Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire – Thursday, Oct. 26

We’re back in action with 11 games after a quiet one-game Wednesday. Hump day was indeed harder to get over, but we’re in for a fun finish this week no less than four games on any day from Thursday to Sunday.

Here we go.

( < 50% rostered, ranked by matchup)

Elvis Merzlikins, CLB at MTL (35% rostered)

Since the beginning of the season, Merzlikins’ play has been trending downward, from a .943 and .960 SP in the first two games of the season to a sub-.900 SP in the past two games. However, this is a good matchup because the Habs have trouble scoring more than three goals and the Jackets offense has become a lot more reliable now that Adam Fantill is scoring.

The Jackets lost their two most recent matchups but won six straight before that and held the Habs to just 2.5 goals per game in their 21 previous meetings in Montréal.

James Reimer, DET vs. WPG (24% rostered)

The Jets really have only one line that can score since Rick Bowness’ teams usually don’t score much. The drawback for the Wings is the questionable status of Alex DeBrincat, who has been struck by the flu, which means a little less goal support if he doesn’t play. Reimer has so far been excellent this season and the Wings are 3-0-1 at home.

Joey Daccord, SEA at CAR (2% rostered)

Daccord is a viable starter only if you need a start because this can be a scary matchup with the Canes at home after being shut out in their last game and with Sebastian Aho back in the lineup. The Kraken have yet to announce their starter but it’s likely to be Daccord, who has outplayed Philipp Grubauer. You can add Daccord but sit him for this start because there’s a chance he takes over as the starter.

( < 50% rostered)

Bryan Rust, PIT vs. COL (50% rostered)

Alexandar Georgiev is at the front of the Vezina race but that’s now four goals allowed in each of his past two games. Rust has scored five goals in six games, continuing his redemption tour after scoring just 20 goals last season. The Pens are frustrated and this is a litmus test game; expect the Pens to come out strong.

Frank Vatrano, C/LW, ANA at BOS (49% rostered)

The matchup isn’t great because the Bruins are still very tough to score on, but you gotta love Vatran’s shot quantity and his three-game point streak. He’s tied-16th in the league in shots with L2 and PP2 minutes playing next to Mason McTavish and averaging the most ice time of his career. More ice time = more points.

Pavel Zacha, C, BOS vs. ANA (37% rostered)

Zacha’s great in leagues that count faceoffs as the Bruins’ No. 1 center and he got the monkey off his back with a goal against the Hawks. It’s unlikely Matthew Poitras or Charlie Coyle will displace Zacha as the top center, and he’ll have plenty of value as long as he plays next to David Pastrnak, who is also now joined by Brad Marchand. Zacha’s usage on the power play should also help provide points since the Ducks have taken the second-most penalties and have a league-worst minus-12 penalty differential.

Ryan Hartman, C/RW, MIN at PHI (34% rostered)

One good game does not make a player, but Hartman continues to skate between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello – as he has many times before – and when you do that, it's going to provide a lot of opportunities to score points. 

Hartman’s great in banger leagues, covering points, shots, faceoffs and some modest hits and blocked shots. Joel Eriksson Ek is their best center but Hartman gets the high-upside deployment with his wingers.

Adam Fantilli, C, CLB at MTL (32% rostered)

He’s a must-roster in keeper leagues and the pucks are starting to go in with three points in his past two games. The Habs defense is missing David Savard, one of their most reliable veterans, and allows the fifth-most shots per game (35.2).

Mason McTavish, C/LW, ANA at BOS (28% rostered)

McTavish is a multi-category keeper league gem. Two goals, five shots and 23 faceoff wins in his past three games, and he’s scratching the surface. The Bruins matchup is tough, but McTavish should be a valuable season-long hold.

Robert Thomas, C, STL at CGY (25% rostered)

In leagues that count faceoffs, Thomas is a great source of assists and faceoff wins. He’s scored four points in five games but the drawback is he doesn’t shoot the puck or fill in other categories.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, CAR vs. SEA (24% rostered)

The return of Sebastian Aho didn’t push Kotkaniemi lower on the depth chart even though Teuvo Teravainen had been centering the top line. That means Kotkaniemi’s entrenched as the No. 2 pivot no matter what happens, and he’s in the midst of a potential career season.

Ryan Johansen, C, COL at PIT (21% rostered)

Playing on PP1 carries immense value because Nathan MacKinnon gets to bank pucks off Johansen into the net. Jokes aside, Johansen has been a nice fit and he’s their go-to faceoff guy in key situations. It’s been a nice bounce-back season with more ice time, more shots and more points than last season.

