Who to Buy and Sell at the Halfway Point

We’re already around the halfway mark of the NHL season, but there’s still lots of hockey left to be played. Some players have had hot starts, while others had struggled to produce. Today we’ll be going over some players that should either heat up or cool off in the second half of the season. Whether you’d be claiming, dropping, or trading these players, making a move could make a great difference in how your team concludes the campaign.

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Who to Buy and Sell at the Halfway Point

Try to Sell

LW Taylor Hall, ARZ (99%): Since being acquired by the Coyotes, Hall has four points in seven contests. He’s up to 29 points in 37 appearances on the year, and is surely not going to reach the 93-point mark he hit in 2017-18 when he won the Hart Trophy. The Coyotes aren’t an offensive-minded team — they are 20th in the league in goals scored. Their goal scoring has risen from 2.77 goals per game to 3 goals per game since the acquisition of Hall. However, given that Hall hasn’t been an offensive catalyst for Arizona, his value may be at its peak right now. The allure of a former MVP going to a playoff-bound squad could be enough to receive a handsome return.

D Cale Makar, COL (99%): We see it every year, rookies get off to a scorching pace, but get worn down by the grind of an NHL season. Makar has been fantastic for the Avalanche, scoring eight goals with 21 assists in 32 appearances. He missed eight games with a concussion but led the rookie points race for much of his tenure prior to the injury. Of course, if you’re in a keeper or dynasty league, don’t even consider moving the 21-year-old unless you’re getting a king’s ransom in return. If you’re in a redraft league though, you should be able to cash in on the excitement surrounding him.

D Ryan Ellis, NSH (97%): With 28 points in 39 games, Ellis is having a great year. He’s on pace for nearly 60 points, which would obliterate the career-high 41 points he posted last season. However, that 41-point campaign is the only time he’s surpassed 40 points in his career. It’s reasonable to expect he does it again in 2019-20, but cracking 60 would be a reach. Considering teammate Roman Josi is also having a career year, you may be able to sell Ellis at a premium. Ellis is tied for 10th in scoring by defensemen, but don’t be surprised if he drops off quite a bit. He was forced to leave the Winter Classic early after a flying elbow by Corey Perry. As long as Ellis isn’t set to miss significant time, he’s worth putting on the trade block.

Try to Buy

G Carter Hart, PHI (94%): The 21-year-old is playing in his first full season, after appearing in 31 games for the Flyers last year. Growing pains are to be expected and as the eye test would tell you he hasn’t been lights out. However, the numbers show that while his save percentage is down from .917 to .911, his GAA has improved significantly from 2.83 to 2.41. That is in part due to the improved defense in front of him, as the Flyers bolstered their blue line in the offseason. His record was 16-13-1 last year, and is 13-8-3 thus far in 2019-20. An argument can be made to target several Flyers, such as Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, and Jakub Voracek. However, the main one to try and acquire would be Hart. Other owners may be willing to give up on him due to his numbers being quite average, but he will only get better as the season progresses.

D John Klingberg, DAL (92%): The Stars defender got off to a ridiculously slow start — accumulating just four points in 17 outings. He then missed six contests with a lower-body injury. Klingberg has slowly been finding his groove again though, and a recent hot streak of eight points in six games caps it off. He stands at 18 points in 34 games. He’s on pace for just 36 points, but he’s never finished a season scoring fewer than 40 points. Yes, Miro Heiskanen is now in the picture and playing excellent hockey, but Klingberg is proving he’s still a top-notch fantasy defenseman. Best to acquire him before owners realize he’s heating up.

RW Bryan Rust, PIT (78%): The Penguins have so much talent on injured reserve, it’s hard to believe they’re still in a top-three spot in the division. Someone needs to lead the offensive charge with Evgeni Malkin, and that responsibility falls on Rust. He’s taking that role and running with it, playing the best hockey of his career with 15 points in his last nine games. He’s on the ice over for over 20 minutes most nights, playing on the top line and first power-play unit. With Jake Guentzel, unfortunately, requiring shoulder surgery that will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season, Rust’s role is not in jeopardy.

Also, check out my most recent Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire column.

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