2024-25 Fantasy Hockey Week 7 Primer And Pickups: Accidents, Accidents, Accidents

What a wierd schedule for Week 7. Factor are all good with loads of video games every evening from Monday to Thursday, then Friday hits and there is solely two video games earlier than a 15-game Saturday – a wierd one the place the Maple Leafs do not play – after which only one recreation on Sunday.

The massive story in Week 7 is the rash of accidents piling up. This occurs within the winter months, however I do not recall one other time the place they have been so many in such a brief interval. Seth Jones was positioned on IR on Saturday and can possible miss an prolonged time period, Darnell Nurse was knocked off after a head shot from Ryan Reaves, Vitek Vanecek was damage and changed by Mackenzie Blackwood, and all the Penguins crew has come down with… one thing.

After a cramped Week 6 schedule that noticed loads of back-to-backs (and backup goalies in motion), there are solely seven back-to-backs in complete in Week 7. Solely three groups play 4 video games and 7 groups play simply twice. Should you’re wanting extra long run, notice the Sharks are the one crew to play eight video games over the subsequent two weeks, whereas the Leafs play simply 4 (!) instances.

(On the plus facet, this offers Auston Matthews loads of time to return with out lacking too many video games as a result of I feel we’re all sort of uninterested in seeing Max Domi on the highest line and doing nothing with all these minutes).

Due to the 15-game Saturday, your fantasy matchup will possible finish on that day. A Leafs-Utah matchup awaits on Sunday, however for essentially the most half each groups’ high gamers are already rostered. Get your geese so as – coincidentally, the Geese have an excellent schedule once more with video games on Monday and Friday – and ensure you get out to an early lead. It will be troublesome to catch up in the event you fall behind an excessive amount of, too early.

Schedule

Decide gamers from groups on the high of the schedule matrix to maximise video games and matchups. Inexperienced is sweet. Pink is unhealthy. All superior stats courtesy naturalstatrick.com. All positions and rostered percentages are courtesy of Yahoo Fantasy. Factors percentages are as of Saturday.

Season-long provides

(< 50% rostered on Yahoo)

JJ Peterka, LW/RW, Sabres (45% rostered)

Peterka’s on a seven-game factors streak and the Sabres play three video games in 4 days from Wednesday to Saturday, together with a back-to-back towards the Geese and Sharks. He is a perfect pickup in Week 7 and maintain onto him for the remainder of the season.

Bryan Rust, RW, Penguins (42% rostered)

The Pens aren’t in style in fantasy proper now, I get it, however Rust is a really fantasy asset. He is scored simply seven video games in 13 factors this season however he is additionally a top-six fixture and averaging almost three pictures per recreation. The factors will begin rolling in quickly.

Mid-term holds

(< 50% rostered on Yahoo)

Mason Marchment, LW, Stars (35% rostered) 
Tyler Seguin, C/RW, Stars (30% rostered)

Marchment’s on an all-time heater with 4 targets and 9 factors in three video games, and the Stars’ line of Marchment and Seguin flanking Matt Duchene has been their greatest line this season. With so a lot of their high performs struggling, this line has been their most dependable. On most nights, Seguin’s a top-tier streaming possibility with point-per-game potential; the one disadvantage is Seguin’s well being, who’s not anticipated to play back-to-backs. The very best half is the Stars face the Geese and Sharks at residence on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

Dylan Cozens, C, Sabres (25% rostered)
Ryan McLeod, C, Sabres (1% rostered)

Cozens and McLeod are mainly splitting duties in Tage Thompson’s asbence, with McLeod centering Peterka and Alex Tuch in Thompson’s common spot, whereas Cozens’ minutes has elevated general. McLeod scored two factors towards the Flyers however my desire would nonetheless be Cozens; he is getting energy play minutes that McLeod will not be – Peyton Krebs is on PP1 as a substitute – and tends to place extra pictures on web.

Jonathan Drouin, LW, Avalanche (23% rostered)

It was not an excellent recreation for the Avs usually, however it’s price noting Drouin performed 19:49 in his first recreation for the reason that season opener, and as soon as once more discovered himself on the identical line as Nathan MacKinnon. That is the place Drouin derives most of his fantasy worth as a result of he is not very productive anyplace else within the lineup.

