December 11, 2023 by Devon Davidson

John’s List

If you’re a regular listener of this podcast, you’re undoubtedly familiar with “John’s List” – John’s sh!t list of players past and present. We throw in the occasional Commissioner, GM, Coach, or newsworthy topic from around the hockey world. 

Erik Gudbranson/Nick Cousins – Both guys acting like goons. Nick with the hit on Gudbranson, and Erik with the over the top retaliation.

Fantasy Lock Of The Week

Week 9 | Dec. 4 – 10, 2023

🔥Nikita Kucherov, RW, TBL 100% Rostered (Yahoo), 100% Rostered (Fantrax)

Kucherov had a decent week, in four games he put up seven points (four goals, three assists) on 20 shots on goal at an average of 21:24 TOI. This includes two power-play points and an average of 4:34 PPTOI. What gave him the edge over our honorable mention who also has seven points. Three of Kucherov’s four goals were game winning goals!

Honorable Mention: Nathan MacKinnon seven points (three goals, four assists) in four games played.

Edge Work | NHL Schedule – Week 10

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 week 10 of the NHL regular season! Week 10 follows the same format as Week 9, only two full days and five light days (50% or fewer NHL teams in action) . There are a total of 51 games on the schedule this week, With Tuesday(10) and Saturday (13) being the full days on the schedule. The remaining light days of the week feature eight or fewer games – so optimizing for games played will present a challenge throughout the week.  

In terms of attempting to optimize the schedule for games played, there are a total of 10 teams next week that do provide an advantage with four games played. Of those teams only NYI and OTT play three of their four games on “off-nights” 

CBJ, LAK, MIN and MTL would be the teams to fade as they only play two games this week:

• Monday – 4 Games
• Tuesday – 10 Games
• Wednesday – 5 Games
• Thursday – 8 Games
• Friday – 6 Games
• Saturday – 13 Games
• Sunday – 5 Games

Teams With 4 Games: ARI, BUF, CGY, CAR, COL, DET, NYI, OTT, TOR, VAN

Teams With 3 Games: ANA, BOS, CHI, DAL, EDM, FLA, NAS, NJ, NYR, PHI, PIT, SJ, SEA, STL, TBL, VGK, WPG

Teams With 2 Games: CBJ, LAK, MIN, MTL

Edge Work | NHL Waiver Wire Targets For Week 10

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

🎯 Mikael Granlund (C/RW), SJS

Rostered: 22% Yahoo (27% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.WPG, @ARI, @COL) | Line: 2 (w/ Anthony Duclair & Fabian Zertterlund, PP1) 

Mikael Granlund has 13 points (three goals) in his last 10 games played; and is currently producing at a 66-point pace over a full 82-game season! Over this recent 10-game stretch Granlund has been playing massive minutes, averaging 21:50 overall and 2:43 on the power play (71.1% PP Share). Available in 85% of Yahoo leagues, fantasy managers should ignore the team he plays for and consider the production he is providing. 

🎯 Casey Mittelstadt (C), BUF

Rostered: 25% Yahoo (64% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (ARI, @COL, @VGK, @ARI) | Line: 1 (w/ Jeff Skinner & Tage Thompson, PP1) 

The 25-year-old is playing at a 67-point pace with 22 points (six goals) in 27 games; and more recently has posted 9 points (3 goals) in his last 10 contests. Over those 10 games, Mittelstadt has been a workhorse for Buffalo, averaging 21:17 and 3:07 PPTOI (69% PP Share). Playing with Jeff Skinner and Tage Thompson is just one more reason to pick up this player for week 10. Buffalo does have a four-game schedule, but it is a grueling one with two matchups against Connor Ingram and the surprisingly good Arizona Coyotes; as well as games against the last two Stanley Cup champs…

🎯 Dylan Strome (C), WSH

Rostered: 18% Yahoo (50% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@PHI, @NSH, @CAR) | Line: 2 (w/ Alex Ovechkin & Tom Wilson , PP1) 

Dylan Strome appears to be rounding into form for the Washington Capitals with seven points (four goals) in his last 10 games playing on the top line and top power play with captain Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson. The Caps have just three games in week 10, but it is against somewhat favourable competition. Washington doesn’t play until Thursday though, so ideally fantasy managers would wait until then to add the 26-year-old. 

🎯 Mason Marchment (LW), DAL

Rostered: 24% Yahoo (38% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.DET, Vs.OTT, Vs.STL) | Line: 2 (w/ Matt Duchene & Tyler Seguin, PP2) 

Mason Marchment is off to another solid start this season, playing at nearly a 60-point pace alongside veterans Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin. Marchment more recently has produced 12 points (6 goals) in his last 10 games! Still available in nearly 80% of Yahoo leagues, the 28-year-old is an excellent option offensively, but also offers a bit of category coverage with 1.20 PIMS per game and nearly 1 hit per game. It should be noted that Marchment’s 17.3 iSH% is well above his career average; and his team’ even-strength shooting percentage at 11.5% is also due to regress. 

