Hello! My fantasy hockey sleepers post is back after a week hiatus! I figured why would I bother making a list if only a few teams actually played more than one game and many didn’t play at all? Due to this, this sleeper list is based on the stats over the last two weeks. All players are owned in <50% of leagues (ESPN).
Banger Categories: G, A, +/-, PIM, SOG, HIT, BLK, STP, W, SV, SO, GAA, SV%
Standard Categories: G, A +/-, PIM, SOG, STP, W, SV, SO, GAA, SV%
Forwards (Banger)
Ross Colton/Lightning (L/C) - After being placed into the top six over the last two weeks, Colton has been another player. He’s been dominant in a well-rounded banger sort of way. Ross put up 35 “meat” in the five games played, and took twelve minutes' worth of penalties. Outside of the secondary stats, Colton had three points and all at 5v5.
Trevor Moore/Kings (L/R) - Following the placement of Dustin Brown on the COVID list, the Kings have been forced to move things around at the top of the lineup. He is skating with Danault/Arvidsson at this moment and he’s done well in that place. Moore has been over a point per game with five in four tilts, the vast majority coming at 5v5. I will say that he also doesn’t lack in the secondary stats, putting up 20 “meat”. Nearly half of those were shots, and hopefully a sign of more things to come.
Corey Perry/Lightning (R) - This veteran winger looked like the fantasy stud he once was a decade ago, looking solid in the bottom six of Tampa. But it wasn’t just his point per game pace that propelled him to the top portion of this list. He also took an impressive 18 minutes in penalties. That is likely why he rose so high on the list.
Michael McCarron/Predators (R) - The tall forward was this highly ranked for the same reason Perry was. McCarron took 16 minutes in penalties in his three games, not creating much offense. This is why I would be cautioned to add him. Only one goal and 15 “meat”, the stats that are more replicable.
Tanner Pearson/Canucks (L) - Under new coaching, Pearson has been a different player. I believe he was on this list already once before since Boudreau took the job. Tanner was a point per game through three tilts and took a major penalty. His +4 at 5v5 was solid and part of the reason he was so highly rated. Hopefully the 11 shots in three games pace continues.
Tanner Jeannot/Predators (L) - One of my favorite players this year, Jeannot is a banger league stud. People won’t respect his value based on his name, but he has serious potential. He was a point per game through three contests and he took seven minutes in penalties. He totaled 16 “meat”, ten of which were hits over this last stretch of games.
Brett Murray/Sabres (L) - The rookie forward has showcased an ability to play physically and also produce at the NHL level thus far. Brett defended a teammate in a scrap last week and that resulted in 17 minutes of penalties. That, coupled with two assists in three games helped his cause. He doesn’t produce enough in the “meat” categories though, and his ice time needs to improve.
Nicolas Roy/Golden Knights (C) - Vegas is one of those teams that has a top nine of individuals that can be intertwined as a game or week goes on. Roy was solid over his last five games, despite being tabbed as C3. Nicolas put up four points, and 22 “meat”. When nearly 2/3rds of the “meat” comes from shots, you know he’s on the right track. Points will come as long as the puck continues to go on net.
Nic Dowd/Capitals (C) - The bottom six center was quite involved during his last four games. He put up 21 “meat” in that span, despite only receiving the minutes he does. Dowd scored twice along the way at 5v5, and now has nine points in 21 games.
Jesper Bratt/Devils (R) - Another player that I really like in fantasy, Bratt is one of the best at 5v5. The Devils began to heat up last week and Bratt is one of those players. He totaled five points in the four games he played alongside Jack Hughes. He is not known for his physicality, nor propensity to shoot the puck. But as long as Hughes is hot, I would keep his set up man close.
Keegan Kolesar/Golden Knights (R) - A bottom six forward and linemate of Roy, Kolesar was above average in nearly every category last week. He put up two points in five games, both at 5v5 and that resulted in a +3. Then, Kolesar also was able to get into a scrap which benefits his value. Lastly, Keegan totaled 22 “meat, half of which were hits.
Anthony Duclair/Panthers (L/R) - Similar to how the week of Jesper Bratt went, Duclair put up points last week and not much more. Points matter, and are the hardest of the categories to add too. Duclair put up five points in three games, sitting on L2 with Lundell/Huberdeau. His +6 was one of the best in the league.
Forwards (Standard)
Corey Perry/Lightning (R)
Ross Colton/Lightning (C/L)
Trevor Moore/Kings (R/L)
Yegor Sharangovich/Devils (C/L) -Another linemate of Jack Hughes, Yegor was solid and road the ride given to him by his center. Sharangovich put up five points in four games, going +3 along the way. Yegor took 12 shots and all of his production came at 5v5.
Tanner Pearson/Canucks (L)
Anthony Duclair/Panthers (L/R)
Jesper Bratt/Devils (R)
Michael McCarron/Predators (R)
Viktor Arvidsson/Kings (L/R) - A linemate of Trevor Moore, Arvidsson was solid over the last two week stretch. He put up was a point per game at 5v5 and went +3. Viktor also chipped in a couple penalties and took nine shots. He was a former sniper for Nashville and has that potential once more.
