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.
Ken Holland/Edmonton Oilers – Firing Jay Woodcroft, Hiring Kris Knoblach and Paul Coffey????
Hon. Mention: Ross Colton, COL – Greasy hit on Luke Hughes Tuesday night. Hughes appeared to be okay, but a questionable hit in my opinion.
Fantasy Lock Of The Week | Week 5 – Nov. 6-12, 2023
🔥Kyle Connor, LW, 98% Rostered (Yahoo), 100% Rostered (Fantrax)
Connor had 8 points (5 Goals) this week in 3 games played. 3 of those points came on the power play where Connor averaged 2:58 PPTOI/GM (58.5% PP Share), 16 SOG with and average TOI of 18:43
Honorable Mention goes to his team mate Mark Scheifele who also had 8 points (1G, 7A) including 2 power play points on 11 shots and an average TOI of 19:32
Edge Work | NHL Schedule – Week 6
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:
It’s hard to believe, but we are already entering week 6 of the NHL regular season! Week 6 follows a familiar format, with Tuesday (9), Thursday (9), and Saturday (13) being the full days on the schedule. The remaining days of the week feature 5 or fewer games – so optimizing for games played will present a challenge throughout the week.
There are a total of 45 games on the schedule, with 4 “light days” (50% or fewer NHL teams in action) during week 5.
In terms of attempting to optimize the schedule for games played, there are a total of 7 teams (ANA, CBJ, NYI, PIT, SEA, STL, VGK) next week that do provide an advantage with 4 games played. Of those teams, ANA is the only club to play three of their four games on “off-nights”; followed by the Islanders and Kraken with 2 games on light days.
No teams play fewer than two games this week, with 8 teams playing just twice.
- Monday – 2 Games
- Tuesday – 9 Games
- Wednesday – 4 Games
- Thursday – 9 Games
- Friday – 3 Games
- Saturday – 13 Games
- Sunday – 5 Games
Teams With 4 Games: ANA, CBJ, NYI, PIT, SEA, STL, VGK
Teams With 3 Games: ARI, BUF, CGY, CHI, COL, EDM, FLA, MTL, NJ, PHI, TB, VAN, WPG
Teams With 2 Games: BOS, CAR, DAL, DET, LA, MIN, NAS, OTT, SJ, TOR, WAS
Teams With 1 Games: NYR
Edge Work | NHL Waiver Wire Targets For Week 6
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
🎯Brayden Schenn (C/LW), STL
Rostered: 34% Yahoo (51% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.TB, @SJS, @LAK, @ANA) | Line: 2 (w/ Jordan Kyrou & Brandon Saad, PP1)
The St.Louis Blues have a four-game schedule in week 6, and more recently Brayden Schenn has found himself playing in the top 6 alongside Jordan Kyrou, as well as on the top power play unit. After posting a hat trick and a 4-point night on Saturday against Colorado, Schenn has 8 points (5 goals) in his last 4 games played; and provides decent coverage for hits (2.7 Hits/GM!!) and face-off wins. Shot volume is a concern at 1.6 SOG/GM, but that could easily improve to his career-average of 2.0.
🎯Mattias Maccelli (LW), ARI
Rostered: 8% Yahoo (47% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@DAL, @CBJ, @WPG) | Line: 2 (w/ Nick Bjugstad & Lawson Crouse, PP2)
Mattias Maccelli is on-pace for 59 points with 10 points (2 goals) in 14 games to date this season. The 23-year old is shooting at a career-best 6.6 SOG/60 (1.6 SOG/GM), and with an underperforming shooting percentage (8.7% versus 13.3% career average), we can expect the offense to continue rolling, to some degree. A secondary power play role limits his upside, but with his deployment and recent production that can be overlooked.
🎯Cole Perfetti (C), WPG
Rostered: 5% Yahoo (53% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.NJD, Vs.BUF, Vs.ARI) | Line: 1 (w/ Vladislav Namestnikov & Nikolaj Ehlers, PP1)
Cole Perfetti has locked down a spot in the top 6 and first power play unit for the Winnipeg Jets; and he is taking advantage of that deployment with 11 points (4 goals) in 14 games this season – a 64-point pace! That production has been helped by an inflated 13.8 iSH% (10 iSH% career), 85% IPP and career-best 8.9 SOG/60, but ride that production while you can!
🎯Nazem Kadri (C), CGY
Rostered: 46% Yahoo (66% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@MTL, Vs.VAN, Vs.NYI) | Line: 2 (w/ Connor Zary & Yegor Sharangovich, PP1)
Nazem Kadri is starting to turn his season around with 7 points and 2 goals in his last 5 games played. Prior to this recent hot streak, Kadri had just 1 point in 8 games to start the year. The 33-year old is playing big minutes at even-strength and on the top power play unit; and provides fantastic shot volume at 3.2 SOG/GM (10.6 SOG/60). On top of all that, Kadri’s underlying numbers (7.7 tEVSH%, 4.8 iSH%, 66.7% IPP, 16.7% secondary assist – 1 in 6) suggest more positive regression could be coming.