( < 50% rostered)

Anders Lee, LW, NYI vs. OTT (38% rostered)

Lane Lambert keeps shuffling the lines and now has Lee back on the top unit with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal. This is the best spot for Lee, who scored his first goal of the season Tuesday against the Avs while skating a season-high 17:20. The Sens have allowed 11 goals in their past two games and at least five goals in all three losses. Joonas Korpisalo is expected to start after coming in relief for Anton Forsberg last game, and the Isles should capitalize on Korpisalo’s current .872 SP. If Lee holds down his L1 spot, he becomes a season-long hold.

Owen Tippett, RW, PHI vs. MIN (32% rostered)

Tippett is playing L1 with Sean Couturier and PP2, and with 18 shots through six games, he’s going to score his first very soon. The Wild goalies have allowed at least four goals in four of their past five games.

Nick Paul, C/LW, TB vs. SJ (31% rostered)

The moral of the season so far is the load up on players playing against the Sharks. Even if Paul doesn’t score, he provides value in other categories, including faceoff wins and hits.

Sean Monahan, C, MTL vs. CLB (18% rostered)

Monahan was held off the scoresheet last game but continues to log a lot of minutes. His five points in six games puts him on track on track for his best season in six years, and he’s had a lot of success against the Jackets in his career with 12 points in 16 games. He’s averaging over 18 minutes on a veteran line Martin St-Louis trusts a lot and plays PP1 with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.

Alexis Lafrenière, LW, NYR at EDM (18% rostered)

That’s now goals in consecutive games for Lafrenière. Though he doesn’t shoot the puck very often, the Oilers defense and goaltending is so porous right now that it’s a good time to take advantage.

Matthew Poitras, C, BOS vs. ANA (5% rostered)

Poitras has scored three goals in three games as the No. 2 center and his ice time has now crept up to 16 minutes per game. The Ducks aren’t particularly deep down the middle and the Bruins are at home, which opens up favorable matchups for Poitras.

Alex Iafallo, LW, WPG at DET (5% rostered)

Iafallo didn’t register a point last game but registered four shots on goal, the third time he’s done so this season. This is important because Iaffalo’s not a high-volume shooter, but he’s averaging over three per game this season and now plays L1 and PP1 in Gabe Vilardi’s absence.

Joel Farabee, LW, PHI vs. MIN (3% rostered)

Farabee’s working on a three-game point streak and don’t put too much stock that he’s playing on the third line. He’s shown very good chemistry with rookie Bobby Brink and sophomore Noah Cates, their most reliable center last season, and they’re averaging similar ice times to Travis Konecny and even top left winger Owen Tippett.

Ridly Greig, C, OTT at NYI (3% rostered)

The matchup against Ilya Sorokin will be difficult, but Greig extended his point streak to five games with an assist against the Sabres and has not been moved off a very effective line with Vladimir Tarasenko and Mathieu Joseph. No power-play time is a bummer, but Greig is a great low-key streamer in banger leagues for some faceoff wins and hits.

Tye Kartye, LW, SEA at CAR (1% rostered)

One of my honorable mentions among top rookies this season, Kartye is back on the top line with Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers, the same spot where he flourished in the playoffs. Not sure why Dave Hakstol waited so long to promote Kartye, but he’s a very effective player with plenty of shot and hit volume. I would stream Kartye with full confidence even among other more accomplished players on this list.

RELATED: Top 10 Rookie Forwards for 2023-24

Jack Roslovic, C, CLB at MTL (1% rostered)

Roslovic has quietly put together a three-game point streak and played a season-high 19:31 against the Ducks. One thing about Pascal Vincent is that he rewards those who are playing well, and Roslovic finds himself on L1 with Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau and PP2. This is a good matchup against a lottery-bound team that has taken a lot penalties.

Alex Barré-Boulet, C, TB vs. SJ (0% rostered)

That top-six role is finally paying off. This is a great matchup for the Bolts and even if ABB’s minutes are limited right now, he’s sharing some of it with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point at even strength. The only upside with ABB is points, so forget about anything else.

( < 50% rostered)

Mike Matheson, MTL vs. CLB (40% rostered)

I’ve typed Matheson’s names so many times that my ‘M’ key is getting caved in. Top minutes at both even strength and on the power play and fills multiple categories.

Travis Sanheim, PHI vs. MIN (15% rostered)

In a similar vein to Matheson, Sanheim has been indispensable to the Flyers so far this season. He’s averaging 26 minutes per game and currently on a three-game point streak. He fills multiple categories and comparable to a Zach Werenski-lite.

( < 50% rostered)

Ivan Provorov, CLB at MTL (13% rostered)

Zach Werenski’s return has cut Provorov’s minutes back a little, but he remains effective with a three-game assist streak, two of them scored on the power play, and plenty of blocks.