Maximize Week 4 value for this week's NHL fantasy hockey! A rare 32-team slate, injury updates, and new positional eligibility unlock key pickups and roster moves.
This coming Tuesday will feature one of those rare awesome days when all 32 teams will be in action. The downside is that it leaves very little for Monday and Wednesday, which have only three games combined.
There are five teams playing only twice, and the Mammoth get the biggest benefit with a four-day break between games, though it’s well-deserved following four games in six days on the road. I think the Kraken are the worst team to mine for options; not only do they play just twice, their two opponents have good goaltending (Jakub Dobes for Habs and Igor Shesterkin for Rangers), and still missing Jared McCann and Kaapo Kakko.
The number of back-to-backs in Week 4 makes it pretty easy to pick up another game or two, though I suggest making your move after Tuesday. Quite a few teams will play three times for the rest of the week, which provides a good array of options.
Given how many injuries occurred during Saturday’s games – Roope Hintz, Robert Thomas, Dylan Strome, Mikael Granlund, Rickard Rakell, among other – I would not be surprised if teams load manage through the week and sit out players for precaution. I’ve covered a list of players who get boosts in fantasy value below.
As a final note, Yahoo is adding additional positions now that we’re a few weeks into the season. Montreal’s Zack Bolduc gained LW eligibility, and Toronto’s Mattias Maccelli and Florida’s Brad Marchand gained RW eligibility. The LW/RW combo is the most common kind of multi-positional eligibility, but it’s still worth noting because it adds more flexibility to roster management and I suspect more will come moving forward.
Among the others that I can see may get another position include the Islanders’ Emil Heineman (add RW), who’s good for hits and the occasional goal, and also Ottawa’s Shane Pinto (LW) and/or Dylan Cozens (LW), who are both off to great starts.
All positions and rostered percentages are courtesy of Yahoo Fantasy.
Schedule
Pick players from teams at the top of the schedule matrix to maximize games and matchups. Green is good. Red is bad. Points percentages are as of Sunday morning.
Season-long adds (< 50% rostered on Yahoo)
Dmitri Voronkov, LW, CBJ (24% rostered)
The fantasy community still doesn’t seem to realize how reliable Voronkov has been on the Jackets’ top line. He’s not a high-volume shooting or scoring machine, nor does he have dazzling hands like Kent Johnson, but he picks up a point or two every other night and, before you know it, he’s scored close to 30 and registered 150 shots.
Jet Greaves, G, CBJ (36% rostered)
Elvis Merzlikins, G, CBJ (14% rostered)
Greaves had his first tough game of the season allowing five goals on 30 shots in a 5-1 loss to the Caps on Saturday, though admittedly it was a tough matchup. The Jackets are better than their .500 record may suggest; three of their four losses this season have been to elite teams – Avs, Devils and Caps. Both goalies are available in most leagues and it’s a good chance for fantasy managers to grab the tandem at potentially zero cost.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, G, BUF (30% rostered)
It’s a crowded crease and Colten Ellis should get another look – he was schedule to play against the Leafs but suffered a back issue – but look for the Sabres to carry three goalies since Ellis and Alex Lyon both need waivers. I expect UPL to still be the No. 1 with Ellis and Lyon fighting for leftover starts. The Sabres have turned a corner (I think) which means managers should expect some wins from UPL.
Mid-term holds (< 50% rostered on Yahoo)
Conor Garland, RW, VAN (38% rostered)
Garland doesn’t get a lot of respect but he’s a hard-working winger who doesn’t let his lack of size impede him. He’s been one of their most trusted players at even strength for a few seasons now, and he’s maintained his spot on L1 even after the return of Brock Boeser. If Elias Pettersson can build some momentum – he had arguably his best game Saturday against the Habs – Garland should benefit, too. He’s on pace for career highs thus far.
Emmitt Finnie, C/LW, DET (34% rostered)
Finnie has been one of the most popular pickups in fantasy and for good reason – he’s attached to Dylan Larkin’s hip on L1. Even when the Wings had a chance to mix it up when Lucas Raymond was injured, Todd McLellan stuck with Finnie on L1 and he’s trusting him a lot, playing him at least 18 minutes in four of his past five games. Not getting PP minutes caps Finnie’s upside, but he’s on a four-game points streak and an early-season Calder candidate.
Pius Suter, C/LW, STL (2% rostered)
Robert Thomas left Saturday’s game with an injury and Suter seems like the most obvious candidate to get increased minutes. He’s very good on special teams – look for Suter to potentially move up to PP1 – with Brayden Schenn getting more EV minutes. Suter was excellent for the Canucks last season filling in as a top-six center so he’s shown in the past he’s very capable. The Blues could move Dylan Holloway or (gulp) Pavel Buchnevich to center, but I think Suter’s still their best option.
Zayne Parekh, D, CGY (33% rostered)
I’m not sure if Parekh playing on PP1 is permanent, though it should be considering how much Mac Weegar has struggled. Parekh is an offensive talent and may play a role akin to Zeev Buium’s for the Wild, where they’re tasked with generating offense but getting sheltered minutes. Parekh is a speculative add in all formats due to PP1 exposure and long-term upside. We shall see how this unfolds over the next few games to see if he’s worth holding onto for the entire season.
