2018 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report: March 1
Published: Mar 01, 2018
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. Paul Stastny, C, Jets
Christmas arrived in late February for veteran center Stastny, who might be available in shallow year-to-year or keeper leagues right now. While everybody is currently talking about Islanders captain John Tavares and his pending UFA status on July 1, the 32-year-old Stastny might be the second-best center primed to hit the market this summer. To that end, Winnipeg should help his situation on a line between Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers.
2. Evander Kane, LW, Sharks
Like Stastny, Kane should be extremely happy with how the trade deadline shook down in the end. The 26-year-old pending UFA seems like a natural fit in San Jose. He should continue to produce quality numbers down the stretch and should seriously consider staying with the Sharks beyond 2017-18. His keeper value would rise as a Shark. For now, Kane might not be available in a ton of leagues but pick him up immediately if (somehow) he is.
3. Ryan Spooner, W/C, Rangers
Another player who was traded at the deadline, Spooner was part of the package New York obtained from Boston in the Rick Nash deal. Not only is Spooner a true fantasy sleeper heading into 2018-19, he might out-produce Nash down the stretch. In his first two games as a Ranger, the 26-year-old playmaker produced five assists against Detroit and Vancouver. Is this a sign of things to come? Pick him up, and then find out first-hand.
4. Mike Cammalleri, LW/RW, Oilers
Somewhat surprisingly, the 35-year-old Cammalleri was NOT traded before the deadline earlier this week. Perhaps the Oilers did not receive any offers of substance in exchange, so Edmonton will play out the string with a veteran who is red-hot (last 3 GP, 0-5-5). A true sniper in his younger days, Cammalleri has turned into a playmaker this season (he has 22 assists, but only 5 goals, in 55 games). He may have one more season in him.
5. Evan Rodrigues, C/W, Sabres
Unfortunately, a hand injury interrupted the start of his regular season. In fact, it cost Rodrigues 19 games. However, he has only missed two games since and has started to establish himself as a full-fledged NHLer with the Sabres. With three points in his last two games, the 24-year-old forward is doing his best to fill in for the injured Jack Eichel (his former teammate at Boston University) at center. Rodrigues is a true sleeper for '18-19.
6. Craig Smith, RW, Predators
Incredibly, Smith is now in his seventh season in Nashville. This is a bit stunning because the 28-year-old winger has seemingly been the subject of trade rumors for several years now. However, the latest trade deadline has come and gone and the Madison, Wisconsin native (selected 98th in the 2009 NHL Draft) is still with the Predators. With three points in his last two games, Smith is now on pace to challenge his career-best numbers.
7. Matt Niskanen, D, Capitals
At times, Niskanen sees time on Washington's second power-play unit. However, sometimes franchise winger Alex Ovechkin stays out for the full two minutes. Therefore, Niskanen is not an ideal fantasy defenseman at this time. However, he can still help certain fantasy owners (and he rarely hurts you). Furthermore, Niskanen's status in D.C. could grow between now and the start of 2018-19 (since John Carlson can become a UFA on July 1).
8. Neal Pionk, D, Rangers
Fantasy leaguers searching for some help on defense could take a serious look at the Rangers rookie rearguard. Pionk, who was recalled to the National Hockey League for the first time on February 8, has seen Brendan Smith assigned to the AHL, captain Ryan McDonagh traded to Tampa Bay and Steven Kampfer placed on Injured Reserve. The 22-year-old is not only a keeper-league pickup at this time, but Pionk is worthy in most leagues.
9. Matthew Highmore, LW, Blackhawks
He was just recalled by Chicago for the first time in his career, so he might have a few nerves in his stomach for the first few games. However, Highmore might be given a legitimate opportunity with the Blackhawks for the rest of 2017-18. At the time of his recall, the 22-year-old was leading the Rockford IceHogs in both goals and points in his first professional campaign. He spent the previous five seasons with the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL).
10. Andreas Johnsson, LW, Maple Leafs
Keeper league alert! The Swedish winger is on fire down on the farm and is now tied for second in AHL scoring with 51 points in 50 games for the Toronto Marlies. The Maple Leafs may not need his services at all in 2017-18 but, with forwards James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Leo Komarov all scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, Johnsson might be an internal replacement ready to take over in 2018-19. Grab him!
Player News
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. thinks that if Jermaine Burton “can straighten out and shift from headache to reliable, there are roles available.”
The Bengals exited the draft without adding receiver help, and Andrei Iosivas was more reliable than spectacular in his second season. Dehner Jr. notes that Burton went through “two evictions, trouble with the law, missed meetings, missed practices, being left off a road trip and healthy scratches” and said Burton is “lucky to even have this opportunity.” The 2024 third-rounder was seen in the building all week during draft weekend and this is likely a make-or-break year for him. He’s not a must-hold in dynasty at this point, but he retains upside.
Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore believes Jack Bech is “a strong candidate to be an immediate starter” for the Raiders.
Often compared to Puka Nacua in the draft process, Bech probably will start out behind Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers in the pecking order for the Raiders. But being an instant starter in a room with no long-term fixtures could make him an interesting best ball dart throw, especially with the quarterback upgrade the Raiders added in Geno Smith. We would not be surprised if Bech were in the fantasy WR3/FLEX conversation towards the back half of the season.
Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander does not project John Metchie III to make the Texans 53-man roster in 2025.
After Houston added Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel in the draft, the wideout depth chart is getting a little crowded. Alexander had the Texans keep six receivers, and Metchie is projected to be squaring off with Xavier Hutchinson, Braxton Berrios, and Justin Watson for the final two jobs behind Higgins, Noel, Nico Collins, and Christian Kirk. Metchie may be a trade candidate at the roster cutdown entering the final year of his rookie contract. He’s still only 25, but has cracked 50 yards just once in a game in his career.
Chiefs exercised their fifth-year option on EDGE George Karlaftis.
Karlaftis will receive a $15.1 million salary for 2026, indicating that he is a core piece for the Chiefs and someone who they may have extension talks with as the season draws near. Karlaftis has 18.5 sacks in 32 games over the past two seasons. We’d classify him as more good than great, as he posted a career-high 69.8 PFF grade in 2024, but he clearly wins enough to be part of the reason the Chiefs defense is stout.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports the Packers and CB Jaire Alexander “continue to talk about a possible resolution” to Alexander’s contract dispute.
“All options are still on the table: release, trade or return,” Demovsky added. The oft-injured Alexander, 28, has reached a stalemate with the Packers front office, which has reportedly tried to trade the veteran corner this offseason. The Packers would save $6.8 million in cap space by parting ways with Alexander, graded last year by PFF as the NFL’s eighth best cover corner. It appears he could stay in Green Bay after all.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Chiefs will pick up CB Trent McDuffie’s fifth-year option.
The move will cost the Chiefs $13.6 million in 2025. It’s a no-brainer considering McDuffie has been among the league’s most reliable corners for the past few years. Pro Football Focus in 2024 graded McDuffie as the NFL’s fifth best cover corner as he had two interceptions and 13 passes defended for the solid Kansas City secondary.