Fantasy Hockey: Maximizing Games for a Playoff Push
The only thing approaching faster than the fantasy hockey playoffs is the fantasy hockey trade deadline. Time is running out to finalize moves, be it through trade or free agency, to put yourself in the best possible position down the stretch.
Whether you’re currently fighting for a playoff spot or already planning your parade, maximizing games played is one of the best ways to give yourself an advantage over your competition. Below we look at teams to avoid and teams to target for fantasy owners on the edge or outside of the playoff picture, trying to make one final push.
Determine Your Start Date
Depending on your league settings, you are most likely four or five weeks away from the start of the playoffs, either beginning on Week 23 or Week 24. That being said, there isn’t much of a discrepancy for games played based on the start week. The teams to target and avoid mostly remain the same regardless of when your playoffs are scheduled. But for your convenience, here is a breakdown of games played leading up to both potential start dates.
Week 23
Week 24
Teams to avoid
The Seattle Kraken
In the four weeks leading up to a Week-23 playoff start date, the Kraken will play only 10 games. No other team plays less than 12. Even in the deepest of leagues, it will be hard to justify holding any Seattle players through this four-week stretch. There aren’t too many high-owned Seattle players so it shouldn’t be too difficult to part ways with them. If you are able to trade them, do so quickly. If not, don’t hesitate to replace them with someone on the waiver wire.
Be wary of
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins start off this stretch-run with only five games over the next two weeks, all against top-tier opponents. They will face Tampa Bay, Florida, Vegas, and Carolina twice. If you are already up against the wall, two poor weeks could be enough to eliminate you from playoff contention entirely.
The Penguins have quite a few high-end fantasy players. If you own a player like Sidney Crosby (99%), Jake Guentzel (99%), Kris Letang (99%), Bryan Rust (87%), or Evgeni Malkin (86%), don’t be afraid to throw out some trade offers to see if you can improve your schedule. Take in mind, these players are ultra-valuable and should not be dumped just for the sake of gaining a few games played. Make sure you are getting equal value in return, possibly from an owner that can withstand the tough schedule or is unaware of it entirely.
Teams to target
New York Islanders
No team has played fewer games than the Islanders, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that no team plays more than them between now and the fantasy hockey playoffs. The trouble that lies here is that the Islanders don’t have too many attractive players. Their goalies will presumably share the heavy workload, making other options in goal more viable even during this busy period. Noah Dobson (39% owned) and Mathew Barzal (78%) both stand to be the two players worth targeting, be it through trade or free agency. Dobson has eight points (2G / 6A) in his last 11 games while Barzal has been on fire with 28 points (8G / 20A) in his last 27.
Deeper leagues can take a look at Kyle Palmieri (5%), as he has recently been moved to the top line alongside Barzal and has four goals in his last five games along with 14 shots and 14 hits. After registering only seven points (1G / 6A) in his first 29 games, he looks poised to have a much more productive conclusion to the season.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are the only other team to play 15-games leading up to Week 23 but need to be approached with a little bit more caution as they are already near the top of the league in games played and see their schedule taper off in the weeks following. However, if your goal is strictly just to make it into the playoffs and then roll the dice once you get in, Vegas has a lot of players to target.
Max Pacioretty (98%) and Jack Eichel (91%) make for good trade targets as fantasy owners might be eager to find more stable options in light of recent events. Eichel has only played four games after returning to action for the first time in almost an entire year and owners may still be skeptical although early results are very promising. Playing alongside him is Pacioretty, who seems to be rejuvenated with four points (3G / 1A) in the four games they have been together after having only scored two points (0G / 2A) in his previous seven. Pacioretty only has 11 shots in his last eight games but there is no reason to believe this 1.4 shot/game pace will continue as he has averaged 3.3 over the course of his career.
Other players to consider: Alex Pietrangelo (98%), Shea Theodore (96%), Jonathan Marchessault (83%)
Los Angeles Kings & Minnesota Wild
Both the Kings and Wild have identical schedules, playing 14 games leading up to a Week 23 playoff start date and 18 games for Week 24. Aside from the obvious targets like Anze Kopitar (93%), Drew Doughty (90%), Kirill Kaprizov (99%), and Mats Zuccarello (75%), there are a lot of more widely available options that are viable to help with your playoff push. Matt Boldy (35%) is still available in the majority of leagues.
If you are desperate for goalie starts, Cal Petersen (36%) has started 10 of the Kings’ last 18 games after playing backup to Jonathan Quick for most of the season and stands to see his heaviest workload of the year over the next several weeks.
In deeper leagues, look to Trevor Moore (9%), who is quietly on a spectacular run. Over his last 20 games, he is averaging over 17 minutes of ice time, 2.8 shots per game, and has 21 points (5G / 16A). He is playing regularly alongside Viktor Arvidsson (47%) and Philip Danault (22%), who are on terrific runs themselves and also make for effective additions down the stretch.
Takeaway
If you own a player on one of the teams that play 12 games and are fighting to make the playoffs, look into trying to trade with someone that owns a player on the Islanders, Golden Knights, or a 14-game team. For instance, if you own Tomas Hertl(85%) and are able to trade for someone like Barzal, the extra three or four games played over such a short period of time can make a big difference in improving your chances to make up ground in the standings before your playoffs. There’s no point in holding on to a player that can help you in the playoffs if you are eliminated before you get that chance. Remember, once you are in the playoffs, anything can happen.