Fantasy Hockey: Week 3 Preview and Waiver Pickups

Introduction

How's it going hockey nerds, vizioN back again with another weekly preview and waiver pickup post. If you saw my post last week, I hope some of my targets have helped you out so far because some of those guys are having a monster week. Batherson didn't pan out like I hoped he did, but Verhaeghe, Gurianov, and Motte all had productive weeks. Even Strome, Granlund, Larsson, and Driedger are all having a solid week. Let me know how your week is going so far with your pickups!

Week Preview

11 teams have 4 games this week. Those are ANH, BOS, CGY, COL, MIN, MTL, PIT, SJS, VAN, and VGK. Keep in mind that SJS and VGK have their series postponed, per @PR_NHL, so those teams will play 2 games this week. VGK may not even play a game this week with 3 coaches and a player out with a mild cough. The other teams that play 2 games this week are EDM and TOR. Everyone else plays 3 games.

MTL has 2 games each against VAN and OTT who are both ranked 31st and 25th for Goals Against per Game at 4.50 and 3.36, respectively. CAR and TBL both have 2 games against the lowly CHI and DET, respectively.

BOS, DET, and PHI all have three games on off-nights so players from those teams are worth a target for maximizing your team's schedule.

Week 3 Pickups

1. Alex Killorn - W (30%)

Killorn may not be having the best season, but he is on line 2 and has a spot on that coveted TBL power-play. Killorn is averaging 2.67 shots and 1.33 hits per game this season and will be playing two games against DET. Other targets include Palat (61%), Coleman (52%), Johnson (9%), and Gourde (8%). Anyone is worth a stream against DET. Nuff said.

2. Andrew Copp - C/W (46%)

Copp has been on a tear lately putting up 9 points in his last 6 games. In that time span, Copp is averaging 3.66 shots per game and is benefiting from the playing making abilities of Nikolaj Ehlers and Paul Stastny. There are concerns regarding Copp's spot on the second line but Pierre-Luc Dubois is not due back until Saturday at the earliest. PLD arrived in Winnipeg on January 23rd and per Canada's quarantine procedures, new arrivals are required to isolate for 2 weeks putting which points to Dubois returning on February 6th. Keep in mind that the Manitoba government has given PLD the green light but Trudeau hasn't my boy yet. Other targets include Adam Lowry (11%).

3. Martin Necas - C/W (6%)

This is for all you guys playing in deeper leagues. Last week's pick (Granlund) was a banger and I'm hoping the same for Necas. Necas has put up 3 points (1g and 2a) in 2 games since CAR returned to play. The winger is currently skating on the second line and PP2. He has also averaged 3 shots, 1 hit, and 1 block per game in those 2 games. CAR has 2 games against CHI and 1 against CBJ. Other targets include Nino Niederreiter (8%).

4. Jordan Staal - C (7%)

Sure Staal could've been included under other targets with Nino. But Staal isn't just another target. HE IS THE TARGET. This is for all you banger league guys out there (p.s. u/M584). I own Staal and this is my post, so I'm going to do just what Lil Uzi said, "Now I do what I want." Like Necas, Staal has been playing well since CAR returned, putting up a goal and assist in 2 games. Staal may be the team's 3C but he's averaging the fourth-most ice time among forwards, skating 17 minutes a night, and is on PP1. But here's the tasty part, Staal is averaging 11 faceoff wins, 4.33 hits, and 1.33 blocks per game. If anyone says sMaLl SaMpLe sIzE, I will slap you. CAR played against TBL and DAL since returning and guess who was the cup finalist last year? I will also slap you if you say that DAL is missing Seguin.

5. Nick Ritchie - W (11%)

Although Richie has lost his spot with Pastrnak returning to play, Ritchie still holds his spot on PP1. The winger has 6 points in 7 games this season and is averaging 2.25 shots and 1.50 hits per game this season. The Bruins have 1 game against the depleted Washington Capitals and 2 against the Philadelphia Flyers who look like they're going through turmoil, disregarding their record.

6. Brandon Tanev - W (39%)

Tanev is averaging a league-leading 5.33 hits per game. The Penguins play 4 games this week. Tanev is a must stream/own in a banger league. Nuff said. Other targets include Tyler Motte (35%) - 4.09 hits/game, Oskar Sundqvist (5%) - 3.25 hits/game, Jason Zuker (22%) - 2.78 hits/game, and Joel Edmundson (15%) - 2.63 hits/game. Note, all these players play 4 games this week.

7a. Justin Faulk - D (45%)

This is another one for all you banger league guys out there. Faulk is averaging 3 shots, 4 hits, and 1.13 blocks per game. The craziest part about this is that Faulk is averaging 4 hits per game. Faulk has never averaged more than 2 hits per game in his career, but here he is getting 4 per game. It's like this dude is trying to get COVID-19 lmao.

7b. Jonathon Drouin - C/W (31%)

This spot was going to go to Josh Anderson, but alas, everything breaks at some point. Or multiple times if the glue isn't strong. Drouin has carved out a nice role on the second line finding chemistry with Nick Suzuki. The winger has put up 8 points in 8 games this season, averaging 0.75 shots, 0.63 hits, and 0.25 blocks per game. But you're not here to pick up another banger guy, you're here to grab a guy who can score. As mentioned previously, MTL is playing VAN and OTT this week who seems to have trouble defending this season, and I've seen better defending from Codi Ceci. Anderson has 5 points in 8 games, averaging 3 shots and 2 hits per game for anyone who cares.

8. Jordan Kyrou - C/W (34%)

If Drouin's average shots give you depression, don't worry, I have the remedy for that. Kyrou has 10 points in 8 games this season while averaging 2.88 shots per game. Kyrou is currently skating the Blues's second line with Brayden Schenn and Jaden Schwartz. He's also on PP2. I'm not going to waste any more of your time, go grab him before he's gone.

9. Linus Ullmark - G (31%)

First of all, how is this dude only 31% owned? Second of all, what the hell are you guys doing on Yahoo? Ullmark is less owned than Braden Holtby (80%) and Mikko Koskinen (62%). Please delete your app and re-consider your fantasy hockey career if you own one of those two. Not only is Ullmark the starting goaltender for BUF, but he is playing behind a better defense this year and has better stats than Holtby and Koskinen. This absolutely criminal. Absolutely criminal I tell you. Sabres also have two games against NYI, who have averaged 2 goals per game this season, good enough for 30th in the league.

10. Chris Driedger - G (21%)

Guess who's back, back again. Driedger's back, tell a friend. FLA has a back-to-back this week against NSH who are 26th in the league for Goals For per game at 2.36. Driedger is 8-2-2 in his last 14 games played with a 2.03 GAA and .937 SV%. He also has 10 quality starts in that span. Driedger would be FLA's starter if Bob wasn't a sunk cost. Imagine paying your starter $10 million a year and a goalie from your AHL team is out-performing him. Can't be me. 🤡