The good news from last week was that there weren’t as many high-profile injuries as there were two weeks ago. Additionally, we’ve had a few big name guys (e.g. Kopitar, Callahan) come back from injuries in the last couple of days.
We’re now a month into the NHL season and either three or four weeks into our fantasy seasons depending on your league. This is a time where we’re starting to see which players are for real and which were just simply off to a fast start. As players fall off due to injuries or performance, coaches are shuffling lines in attempts to get the most out of players. Line shuffling is something you always need to watch out for when looking at players to pick up during any given time. Here are a few guys playing on potentially beneficial lines for fantasy owners this week.
Fantasy Hockey: Waiver Wire Pickups – Week of November 3
Patrick Maroon, ANA – LW (Owned%: ESPN 0.7%, Yahoo 6%)
Anyone playing alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry is someone you want to watch out for. Maroon recently came back from a knee injury but is currently playing on the Duck’s top line. This season, Maroon has 4 assists in five games played. He’s a big, physical winger who resembles that of Dustin Penner, but actually seems to care. If Penner could light it up on the Duck’s top line last season, expect the same from Maroon.
Benoit Pouliot, EDM – LW (ESPN 0.2%, Yahoo 1%)
Keep an eye on Pouliot and what kind of chemistry he has on the Oilers’ top line with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle. Pouliot obviously isn’t Taylor Hall, but he’s going to have to fill Hall’s role for at least a month. Most importantly, from a fantasy perspective, he’ll be getting more power play minutes with Hall sitting out. While he’s never been a 20-plus goal scorer, he also hasn’t had a lot of top-line time throughout his career.
Jason Zucker, MIN – LW (ESPN 2.6%, Yahoo 3%)
Zucker started the season on the Wild’s fourth line and was getting less than 10 minutes TOI per game. However, he made the most of his limited time, scoring 5 goals in eight games. Even more impressive, all of his scoring came at even strength. Zucker was rewarded for his effort this past week and got bumped up to the team’s second line. In three games on that line, Zucker has two assists and in each of the last two games averaged over 18 minutes of ice time. The only negative about Zucker right now is that he’s not on the power play, but given the Wild’s poor start on the man advantage, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him jump in there if they continue to struggle.
Blake Comeau, PIT – RW (ESPN 0.4%, Yahoo 3%)
With 3 points in his last three games, Comeau seems to working well with second-line center Evgeni Malkin right now. While his stay on the second line isn’t guaranteed to last long when Beau Bennett returns in a week or two, as long as Comeau keeps scoring at, or near, a point per game, it’ll be hard to drop him to the third line.
If you need some defensive or goaltending help this week, the pickings are a bit thin. With all of the injuries to top defensemen this season, a lot of the second-tier guys have already been plucked off the waiver wire.
Alexei Emelin, MTL – D (ESPN 42%, Yahoo 10%)
Although he plays in the shadow of P.K. Subban, Emelin has been scoring almost as many fantasy points as the former Norris trophy winner. Racking up 6 assists already, Emelin is benefiting from the Canadiens’ strong start to the season.
Ryan Ellis, NSH – D (ESPN 32.2%, Yahoo 22%)
Ellis and the Preds are playing great right now. Not only is the team racking up wins, but Ellis is racking up assists this season. With a team-leading five assists on defense, Ellis is benefiting from the Predators improved offense this season. If the team’s poor power play improves, Ellis’ numbers will only get better.
Jason LaBarbera, ANA – G (ESPN 0%, Yahoo 2%)
Both of the Ducks’ regular goalies are currently day-to-day with injuries. While they’re out, it’s worth picking up LaBarbera this week if you need a goalie. The Ducks are at home all week and LaBarbera is a journeyman goalie who’s played at the NHL level in the past. Anaheim is the best team in the league right now, so any goalie who’s starting for them should be a starter in fantasy leagues as well.
Lastly, there are a couple other players this week that are set up to possibly break out. Perhaps they haven’t had the strongest starts to their seasons, but given their track record, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them regain their old forms.
Justin Williams, LAK – RW (ESPN 49.5%, Yahoo 41%)
Every week, Williams’ owner percentage continues to drop, and with good reason. The Kings continue to struggle offensively. However, Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar are both back and on a line with Williams for now. Everyone who drafted Kopitar is waiting for him to finally breakout in terms of fantasy production this season. If you want to take a chance and wager he’ll do that soon, maybe you also want to take a chance on Williams to improve as well.
Craig Smith, NSH – RW (ESPN 12.7%, Yahoo 21%)
Last season, Smith racked up 24 goals and 28 assists. He continued his hot play for Team USA in the world championships as well. Unfortunately, Smith has had a slow start to the season until just recently. With 3 goals in his last three games, he looks like he may be getting his groove back. If you’re in need of winger help, Smith is a guy who has shown potential and is on a team that’s playing well at the moment. Although, it would be nice to see some more consistency from him.
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