Nicolas Roy/Golden Knights (C)
Ilya Mikheyev/Maple Leafs (R) - Similar to how I approach Jesper Bratt, Mikheyev is one of my favorite players. I think he can be successful in a bigger role if given the opportunity. Despite being in the bottom six, he still mustered two goals in the one game he played over the last 15 days. Both goals came on special teams as he took seven shots. He’s fresh and should be solid.
Brett Murray/Sabres (L)
Defense (Banger)
Noah Dobson/Islanders - The young defenseman has seemed to find his groove finally at the NHL level. Since the break, he has put up five points in three games and a +4 at 5v5. This comes as he skates on the second pair with Chara. Dobson does lack in the “meat” categories with just 16 in total. I would add him though because this may be the next step he finally had to take.
Carson Soucy/Kraken - With multiple defenders on the mend, Soucy has been given a bigger role on the 2nd pair of the defense. Carson had two assists in three games and took 9 minutes in penalties. When it comes to the “banger” and “meat” stats he put up 23 in total, including eight shots and nine hits.
Jacob Middleton/Sharks - This isn’t the first time that Middleton has appeared on the list this season, showcasing a hot/cold streakiness to his fantasy value. Last week he put up four points in three games, as well as 19 “meat”. Nine of the 19 “meat” came via hits and he’s also been skating in the top four of the San Jose defense.
Zach Whitecloud/Golden Knights – Quite possibly the league leader in assists at his position over the last two weeks, Whitecloud assisted on five goals in three games. All of his points came at 5v5, including a +6 rating. His willingness to block shots was also completely on display as he stopped 13 of them. Not many had more blocks, nor assists.
Damon Severson/Devils - Somebody that may be worth looking at as an add this week, Severson was solid over the last two weeks. Damon was a point per game through four contests and will likely see an increase in ice time with Dougie Hamilton on the mend. All of Severson’s points came at 5v5 and he totaled 17 “meat”.
David Savard/Canadiens - Formerly a much better fantasy asset, Savard was quite meaty last week for Montreal. He totaled 25 “meat”, nine of which were hits. He also took six minutes of penalties to help his cause in the ratings. The Canadiens do lack a 5v5 game, which hurts Savard at 5v5 in terms of points and +/-.
Dmitry Orlov/Capitals - It’s unbelievable that Orlov is still only owned in 33% of leagues. More often than not he puts up a week that is top eight in the league in banger leagues, earning him an add. Dmitry assisted on three goals in four games, all at 5v5. He took a couple penalties and totaled 19 “meat” as well.
Brayden McNabb/Golden Knights – The physical defenseman was thrusted into a bigger role over the last week or so with injuries on the backend of the Golden Knights roster. Now that everybody is healthy, it’s unclear if Brayden will receive the minutes furthermore. He took a massive 16 minutes in penalties and blocked 16 shots, likely more in both categories than anybody else at his position.
Defense (Standard)
Noah Dobson/Islanders
Zach Whitecloud/Golden Knights
Matt Roy/Kings - Currently skating on the second pair for the Kings, Roy has been solid the last two weeks with a +5 and three assists. Matt took 13 shots along the way and has taken 89 over the season. That is quite a clip for a guy who hasn’t scored once this season. He’s more than due for a goal.
TJ Brodie/Maple Leafs – Another player who is benefiting from one game during the last 15 days, Brodie was great in that contest. He put up three points in that game, two coming on special teams. He’s currently skating on the top pair at 5v5 with Morgan Rielly
Damon Severson/Devils
Noah Hanifin/Flames - The former 1st rounder put up three points in his last two games, one of which coming on special teams. Noah took six shots and went +3 as well. I wouldn’t add him due to his mere 13 points in 29 games this season, that simply isn’t enough for a guy with his minutes.
Carson Soucy/Kraken
Jacob Middleton/Sharks
Goalies
Antti Raanta/Hurricanes - As a member of one of the best teams in the league, Raanta should always be worthy of a stream. But last week he gave you a truly mixed bag. In two games played he was on both ends of the spectrum. First, he put up a 26 save shutout against the Canadiens. Then he totaled six saves in their next game, allowing three goals and getting pulled. His SV% is only .908 this year.
Laurent Brossoit/Golden Knights – With Robin Lehner out, Brossoit has been carrying the load for Vegas. He played in four of the five tilts for the squad over the last two weeks. His rates were awful, and honestly, he will only help your cause if you are looking for opportunities at saves/wins. He made 86 saves and allowed 13 goals.
Jeremy Swayman/Bruins - A goalie worth a stream every time he skates, Swayman allowed one goal in his outing this past week. He made 23 saves along the way in that tilt. This pushes his SV% to .920 and he’s won eight games in 15 contests this season.