The Wire Troll: In Search of Penalty Minutes
Kevin Rooney has managed to stay healthy this season. (AP/Bruce Bennett)
Welcome back to another week of Fantasy hockey. We’re now into mid-November and nearing the one-fifth mark of the season, so keep your foot on the pedal and employ the wire! In this week’s column, we dig deep to offer some category assistance and a couple of players taking advantage of opportunities.
This week, the Senators continued to be besieged by a Covid-19 outbreak (see below for the opportunity this has presented); Pittsburgh is starting to play better despite how short-handed the team is; and the Blackhawks have lost forward Brandon Hagel (shoulder) for two weeks.
And now, let’s get to this week’s…
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Picks
Kevin Rooney, C, New York Rangers (ESPN: 0.2 per cent; CBS: unowned): For those of you that need help in penalty minutes in very deep formats, Rooney could fit the bill. He’s recorded minors in each of the last two games (see video below for an example), and last season had a career high 54 PM in 54 games. Rooney has also pitched in on the scoresheet, potting three goals to date, after managing just eight all of last season. He’s seeing more ice time than ever and can also help you in hits (20 this season) while playing on a good forechecking line. Rooney’s a good sized forward (6’2″, 190) capable of supplying a bit of everything.
Patrik Nemeth, D, New York Rangers (ESPN: 0.3 per cent; CBS: 1 per cent): If you need a blueliner that can pitch in with some PMs and blocks, take a look at Nemeth in deep formats. Don’t expect much in the way of points from the veteran, but with penalties in back-to-back games and as many as 53 minutes in a season before, he can help in that regard. The journeyman’s ice time is up and he’s already recorded 35 blocks with 20 hits, so could definitely be an asset in leagues that track these stats.
Zach Fucale, G, Washington Capitals (ESPN: 0.1 per cent; CBS: 4 per cent): Montreal’s second round pick back in 2013, Fucale finally made his NHL debut on Thursday and did something no other goalie has ever managed in a Washington uniform: record a shutout in his first NHL game. He turned aside 21 shots against a Detroit team that’s off to a decent start. Okay, so Furcale was only in the NHL on an emergency basis and has now been returned to the AHL, but he’s been superb in the minors (1.73 GAA after putting up a 1.80 mark last season), so at the very least tuck this name away. At the age of 26, he wouldn’t be the first goalie to be a late bloomer and wind up having a great career.
Zach Sanford, LW, Ottawa Senators (ESPN: 0.1 per cent; CBS: 1 per cent): Let’s pimp another Zach, shall we? With nearly half the Senators out with Covid-19, Sanford has found himself playing on the top line in Ottawa. He potted his first tally of the season on Tuesday, and is coming off back-to-back double-digit goal seasons for the Blues, so you know he’s capable of lighting the lamp occasionally. But right now, Sanford has an opportunity to really capitalize, so is worth a short-term add while the Sens deal with their outbreak. Don’t expect Fantasy gold, but in a deep league, he could be a useful piece over the next week or so.
Ice Chips
- On Tuesday, Leon Draisaitl was actually shut out, so he took it out on the Bruins on Thursday with two goals and a helper, before scoring both Edmonton goals on Friday. Thursday marked his seventh game of three or more points through the first dozen contests this season. Small wonder Draisaitl leads the NHL is scoring, but it’s still hard to believe that he’s only the 2C for the Oilers.
- Speaking of big-time gunners, Boston RW David Pastrnak got off to a slow start, but has sure put that behind him lately. With a goal and an assist on Thursday, he now has five points over the last three contests, putting him nearly at a point-per-game pace for the season.
- Montreal centre Nick Suzuki just keeps getting better. He’s scored four goals over the last five games, adding five assists over this stretch, to give him 14 points through 15 games on the young season. Major breakout alert here.
- Vegas centre Paul Cotter, the team’s fourth round pick in 2018, scored his first NHL goal in his second career game on Thursday. He had a promising season in the USHL in 2017-18, but hasn’t shown much offensive flair since turning pro. Still, Cotter is known for throwing his body around, so perhaps he’ll be an asset in leagues that track hits.
- Last Saturday, Calgary goalie Jacob Markstrom recorded his fourth shutout of the season, but has otherwise looked human over the last week and a half. Three times in the last five games, he’s had save percentages under .890, so his season totals have come back to earth a bit (five wins, 1.81 GAA, .935 save percentage). The fact they’re still so great tells you what an otherworldy start Markstrom had this season.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Part British, part American rock band Foreigner got its start in 1976, and is still at it today. The first single from its 1977 debut, eponymous effort was “Feels Like the First Time,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