The Avs have cut up up MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, however I do not suppose it is a long-term factor. It is nonetheless of their greatest curiosity to play MacKinnon and Rantanen collectively, and if Drouin is their left winger at each even power and on the facility play – Drouin’s at present on PP2 – Drouin’s fantasy worth will see a large enhance. In any other case, Drouin’s only a speculative maintain.

Anthony Cirelli, C, Lightning (15% rostered)

Cirelli’s scored three factors in his previous two video games. Surprising, I do know, contemplating Cirelli’s by no means been an enormous level producer even in a top-six function. However he is beginning to rating a bit extra along with his elevated ice time in Brayden Level’s absence, centering the highest line and PP1. With publicity to Nikita Kucherov, how can Cirelli not put up factors, proper? He is performed over 20 minutes in 5 straight video games.

Alex Vlasic, D, Blackhawks (6% rostered)

Think about Vlasic a speculative maintain with loads of medium-term and long-term worth. With Seth Jones anticipated to overlook vital time, search for Vlasic to step in as their QB on PP1. I do not suppose the offensive upside is especially excessive, however enjoying that function will assist, and Vlasic’s already as much as a good seven assists in 18 video games with a number of blocked pictures to go along with it. In multi-category leagues, his fantasy worth has seen the most important leap amongst defensemen.

Justus Annunen, G, Avalanche (28% rostered)

Simply when Annunen’s fantasy worth was actually fading with Alexandar Georgiev’s considerably improved play, Georgiev missed Friday’s recreation and was positioned on IR on Sunday, making certain he’ll be out for all of Week 7. The Avs have but to name up a goalie (Trent Miner was the backup Friday towards the Caps and was subsequently despatched down) however they may have to take action by Monday with a highway recreation in Philly. If Georgiev misses time, it is clearly Annunen’s web.

Though Jared Bednar was very essential about Annune’s poor play towards the Caps, he is nonetheless their best choice in Georgiev’s absence.

David Rittich, G, Kings (17% rostered)

With Darcy Kuemper positioned on IR, it ensures Rittich would be the Kings’ starter Wednesday at residence towards the Sabres. Kuemper is eligible to return for Saturday’s recreation, and with solely two video games in Week 7, backup Erik Portillo will not be anticipated to see any motion. The great half about Rittich is the Kings’ stalwart protection, he wanted to make 17 stops in Saturday’s 4-1 win towards the Wings. Rittich’s supbar save proportion is offset by his respectable GAA and profitable proportion.

Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Penguins (13% rostered)

I am not fairly positive how, however Tristan Jarry appeared simply as unhealthy earlier than his rehab project. The Pens almost blew a 3-0 lead towards the Sharks on Saturday, however escaped with a shootout win and it appears fairly apparent that Nedeljkovic ought to be their starter going ahead. He is a really matchup-dependent fantasy possibility.

Brief-term streamers

(< 50% rostered on Yahoo)

Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, Canucks (8% rostered)

Lekkerimaki scored a depraved first objective in his second NHL recreation, and there is a lot to love about him as a streaming possibility. He is enjoying on J.T. Miller’s proper wing and changed Pius Suter on PP1 in his first recreation, giving him high quality minutes and publicity to top-tier gamers. His manufacturing might be sparse as a result of he is not the point of interest of the offense and in addition as a result of he is a rookie, however in deep leagues, he is the kind of younger participant who might outperform expectations that you just’d wish to take a threat with.

Ryan Hartman, C/RW, Wild (6% rostered)

Relying on how lengthy Joel Eriksson Ek is out for, Hartman ought to be an excellent multi-category contributor. Reasonably than seeing Marco Rossi’s ice time enhance – John Hynes has been essential of his inconsistency this season – the Wild are utilizing Matt Boldy as their high heart (search for C eligibility quickly, hopefully) with Rossi as their 3C and Hartman as their second-line proper winger on a line with Freddy Gaudreau and high prospect Liam Ohgren.

Bizarre traces, proper? I think about Hynes will strive totally different combos to see what works greatest – the Wild scored simply as soon as Saturday towards the Stars – however the Wild have all the time favored shifting Hartman up the lineup.

