Fantasy Hockey

2014 Fantasy Hockey: Week 9 Waiver Wire

Photo Credit:Frederick Breedon/Getty Images North America
Photo Credit:Frederick Breedon/Getty Images North America

 Week nine in fantasy hockey is starting, and some players are emerging as must-own players in many leagues. Finding players on the waiver wire is essential to winning a fantasy hockey, and for replacing injured players, either for the short-team or long run. Let’s take a look at which players you should be targeting on the waiver wire this week.

Alex Killorn | Tampa Bay Lightning | Yahoo! Ownership- 12%

 No one in the NHL is as hot as Alex Killorn right now. The former Harvard Crimson forward has 12 points (7G, 5A) in 16 games with a plus-4 rating and 30 shots on goal (SOG). Killorn has missed eight games this season due to an upper body injury, but is currently on a seven game point streak with two game-winning goals in the last three games. The 25-year-old is playing on the top line with Steven Stamkos and Ryan Callahan, and is seeing some time on the teams second powerplay unit. The third round pick in 2007 is on pace to break his point totals from last season—41 points in 82 games, but the question remains will he be able to stay healthy for the remainder of the year. As long as Killorn sticks with the top line, expect him to continue putting up points on a regular basis. He’s a must own right now and should be added where available.

Who I’d drop for him: P.A Parenteau (25%), Jonathan Huberdeu (33%), Tanner Pearson (32%)

Matt Moulson | Buffalo Sabres | Yahoo! Ownership- 36%

 Go ahead and call me crazy for having back-to-back weeks of Buffalo players you should add, but you’ll thank me later. Moulson is probably in every fantasy owner’s doghouse, especially owners who were expecting him to produce on a nightly basis, but he may be turning the corner in December. The 31-year-old has had a terrible start to his season—registering 11 points (4G, 7A) in 24 games with a mius-6 rating and 50 SOG. The ninth round pick in 2003 is on pace for 36 points this year, far below what anyone expected, but the Buffalo Sabres have gotten much better over the last month, including Moulson, and he can definitely provided fantasy value from now till the end of the year.

Here’s a look at Moulson’s stats between October and November

October November
Games Played 11 13
Goals 0 4
Assists 2 5
Points 2 9
Plus/Minus -6 +0
Time On Ice/Game 17:07 16:39

Moulson has had a much better month and it wouldn’t be surprising to see it continue in December. The North York, Ontario native is playing on the top line with Zemgus Girgensons and Tyler Ennis—Buffalo best line right now, and if the Sabres continue to improve their team game, expect Moulson to improve his point totals in December as well.

Who I’d drop for him: Joffery Lupul (53%), Jonathan Drouin (49%), Paul Stastny (61%)

Nino Niederreiter | Minnesota Wild | Yahho! Ownership- 24%

Not all fantasy owners will agree with this, but Niederreiter is going lead the Wild in goals this season. At first, it looked like he was going to be just a hot start candidate, but it hasn’t been the case. The Swiss born winger has 14 points (11G, 3A) in 23 games with a minus-2 rating and 52 SOG. The fifth overall pick in 2010 is seventh in NHL scoring, has four powerplay points, and two GWG. The 22-year-old is on pace to score 39 goals, and although that may be hard to believe, it’s a legitimate possibility. What’s even more shocking is Niederreiter is playing on the third line with Thomas Vanek and Kyle Brodziak and is averaging less than 12 minutes of icetime a game. That will change as the season goes on, and so will his production. Right now, fantasy owners need to add him and wait for the Wild to figure out that their next superstar is ready to play with the big boy.

Who I’d drop for him: Everyone I mentioned above, Dustine Brown (40%), Steve Downie (36%), Loui Eriksson (59%).

Players to Watch:

It’s still early in the season, but these players should be on the rise/decline in the next few weeks

Trending up:

 Jiri Hudler | Calgary Flames | Yahoo! Ownership- 48%

 Tyler Ennis | Buffalo Sabres | Yahoo! Ownership- 10%

 Nick Bonino | Vancouver Canucks | Yahoo! Ownership- 44%

 Tending Down

 Marian Gaborik | Los Angeles Kings | Yahoo! Ownership- 80%

 Dustin Byfuglien | Winnipeg Jets| Yahoo! Ownership- 92%

 David Backes | St. Louis Blues | Yahoo! Ownership- 92%

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