Jake Allen, G, NJ (45% rostered)
Jacob Markstrom backed up on Sunday, but given the way Allen’s been playing, are we sure we won’t see a split? The Devils acquired Markstrom to be their starter but he can be inconsistent and his health is a concern. Allen is only worth dropping if Markstrom is the clear-cut No. 1, and I’m not sure that’s the case going forward. Hold on to Allen for now because he may still have plenty of fantasy value.
Jakub Dobes, G, MTL (42% rostered)
Sam Montembeault has really struggled and Dobes is really angling for more starts with his strong play. I think the Habs are starting to move towards an even split between their two goalies, and note Dobes has started four of their past six games and three of their past four, all of which were wins. This has a chance to be a season-long rotation.
Joseph Woll, G, TOR (35% rostered)
Woll is expected to return soon and I suspect he’ll get a lot of playing time right away because it sure seems like Anthony Stolarz needs as much a mental break as a physical one. They were a good tandem last season and Woll is a proven goalie, so there aren’t many worries except for the Leafs’ sputtering offense. In leagues where goalies are in high demand and few are on the waiver wire, Woll needs to be rostered.
Akira Schmid, G, VGK (27% rostered)
Schmid should be the Knights’ starter going forward until either a) Adin Hill returns or b) it’s December 1 and Carter Hart is eligible to play. I don’t have a ton of confidence in Schmid, and they are missing two key pieces in Mark Stone, who’s an excellent two-way player, and Noah Hanifin, arguably their best all-round defenseman. That’s going to make the job harder for Schmid, but he’s playing behind a great team so at the very least should be able to deliver some wins for fantasy GM’s.
Short-term streamers (< 50% rostered on Yahoo)
Arseni Gritsyuk, RW, NJ (2% rostered)
Gritsyuk was an under-the-radar, dark-horse type of pick early in the season, with a chance to play top-six minutes given his offensive skill. That opportunity has come now with Gritsyuk moving up to L2 while Dawson Mercer drops down to center L3, and Gritsyuk has already responded in kind with two goals in three games.
The Devils have a rematch against the Avs on Tuesday, and that game will certainly feature lots of scoring chances going back and forth. There’s a chance Mercer moves back up – that Meier-Hischier-Mercer line was very good – but, for now, Gritsyuk has offensive upside in deep leagues with L2/PP2 roles.
Ville Koivunen, RW, PIT (1% rostered)
Koivunen was called up Sunday morning and I suspect he’ll get a chance to skate alongside Sidney Crosby again, replacing Rickard Rakell, who may be out up to eight weeks after undergoing hand surgery. Filip Hallander finished the game with Crosby on Saturday after Rakell left, but I’m not sure he’s the right fit on that line.
Koivunen has more offensive potential; he’s scored 11 points in six games for the undefeated 7-0-0 baby Pens in Wilkes-Barre, and he’s played with Crosby before. It’s possible the Pens stick with Hallander on L1 for now, but Rakell’s going to miss a lot of time, so I suspect Koivunen will get multiple looks, and he offers all-round offensive upside.
Connor McMichael, LW, WSH (18% rostered)
Not certain how long Dylan Strome is out for, and he did need help getting off the ice. In his absence, look for the Caps to shift McMichael back to center. I think he’s the better choice to center Alex Ovechkin over Pierre-Luc Dubois, and it’s a combo the Caps have used in the past. McMichael should gain C eligibility soon than later, and he should also see a slight boost in assists and points.
Emil Heineman, LW, NYI (10% rostered)
Always good for hits, Heineman is now offering up goals playing L2 with Bo Horvat. He’s scored five goals on 13 shots in eight games this season – a clearly unsustainable pace – but he’s getting a lot of minutes – 19:29 last game – and I think Patrick Roy likes this combo with Jonathan Drouin on the other wing making the skill plays. If you need hits and goals, Heineman’s a good option that should gain more popularity in banger leagues as the season goes on, and the Isles play four games this week.
Brady Skjei, D, NSH (5% rostered)
Roman Josi’s expected to miss weeks, which means Skjei’s back on PP1, almost by default. I don’t think it’s going to boost Skjei’s fantasy value much because he hasn’t produced when he’s gotten the same role in the past, and Josi was their best weapon on the power play. However, it’s still worth noting, and at the very least expect Skjei’s minutes to increase.
Dmitry Orlov, D, SJ (34% rostered)
Orlov gets PP1 minutes with Macklin Celebrini, and that alone should make it obvious why Orlov’s fantasy value gets a boost. He’s a 30-point player otherwise, but so far this season has seven assists in eight games. I don’t expect this pace to continue, but consider how rare PP QB’s are, Orlov at least is playing that role.
Sean Walker, D, CAR (1% rostered)
Like Orlov, this is a temporary situation until Shayne Gostisbehere or K’Andre Miller return. I think it’s an interesting choice – I would’ve preferred Alexander Nikishin, who’s a lefty like Gostisbehere and Miller, but I’m not the coach – because Walker is a low-upside offensive player.
I think Walker is very reliable and very underrated on defense, but I don’t see a dangerous point shot, noteworthy playmaking ability or anything else to suggest he can elevate his offense beyond keeping the puck in on the blue line. That being said, playing PP1 minutes alone is noteworthy, and in the short-term there might be some upside in rostering Walker.
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