Buy Low/Sell High – Fantasy Hockey Week 5

After five weeks of fantasy hockey action, some players have still managed to surpass initial expectations while others have been unable to produce playing on underperforming teams. Listed below is the next wave of buy low/sell high advice that should help owners improve their roster a quarter way through the fantasy season.

More Fantasy Hockey Analysis: | Goalie Streamers | Buy-Low, Sell-High | Prospect Report | NHL Injury Report | Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire

Fantasy Hockey Buy Lows

Dylan Holloway – St. Louis Blues

After scoring 63 points last year and being one of the best young players the NHL has to offer, Dylan Holloway struggled to contribute to the St. Louis offense early on this season. Through his first 6 games, he only tallied 1 point and quickly became a -6 on a Blues team that can’t seem to find the back of the net.

However, Holloway has improved as of late, having scored 4 points in his last 5 games, while providing additional fantasy value by throwing multiple hits a night. Despite playing on the Blues third line, Holloway continues to average 19 minutes a game and is worth taking a chance on before he completely returns to form.

Artemi Panarin – New York Rangers

Artemi Panarin is far from the elite scorer that he’s been every year, but his poor play could allow fantasy hockey managers to steal him at a discounted price. After 14 games, Panarin has only collected 7 points, just two of which are goals. Additionally, playing on the Rangers’ first line hasn’t helped, as he’s currently a -5 alongside players who have also struggled to produce offensively.

All being considered, the Russian is a former 100-point player and is still considered one of the best goal scorers in the world today. Managers who currently roster Panarin are definitely frustrated at the moment, which is why opposing owners need to take advantage before he begins to play like himself again. Whether he’s traded for a draft pick or a player, this might be the only time a manager can severely underpay for Panarin and get away with it.

Fantasy Hockey Sell Highs

Evgeni Malkin – Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin has turned back the clock throughout the first month of the season. On a Pittsburgh Penguins team that is playing better than expected, Malkin has scored 19 points in 14 games, 8 of which have been power-play points. The 39-year-old also adds value when it comes to face-offs and shots, while being an intriguing piece for roster management due to his position eligibility.

Therefore, with Malkin looking like the ideal fantasy hockey player right now, managers who own him should consider flipping his talent for a younger star with a similar rank. Especially for those in keeper or dynasty leagues, offloading Malkin to teams in “win now” mode could allow managers to secure players for the future.

Pyotr Kochetkov – Carolina Hurricanes

After spending the first month of the season injured, Pyotr Kochetkov impressed in his return to the ice last Tuesday by shutting out the Rangers in Madison Square Garden. Every year, managers take a risk by rostering Hurricanes goalies, as they often don’t allow many shots on goal and split time with each other. This leads to fewer starts, fewer saves, and sometimes fewer wins for managers, making it difficult to find consistency with either Kochetkov or Frederick Anderson. Therefore, trading Kochetkov off the back of his injury to a team desperate for goaltending could provide managers with more value than expected. Otherwise, he’s still a solid second or third goalie option.

The standings in many fantasy hockey leagues should be starting to take shape by now, with the beginning of the month being an ideal time for both dominant and struggling managers to take chances. Make sure to return next week for more buy low/sell high recommendations in fantasy hockey.