🎯Quinton Byfield (C/LW), LAK
Rostered: 42% Yahoo (64% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (Vs.FLA, Vs.STL) | Line: 1 (w/ Anze Kopitar & Adrian Kempe, PP2)
Quinton Byfield is breaking out in a big way with 12 points (2 goals) in 13 games played this season – a 76-point pace over 82 games! Better yet, Byfield’s PP time has been steadily increasing, hitting a season-high 50% PP Share on Thursday night. Combined with a career-high 1.8 SOG/GM (7.1 SOG/60), and there is very little to dislike about the 21-year old’s game at the moment.
🎯Tommy Novak (C), NSH
Rostered: 11% Yahoo (57% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (Vs. ANA, Vs. CHI) | Line: 2 (w/ Kiefer Sherwood & Luke Evangelista, PP1)
Tommy Novak is out to prove that last season was not a fluke. With 12 points (6 goals) in 14 games, Novak is on-pace for 70 points playing in the top 6 and on PP1. Nashville has just two games this week, but if you’re looking for some help at forward, the 26-year old looks like an effective season-long addition. Note, there are some concerns with the underlying numbers (23.1 iSH%, 67% Secondary Assist %), but don’t let that scare you off.
🎯Alexis Lafreniere (C), NYR
Rostered: 30% Yahoo (X% Fantrax) | GP: 1 (@NJD) | Line: 2 (w/ Artemi Panarin & Vincent Trocheck, PP2)
Alexis Lafreniere and the New York Rangers have just 1 game next week, Sonora not an ideal time to grab the former first overall pick. However, the 22-year old is heating up with 5 points (1 goal) in 3 games; and 9 points (5 goals) in 13 games overall – a 57-point pace over 82 games. The deployment isn’t ideal, and the nearly 23% iSH% is obviously a concern; but the production is there to justify him as a streaming option at the very least. His ish is iffy.
Defensemen
🎯Brock Faber (D), MIN
Rostered: 5% Yahoo (40% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (@OTT, Vs.TOR) | Line: 1 (w/ Jonas Brodin)
21-year old Brock Faber has been effective for the Minnesota Wild, posting 6 points (1 goal) in 14 games, including 3 points in the Wild’s past 4 contests. Faber offers nice category coverage, particularly in blocks, where he is averaging 1.8 Blocks/GM. The power play time leaves much to be desired, but the 23:25 overall TOI is surely enticing.
🎯Pavel Mintyukov (D), ANA
Rostered: 55% Yahoo (74% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (@NSH, @COL, Vs.FLA, Vs.STL) | Line: 1 (w/ Ilya Lybushkin, PP1)
The Anaheim Ducks play four times in week 6, and Pavel Mintyukov is running their 16th ranked (20.5%) power play. The 19-year old is on-pace for 57 points with 9 points (1 goal) in 13 games to date this season. It’s amazing he is still available in nearly 50% of Yahoo leagues! Given the deployment, production, and schedule, Mintyukov is an absolute slam dunk for week 6, if available.
ALSO: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (35%) – 4 points (2 goals) last 4 games; Erik Gustafsson (28%) – 5 points (1 goal) last 3 GP; Torey Krug (17%) – Until recently, Krug had not register a point all season long. Now, 4 points (1 goal) last 3 GP!
Goaltenders
🎯Connor Ingram (G), ARI
Rostered: 20% Yahoo (27% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@DAL, @CBJ, @WPG) | Role: Tandem (50% Net Share)
With the exception of a poor start against the LA Kings on October 24th, Connor Ingram has not had a save percentage below .921 in any start this season. Overall, Ingram is sporting a 4-1-0 record with a .919 SV% and 2.47 GAA at the time of writing.
🎯Semyon Varlamov (G), NYI
Rostered: 40% Yahoo (38% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (@EDM, @VAN, @SEA, @CGY) | Role: Backup (33% Net Share)
35-year-old Semyon Varlamov has been rock steady for the Isles when called upon, which has not occurred often this season. However, the Islanders have four games this week, including a back-to-back against Vancouver and Seattle; so it’s possible we see a couple quality starts from Varlamov in week 6. 2-2-0 record with a 1.77 GAA and a .950 SV%. UPDATE: Lost 4-1 to the Washington Capitals on Saturday
🎯Pyotr Kochetkov (G), CAR
Rostered: 29% Yahoo (42% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (Vs.PHI, Vs.PIT) | Role: Tandem (N/A Net Share)
Pyotr Kochetkov posted a 4-0 shutout over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night, his 5th career NHL shutout. The 24-year old is splitting duty with Antti Raanta in Carolina with Frederick Andersen dealing with a blood clotting issue; but has struggled early so far this season with a 3.11 GAA and .878 SV%. Raanta has also struggled so far this season, so Saturday’s performance may open the door for more starts moving forward.
🎯Magnus Hellberg (G), PIT
Rostered: 7% Yahoo (9% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (@CBJ, NJD, @CAR, VGK) | Role: Backup (N/A Net Share)
Tristan Jarry is day-to-day with a swollen eye, and the Pittsburgh Penguins have a 4-game schedule in week 6; though it is against tough competition. In 3 appearances this season, Magnus Hellberg has a 2.36 GAA and a .925 SV%. Hellberg did get the starting nod at home Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings, posting a serviceable save percentage… UPDATE: Tristan Jarry returned on Saturday, posting a 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres.