NHL Fantasy Preview – Week 4 Schedule & Waiver Wire Targets
The first week of the NHL season is in the books, and what a week it was! Week 2 promises more excitement, and we’re back with another episode to cover all the details regarding the schedule and must-add waiver wire targets. Be sure to check out our live show Wednesdays at 9 PM MST, as we cover off all the latest fantasy hockey news, mailbag questions, and much more!
John’s List:
If you’re a regular listener of this podcast, you’re undoubtedly familiar with “John’s List” – John’s shit list of players past and present. We throw in the occasional Commissioner, GM, Coach, or newsworthy topic from around the hockey world.
“Jumbo” Joe Thornton – decent player, but should have retired 4 years earlier. Beard is trash too.
Fantasy Lock Of The Week | Week 3 – Oct. 23 – 29, 2023
🔥Jack Hughes, C/LW, 100% Rostered (Yahoo), 100% Rostered (Fantrax)
Jack Hughes had 8 points (1 Goal) this week in 4 games played. 3 of those points came on the power play where Hughes played 3:41 PPTOI/GM. Hughes has 18 points (5 goals) in 8 games to date this season while playing nearly 22 minutes per game.
Hon. Mention: Ryan Hartman – The Minnesota forward posted 5 points, including a hat trick, against the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. 15 SOG (3.75 SOG/GM) in 4 GP this week, and playing with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. 8 points, 4 goals in his last 5 GP.
Edge Work | NHL Schedule – Week 4
The segment where we put in the work to give you the EDGE in your fantasy hockey leagues! Each week the Hacks will cover the NHL Schedule and Waiver Wire Targets to guide you to victory.
Need To Know:
The 2023-2024 regular season is into its FOURTH week; and week 4 gets in the action with Monday(9), Thursday (12) and Saturday (15) being the busiest days on the schedule; with 5 or fewer games taking place on the remaining days during the week – so optimizing for games played will present a challenge as the NHL schedule ramps up.
There are a total of 46 games on the schedule, with 4 “light days” (50% or fewer NHL teams in action) during week 4.
In terms of attempting to optimize the schedule for games played, there are a total of 4 teams (ARI, DAL, PHI and VGK) next week that do provide an advantage with 4 games played. Of those teams, PHI play two of their games on “off-nights”.
No teams play fewer than two games this week, with 8 teams playing just twice.
- Monday – 9 Games
- Tuesday – 2 Games
- Wednesday – 4 Games
- Thursday – 12 Games
- Friday – 2 Games
- Saturday – 15 Games
- Sunday – 2 Games
Teams With 4 Games: ARI, DAL, PHI and VGK
Teams With 3 Games: ANA, BOS, BUF, CAR, CHI, CBJ, DET, FLA, LAK, MTL, NAS, NJ, NYI, NYR, SEA, STL, TBL, TOR, VAN and WIN
Teams With 2 Games: CGY, COL, EDM, MIN, OTT, PIT, SJS, WAS,
Teams With 1 Games: NONE
Edge Work | NHL Waiver Wire Targets For Week 4
Waiver wire targets will be focused on players that are rostered in ~50% or less of Yahoo (or Fantrax) leagues. When considering players to target, we review recent performance, player deployment, upcoming schedule and more.
Forwards
🎯Sean Couturier (C), PHI
Rostered: 21% Yahoo (61% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.CAR, Vs.BUF, @BUF, Vs.LAK) | Line: 1 (w/ Owen Tippett & Cam Atkinson, PP1)
Sean Couturier was one of our pre-season bounce-back candidates, and through 8 games this season that certainly appears to be the case with 7 points and 2 goals. Playing nearly 20 minutes a night and on PP1, it is unbelievable that this man is still available in nearly 80% of Yahoo leagues.
🎯Ryan Hartman (C/LW), MIN
Rostered: 49% Yahoo (73% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (Vs.NYR, Vs.NJ) | Line: 1 (w/ Kirill Kaprizov & Mats Zuccarello, PP2)
We just spoke about Ryan Hartman in our Fantasy Lock of the Week segment, but based on his recent performance and deployment, it probably makes sense to mention again. The obvious downside for this upcoming week is the two-game schedule against the Rangers and Devils.
🎯William Karlsson (C), VGK
Rostered: 37% Yahoo (58% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.MTL, Vs.WPG, Vs.COL, Vs.ANA) | Line: 3 (w/ Pavel Dorofeyev & Mike Amadio , PP2)
Don’t look now, but William “Wild Bill” Karlsson is on-pace for 91 points after starting the season with 10 points and 3 goals in just 9 games. The shot volume leaves lots to be desired at 1.9 SOG/GM, and the deployment is less than ideal, but ride the hot hand for an upcoming four-game week.
🎯Nick Schmaltz (C/RW), ARI
Rostered: 36% (80% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.CHI, @VGK, Vs.MTL, Vs.WIN) | Line: 1 (w/ Keller & Hayton, PP1)
You can pretty much copy and paste Sean Couturier’s notes for Nick Schmaltz. 8 points (2 goals) for Schmaltz in 7 games played, He also averaging just over 20 min a night toi, and plays on the top line in Arizona and on PP1. Only 36% rostered. FYI the way the Coyotes play 4 games this week. You might want to go get him now!
