The Fantasy Hockey season is starting to ramp up and so are the injuries. Some players are going to be out for an extended period, but that opens the door for others to step up and seize their chance. There are a couple of players on the waiver wire that should be on your roster moving forward. Let’s look at those names and continue building momentum throughout the week. 

 

 


 

Fantasy Hockey Week 4 Injury Report
Connor McDavid - Edmonton Oilers - Ankle

When the best player in the NHL goes down to injury, it’s impossible to replace him. Connor McDavid is expected to miss two-to-three weeks due to an ankle injury. He suffered the injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets early in the first period and didn’t return. He went back to Edmonton for more testing, where it was revealed that he suffered an ankle injury. It doesn’t sound like the injury is serious, but it’s still a tough blow for the Oilers and for fantasy owners. All we can do is wait for another update and hope he can return sooner rather than later.

Matthew Barzal - New York Islanders - Upper-body

Already without the services of Anthony Duclair, the New York Islanders announced that Matthew Barzal will be out of the lineup for four-to-six weeks due to an upper-body injury. The Islanders are extremely thin offensively, so the timing of this injury really stings. There isn't much to do here but wait it out and hope he can return closer to four weeks. If you’re looking for who might take his place on the top line, don’t. There are so many better options on the waiver wire.

Jakob Chychrun - Washington Capitals - Upper-body

The Washington Capitals have placed Jakob Chychrun on IR with an upper-body injury and he is expected to miss a few games. He’s already missed the last two and there are no signs that he is close to making a return. The veteran defenceman has four points in eight games this season, but he’s a big part of the Capitals' blueline and a reason for their early success. If you can stash him on your bench or injury reserve, do so.

Frederik Andersen - Carolina Hurricanes - Lower-body

There are three things you can count on in life; death, taxes and Frederik Andersen getting hurt. To the shock of absolutely no one, Andersen is expected to miss a couple of weeks due to a lower-body injury. The team hasn’t told anyone when he might have suffered the injury or how long he is expected to be out; they just call it week-to-week. If you drafted him in fantasy hockey, you knew this was going to happen. You probably planned accordingly, so go with whatever that plan was and wait for another update.

 

 


 

Fantasy Hockey Week 4 Waiver Wire

Connor McMichael - Washington Capitals - Yahoo!: 36% owned

It’s taken Connor McMichael a few seasons to find his footing in the NHL, but he might be starting to turn the corner. The 23-year-old has scored four goals in the last three games and has racked up 19(!) shots on goal. The shot volume isn’t sustainable, but it’s encouraging to see him wanting to shoot the puck that often. He also has duo-position eligibility, so he can fit anywhere in your lineup. He’s a great pickup heading into the week.

Alex Laferriere - Los Angeles Kings - Yahoo!: 25% owned

Sticking with kids who are scoring goals, Alex Laferriere also has four goals in the last three games and is skating on the top power play unit. His ice time is still under 15 minutes most nights, but the surge in goals may start to force his coach to play him more. It’s unclear yet if he can be trusted to produce at this pace for the entire season, but for right now, fantasy teams that need a boost in scoring should be adding him.

Mario Ferraro - San Jose Sharks - Yahoo!: 3% owned

I know this isn’t a sexy recommendation, but you win fantasy hockey championships with these kinds of players. If you’re in a category league, you need players that are not just one-dimensional. Hits and Blocked Shots are not categories that elite players will contribute to, so you need to find players to can do both at a high level. Mario Ferraro isn’t going to rack up a ton of points, but he gets in front of shots and likes to throw his weight around. He can also pick up the occasional shot here and there. In short; he can help your fantasy hockey team and won't cost you much. He doesn’t have to be in your lineup every time he’s in action, but he’s going to fill two categories consistently and that’s a positive.

Joonas Korpisalo - Boston Bruins - Yahoo!: 14% owned 

Don’t look now but Joonas Korpisalo may be fantasy-relevant. The veteran net-minder posted a 3-0 shutout in his last start and has a .923 SV% in his last four games. He got off to a very rocky start, but he seems to be settling in. Jeremy Swayman is still trying to find his game, so that could lead to Korpisalo seeing more starts in the short term. He’s not going to keep playing this well, but right now, he’s worth adding in deeper formats and starting him in favorable matchups.