Making ground breaking trades at the mid-way point of the fantasy hockey season can be the difference between a manager barely missing the playoffs, or claiming championship gold. With the Christmas break on the horizon, listed below is the next round of fantasy hockey buy low/sell high options that should help owners improve their team moving forward.
More Fantasy Hockey Analysis: | Goalie Streamers | Buy-Low, Sell-High | NHL Schedule Preview | Fantasy Hockey Cold List | Prospect Report | NHL Injury Report | Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire
Fantasy Hockey Buy Low
Kiefer Sherwood – Vancouver Canucks
Kiefer Sherwood is the leading goalscorer on a Vancouver Canucks team that currently sits at the bottom of the league, but he hasn’t recorded a point since November 20th. That said, Sherwood has increased his physical play on the ice despite his offensive production declining, having delivered 38 hits in his last 8 games.
Additionally, the 30-year-old has become one of the most sought-after forwards among several teams, with multiple contenders looking to acquire a physical scorer. Therefore, fantasy managers should take advantage of Sherwood’s cold streak and trade for him at a discounted price before he potentially gets moved.
John Tavares – Toronto Maple Leafs
John Tavares was arguably the Toronto Maple Leafs’ best player through the first 60 days of the season, but he’s significantly cooled off despite his team’s recent success. Through his last 8 games, Tavares has only tallied 3 points and has been inconsistent when it comes to plus/minus. Outside of being reliable on the face-off dot, Tavares hasn’t contributed to other fantasy hockey categories, with his lack of production on the power-play being the most disappointing.
However, Tavares has been one of the most consistent forwards in the NHL over the past decade, and will likely return to form in no time. Therefore, fantasy owners should send an offer for the Canadian centerman before he begins to produce offensively again.
Fantasy Hockey Sell High
Dustin Wolf – Calgary Flames
Over the last month, goaltender Dustin Wolf has posted a .906 save percentage on a Calgary Flames team that is finally starting to pick up wins. October was difficult for Wolf with his team playing very poorly in front of him, but the young star is beginning to post numbers that might make fantasy managers consider him as a goaltending option going forward.
Unfortunately, we don’t think Wolf will be a reliable starter in the near future, as the Flames’ offence is not good enough to make them a contender anytime soon. Wolf will definitely get starts and can be useful during weeks where Calgary plays four games, but otherwise, it may be challenging for him to record a good save percentage and wins consistently.
Alex Ovechkin – Washington Capitals
After a slow start to the season, Alex Ovechkin finally found his game throughout November. In just 10 games, Ovechkin tallied 18 points and helped the Capitals become one of the strongest teams in the Metropolitan Division again. Although managers should keep Ovechkin in classic fantasy hockey leagues, for those using keeper or dynasty rules, this might be the best time to move him.
Similarly to listing Sidney Crosby as a sell high canidate last week, having Ovechkin is useful now, but flipping him to a contender can be game-changing for the future. Especially for fantasy owners that are currently out of a playoff spot with Ovechkin, trading the Russian icon for a much younger star of possibly equal talent could shake up the entire league for years to come.
The fantasy hockey season is only going to continue to get more thrilling heading into the new year, with contenders becoming more willing to spend, while those on the lower-end of the standings start to panic. Therefore, it’s best to keep an eye on underperformers and overachievers in order to make a trade before it’s too late. Make sure to return next week for more fantasy hockey buy-low/sell-high advice.
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