2017 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report: November 2
Published: Nov 02, 2017
Each week of the National Hockey League regular season, we will take a look at some of the most interesting names that may appear on the waiver wire in various fantasy leagues. It may be NHL players whose situation has improved because of injury, minor-league players recently recalled (or on the verge of a recall) or off to fast starts in the AHL. Here is this week's batch:
1. Josh Bailey, RW, Islanders
After starting the regular season on the second line, Bailey was recently promoted back onto John Tavares' right wing. That has really boosted Bailey's production, as he has points in his last seven games (7 GP, 2-10-12). With Bailey back up to Line 1 with Tavares and left-winger Anders Lee, Jordan Eberle has been demoted to the second unit. Will this configuration last? Maybe. Bailey's production depends largely on playing with Tavares.
2. Pavel Buchnevich, RW/LW, Rangers
In most keeper leagues, Buchnevich is unavailable via waivers or free agency. However, the talented sniper should be available for selection in many year-to-year, re-draft leagues. With five points in his last three games, the Russian winger now boasts 10 points in his first 13 games of 2017-18. While veteran coach Alain Vigneault has been slow to utilize Buchnevich above Line 4, Vigneault seems to be warming to the idea these days.
3. Shea Theodore, D, Golden Knights
Quick! Pick Theodore up if still available in fantasy leagues. The only reason why he began the regular season in the AHL was because of the logjam of veteran D-men in Vegas. Since Theodore did not require waivers to be sent down, he was demoted temporarily. Now, he is back and should quickly become a mainstay along the Vegas blueline. In fact, the former Duck could finish the regular season as the Golden Knights' PP QB.
4. Tim Heed, D, Sharks
While Heed is seeing third-pairing minutes along the Sharks blueline, the Swedish rearguard was recently inserted onto San Jose's top power-play unit (with Brent Burns, Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski). That could lead to significant fantasy value if he is able to stick with the big boys with the man advantage. The 26-year-old Heed is in his first NHL campaign, having spent most of the 2016-17 season in the AHL.
5. Kyle Connor, LW, Jets
The injury to Mathieu Perreault opened the door for Connor to return to the National Hockey League. He has taken full advantage with five points in six games while playing on Line 1 with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. What will happen when vet Perreault returns to the Winnipeg lineup? Jets coach Paul Maurice usually sides with veterans over younger players, but even he may not be able to ignore Connor's current contributions.
6. Mathew Barzal, C, Islanders
It may still be early in the '17-18 NHL campaign but Barzal appears to have already won the No. 2 center job with the Islanders. Brock Nelson was recently moved from center to wing, while Anthony Beauvillier now centers the third line. Casey Cizikas is the team's valuable No. 4 center. Barzal, the 16th overall selection in the 2015 draft, seems to be the perfect complement to franchise player John Tavares. His production is on the rise.
7. Tristan Jarry, G, Penguins
Someone (anyone!) needs to take the bull by the horns and solidify the backup goaltending position in Pittsburgh. It could be Jarry, who is a solid future prospect who put up solid numbers at Wilkes-Barre Scranton last season. The 22-year-old was recently recalled to serve as Matt Murray's understudy in Casey DeSmith's place(he heads back to the AHL after a good start to the minor-league campaign. Keep an eye on this situation.
8. Phillip Danault, C/LW, Canadiens
Whomever centers the Max Pacioretty line in Montreal usually sees the most ice time. Lately that honor has gone to Danault, who has responded with five points in his last two contests. Danault is now on pace for a 55-point campaign, which is 15 points higher than his career mark (set last season with 40 points in 82 games). As long as he is playing the most minutes at center for the Canadiens, Danault will have some fantasy value.
9. Maxime Lagace, G, Golden Knights
Incredibly, the Golden Knights are already down to their FOURTH-string netminder in Lagace, after losing Marc-Andre Fleury, Malcolm Subban and Oscar Dansk to injury before the first month of the regular schedule ended. Lagace, a 24-year-old rookie, will continue to see the bulk of the action until somebody else gets healthy.
10. Andrew Mangiapane, LW, Flames
In Italian, the term “mangia pane” means to “eat bread”. The young scoring forward may soon be making a lot of bread (as in money) if he continues to score virtually at will in the American Hockey League (9 GP, 5-10-15 with the Stockton Heat). He lacks size (5-10, 184 pounds) at a position (left wing) that also boasts the diminutive Johnny Gaudreau in Calgary, but Mangiapane may be needed if the Flames continue to struggle to score.