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Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: JJ Peterka headlines top adds

evan berofsky
·8-min read
JJ Peterka gave the Buffalo Sabres and fantasy hockey managers plenty to celebrate with a monster game on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
JJ Peterka gave the Buffalo Sabres and fantasy hockey managers plenty to celebrate with a monster game on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Fortune doesn't always fall your way in fantasy hockey. You could carry a strong lineup and still have a losing record. Take the RotoWire Staff Hockey League, where I lead in total fantasy points yet somehow sit at 7-9 in weekly head-to-heads.

No need to worry, as I know my team will do well as long as I can avoid a bunch of injuries while gaining a bit of luck. Should you be in a similar position or are least looking to find some upgrades, we've offered a few suggestions:

(Rostered rates as of Jan. 31)

Nelson, who is above the usual 50% cutoff but still worth including, usually finds his way into this column at least once a season as he's been a good — but never an elite — center. He only managed 21 points from his first 40 games, though he has gone off with 11 in the last 10 to go with 26 shots and 79 faceoff wins on a 19:45 average. The lack of power-play production (two PPPs after three straight double-digit efforts) may deter poolies, yet he's on the Isles' lead group while up a man and is generally guaranteed a place in the top-six.

Since initially being brought up at the start of November, Peterka has racked up 10 goals, 21 assists, 9 PPPs and 91 shots while teaming up with Tage Thompson during all scoring situations. And he's getting plenty of attention thanks to 3 goals, a helper, 4 shots and a plus-6 on Tuesday. Despite the Sabres' issues keeping pucks out of their own net, they've been pretty potent at the other end, with 40 goals this month heading into Friday. That type of team support and personal involvement should allow Peterka to continue making fantasy players happy.

Sean Monahan had been enjoying a career year until he got hurt three weeks ago. That led to Fantilli taking over as the Blue Jackets' No. 1 center, and he's responded by posting 12 points and 32 shots across 11 contests that included his first NHL hat-trick last Wednesday. He's also skating an average of 20-plus minutes over that stretch, peaking at 25:58 (!!!) on Saturday. With Monahan not expected to return for the next little while, expect Fantilli to keep being a significant part of a potent Columbus offense.

Neighbours is riding a decent run since Dec. 29 recording 3 goals, 5 assists, 21 shots and 32 hits, with 5 of those 8 points coming on the man-advantage. There's a slight downgrade that comes with logging bottom-six ice time, yet it's tough to ignore what he's recently accomplished on the power play. And that should be enough of an incentive to pick up Neighbours.

Like Darren Raddysh last week, Tolvanen is back here on a short turnaround, as he's on another blistering streak. His previous upswing involved a nine-game span of 3 goals, 5 assists, 16 shots and 32 hits, and he's topped that overall haul the last 12, with 7, 2, 20 and 46 — including goals in four straight. And even if Tolvanen slips down the depth chart, he should still be paired with decent talent on a deep Seattle forward contingent.

Being part of a top trio is a favorable place to be. And when your linemates are Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond, it's that much better. Just ask Kasper, whose numbers have skyrocketed since the promotion via seven goals, five assists, 24 shots and 16 hits across 11 appearances punctuated by his first three-point performance on Monday. He's even earned a bump up to Detroit's top power play with Patrick Kane on IR. Kasper has benefited after a big boost, and adding him to your rosters could yield the same.

Suter briefly became a fantasy darling last season when he was on a line with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser, even joining the two on the PP. He would ultimately return to a lesser line, though the minutes remained steady and the output serviceable. Scanning Suter's stats the last six weeks, you may notice the giant gap where he missed the scoresheet over 18 of 20 outings. But there may be signs of hope. One of Miller or Elias Pettersson seems to be on his way out of town by the NHL Trade Deadline, and that would presumably push Suter up as Vancouver's second center. And based on current combinations, he's the one with the better wingers than Pettersson, boasting Jake DeBrusk and Conor Garland. Suter has also topped the Swede for ice time during the last four, where he's also delivered a PPG and SHG. Even if neither star leaves, Suter is being entrusted with enough responsibilities to warrant more coverage.

Samoskevich was destined for greatness after successful stints in the USHL, NCAA and AHL. The difference in Florida is that he wasn't being utilized the same way, though his fortune may be turning around. Samoskevich was regularly toiling in the single minutes until a larger role came around mid-January, where he's since tallied four assists, 23 shots and 18 hits. And he's now on a five-on-five line with Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone that talented with huge upside available in almost every Yahoo league.

The Isles have been decimated on the back end with the recent losses of Noah Dobson and Mike Reilly to longer-term injuries, while Ryan Pulock is set for a short spell on the sidelines. Enter DeAngelo, who played in the KHL this season and posted 32 points in 34 games. There's no questioning his offensive abilities, which is why he's been immediately installed as the quarterback on the top power play.

We don't know what DeAngelo's involvement will be once Dobson comes back, though we won't have to worry about that for at least a few more weeks. And their other new signing, Scott Perunovich, could eventually take over the prime placement. But until either of those things actually occurs, DeAngelo remains a must-add.

McCabe's scoring isn't noteworthy, yet it's adequate and supplemented by a solid fantasy haul. He's also skating alongside Morgan Rielly on the first even-strength pairing and has contributed 2 assists, 13 shots, 10 hits and 16 blocks since returning two weeks ago from a four-game absence. With all that output and a prominent position on the penalty kill, McCabe makes for a decent pickup who can help in multiple categories.

Miller is maintaining a similar pace to previous years when it comes to secondary stats, though he's a little behind on the attacking front. There's been a resurgence of late, as he has registered four points — one of those a PPA — over the last five contests to go with 6 shots, 4 hits and 4 blocks on 22:57 a night. Miller has also received more man-advantage minutes during this stretch in addition to his lead short-handed job. With all that ice time and opportunity, he's bound to keep producing.

Utah welcomed Mikhail Sergachev on Wednesday, and he went right back to his usual heavy workload while covering the point on PP1. That latter role was shared with Michael Kesselring and Marino, where the two now occupy the backup unit. Marino only saw his first action of the season on Jan. 14 following back surgery but is already logging just under 23 minutes through his last six matchups. Over that time, he's notched 4 assists, 7 shots and 8 blocks. Based on a reliable production history and work in all areas, Marino could be a nice flyer.

Jacob Markstrom has unsurprisingly handled the majority of the Devils' starts since arriving during the offseason, though he was forced to leave last Wednesday and is set to be out for at least the next month with an MCL injury. Allen has stepped in to assume all of the netminding duties, winning three of four games, and posting a 1.66 GAA and .938 save percentage, including a shutout over Philly on Wednesday. Expect this scenario to continue until Markstrom is ready to return, which represents a very favorable situation for Allen to be in behind a top-five defense and solid attack.

Before getting hurt, Ingram had been struggling with a 3.61/.871 line across 13 outings. He looked sharp in his first three appearances back with only two goals allowed in each before he gave up a combined seven during the last two. Karel Vejmelka (35% rostered) went on an extended hot stretch earlier this campaign and has gone on to produce inconsistent results, yet he shut out the Wild on the road last Thursday. The duo has more or less been alternating starts of late, so you may want to add Ingram if you already have Vejmelka — and vice-versa.