logged 10 points during the seven-game stretch, which has come courtesy of four goals and six assists.
Garland is up to 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) on the year, which is the 56th-most in the NHL. The third-line winger has also been promoted to the team’s top power-play unit, which is really what I think declares him as worthy of a spot on a fantasy roster. During the seven-game stretch, Garland has picked up four power-play points via one goal and three helpers.
It’s not completely one-to-one since they’re different positions, but my theory is that Garland’s offensive production should continue while J.T. Miller is sidelined with a personal matter. Once Miller is ready to roll, Garland’s offensive opportunities may shrink — especially on the power play.
Ryan Donato (C – CHI) | 9.2% Rostered
If you’re in a really deep league and need a boost, Ryan Donato could be worth a look. I keep waiting for the Chicago centerman to fall off, but he continues to produce in the second-line center position.
At this point, Donato will keep up his scoring output simply because he’s centering a line with two veteran wingers in Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen. Overall this year, Donato has racked up 14 points (10 goals, four assists) and 53 SOG, both of which are second on Chicago’s roster.
Pyotr Kochetkov (G – CAR) | 39.4% Rostered
Carolina’s Pyotr Kochetkov hasn’t played since November 23rd due to a concussion, but he’s nearing a return and should be back between the pipes this week. The Russian-born netminder has been superb in the crease this season, going 10-2-0 (seventh-most wins) with a 2.42 GAA (eighth) and a .904 SV% (24th).
The Canes are favored to win the Stanley Cup this year at some sportsbooks (roughly +800 to +1100, depending on where you look), which leads me to believe they’ll continue to rack up the wins during the regular season. Between collecting wins and having a very stingy defense in front of him, Kochetkov makes an excellent long-term option for a fantasy team.
