What a strange schedule for Week 7. Thing are all good with plenty of games each night from Monday to Thursday, then Friday hits and there’s only two games before a 15-game Saturday – a strange one where the Maple Leafs don’t play – and then just one game on Sunday.
The big story in Week 7 is the rash of injuries piling up. This happens in the winter months, but I don’t recall another time where they’ve been so many in such a short period. Seth Jones was placed on IR on Saturday and will likely miss an extended period of time, Darnell Nurse was knocked off after a head shot from Ryan Reaves, Vitek Vanecek was hurt and replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood, and the entire Penguins team has come down with… something.
After a cramped Week 6 schedule that saw plenty of back-to-backs (and backup goalies in action), there are only seven back-to-backs in total in Week 7. Only three teams play four games and seven teams play just twice. If you’re looking more long term, note the Sharks are the only team to play eight games over the next two weeks, while the Leafs play just four (!) times.
(On the plus side, this gives Auston Matthews plenty of time to return without missing too many games because I think we’re all kind of tired of seeing Max Domi on the top line and doing nothing with all those minutes).
Because of the 15-game Saturday, your fantasy matchup will likely end on that day. A Leafs-Utah matchup awaits on Sunday, but for the most part both teams’ top players are already rostered. Get your ducks in order – coincidentally, the Ducks have a great schedule again with games on Monday and Friday – and make sure you get out to an early lead. It’ll be difficult to catch up if you fall behind too much, too early.
Schedule
Pick players from teams at the top of the schedule matrix to maximize games and matchups. Green is good. Red is bad. All advanced stats courtesy naturalstatrick.com. All positions and rostered percentages are courtesy of Yahoo Fantasy. Points percentages are as of Saturday.
Week 7
Jason Chen
Season-long adds
(< 50% rostered on Yahoo)
JJ Peterka, LW/RW, Sabres (45% rostered)
Peterka’s on a seven-game points streak and the Sabres play three games in four days from Wednesday to Saturday, including a back-to-back against the Ducks and Sharks. He’s an ideal pickup in Week 7 and hold onto him for the rest of the season.
Bryan Rust, RW, Penguins (42% rostered)
The Pens aren’t popular in fantasy right now, I get it, but Rust is a very fantasy asset. He’s scored just seven games in 13 points this season but he’s also a top-six fixture and averaging nearly three shots per game. The points will start rolling in soon.
Mid-term holds
(< 50% rostered on Yahoo)
Mason Marchment, LW, Stars (35% rostered)
Tyler Seguin, C/RW, Stars (30% rostered)
Marchment’s on an all-time heater with four goals and nine points in three games, and the Stars’ line of Marchment and Seguin flanking Matt Duchene has been their best line this season. With so many of their top plays struggling, this line has been their most reliable. On most nights, Seguin’s a top-tier streaming option with point-per-game potential; the only drawback is Seguin’s health, who’s not expected to play back-to-backs. The best part is the Stars face the Ducks and Sharks at home on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.
Dylan Cozens, C, Sabres (25% rostered)
Ryan McLeod, C, Sabres (1% rostered)
Cozens and McLeod are basically splitting duties in Tage Thompson’s asbence, with McLeod centering Peterka and Alex Tuch in Thompson’s usual spot, while Cozens’ minutes has increased overall. McLeod scored two points against the Flyers but my preference would still be Cozens; he’s getting power play minutes that McLeod is not – Peyton Krebs is on PP1 instead – and tends to put more shots on net.
Jonathan Drouin, LW, Avalanche (23% rostered)
It was not a good game for the Avs in general, but it’s worth noting Drouin played 19:49 in his first game since the season opener, and once again found himself on the same line as Nathan MacKinnon. This is where Drouin derives most of his fantasy value because he’s not very productive anywhere else in the lineup.
The Avs have split up MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, but I don’t think it’s a long-term thing. It’s still in their best interest to play MacKinnon and Rantanen together, and if Drouin is their left winger at both even strength and on the power play – Drouin’s currently on PP2 – Drouin’s fantasy value will see a massive increase. Otherwise, Drouin’s just a speculative hold.
Anthony Cirelli, C, Lightning (15% rostered)
Cirelli’s scored three points in his past two games. Shocking, I know, considering Cirelli’s never been a big point producer even in a top-six role. But he’s starting to score a bit more with his increased ice time in Brayden Point’s absence, centering the top line and PP1. With exposure to Nikita Kucherov, how can Cirelli not put up points, right? He’s played over 20 minutes in five straight games.
Alex Vlasic, D, Blackhawks (6% rostered)
Consider Vlasic a speculative hold with plenty of medium-term and long-term value. With Seth Jones expected to miss significant time, look for Vlasic to step in as their QB on PP1. I don’t think the offensive upside is particularly high, but playing that role will help, and Vlasic’s already up to a respectable seven assists in 18 games with a lot of blocked shots to go with it. In multi-category leagues, his fantasy value has seen the biggest jump among defensemen.
Justus Annunen, G, Avalanche (28% rostered)
Just when Annunen’s fantasy value was really fading with Alexandar Georgiev’s significantly improved play, Georgiev missed Friday’s game and was placed on IR on Sunday, ensuring he’ll be out for all of Week 7. The Avs have yet to call up a goalie (Trent Miner was the backup Friday against the Caps and was subsequently sent down) but they will have to do so by Monday with a road game in Philly. If Georgiev misses time, it’s obviously Annunen’s net.
Even though Jared Bednar was very critical about Annune’s poor play against the Caps, he’s still their best option in Georgiev’s absence.
