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. 

Morgan Rielly for cross-checking Ridley Greig in the head with 5 seconds remaining in Saturday’s contest between Ottawa and Toronto. Greig made a very questionable play, but that response from Rielly was excessive to say the least. 

Fantasy Lock Of The Week:

🔥Nick Suzuki, C, MTL, 67% Rostered (Yahoo), 93% Rostered (Fantrax)

The Montreal Canadiens had 3 games last week and Captain Nick Suzuki led the way offensively. 6 points and 4 goals in 3 games. Averaged 21:26 TOI and 4:25 PPTOI (68% PP Share). With 11 points in his last 7 games played, Suzuki is up to 48 points in 52 games this season – a 76-point pace over a full 82-game season.

Edge Work | NHL Schedule – Week 18

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: 

Welcome to Week 18, the NHL schedule returns to normal this week with a total of 47 games on the schedule. 3 full days (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) and 4 light days. Light days are where 50% or fewer NHL teams in action 

In terms of attempting to optimize the schedule for games played, 3 teams play 4 games next week (ARI, LA and NJ). Of those teams only ARI plays all 4 of their games on light days. Also of note: MIN, NYR and PIT play 2 of their 3 games this week on light days.

The teams to fade this week are CBJ, NYI, VGK, WPG and WAS as they only play 2 games this week

Just to recap. 

• Monday – 4 Games
• Tuesday – 11 Games
• Wednesday – 3 Games
• Thursday – 12 Games
• Friday – 1 Games
• Saturday – 13 Games
• Sunday – 3 Games

Teams With 4 Games: ARI, LA and NJ

Teams With 3 Games: ANA, BOS, BUF, CAR, CGY, CHI, COL, DAL, DET, EDM, FLA, MIN, MTL, NSH, NYR, OTT, PHI, PIT, SJ, SEA, STL, TB, TOR, VAN

Teams With 2 Games:  CBJ, NYI, VGK, WPG, WAS

Teams With 1 Game: N/A

Edge Work | NHL Waiver Wire Targets For Week 18

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

🎯 Artturi Lehkonen (LW), COL

Rostered: 34% Yahoo (65% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@WSH, @TB, Vs.ARI) | Line: 1 (w/ Nathan MacKinnon & Mikko Rantanen, PP1) 

It was November 7th the last time Artturi Lehkonen was on the Avs top power play unit; at least until this past Thursday when he played 6:33 PPTOI (72% PP Share) and a season-high 22:27 TOI overall! With a similar role on the top line at even-strength, Lehkonen looks to be a popular pick this coming week and heading down the final stretch of the season. Looking at a 7% iSH% and 5.7% tEVSH%, it would appear that more production could be on the horizon for the Avs forward. 

🎯 Quinton Byfield (C/LW), LAK

Rostered: 38% Yahoo (71% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (@BUF, @NJD, @BOS, @PIT) | Line: 1 (w/ Anze Kempe & Adrian Kempe, PP1) 

With 35 points and 14 goals in 46 games to date, it has truly been a breakout season for the 21-year old Quinton Byfield. The second overall selection from the 2020 entry draft, Byfield has 5 points (2 goals) in his last 4 games played, and is on-pace for 62 points over a full 82 game season. Top line, top power play and 4 games for the upcoming week make Byfield a very intriguing streaming option for week 18! 

🎯 Ondrej Palat (LW), NJD

Rostered: 2% Yahoo (13% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.SEA, @NSH, Vs.LAK, Vs.PHI) | Line: 1 (w/ Nico Hischier & Jesper Bratt, PP2) 

Ondrej Palat has 5 points (3 goals) in his last 4 games, and finds himself playing for n the top line with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt. Coupled with a four-game week, and Palat is certainly worth adding to your roster as a short-term streaming option. Particularly beneficial in bangers leagues, as the 32-year old is averaging 1.43 Hits/GM this season, and 7 hits over his last 4 contests. No concerns with underlying numbers. 