Jackson Blake, RW, Hurricanes (1% rostered)

Overlook about Jack Roslovic; Blake is now the extra intriguing participant. I do not suppose Blake is as quick and even nearly as good a finisher as his dad, Jason, a 13-year NHL veteran who as soon as scored 40 targets (and cashed in large), however the youthful Blake is definitely an offensive participant.

Blake has one of many funniest stat traces ever with 17:57 TOI towards Utah, of which 9:48 (!) was on the facility play. He did the identical factor once more with 13:10 towards the Sens, with 5:28 of it approaching the facility play, and managed to attain a PPG. Blake’s a power-play service provider of the best order proper now with fourth-line minutes at even power however a PP1 function, but when he is placing pictures on web and scoring – it would not matter.

John Gibson, G, Geese (18% rostered)

It looks as if the Geese are intent on rotating Gibson and Lukas Dostal, who was wonderful at first of the season however misplaced a bit steam. Gibson’s now 2-for-2 in his first two begins of the season, and whereas I usually wouldn’t suggest Gibson in any fantasy format, he’s slated to begin towards the Hawks on Tuesday within the second half of the Geese’ back-to-back.

Devon Levi, G, Sabres (12% rostered)

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will not be anticipated to be out for lengthy, however after claiming James Reimer off waivers, there isn’t any must rush him again. Levi has not been notably good this season after a promising begin to his profession, however thus is the trajectory of a younger goalie. The Sabres have a back-to-back on Nov. 23 and 24 towards the Geese and Sharks, respectively, and I might goal these begins.

Ivan Fedotov, G, Flyers (9% rostered)

We’ll be taught extra about Samuel Ersson’s harm quickly, however Fedotov has leapfrogged Aleksei Kolosov because the Flyers’ high possibility. Fedotov struggled early within the season however has now rattled off three straight wins. I am nonetheless not assured he is an excellent streaming possibility, however there isn’t any denying he is on a tear proper now.

Spencer Martin, G, Hurricanes (6% rostered)

Martin was spectacular in a 24-save shutout towards the Sens and it is unknown when Pyotr Kochetkov will return, however Martin ought to stick round long run since Frederik Andersen is out indefinitely. The Hurricanes are superb at puck possession and limiting their opponents’ pictures by holding onto the puck rather a lot, which implies Martin can be an excellent possibility in the event you’re searching for wins.

Yaroslav Askarov, G, Sharks (9% rostered)

Numerous you should be in deep keeper leagues as a result of Askarov’s rostered in almost 10 % of Yahoo leagues although he is but to play a minute. However, after requesting a commerce from the Preds, that is the chance Askarov is ready for; Vitek Vanecek left Saturday’s recreation towards the Pens and Mackenzie Blackwood completed the sport. If Vanecek misses extra time, Askarov’s going to get his call-up.

Honorable point out:

Stefan Noesen, LW/RW, Devils (44% rostered) – L3, PP1
Casey Mittelstadt, C, Avalanche (40% rostered) – L2, PP1
William Karlsson, C, Golden Knights (36% rostered) – L3, PP1
Josh Norris, C, Senators (29% rostered) – L2, PP1
Kirill Marchenko, RW, Blue Jackets (29% rostered) – L1, PP1
Sean Monahan, C, Blue Jackets (28% rostered) – L1, PP1
Fabian Zetterlund, LW/RW, Sharks (27% rostered) – L1, PP2
Anders Lee, LW, Islanders (20% rostered) – L1, PP1
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C, Capitals (19% rostered) – L2, PP2
Brayden Schenn, C/LW, Blues (18% rostered) – L1, PP1
Marcus Johansson, LW/RW, Wild (1% rostered) – L1, PP1
Georgi Merkulov, C, Bruins (0% rostered) – L3, PP2

Travis Sanheim, D, Flyers (43% rostered) – L1
Owen Energy, D, Sabres (39% rostered) – L2, PP2
Bowen Byram, D, Sabres (33% rostered) – L1, PP2
Olen Zellweger, D, Geese (5% rostered) – L2, PP1

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