The Wire Troll: Filip Chytil Is on Fire
Filip Chytil is getting the opportunity to succeed. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Welcome back to another week of Fantasy hockey. The All-Star break is done, so we’re now into the home stretch. Use the waiver wire to find the help you need to finish strong.
This week, Toronto goalie Matt Murray is back on the IR thanks to his nagging ankle woe; the trading frenzy is underway as the Rangers opened their wallets to obtain long-rumoured-to-be-on-the-block Vladimir Tarasenko; and Calgary blueliner Rasmus Andersson is out thanks to injuries sustained… when his scooter was hit by a vehicle.
And now, let’s get to this week’s…
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Picks
Filip Chytil, C, New York Rangers (ESPN: 29.1 per cent; CBS: 48 per cent): What a stiff! Chytil managed just an assist on Friday, snapping his five-game goal scoring streak. Yup, this shooting happy Czech has been scorching of late, and as a reward, he’s been elevated to PP1. As part of a major breakout campaign, Chytil is averaging better than a point per game since the calendar flipped to 2023. What great timing to surge forward with a new contract looming, one that just got way more expensive after seeing what Dylan Cozens got from the Sabres. It took Chytil some time to develop a level of consistency in the NHL to go along with his mad skills (see video below), but now that he has, he needs to be picked up in all formats immediately.
Ben Chiarot, D, Detroit Red Wings (ESPN: 44.3 per cent; CBS: 8 per cent): Chiarot has dealt with his fair share of injuries over the years, but he’s been fully healthy this season. Okay, his +/- is dreadful (if you still care about that stat), but there are many ways he can help you, highlighted by a crapload of hits and blocks. Chiarot doesn’t get many offensive zone starts (42.5 per cent), so it’s no surprise his Corsi For percentage is very poor, a disappointment compared to how well he fared for the Panthers down the stretch last season. But forget all that… as we alluded to, this dude is about blocks and hits, and he’s been accumulating more Fantasy points since Detroit separated him from Moritz Seider.
Ice Chips
- James van Riemsdyk was on a nice roll in December after returning from finger surgery, but he’s been invisible this month. Until Thursday, that is, when he potted the game-winning shootout goal. The Flyers sure hope this sparks a run from the streaky JVR as they aim to peddle him at the trade deadline.
- Ageless Corey Perry is starting to wake up. His goal on Thursday gave him four over the last six games and 10 for the season — the 15th time he’s reached double digits. Perry had a quiet January, so hopefully this goal gets him going, but it’s clear he’s not going to duplicate last season’s renaissance performance, leading us to wonder if this could be the end of the line. After all, he’ll be 38 in mid-May.
- Toronto is rightfully excited about goalie prospect Joseph Woll, who’s gotten better in each of his four seasons in the AHL. This season, he’s shaved a full goal off his GAA, has an unbelievable won-loss record and is sporting a superb .930 save percentage. Now back with the big club with Murray out, Woll is a very sweet dynasty option.
- The Flyers somehow managed to prevent Connor McDavid from scoring on Thursday, marking a shocking two straight games he has failed to dent the twine. Still, with an NHL-leading 41 goals already, he’s on pace for nearly 65 goals, which would shatter his personal best of 44 set last season.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Creedence Clearwater Revival was born in El Cerrito, California in the Bay area. Here’s yet another track from Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits, a collection of the band’s singles including both A- and B-sides. This is “Someday Never Comes,” originally released on the 1972 album Mardi Gras.