🎯Wyatt Johnston (C), DAL
Rostered: 18% Yahoo (67% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.CBJ, @CGY, @EDM, @VAN) | Line: 3 (w/ Jamie Benn & Ty Dellandria, PP2)
It’s early, but Wyatt Johnston is on-pace for 68 points and 27 goals through the first 6 games of the season; which truthfully seems like a realistic improvement on his 41 point, 24-goal rookie season. Playing top 6 minutes and on PP2 in Dallas is a recipe for fantasy success. There are some concerns with the underlying metrics, but I’m willing to take a gamble on the 20-year old for at least the upcoming week in which Dallas plays four times!
🎯Bobby Brink (C), PHI
Rostered: 20% Yahoo (28% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.CAR, Vs.BUF, @BUF, Vs.LAK) | Line: 1 (w/ Owen Tippett & Cam Atkinson, PP1)
Bobby Brink is feeling it lately, posting 4 points (2 goals, 3 PPP) in his last 2 games played; and 6 points in 7 games overall this season. Brink has been seeing significant time on the man advantage, including 92% PP Share against Minnesota on October 26th.
🎯Ryan Johansen (C), PHI
Rostered: 29% Yahoo (50% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (Vs.STL, @VGK) | Line: 2 (w/ Tomas Tatar & Mikko Rantanen, PP1)
Ryan Johansen will never be a volume shooter, but playing top 6, PP1 minutes in Colorado makes him an intriguing option. 76.5% PP Share and 4:29 PPTOI/GM can not be ignored. 5 points, 4 goals in his last 4 games played, Johansen is a must-add, despite playing just two games in week 4.
Defensemen
🎯Travis Sanheim (D), PHI
Rostered: 46% Yahoo (60% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.CAR, Vs.BUF, @BUF, Vs.LAK) | Line: 1 (w/ Cam York, PP1)
Travis Sanheim is playing massive minutes for the Philadelphia Flyers, averaging 26 minutes per night. Sanheim is receiving nearly 50% PP Share and has 8 points (1 goal) in 8 games to date. With 4 games on the schedule for week 4, Travis Sanheim is an excellent option, if available.
🎯Ivan Provorov (D), CBJ
Rostered: 19% Yahoo (55% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.NYI, @DAL, Vs.TBL) | Line: 2 (w/ David Jiricek, PP2)
Zach Werenski is healthy, for now, and running the top power play unit once again in Columbus. However, Provorov is still playing big minutes and receiving a role on the second power play unit. 6 points in 8 GP, 2.75 Blks/GM.
🎯Pavel Mintyukov (D), ANA
Rostered: 7% (48% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@PIT, Vs.ARI, Vs.VGK) | Line: 2 (w/ Ilya Lybushkin, PP1)
A top 10 pick in the 2022 draft, Pavel Mintyukov is getting top 4 minutes in addition to a role on the top power play unit. 4 points (1 goal) to go with nearly 20 minutes TOI/GM and a 58% PP Share (3:30 PPTOI/GM).
🎯Mikey Anderson (D), LAK
Rostered: 8% (26% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@TOR, @OTT, @PHI) | Line: 1 (w/ Drew Doughty)
This may be more applicable for deep leagues, but Mikey Anderson has been quite effective to date, posting 7 points (1 goal) in his last 7 games played. Anderson won’t help on the man advantage, but in BASH leagues he may be quite effective, with 2.13 Hits/GP and 1.38 Blks/GM so far this season.
Goaltenders
🎯Ukko-Pekka-Luukkonen (G), BUF
Rostered: 4% Yahoo (6% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@PHI, Vs.PHI, @TOR) | Role: Starter (N/A Net Share)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is currently the only Sabres goalie that is not injured. “UPL” has not looked good to date, and with just 3 wins in 8 games to start the season, neither have the Buffalo Sabres. A home-and-home set against the Philadelphia Flyers may be just what the doctor ordered for the slow-starting Buffalo Sabres, though it should be noted that the Flyers do have a 4-3-1 record with a +3 goal differential.
🎯Lukas Dostal (G), ANA
Rostered: 6% (33% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@PIT, Vs.ARI, Vs.VGK) | Role: Tandem (50% Net Share)
Through 8 games it is interesting to note that Lukas Dostal and John Gibson have mirror records – Dostal at 3-1 and Gibson at 1-3. 23-year-old Dostal has looked fantastic to date, posting a 2.75 GAA and .915 SV%; and certainly looks to be the goaltender of the future in Anaheim. According to MoneyPuck.com, Dostal currently sits 9th in Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) at 3.4 to date this season.
🎯Cam Talbot (G), LAK
Rostered: 51% (58% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@TOR, @OTT, @PHI) | Role: Starter (71% Net Share)
Cam Talbot has appeared in all but two of Los Angeles’ games to date; and at the time of writing, has posted a 3-1-0 record with a 2.45 GAA and .913 SV%. The Kings are undefeated on the road so far this season, and all three of their games this week take place away from Crypto.com Arena.
ALSO: Jonathan Quick (NYR), Jake Allen (MTL), Casey DeSmith (VAN), Jonas Johansson (TB).