Hello! This is my weekly fantasy hockey sleeper post. I go through banger and standard leagues, identifying the top performing players in both who you likely overlooked. Each player is owned in <50% of leagues (ESPN) and performed greatly over the last seven days. These players should be at the very least considered, as many are appearing on this list again and again… indicating they are much better than you are giving them credit for.
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)
Garnet Hathaway/Capitals (R) - For the second consecutive week, Hathaway sits near the top of the charts in my waiver wire post. Last week I went over how I believe that he could not replicate his performance. That may not be as unlikely as I thought for a third consecutive week given the recent injuries to TJ Oshie and Conor Sheary over the weekend. Garnet had 23 total hits over his last four games, as well as two goals. The hits lead the league over the last 7 days.
Trevor Zegras/Ducks (C) - The young center continues to impress, and this is not the first time he’s appeared on this list either. Zegras should be added in leagues as the Ducks seem to have found their foundation in Zegras/Terry. Trevor had two goals in two games played, and took 10 minutes in penalties. The misconduct is not something easily replicated, but he has 10 points through 16 games this season and will continue to get big minutes.
Nazem Kadri/Avalanche (C) - The veteran center is having a career year with the Av’s. He's been alternating between both lines in the top six throughout the season due to injuries and his season totals speak for themselves. Last week Kadri put up 5 points in two games played, four of which were on special teams. The squad has an elite group of upper echelon players that will make the powerplay a force to be reckoned with on a nightly basis. Nazem also averaged four shots a game.
Josh Anderson/Canadiens (R) - It seems like a few years ago when Anderson was making a name for himself in Columbus as a future banger prodigy. He has the edge to his game necessary along with the skill to help many fantasy owners. Last week he gave a taste of that with 10 PIMs and 15 total “meat” over a three-game span. Throw in two points, both at 5v5, and you have a solid week from a player that gives you a bit of everything.
Brandon Saad/Blues (L) - The veteran winger has been solid since returning from injury for the Blues, scoring seven goals in 13 games thus far. Last week alone he scored a goal per game, two of which came on special teams. He’s receiving top six minutes as well.
Kyle Palmieri/Islanders (R) - The long time Devil has made the most of his opportunities with the Islanders over the last week with the multitude of COVID issues going around. He was able to put up two points in 4 games, but most of his value came in the penalties category. He took 23 minutes' worth of penalties which led the league last week.
Blake Coleman/Flames (L) - Similar to Anderson but more reliable, Coleman is a guy who gives you everything on the stat sheet in a banger league. This isn’t the first time he’s appeared on this list either this season. To put his value best into perspective, he had no points last week in four games yet appears here. Blake totaled 21 “meat” and 6 PIMs, more than half of the meat portion of his stat line coming in hits. He plays around 15 minutes a night and it’s only a matter of time before the scoring ability comes back.
Brendan Gallagher/Canadiens (R) - The small pest of a winger has been playing all over the lineup as of late, and in all situations. He played 18 minutes of action in their last tilt yet is listed on L3. Regardless, he appears here in part because of his 12 PIMs against the Rangers this past week. That’s not to take away from his two points in three games, or his three shots per game average but the reality is those PIMs gave him a serious boost.
Zach Aston-Reese/Penguins (C) - The bottom six of the Penguins squad was dominant this past week, as multiple players performed beyond expectation. In the case of ZAR, he scored two assists in three games all at 5v5. He was propelled by nine PIMs to his credit but also averaged 4 meat per game.
Lawson Crouse/Coyotes (L) - The physical winger is playing in the top six and banging his body around like we know he can. Crouse had three points in 4 games last week, and is seeing time on special teams as well. He totaled 24 “meat”, including 11 shots and 10 hits. He’s on pace for 200/200 in shots/hits and throw in roughly 100 PIMs. He should be owned if he’s getting ice, even to boost your “meat” categories.
Derrick Brassard/Flyers (C) - This isn’t the first week that the veteran center has appeared here, mainly a points guy. Brassard is one of those veteran centers that can give you time in a top six role if necessary but goes on streaks. Last week he had 4 points through three games, one coming on special teams. Sitting between Giroux/Atkinson is a great spot for him at the moment.
Brock McGinn/Penguins (L) - As I mentioned above, the third line for the Penguins was solid last week. McGinn scored a goal across the three games, yet ended up a +3. The 5v5 value of this line is something very underrated when it comes to the team's success. Brock also threw in 18 “meat”, half of which were shots.
Forwards (Standard)
Trevor Zegras/Ducks (C)
Nazem Kadri/Avalanche (C)
Brandon Saad/Blues (L)
Kyle Palmieri/Islanders (R)
Brendan Gallagher/Canadiens (R)
Derrick Brassard/Flyers (C)
Garnet Hathaway/Capitals (R)
Josh Anderson/Canadiens (R)
Robert Thomas/Blues (C) - Since centering L2 between Buchnevich/Tarasenko, Thomas has begun to reach the 1st round pick heights that many thought he could. He is sitting on 16 points through 17 games to start the season and the majority of those have been assists. Last week specifically he had one goal in three games, but took 7 shots. That’s a positive move for him as he only has mustered 22 shots over the entire season thus far.