David Rittich, G, Kings (17% rostered)
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With Darcy Kuemper placed on IR, it ensures Rittich will be the Kings’ starter Wednesday at home against the Sabres. Kuemper is eligible to return for Saturday’s game, and with only two games in Week 7, backup Erik Portillo is not expected to see any action. The good part about Rittich is the Kings’ stalwart defense, he needed to make 17 stops in Saturday’s 4-1 win against the Wings. Rittich’s supbar save percentage is offset by his respectable GAA and winning percentage.
Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Penguins (13% rostered)
I’m not quite sure how, but Tristan Jarry looked just as bad before his rehab assignment. The Pens nearly blew a 3-0 lead against the Sharks on Saturday, but escaped with a shootout win and it seems pretty obvious that Nedeljkovic should be their starter going forward. He’s a very matchup-dependent fantasy option.
Short-term streamers
(< 50% rostered on Yahoo)
Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Canucks (8% rostered)
Lekkerimaki scored a wicked first goal in his second NHL game, and there’s a lot to like about him as a streaming option. He’s playing on J.T. Miller’s right wing and replaced Pius Suter on PP1 in his first game, giving him quality minutes and exposure to top-tier players. His production will be sparse because he’s not the focal point of the offense and also because he’s a rookie, but in deep leagues, he’s the type of young player who could outperform expectations that you’d want to take a risk with.
Ryan Hartman, C/RW, Wild (6% rostered)
Depending on how long Joel Eriksson Ek is out for, Hartman should be a good multi-category contributor. Rather than seeing Marco Rossi’s ice time increase – John Hynes has been critical of his inconsistency this season – the Wild are using Matt Boldy as their top center (look for C eligibility soon, hopefully) with Rossi as their 3C and Hartman as their second-line right winger on a line with Freddy Gaudreau and top prospect Liam Ohgren.
Weird lines, right? I imagine Hynes will try different combos to see what works best – the Wild scored just once Saturday against the Stars – but the Wild have always favored moving Hartman up the lineup.
Jackson Blake, RW, Hurricanes (1% rostered)
Forget about Jack Roslovic; Blake is now the more intriguing player. I don’t think Blake is as fast or even as good a finisher as his dad, Jason, a 13-year NHL veteran who once scored 40 goals (and cashed in huge), but the younger Blake is certainly an offensive player.
Blake has one of the funniest stat lines ever with 17:57 TOI against Utah, of which 9:48 (!) was on the power play. He did the same thing again with 13:10 against the Sens, with 5:28 of it coming on the power play, and managed to score a PPG. Blake’s a power-play merchant of the highest order right now with fourth-line minutes at even strength but a PP1 role, but if he’s putting shots on net and scoring – it doesn’t matter.
John Gibson, G, Ducks (18% rostered)
It seems like the Ducks are intent on rotating Gibson and Lukas Dostal, who was excellent at the start of the season but lost a little steam. Gibson’s now 2-for-2 in his first two starts of the season, and while I normally would not recommend Gibson in any fantasy format, he is slated to start against the Hawks on Tuesday in the second half of the Ducks’ back-to-back.
Devon Levi, G, Sabres (12% rostered)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is not expected to be out for long, but after claiming James Reimer off waivers, there’s no need to rush him back. Levi has not been particularly good this season after a promising start to his career, but thus is the trajectory of a young goalie. The Sabres have a back-to-back on Nov. 23 and 24 against the Ducks and Sharks, respectively, and I’d target those starts.
Ivan Fedotov, G, Flyers (9% rostered)
We will learn more about Samuel Ersson’s injury soon, but Fedotov has leapfrogged Aleksei Kolosov as the Flyers’ top option. Fedotov struggled early in the season but has now rattled off three straight wins. I’m still not confident he’s a good streaming option, but there’s no denying he’s on a tear right now.
Spencer Martin, G, Hurricanes (6% rostered)
Martin was impressive in a 24-save shutout against the Sens and it’s unknown when Pyotr Kochetkov will return, but Martin should stick around long term since Frederik Andersen is out indefinitely. The Hurricanes are very good at puck possession and limiting their opponents’ shots by holding onto the puck a lot, which means Martin would be a good option if you’re looking for wins.
Yaroslav Askarov, G, Sharks (9% rostered)
A lot of you must be in deep keeper leagues because Askarov’s rostered in nearly 10 percent of Yahoo leagues even though he’s yet to play a minute. But, after requesting a trade from the Preds, this is the opportunity Askarov is waiting for; Vitek Vanecek left Saturday’s game against the Pens and Mackenzie Blackwood finished the game. If Vanecek misses additional time, Askarov’s going to get his call-up.
Honorable mention:
Stefan Noesen, LW/RW, Devils (44% rostered) – L3, PP1
Casey Mittelstadt, C, Avalanche (40% rostered) – L2, PP1
William Karlsson, C, Golden Knights (36% rostered) – L3, PP1
Josh Norris, C, Senators (29% rostered) – L2, PP1
Kirill Marchenko, RW, Blue Jackets (29% rostered) – L1, PP1
Sean Monahan, C, Blue Jackets (28% rostered) – L1, PP1
Fabian Zetterlund, LW/RW, Sharks (27% rostered) – L1, PP2
Anders Lee, LW, Islanders (20% rostered) – L1, PP1
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Capitals (19% rostered) – L2, PP2
Brayden Schenn, C/LW, Blues (18% rostered) – L1, PP1
Marcus Johansson, LW/RW, Wild (1% rostered) – L1, PP1
Georgi Merkulov, C, Bruins (0% rostered) – L3, PP2
Travis Sanheim, D, Flyers (43% rostered) – L1
Owen Power, D, Sabres (39% rostered) – L2, PP2
Bowen Byram, D, Sabres (33% rostered) – L1, PP2
Olen Zellweger, D, Ducks (5% rostered) – L2, PP1
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