Friday this week is the NHL trade deadline. Things have started to move with several deals going down over the past few days, and more surely to happen in what should be an action-packed week.
Schedules this week are fairly loaded as well, with 11 teams playing four games, and just four playing two games. As teams start to separate themselves in the standings, players are doing the same thing on the scoresheets. We take a look at five selections fantasy hockey this coming week based on the latest NHL picks.
Matias Maccelli – ARI – LW – 8% Rostered
Arizona Coyotes winger Matias Maccelli has built on his solid first two seasons in the NHL, and is on pace to set career highs across the board. He’s pacing for 15 goals and 59 points, and is surging as of late. Maccelli has put up nine points in his last seven games, has eclipsed 20 minutes in three straight games, and is looking incredibly confident and strong with the puck. He’s also chipped in with three power play points, 12 shots on goal, and five hits over this period.
Though he’s currently skating on the second line with Lawson Crouse and Nick Bjugstad, he’s on the Coyotes’ first power play unit with exposure to Clayton Keller (when he returns from injury), Sean Durzi, and fellow youngster Dylan Guenther.
The Coyotes have the most favourable schedule out of any team next week. They play four games, and will face the Chicago Blackhawks twice, Minnesota Wild, and Detroit Red Wings.
Bobby McMann – TOR – C – 10% Rostered
The Toronto Maple Leafs rookie nobody expected to be talking about this season, Bobby McMann is having a solid year. Though he’s gone three games without registering a point, he put up 10 points in six games prior to that, and has found a nice spot in the lineup next to captain John Tavares, and versatile winger Calle Jarnkrok. He’s also earned time on the Leafs’ second power play unit with Tavares.
Even without putting points on the board the past few contests, McMann has put up 28 shots, 24 hits, and eight blocks in his last nine games. He’s averaging 3.1 shots, 2.7 hits, and 0.9 blocks every single night, so he’s providing value even when he isn’t scoring. The Maple Leafs are one of the best offensive teams in the NHL, and it’s hard to get exposure to their top guns. McMann provides a nice secondary option on this team.
The Leafs also have a fantastic schedule next week. They play four games, facing the Boston Bruins twice, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens.
Tyler Bertuzzi – TOR – LW – 23% Rostered
One more Leafs forward on our list. Tyler Bertuzzi has finally caught some fire after struggling mightily to factor in on the score sheet. The winger has put up five goals and six points in his last four games, after scoring just one goal in his previous 24 games. He’s also added 15 shots, two hits, and six blocks over this period.
Bertuzzi is playing on the Leaf’s second line with Max Domi and William Nylander, very prime deployment at 5v5, and is also on the top power play unit with exposure to Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Morgan Rielly.
This season, Bertuzzi is averaging 2.0 shots, 1.1 hits, and 0.6 blocks per games, and is on pace for 17 goals. Adding Bertuzzi would provide excellent exposure to the Leafs’ top guns, something difficult to come by this late into the season.
Sam Bennett – FLA – C – 31% Rostered
The Florida Panthers are absolutely rolling right now, and most of their offensive guns are not obtainable in fantasy hockey at this point. However, Sam Bennett provides a solid option to get onto the Panthers’ bandwagon. Over his past six games, Bennett has six points including three goals, one of which came on the power play. He’s a streaky player as four of those points came in just one game, but Bennett is a stat stuffer who provides value every single night.
Over this six game period, he’s put up 27 shots, 18 hits, and five blocks. On the season, he averages 2.5 shots, 2.3 hits, and 0.6 blocks every single night. Bennett is also getting solid deployment centering Matthew Tkachuk, and is on the second power play unit.
The Panthers also have a favourable schedule next week with four games. They’ll face the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, and Calgary Flames. Their game against the Flames comes the day after the trade deadline, when the Flames could be truly decimated as they rebuild/retool their roster.
Gustav Nyquist – NSH – RW – 35% Rostered
He may be 34 years old now, but Nashville Predators winger Gustav Nyquist is having a phenomenal season, and is currently riding a nice hot streak. With 16 goals and 51 points in 61 games, and pacing for the best offensive season of his career with 69 points, it’s surprising that Nyquist is only 35% rostered. Over the past 11 games, Nyquist has put up four goals, 14 points, three power play points, 14 shots, four hits, and seven blocks.
Nyquist is getting the best possible deployment, too. He’s on the Predators’ top line alongside Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly, first power play with exposure to the hottest defenseman in the NHL in Roman Josi, and the Predators are riding a seven-game winning streak. Nyquist is a hot commodity right now.
The Predators have a good schedule next week as well, playing four games against the Canadiens, Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Wild.
A crazy week
This week is bound to be one of the craziest in the NHL calendar. Lots of player movement is sure to take place, but these five players are almost guaranteed to play in their regular spots in the line up, keep their strong deployment, and feast on the opponents of their favourable schedules.
