With Week 7 seven matchups wrapping up tomorrow, it’s time to start looking ahead to Week 8. Optimizing your lineup by streaming players is a great way to give you the upper hand in your matchup. Based on the NHL schedule for the upcoming Week 8 slate from November 25 to December 1, here’s who is worth a look on the waiver wire.
The NHL schedule
Week 8 is an absolutely packed schedule for the NHL thanks to American Thanksgiving. A total of 24 teams play four times next week, with just two teams in the Oilers and Maple Leafs playing twice. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday all have at least 20 teams in action. Needless to say, it’s going to be a wild week with plenty of opportunities for streamers.
Here’s who to keep an eye on to make moves on fantasy rosters.
Anthony Cirelli, C – Tampa Bay Lightning
Centre Anthony Cirelli has recently been riding shotgun with Nikita Kucherov on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s top line, a spot that instantly makes any centre worth a look in fantasy. He’s taken full advantage of the opportunity as well. Across his last six games, Cirelli has piled up goals in four straight, added three assists, 11 shots, and seven blocks. He’s also averaging nearly 22 minutes a game and skating on the team’s second power play unit.
With the Lightning set to play four times next week Cirelli is a must add right now while he’s still available and playing with Kucherov. He’s already seen his ownership in Yahoo! leagues jump to 29% in the past few days. Get him while you can.
Johnathan Quick, G – New York Rangers
Veteran Johnathan Quick has found a second wind in his career playing behind superstar Igor Shesterkin. While he may not play a ton, he’s taken full advantage of whatever starts he can get. Quick has posted back-to-back shutouts in his last two starts, racking up 61 saves. On the season he’s started four games and won all four, allowing just three goals across the four starts.
He’s the perfect streaming target between the pipes right now playing behind one of the league’s best teams and posting some elite results. At 4–0 with a .970 save percentage and 0.91 GAA, Quick is a must-start anytime he gets in the net. With the Rangers set to play four times next week including a back-to-back against the lowly Flyers and Canadiens, he’s guaranteed to get at least one game against an easy opponent and is worth a pickup if you need some more starts.
Tyler Seguin, C/W – Dallas Stars
It’s been a weird season in Dallas. While first-liners Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Wyatt Johnston have been massive letdowns, veteran Tyler Seguin has turned back the clock and is once again a point-per-game player and is currently one of the most valuable fantasy forwards in Dallas.
Through 14 games so far this season Tyler Seguin currently sits with seven goals and 15 points along with 33 shots, good for third on the Stars in scoring, and second for points per game. Whether or not he can maintain this point-per-game pace is up for debate, but for now, Seguin is producing big numbers and has five points in his last five games, as well as 16 shots for an average of over three shots a game. If you need help from a multi-position forward, Seguin is worth a look.
Kiefer Sherwood, W – Vancouver Canucks
Kiefer Sherwood is quite literally hitting everything that moves right now. He’s on an insane run at the moment when it comes to producing hits and shots. He’s a category beast and is still just 35% owned in Yahoo! leagues. Across the last week, Sherwood has totalled two goals, three points, 14 shots and a ridiculous 28 hits. That’s not a typo, he’s currently averaging seven hits a game.
He’s a hitting machine who can single-handedly win you the hits category in a categories league and is now also racking up shots and putting the puck in the net too. With four games next week, expecting 25+ hits is not a stretch. Even better is the fact the Canucks play on two off nights during a busy week.
Thanksgiving fantasy frenzy
While NHL teams use American Thanksgiving as a litmus test of their playoff aspirations, the fantasy implications are just as big. Making the right play on the right players can pay off in big ways this week and beyond.