🎯 Juraj Slafkovsky (LW), MTL

Rostered: 8% Yahoo (48% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.ANA, @NYR, Vs.WSH) | Line: 1 (w/ Cole Caufield & Nick Suzuki, PP1) 

We just spoke about Juraj Slafkovsky on the Hacks Hangout this past Wednesday, but for those of you that may have missed it, don’t sleep on the first overall pick from 2022. 8 points (6 goals) in his last 9 games, playing big minutes on the top line and top power play unit for the Habs. As an added bonus, Slafkovsky is averaging 2 Hits/GM during his most recent 6 games. Should be some juicy matchups against Anaheim and Washington this week. 

🎯 Charlie Coyle (C), BOS

Rostered: 62% Yahoo (74% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.TB, Vs.SEA, Vs.LAK) | Line: 1 (w/ Brad Marchand & Jake DeBrusk, PP2) 

Nobody expected this level of production from Charlie Coyle this season – on-pace for 71 points this season; 15 points (4 goals) in his last 10 GP. Some tougher matchups this week, but big minutes next to Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk won’t hurt his fantasy production. A couple points to consider: this is just the e second season where Coyle has shot at or over 2 shots on goal per game; and his 17.5 iSH% is well above his career (11.2%) and 3-year averages (13.4%).

Defensemen

🎯 Samuel Girard (D), COL

Rostered: 13% Yahoo (39% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@WSH, @TB, Vs.ARI) | Pair: 2 (w/ Josh Manson, PP2) 

With 8 points and 2 goals in his last 10 games played, Samuel Girard has been productive of late, very similar to his partner, Josh Manson, who we mentioned last week. For BASH formats, Girard has additional appeal as he has averaged 1 Hit/GM and 2.7 Blocks/GM over that same recent stretch of 10 games. 

🎯 Simon Nemec (D), NJD

Rostered: 7% Yahoo (51% Fantrax) | GP: 4 (Vs.SEA, @NSH, Vs.LAK, Vs.PHI) | Pair: 1 (w/ Kevin Bahl, PP2) 

Simon Nemec is seeing top-pairing minutes for the New Jersey Devils and has the added benefit of playing four games in week 18. With 14 points (2 goals) in 29 games so far this season, Nemec is on-pace for a respectable 40 points. At 19 years of age, it’s incredible to see Nemec average 20:32 TOI; and despite seeing limited time on the power play, still contribute offensively with 6 points in his last 9 games. Added category coverage with 1.24 Hits/GM and 1.65 Blocks/GM so far this season. 

🎯 Alex Martinez (D), VGK

Rostered: 12% Yahoo (21% Fantrax) | GP: 2 (Vs.MIN, Vs.CAR) | Pair: 1 (w/ Alex Pietrangelo, PP1) 

Before Thursday’s contest against the Arizona Coyotes, Alex Martinez was seeing a healthy amount of time on the team’s top power play unit. Realistically though, any offensive production you receive from Martinez should be viewed as a bonus. For leagues that count blocked shots though, Martinez is an outrageous 3.43 Blocks/GM, reaching a season-high 8 blocked shots this past Thursday. 

Goaltenders

🎯 Jonathan Quick (G), NYR

Rostered: 44% Yahoo (48% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (Vs.CGY, Vs.MTL, @NYI) | Role: Tandem

Jonathan Quick is having a comeback season for the ages, at 38-years old! 3-1-0 with a 1.50 GAA and .945 SV% in his last 4 appearances; Quick has nearly a .920 SV% on the season, his best since 2017-2018! Quick has allowed 2 or fewer goals in his last 4 starts, while also starting in 3 of the Rangers past 4 contests. Igor Shesterkin managed to get past the Blackhawks on Friday night, but posted fairly pedestrian numbers (.903 SV%, 2.89 GAA) in a 4-3 OT win…

🎯 Mackenzie Blackwood (G), SJS

Rostered: 13% Yahoo (28% Fantrax) | GP: 3 (@WPG, @CGY, Vs.CBJ) | Role: Tandem

Mackenzie Blackwood is 3-0-1 in his last 4 appearances with a 1.46 GAA, .951 SV%, and 1 shutout! A boom or bust pick, Blackwood looks like a reasonable bet this week against a slumping Jets squad, mediocre Flames, and bottom-feeding Blue Jackets. One back-to-back ensures that the Sharks net minder will be limited to just two starts for the week.