Will Cuylle is drawing a lot of attention in fantasy hockey for dishing out hits and scoring goals as the Rangers visit the Flames, who've won three of their past four.
On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.
Forwards
Pavel Buchnevich, C/LW, STL vs. SJ (50% rostered)
Buchnevich is just so much better as a left winger. With Robert Thomas back in the lineup, it's allowed Buchnevich to move back to his natural position. He played 20:41 in his last game and finished with an assist, and on a re-united top line with Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, Buchnevich should be very productive. The Sharks may be without top center Mikael Granlund, who was in concussion protocol, making this matchup potentially even easier for the Blues.
Josh Norris, C, OTT vs. VEG (32% rostered)
Norris is featured in just about every waiver wire article, but deserves a little more discussion with four goals in his past five games. He's a great multi-category contributor that faces a tired opponent playing the second half of a back-to-back and lacking quality depth down the middle. The Sens tend to be a very strong club at home.
Will Cuylle, LW, NYR at CGY (28% rostered)
It might not be long before Cuylle finds his way into more than half the rosters in Yahoo leagues. His excellent play is drawing a lot of attention, and he's scoring with three goals in six games while dishing out plenty of hits. (He had 10 hits in Seattle on Sunday). Think Kiefer Sherwood-lite, but the East Coast version. Cuylle's already worked himself into a role on PP2 and might find himself bumped up to the top six soon.
Nicolas Roy, C/RW, VEG at OTT (17% rostered)
The Knights are slumping a little with two straight losses and just two goals scored, and Bruce Cassidy's latest re-mixed lines has Roy centering L2 with Tomas Hertl on his left wing. Injuries to several key players have forced them to get creative, but I like Roy's deployment here and he's averaging 20 minutes over the past two games. I don't think the Knights will be shut out again.
Jordan Martinook, LW, CAR at NJ (13% rostered)
We shall see if the lineup shuffle sticks, but note Martinook replaced Andrei Svechnikov on the top line midway through their 4-1 win against the Flyers on Wednesday. The Canes are playing the second half of a back-to-back but the Devils have struggled at home in recent seasons, where expected starter Jacob Markstrom has a .862 SP and 3.73 GAA. Martinook's fantasy value has climbed steadily through the first month and he's certainly got the hot hand with nine points in his past eight games; playing with Sebastian Aho will help, too.
Kent Johnson, C, CLB vs. TB (4% rostered)
Johnson is very likely to play Thursday though the Jackets have yet to officially activate him from IR. Prior to his injury, Johnson had quickly established himself as one of Dean Evason's go-to players, playing 21 minutes in two of his first three games and playing in all situations. The hope is that Johnson continues where he left off and the Jackets are giving him that chance, playing him on Adam Fantilli's right wing on L2 with PP2 minutes. Of the players on this list, outside of Norris, Johnson has the most long-term value.
Ivan Miroshnichenko, LW, WSH vs. COL (1% rostered)
I'm intrigued by Miroshnichenko, who has the potential to be a multi-category contributor. His skill is evident, and he's a proven scorer in the AHL, but what I find most interesting are his hits. For a player known more for his skill than size (6-foot-1, 185 lbs.), he registered 50 (!) hits in 21 games last season. He's slated to play L3 with Lars Eller and Andrew Mangiapane on the opposite wing on a line that can provide some sneaky offense, and also skate on PP2.
Pierre Engvall, LW, NYI at DET (0% rostered)
Even typing his name makes me question my own sanity, but there's no denying Engvall has been playing much better since getting called up after he was cut to start the season. He's scored a goal in three straight games, averaging more than two shots per game and converting on 12 percent of those shots, which tracks at the higher end relative to his career average. The drawback is he does not play any power play.
Defensemen
Uvis Balinskis, D, FLA at CHI (2% rostered)
Balinskis is power play or bust, quarterbacking the top unit but offering little else in fantasy. I simply like this matchup; the Hawks are a huge underdog with Balinskis registering at least two shots in four straight games.
Dennis Cholowski, D, NYI at DET (0% rostered)
Cholowski is only an option if you're desperate for a streamer on defense. Despite playing limited minutes, he's scored an assist in consecutive games and shares PP1 duties with Noah Dobson. He faces his former team in a potential revenge game and the Wings have not been very good defensively this season.
Honorable mention:
Kyle Palmieri, RW, NYI at DET (31% rostered) - L2, PP1
Stefan Noesen, LW/RW, CAR at NJ (45% rostered) - L3, PP1
Aliaksei Protas, C/LW, WSH vs. COL (25% rostered) - L1
Sean Monahan, C, CLB vs. TB (26% rostered) - L1, PP1
Kirill Marchenko, RW, CLB vs. TB (26% rostered) - L1, PP1
Jake Neighbours, LW/RW, STL vs. SJ (13% rostered) - L2, PP1
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