As we transition to March, there are just two months remaining in the season. It’s always important to stay on top of players that can be found on the waiver wire, and claim them to give your team that extra push.
Week 20 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire
Forwards
Jakub Voracek, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets (58% Rostered)
It’s strange to see Voracek available in so many leagues. The former 85-point winger has seen his stock drop in each of the past five years, dropping so far that he needs a mention on the waiver wire report. I think many fantasy managers felt his trade from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Columbus Blue Jackets would have a negative impact on his fantasy value. It turns out that it hasn’t changed much. He had 43 points in 53 games last year, to 40 points in 52 games so far this season. In fact, he’s been getting more productive as the season progresses, racking up 13 points in his last 12 meetings. He’s a fixture in the top six, and can be relied upon for offense, including his 16 power-play points.
Blake Coleman, C/LW/RW, Calgary Flames (48% Rostered)
Coleman is a player that can help in a number of categories. He has 11 goals and 14 assists through 51 games. Two of those points were scored short handed. He has 48 PIM and a plus-11 rating. More notably, he has 156 shots on goal and 109 hits. Both are third among Flames forwards. Finding players that produce in numerous categories at an efficient rate can be tricky, but Coleman’s active four-game point streak makes it all the easier to snag him from the waiver wire.
Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW, Boston Bruins (27% Rostered)
DeBrusk has been playing on Boston’s top line alongside Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. That alone is plenty of reason to claim DeBrusk from the waiver wire. Even more so when you see he had a five-game point that involved seven goals and a pair of assists. He had a monster night during Monday’s 7-0 blowout over the Los Angeles Kings, posting three goals, an assist, six shots, and a plus-3 rating.
Nick Schmaltz, C/RW, Arizona Coyotes (24% Rostered)
Injuries have limited Schmaltz to 34 appearances this year, but he’s making the most of the games he plays. He has 11 goals and 25 points, including a recent run where he notched six points in a three-game span. His minus-2 rating is the second-highest among regulars on the Coyotes. Usually leagues that track plus/minus need to avoid players on the bottom few teams, but Schmaltz won’t sewer your plus/minus rating despite the Coyotes being dead last in the league.
Defense
Ryan Graves, D, New Jersey Devils (34% Rostered)
Dougie Hamilton was New Jersey’s big offseason acquisition, but Graves has been a solid addition as well. Through 49 matchups he has four goals, 18 assists, 60 hits, and 95 blocks. He’s scoring at a 36-point pace, which is 10 more points than his career-high. He’s a lock in the Devils’ top four, averaging 20:58 of ice time per night.
Justin Holl, D, Toronto Maple Leafs (11% Rostered)
Holl posted 18 and 21 points in his previous two seasons, so expectations going into 2021-22 were that he’d score at a similar rate again. It was quite the opposite for the longest time, as Holl didn’t find the scoresheet until his 20th game of the campaign. Many, including myself, dropped him as it seemed the offense just wasn’t there this year. That was true, until recently. In his past four outings, he’s posted seven points. He has 13 points in 42 contests this season, so he’s more than doubled his point total in that short span. With 75 hits and 67 blocks, he’s worth streaming from the waiver wire until the offense dries up.
Goaltending
Mikko Koskinen, G, Edmonton Oilers (61% Rostered)
Koskinen had a hot start, then cooled off, and has seen his rostered percentage rise and fall like a roller coaster. Well he’s on the rise again, as he and his Oilers have turned their season around. Koskinen has seven wins in his past nine appearances, including no regulation losses. He posted a 39-save shutout during Wednesday’s win over the Philadelphia Flyers. While Mike Smith may see more starts, Koskinen should be seen as a 1B at worst, but it’s very possible the two netminders split the crease, or even more time for Koskinen if he continues his recent level of performance.