The Waiver Wire: Playoff Push

Welcome back to another week of The Waiver Wire!  For many of you, this is probably the final week for your season so let’s talk about some late season, desperation strategy.  Some leagues have limits to the amount of moves you can make (add/drops) and some leagues have waivers.  Even with these restrictions, in this last week, you should still be desperately adding and dropping fringe players continuously to make sure you have as close to a full line up every night as you can have.  Only do this with dime-a-dozen players you wouldn’t mind losing to someone else via waivers because that is a very real possibility.  Because of the playoff push, we are going to bypass the disappointments (because they hardly matter anymore) and look at some fringe players that may be able to help you clinch the playoffs, or get a better seed. 

Mika Zibanejad – OTT – C, RW – 19% owned

Ottawa is making a hell of a late season push to make the playoffs and Boston is doing everything it can to continue to give Ottawa that chance.  In their last ten, Ottawa is 8-1-1.  This makes players on their top six, good additions to add to your team, as many of them are unknown and typically fringe players.  Among those players, is Mika Zibanejad, who in the last two weeks (7 games) has put up 3-4-7 while being +4 and taking 15 shots.  If you’re a fantasy player that when all else is equal, you add the coolest name, then Mika is your choice as well.  Linemate Mike Hoffman (42% owned) and teammate Kyle Turris (69% owned) are additions that could help you down the stretch as well. 

Kris Russell – CGY – D – 18% owned

Calgary is the Avs of last year.  Everything they do is unsustainable but, fantasy owners don’t really care, nor should you.  Add Kris Russell to the list of surprise players having a pretty solid year.  He’s also been real hot as of late having put up 2-3-5 while being +1 in the last 2 weeks (5 games).  Given that on the season, he has 3-22-25, this is quite the run for him.  In leagues with extra stat categories, he’s also had 9 hits and 38 (!) blocked shots.  Seems like he doesn’t have the puck much, but when he does, he has the golden touch.  Other Flames that may be solid adds are centers Joe Colborne (2% owned), Lance Bouma (5% owned) and Mikael Backlund (4% owned).

Elias Lindholm – CAR – C, RW – 4% owned

Another team that is hot as of late, well relatively speaking, is the Carolina Hurricanes.  In their last ten, they are 6-4, which may be one of their best 10 game stretches all year.  What are you doing Carolina? Don’t you want McDavid?  In the last two weeks (6 games) Lindholm has 3-4-7 while being even in the +/- department.  One thing to worry about, is that 5 of these points came against Edmonton.  Nevertheless, Carolina is still playing solid hockey and he could be a decent add for you down the stretch.  A couple players that could also be solid adds, although they are most likely owned, are Jeff Skinner (69% owned) and Justin Faulk (76% owned). 

Chris Stewart – MIN – RW – 13% owned

Yea, I know, he’s on Minnesota, but regardless of the ass-whoopin that the Avs gave the Wild, they are still a pretty hot team.  Recent addition, Chris Stewart (for a second, lol), is helping the team along and trying to make the playoffs.  In his last two weeks (7 games) he has put up 3-2-5 while being +1.  Beware of any Minnesota player because they do have a tough schedule ahead, facing NJD, ANA, STL, NSH, WSH, STL in their next 6 games.  Other solid adds from Minny could be Matt Dumba (3% owned) and Nino Niederreiter (16 % owned).

Best of luck to all of you in your last regular season week this year.  Hopefully these players give you that extra offensive jolt, and if not, let me know who you added to help your team in the final stretch.