Fantasy Hockey: Weekend Streaming Targets – Week 16

Chicago Blackhawks left winger Tyler Bertuzzi

Credit: Oct 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Tyler Bertuzzi (59) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Chicago Blackhawks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Our Weekend Streamers series aims to help you steal your matchup by getting the most value possible out of the limited transactions in your fantasy league. Every Friday, we break down the teams and skaters with the most streamer-friendly schedules over the weekend.

This weekend features four games on Friday, 13 on Saturday, and five on Sunday. There are four teams playing on both Friday and Sunday this weekend; Chicago, Utah, Vegas, and Winnipeg. After combing through their rosters, we’ve narrowed down the top options at each ownership range in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues, starting with 30% – 21%. Good luck, and happy streaming!

30% – 21%: Nick Schmaltz (C/RW – 30% Owned)

You’ll have a hard time finding a more underrated player in the National Hockey League than Utah’s Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz entered the year averaging 27 goals and 44 assists per 82 games over his last three seasons, yet he continues to be overlooked in fantasy hockey circles. After a bit of a slow start to the 2024-25 campaign, he’s back to his usual productive ways, tallying 23 points in his last 26 games. The 28-year-old winger is in the midst of a seven-game point streak and is showing no signs of slowing down heading into the weekend.

Schmaltz is an integral part of Utah’s attack, skating on the first line and power-play unit alongside Clayton Keller and Logan Cooley. The three of them are averaging 29 scoring chances, 12 high-danger chances, and a ridiculous five goals per 60 at 5v5 this season. While Schmaltz’s shot volume is always going to limit his upside, his playmaking ability is elite and he’s almost certainly worthy of a long-term spot on your roster at this point. Grab him while you still can.

20% – 11%: Tyler Bertuzzi (LW – 14% owned)

The Blackhawks have an admittedly difficult matchup spread against the Lightning and Wild this weekend, but Bertuzzi’s recent run of production has been too good to ignore. The former Maple Leaf is finally looking at home alongside Connor Bedard in Chicago’s lineup. If you don’t believe me, just check the box scores. Bertuzzi struggled out of the gate this season, registering just 10 points in his first 27 games, but has since turned a corner. He’s been one of the hottest goal scorers in the entire league over the last month and a half, racking up 12 goals in his last 20 games.

Now I’m not saying he’s going to score at a 40-goal pace from here on out. He’s shooting 27.3% over that span, but the short-term trends suggest there could be a layer of sustainability to this breakout after all. He’s averaging over 18 minutes a night in his last three games while racking up 14 shots on goal. Surges of production like this tend to cause a bit of a feedback loop in the NHL. As your production increases, you’re rewarded with more ice time and more exposure to your team’s most productive players. Despite the tough matchups, spending the entire game alongside Bedard at 5v5 and on the power-play should afford Bertuzzi plenty more shooting opportunities this weekend. You can play him with confidence.

10% – 0%: Barrett Hayton (C – 8% Owned) and Mattias Maccelli (LW – 2% Owned)

We’re heading back to Utah to finish things off, this time to take a deep dive into their second line. Hayton, Maccelli, and Josh Doan have formed a very formidable second unit behind the Keller line over the last month or so. They are dominating play at 5v5, averaging over 76 shot attempts per 60 with an xGF% of 75%, and all that puck control is finally starting to result in some raw production. Hayton is the primary shooting threat on this line, making him the obvious first choice this weekend if you’re forced to pick between the two. He’s averaging over three shots a game in his last five contests, registering three goals and four assists over that span.

Maccelli on the other hand is your prototypical pass-first playmaker, but it’s worth noting his shooting volume of late is on the rise as well. He’s tallied three goals and two assists in that same five-game stretch, while also chipping in with 12 shots on goal. As you might expect, the only thing limiting this second line’s potential this weekend is the ice time. The Keller/Schmaltz/Cooley line is the primary option at 5v5 and on the power-play. That’s capping Maccelli and Hayton at around 15 minutes a night and second power-play usuage, but hey, there’s always a catch when we’re talking about players available in over 90% of leagues. If you’re shooting for upside in a deeper league this weekend, a Maccelli and Hayton stack fits the bill perfectly.