Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report. The only way to win a championship in any fantasy league is to be active on the waiver wire. If you aren’t checking the wire at least once a week, then you’re doing it wrong. Each week, we’ll look at some players you should be adding to your watch list, or adding right away. Let’s take a look at who we are keeping an eye on for this week.

 


Phillip Danualt - Los Angeles Kings - Center

We don’t really think of Phillip Danault as a great offensive player, but he’s pretty good in his second line role this season and has scored four goals in the last five games. He’s playing with some talented players so that obviously has something to do with his recent success. Los Angeles needs him and Anze Kopitar to be on their game if they want to keep pace in the Pacific Division and Danault could be a force in the second half of the season.


Michael Amadio - Vegas Golden Knights - Winger

Since being promoted to the top line, Michael Amadio has exploded with four goals and three assists in just five games. It certainly helps to play with Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone, but what that line has been able to do over the last five games is truly remarkable. Amadio is going to slow down at some point, but for now, he could certainly help a fantasy team desperate for some offence. 


Alexander Barabanov - San Jose Sharks - Winger

We don’t think of a lot of San Jose forwards as fantasy options outside of Timo Meier, Tomas Hertl and maybe Logan Couture, but Alexander Barabanov has slowly entered the conversation. He’s not on the same level as the other three just yet, but he’s been pretty decent this season and is playing on the top line. The best part; he’s playing a lot of hockey. Barabanov has played over 20 minutes in the last four games, which has resulted in him scoring two goals in that span. He’s not going to tear up the league, but considering the amount of playing time he’s getting and who he gets to play with, things can only be positive. 


Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen - Buffalo Sabres - Goalie

The Buffalo Sabres have been a fun team to watch this season, but they still need to find a solution to their goaltending issues. Craig Anderson is an aging veteran who can serve as a good back up and Eric Comrie is on IR and hasn’t played in forever. In comes Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who has won his last four starts while also sporting a .935 SV% in that span. The Sabres are giving up way too many shots on goal, but UPL has been up to the task. If he can lock down the starting job, he could be a great goalie pick up for a fantasy team in the second half of the season.


Adam Larsson - Seattle Kraken - Defence

I have no idea what Adam Larsson has been eating of late, but it has turned him into an offensive threat. The veteran stay-at-home defenceman has six points in the last six games and has been able to shoot the puck a good amount while also racking up blocked shots. In a category league, Larsson is doing everything you want from a player. He’s not going to maintain this pace in the second half of the season, but it would be foolish to look over him right now, especially if you’re in need of a defenceman. 

 



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