Daniel Sprong/Capitals (R) - The Capitals are a mess when it comes to their forwards, and Sprong is going to benefit from this chaos. He is going to receive minutes in the top six and last week did something with that time. He took 13 shots over four games, and is on pace for over 175 on the season. Daniel only assisted on one goal however.
Lawson Crouse/Coyotes (L)
Seth Jarvis/Hurricanes (C/R) - The top prospect of the Hurricanes, Jarvis has begun to find his groove at the NHL level as of late. He was given top line minute with elite players like Svechnikov/Aho, earning him an automatic addition in my opinion. Seth scored three goals last week and took 12 shots, putting him at six points in 9 games to start his NHL career.
Defense (Banger)
Martin Fehervary/Capitals - The young Slovak defenseman has been in the news as of late following a hit by Sidney Crosby. I don’t know if that sparked something or what, but last week he was solid at 5v5. He put up a +4 and two assists in four games. Martin totaled 22 “meat”, half of which were hits as he plays on the top pair with John Carlson.
Chris Wideman/Canadiens - I don’t know how to view this one. Wideman is an offensive defenseman through and through. That resulted in his benching this past week on one occasion for his defensive lapses. Otherwise, he had three assists in two games, all at 5v5. With eight points in 15 games over the season, he could feasibly put up 35-40 points as he quarterbacks PP1. There is a lack of meat though, not taking a single shot last week at all.
Radko Gudas/Panthers - The physical defenseman lived up to his reputation this past week. Over the three-game span he mustered 21 hits, and nine penalty minutes. Radko has always been this type of player and playing in the top four has given him the minutes to throw the body. Nobody had more hits than him last week as a defenseman, the next highest being 15 by Brenden Dillon. Gudas is on pace for 400 hits this season. You can also throw in 150 shots and 150 blocks too.
Noah Hanifin/Flames - The former top pick has been cruising along on this solid Flames squad for the most part this season. Coming into this past week he only had two points through 14 games. That would change over the weekend when he had a three-assist night against the Islanders. He ended up at a point per game last week with four in four, and half of those came on special teams. Hanifin also totaled 17 “meat”, seven of which were shots.
Oliver Kylington/Flames - Another Flames defenseman, Kylington has appeared on this list three times. He’s coming into his own this season and if I were a fantasy owner, I’d already have added him. Oliver had two points last week, and was an impressive +5 at 5v5. He’s sitting on 12 points in 18 games. The only concern I have with his production is the limited shots on goal, only 29 on the year.
Cody Ceci/Oilers - Throughout Ceci’s career he’s been a triple-100 fantasy threat in banger leagues. This past week was an example of that by totaling 21 “meat” over a three-game span. He put up eight hits and blocks, as well as scored an assist. I wouldn’t add him, but if you need hits/blocks late in the week he’s a valid option.
Chris Tanev/Flames - The third Flames defenseman to appear on the list, Calgary has been an elite team this season when it comes to playing on the road. Luckily over the last week the team has been away from Alberta and been dominant. Tanev was an impressive +6 at 5v5, scoring two assists in four games. The troubling portion of his stat line however is the zero combined shots and hits. That isn’t going to cut it.
PK Subban/Devils - Another repeat player on the list, Subban has been solid for an extended length of time now. Last week he was a point per game, going two for two. The 13 “meat” in a two-game span is nice too, seven of which were shots. He’s sitting at 9 points in 16 games.
Defense (Standard)
Martin Fehervary/Capitals
Chris Wideman/Canadiens
Oliver Kylington/Flames
Noah Hanifin/Flames
Brandon Montour/Panthers - Often known as an offensive defenseman, Montour has always been on my radar since he was shooting the puck like a mad man in his prospect days with Anaheim. Montour is sitting on nine points through 18 games this year with the Panthers, and their team fits his style of play. Last week he had two points in three games and was a +4 too his credit. He's also shooting the puck at a healthy clip, eight last week.
Hampus Lindholm/Ducks - I believe Lindholm gets a bad reputation for coming into the league so early on in his career. Hampus has always been a solid two-way defenseman on the blueline for the Ducks. He’s now playing top pair minutes alongside Drysdale and just letting the young star do his thing. He only played in two games last week, assisting on one goal and taking three shots.
PK Subban/Devils
Nikita Zadorov/Flames - When you look at the defenseman listed here between banger and standard, four of the Flames top six appear. That just indicates how great they played last week as a unit. Nikita had an assist last week and took three shots, something that kept Tanev from both lists.
Goalies
Stuart Skinner/Oilers - Has Edmonton finally found a goaltender to move forward with? If so, watch out NHL. Skinner was two for two last week when it came to victories, winning both of his starts. He allowed three goals and made a whopping 83 saves. Most notably a 46 save outing against the Jets.
Scott Wedgewood/Coyotes - In an improbable chain of events, Wedgewood has brought Arizona out of the basement in hockey lore. Prior to Scott returning to the Coyotes, Arizona was on pace for arguably the worst season ever. Now he has strung together a few solid starts, winning two of three this last week. His .940 save percentage will go down but for now if you want saves in a spot start situation, he could give them to you.
Dan Vladar/Flames - If you took my advice earlier in the season when Vladar was on this list, you were happy with the results last night. He made one start last week and it was a shutout. He shutout the Bruins as the Flames have been able to shutout several teams already this season. Vladar is a must start when he goes.