🎯 Lucas Raymond (LW/RW), DET

Rostered: 61% Yahoo (85% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (@DAL, @STL, Vs.CAR, @PHI) | Line: 1 (w/ Dylan Larkin & Robby Fabbri, PP2) 

Last call for Lucas Raymond! Available in just over 40% of Yahoo leagues, the window to grab this player is quickly closing. With 22 points (9 goals) in 25 games to date this season, the 21-year-old is producing at a 72-point pace and will reach the 200-game breakout threshold early in 2024. Playing alongside Dylan Larkin should ensure stable production; and the deployment both at even strength and on the power play has been solid – 17:22 TOI/GM, 3:04 PPTOI/GM (49% PP Share). 

🎯 Adam Fantilli (C), CBJ

Rostered: 29% Yahoo (75% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (@TOR, Vs.NJD) | Line: 1 (w/ Emil Bemstrom & Kent Johnson, PP2) 

With Boone Jenner out for the next six weeks due to a fractured jaw, rookie Adam Fantilli has an opportunity to take over a premiere role in the top line and top power-play unit. Additionally, Fantilli has six points (four goals) in his last five games.

Defensemen

🎯 Thomas Harley (D), DAL

Rostered: 3% Yahoo (37% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.DET, Vs.OTT, Vs.STL) | Line: 3 (w/ Nils Lundkvist, PP2) 

Despite playing on the third pair, Thomas Harley has been productive recently with five points (three goals) in his last six games, while playing over 21 minutes and chipping in with roughly three blocks per game! This one is certainly more of a short-term, deep-league acquisition, but still worth considering. 

🎯 Cam York (D), PHI

Rostered: 4% Yahoo (48% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@NSH, Vs.WSH, Vs.DET) | Line: 1 (w/ Travis Sanheim) 

Cam York is the defenceman to roster out of Philadelphia for now, playing top pairing and top power play minutes. Seven points (three goals) in his last 10 games and offering nearly two blocks per game this season. 

🎯 K’Andre Miller (D), NYR

Rostered: 51% Yahoo (78% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.TOR, Vs.ANA, @BOS) | Line: 2 (w/ Jacob Trouba) 

With four points (three goals) in his last five games, K’Andre Miller is starting to heat up offensively and offers decent category coverage, while playing on the second pairing alongside Jacob Trouba. 

Goaltenders

🎯 Dustin Wolf (G), CGY

Rostered: 10% Yahoo (43% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (@COL, @VGK, @MIN, Vs.TB) | Role: Starter

Dustin Wolf gave us a glimpse of what he is capable of on Thursday night, posting a 28-save victory against the Hurricanes with a 2.00 GAA and .933 SV%. With Jacob Markstrom out week-to-week, Wolf is an ideal short-term solution in the crease. It’s a tough week for Wolf and the Flames, but the rookie could see as many as three starts this week – maybe just be selective with the matchups. 

🎯 Sam Montembeault (G), MTL

Rostered: 29% Yahoo (44% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (Vs.PIT, Vs.NYI) | Role: Starter

Sam Montembeault has been absolutely rolling for the Habs this season, particularly over his last seven appearances where he has posted a 4-2-0 record with a 2.37 GAA and .926 SV%. Montreal has just two games in Week 10, but they are certainly winnable matchups against Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders. Montembeault appears to be a viable season-long acquisition for fantasy managers looking to fill a spot in the crease. 

🎯 Kaapo Kahkonen (G), SJS

Rostered: 3% Yahoo (16% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.WPG, @ARI, @COL) | Role: Starter

In his last 6 starts, Kaapo Kahkonen has posted a 5-1-0 record to go along with a 3.33 GAA and a .917 SV%! It’s a challenging week ahead (and probably the remainder of the season honestly), but Kahkonen will face a ton of shots, presenting a boom or bust pick. ALSO: Mackenzie Blackwood (13% Yahoo, 30% Fantrax)

🎯 Ilya Samsonov/Martin Jones (G), TOR

Rostered: 63/12% Yahoo (82/9% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (@NYI, @NYR, Vs.CBJ, Vs.PIT) | Role: Starter

With Joseph Woll out week-to-week with a high-ankle sprain; Ilya Samsonov and Martin Jones are going to be relied upon to shoulder the load for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Neither netminder has been good to date, but two of the four teams that the Maple Leafs face next week are out of playoff contention and should provide goalie-friendly matchups. UPDATE: Samsonov posted an 18-save shutout against the Nashville Predators.