This article is part of our NHL Waiver Wire series.
Welcome back to another season of Waiver Wire.
This column will continue to cover the top available players while trying to avoid repeats unless necessary or later in the season when they can't be avoided. A couple "special" editions will appear over the next six months, but the standard weekly format will consist of forwards, defensemen and goalies with a concluding compilation of past mentions who still qualify.
To prepare you for Opening Night on Oct. 2 (happy birthday to me!), you'll find a list below of some NHLers who are surprisingly under-owned as we head into the final week of drafts. But first, here are some tips to help you succeed on the waiver front. Some of the ideas may look straightforward but they definitely require repetition. And because you'll probably forget these points right after reading this, I'll reinforce them throughout the season:
Check the News
If you want to do well, then you've got to stay on top of all the latest hockey happenings. Whether it's a trade, a personnel change, or a major injury, keeping current is key.
Check the Wire
After the news has been announced, head straight to the waiver wire to confirm availability. Compare with others to find the best candidate.
Check the Roster
Got anyone on your team worth dropping? Will the player you want to pick up be an improvement? If the answer to both is yes, then make the move before others beat you to it.
Manage the Roster
Besides
Welcome back to another season of Waiver Wire.
This column will continue to cover the top available players while trying to avoid repeats unless necessary or later in the season when they can't be avoided. A couple "special" editions will appear over the next six months, but the standard weekly format will consist of forwards, defensemen and goalies with a concluding compilation of past mentions who still qualify.
To prepare you for Opening Night on Oct. 2 (happy birthday to me!), you'll find a list below of some NHLers who are surprisingly under-owned as we head into the final week of drafts. But first, here are some tips to help you succeed on the waiver front. Some of the ideas may look straightforward but they definitely require repetition. And because you'll probably forget these points right after reading this, I'll reinforce them throughout the season:
Check the News
If you want to do well, then you've got to stay on top of all the latest hockey happenings. Whether it's a trade, a personnel change, or a major injury, keeping current is key.
Check the Wire
After the news has been announced, head straight to the waiver wire to confirm availability. Compare with others to find the best candidate.
Check the Roster
Got anyone on your team worth dropping? Will the player you want to pick up be an improvement? If the answer to both is yes, then make the move before others beat you to it.
Manage the Roster
Besides underperforming players, be sure to keep tabs on those who are injured. Depending on how many IR slots your league allows, you may have to let one of the wounded warriors go. Or if all of them are too valuable to lose, someone off your active bench could end up going.
Manage the Positions
Keep position eligibility in mind when evaluating free agents. You may have to choose secondary options, but make sure not to sacrifice too much quality.
The first official puck drop may be six days away, but here are a few players who should appear on more fantasy teams:
FORWARD
Nazem Kadri, COL (Yahoo: 58%, ESPN: 40%): Lost in Toronto as the third center, Kadri joins Colorado as the No. 2 pivot and a chance to recapture his 60-plus point days.
Jake DeBrusk, BOS (Yahoo: 56%, ESPN: 53%): Anyone who took the next step last playoffs and plays up front on the Bruins' premier power play should not be available in roughly half of leagues.
Nico Hischier, NJ (Yahoo: 46%, ESPN: 83%): The 2017 first overall selection is primed for a solid season after the Devils significantly improved.
Paul Stastny, VGK (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 55%): Centering Mark Stone and Max Pacioretty has its advantages.
Tyler Bertuzzi, DET (Yahoo: 35%, ESPN: 52%): Bertuzzi's mix of touch and toughness makes him a good bet to climb the fantasy rankings.
Travis Konecny, PHI (Yahoo: 27%, ESPN: 54%): A regular part of a trio alongside Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier with the skills to become a consistent producer.
Ondrej Kase, ANH (Yahoo: 17%, ESPN: 12%): A popular pick to break out, just needs to stay healthy.
Ryan Donato, MIN (Yahoo: 13%, ESPN: 5%): Should continue the momentum after registering 16 points in 22 appearances following the move from Boston.
Derek Stepan, ARI (Yahoo: 11%, ESPN: 58%): Approaching 30, but dependable and boosted by the arrival of Phil Kessel.
Colin White, OTT (Yahoo: 10%, ESPN: 6%): The plus-minus will probably end up looking terrible, but the point potential and top-line status are tough to ignore.
DEFENSEMEN
Jake Gardiner, CAR (Yahoo: 39%, ESPN: 55%): Already slotted as the top power-play D-man and should receive added opportunities as a result of the Justin Faulk trade.
Samuel Girard, COL (Yahoo: 29%, ESPN: 16%): May not be as flashy as Cale Makar, but offensively trending up and still only 21.
Filip Hronek, DET (Yahoo: 28%, ESPN: 3%): Mike Green may start as Detroit's top-billed blueliner, but Hronek should assume that title by the New Year.
Cam Fowler, ANH (Yahoo: 12%, ESPN: 4%): He's struggled with injuries in recent years, but scores significantly more than any other Ducks' defender.
Nate Schmidt, VGK (Yahoo: 8%, ESPN: 27%): Eight percent ownership for 30 points in 61 games amongst a formidable attacking unit just seems way too low.
GOALIE
MacKenzie Blackwood, NJ (Yahoo: 48%, ESPN: 7%): Impressed in his NHL debut and should eventually unseat veteran Cory Schneider as Jersey's No. 1.
Joonas Korpisalo, CLS (Yahoo: 32%, ESPN: 7%): Elvis Merzlikins comes in as a highly touted backup, but Blue Jackets' brass must trust Korpisalo enough if they decided not to lure a bigger name during the offseason.
Carter Hutton, BUF (Yahoo: 23%, ESPN: 7%): Bound to bounce back after a poor initial showing and with the Sabres bolstering their blueline.
