We may have a small sample size, but it’s the point in the season where buy low fantasy hockey players can set your team up for success. Some big names are underperforming to start the season, and sharp fantasy managers can take advantage of that and make a deal to get them at a better price than where they were drafted. Let’s dive into some of the best buy low candidates to check in on in Week 3.
Zach Hyman – Edmonton Oilers
With no points in seven games so far, Zach Hyman is having his worst October of hockey since the 2016-17 season where he registered just one assist in nine games. That is the bad news. The good news is he is still getting good deployment in Edmonton averaging 19:56 TOI and over four minutes a night of power-play time.
Hyman’s on-ice shot attempts for is 61.3%, the highest so far in his career. He is also getting a career-high 72.9% of faceoffs in the offensive zone, setting him up for good offensive chances. In his last three games, Hyman has registered 12 shots on goal, which shows that he still has a shooting mentality.
In the Oilers latest practice, head coach Kris Knoblauch has been looking to switch things up. As a result, Hyman was taking reps with the second power play unit, but this may be temporary to light a fire under him. He is still in a great situation playing with Connor McDavid to bounce back and help your fantasy team win a Championship, if you can get him at a lower price.
PP1 at Oilers practice:
Arvidsson, Skinner, McDavid, Draisaitl, Ekholm/Bouchard (first then second)PP2:
Hyman, RNH, Henrique, Nurse, Bouchard/Ekholm (first then second)— Daniel Nugent-Bowman (@DNBsports) October 23, 2024
Evan Bouchard – Edmonton Oilers
Evan Bouchard has seen his fantasy value fall dramatically in the early going, making him one of this season’s early buy low fantasy hockey players. Through seven games played, he only has a goal and an assist.
Similar to Hyman, the Oilers are driving the offence when Bouchard is on the ice, and his expected goals for per 60 is in line with last season. Moreover, he will continue to play first line power play minutes with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on a unit currently clicking at a 10.5% rate, a far cry from the 26% rate last season, or any of the past six seasons. When the power play gets going, Bouchard’s point totals will increase as well. This buy low window will not be open long.
Steven Stamkos – Nashville Predators
The “Where is Stamkos?” chant may have started in Toronto, but fantasy owners are wondering the same thing. Through six games, the new Nashville Predator has only one point in the form of a power play goal.
Under the hood, it is not all negative though. Stamkos is still playing around 19 minutes a night and over four minutes a game on the Preds’ top power play. He currently sits with 11.3 shots per 60, the second highest rate in his career. His shooting percentage through six games is 4.5%, down from his 16.6% career average.
The goals will come for Stamkos and his shooting percentage will regress back to the mean, but his results so far make him an appealing buy low fantasy hockey player.
Leafs fans chanting “where is Stamkos?”
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 22, 2024
Stuart Skinner – Edmonton Oilers
If you see a theme of Edmonton Oilers on this list, you’re right. The netminder Stuart Skinner has not been able to avoid the team’s slow start, sitting at a 1-3-1 record with a poor .886% save percentage. The biggest thing going for Skinner is that the Oilers had a bad start last year and turned it into a Stanley Cup Final run, riding on Skinner to get there. He was one of the best goalies in the league through stretches last season and finished with 36 wins on the year. It is not unlikely that history will repeat for Skinner. Skinner is an uncontested volume starter that will continue to see the strong majority of starts for Edmonton this season, collecting wins along the way. Buy low on Skinner now before the Oilers catch a spark and go on a run.
Dougie Hamilton – New Jersey Devils
Dougie Hamilton’s fantasy buy low window may have just been slammed shut over the past three games. Pointless in his first six games, the Devils’ defenceman has put together a three-game point streak as of late, consisting of a goal and two assists. Furthermore, two of those points coming on the power play.
He is playing over 22 minutes a game and almost four and a half minutes on the power play. Hamilton’s shot volume has been impressive, totaling 32 SOG through the first nine games of the season. What’s more, the blueliner also has a strong 3.29 expected goals for per 60. When healthy, Hamilton has been a solid offensive contributor and valuable fantasy hockey asset that you may be able to acquire as a deal.
Rasmus Dahlin – Buffalo Sabres
Maybe it is new captain jitters, but Rasmus Dahlin has not performed to the level that fantasy managers have come to expect so far this year. Through eight games, Dahlin only has two assists on his stat line, with 16 SOG, 11 hits and eight blocks. In some leagues he is ranked lower than the 70th overall defencemen after being drafted on average around the end of the second round. Dahlin owners may be panicking right about now after spending high draft capital, looking to cut their losses. Despite this, Dahlin is a star and is a safe bet to return to form. Before he does, he is a great buy low fantasy hockey player.
Main Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
