The NHL bye weeks come into effect this week and that will make the waiver wire that much more important when it comes to succeeding in NHL fantasy leagues. In case you’re not familiar, the NHL has implemented a bye week for each starting on January 1st and ending on February 28th. That means each of the 30 teams will get a full week off to rest and recuperate. This is the first year that the NHL has implemented this and it will have an impact in NHL fantasy.
The good news is that there should still be some solid options available at every position in most leagues including a handful of players that should be picked up if they are still out there in the majority of leagues this week. Here is a look at the top NHL fantasy waiver wire options for this week.
C: Derrick Brassard, Ottawa Senators
After a slow start to his time with the Senators, Brassard started to produce in December with five goals and seven points in 13 games. While those still aren’t elite numbers, Brassard clearly looked more comfortable this past month and he has played with some pretty solid linemates in Mark Stone and Mike Hoffman. Ottawa spent the first couple of months of the year establishing a strong defensive system so the focus could start to swing back to scoring now that the team has head coach Guy Boucher’s system locked down. Brassard has the potential to be a quality first line center and he should be a solid waiver wire option if he is still available in your NHL fantasy league.
LW: Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning
The triplets have been reunited in Tampa Bay and the move should provide a sustainable spike in production for Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat. Kucherov and Johnson are owned in most leagues but Palat could be available in your NHL fantasy league and if he is he is worth a long look. Palat has two goals and two assists over the course of a three-game point streak so add him now if you need some help on the wing.
LW/RW: Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Aho has struggled with consistency throughout his rookie season but his potential has never been questioned and he is starting to show signs of a breakout. Aho has three goals and four assists over his last eight games while clicking on a line with Teuvo Teravainen and Lee Stempniak. The Hurricanes are starting to gain some momentum and confidence as a team so Aho has the potential to be a quality fantasy option the rest of the way if he can establish a higher level of consistency.
D: Nick Holden, New York Rangers
Holden has provided the Rangers with a boost on their blue line with four goals and four assists over his last 11 games. Holden’s high number of shots and hits make him even more valuable in fantasy hockey leagues that count those statistics. The lack of quality options at the position make him that much more intriguing and it might be worth taking a flier on Holden if you need help on the back end.
G: Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators
Saros will more than likely remain stuck behind Pekka Rinne on the Predators depth chart but his outstanding play of late has made him worth taking a chance on in NHL fantasy leagues. Saros is 3-2-1 with a ridiculous 1.16 goals against average and a .957 save percentage while Rinne is 13-10-5 with a 2.53 GAA and .915 save percentage. Rinne’s contract should mean he remains the starter but you also have to take a look at the standings and start thinking ahead a little bit. The Predators are in fifth place in the Central Division and are just 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. Rinne isn’t getting the job done and there are some people that feel that he’s in the twilight of his career. Maybe the Predators keep trotting him out there? Maybe he starts to play like the former All-Star he used to be? Maybe Soros ends up taking the No. 1 job from him? Or maybe the Preds continue to be a middling team and ship him off at the trade deadline because they see Saros as the future? There are a number of good reasons to own Saros if you need goaltending help.
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