It’s the start of another fantasy week, which means new players emerging as potential waiver wire adds. The importance of having strong goaltending is crucial in the NHL in order for a team to make a deep playoff run and it is the same in fantasy. If you are one of the teams that is looking for a goalie, or even one to use as a streamer this week, consider checking out the goaltender available in the list below.
Starting Goalies to Add
There are some solid goaltending options on the waiver wire but choosing the right ones to pick up is the difficult part. Taking into consideration the schedule and opportunity, these goaltenders should provide upside and be able to give you some solid goaltender stats this week.
Mikko Koskinen – Edmonton Oilers – 53% Rostered
The Oilers’ goaltending situation is continuously fluctuating, but as it stands right now, the goaltending is good enough to warrant using in fantasy this week. Mikko Koskinen claimed the crease from Mike Smith because of Smith’s inconsistencies and his absence from the lineup after going through an illness. Koskinen is coming off a big win against a tough Tampa Bay Lightning team, only allowing one goal and stopping 31 of 32 shots.
Koskinen improved his save percentage to .906 while his goals-against average dropped below 3.00 and owns a 21-9-3 record compared to Smith’s 5-8-1 record. He is 6-2-1 since the start of February and has limited opponents to three goals or less in all but one game in that span. The matchups on the schedule this week for the Oilers make adding Koskinen a very easy decision as they take on three non-playoff teams in the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, and New Jersey Devils, all of which rank 24th or worse in league standings. This is a crucial stretch of games for the Oilers as they continue to battle for a playoff spot and will need to ride Koskinen in order to get the results they want.
Adin Hill – San Jose Sharks – 18% Rostered
The Sharks were forced to turn to rookie Zach Sawchenko and newly acquired Alex Stalock to man the crease with James Reimer sustaining an injury and Adin Hill already on the shelf. With Reimer still working his way back and Hill now healthy, he will likely be counted on for the majority of the starts moving forward. Hill and Reimer split the net earlier in the season when they were both healthy, but both were inconsistent. Through 22 games started this season, Hill owns a losing record at 10-11-1 with a .906 SV% and 2.66 GAA.
The Sharks are struggling to get wins of late and have matchups against the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche this week, but they also have two favorable ones against the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes. The Kings defense is very beaten up at the moment and the Coyotes are one of the worst teams in the league, so at the very least you can stream Hill in two of the four matchups if he gets the start.
Nico Daws – New Jersey Devils – 12% Rostered
The Devils entered the season with Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier set to man the crease, but injuries have forced both goaltenders to be out for the majority of the season. With both of them currently on injured reserve, the Devils have turned to 21-year-old goaltender Nico Daws who is proving to be a bright spot on a team with a losing record.
Daws owns a 6-4-0 record with a respectable .916 SV% and 2.50 GAA through 12 games played. Considering his age and the state of the Devils roster, these are solid numbers worthy of an add, especially in deeper leagues where goaltending options become slim.
New Jersey is heading out on a three-game road trip to Western Canada to take on the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers, which isn’t the best considering the potential for the games to be high scoring. However, he did manage to get wins against the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues earlier in the month and if you looking for bulk starts, the volume will surely be there at least until Blackwood returns.
Goalies to Stash
If you are in desperate need of a goalie and have extra roster spots or injured reserve spots to play with on your fantasy team, there are a few goalies to consider stashing with the potential to make a big impact down the stretch. One is returning from injury, while the other could become a starter if he’s traded prior to the NHL trade deadline.
Jake Allen – Montreal Canadiens – 21% Rostered
The Canadiens are relying on Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau between the pipes due to Carey Price’s absence and Jake Allen’s injury. Price will likely not be back this season with the Habs not having much to play for, but Allen is nearing the eight-week mark for when he is expected to return to the lineup.
Allen assumed the number one job for the Canadiens heading into the season and struggled greatly with a poor 5-16-2 record, 3.15 GAA, and .901 SV%. The team as a whole also did not perform well in front of him and he was eventually placed on injured reserve back in January. The team is playing much better with new head coach Martin St. Louis behind the bench and getting a more consistent goaltender in Allen back could bode well for both Allen and the team, as they try and finish the season on a positive note.
Anton Khudobin – Dallas Stars – 4% Rostered
The Stars opted to bring in Braden Holtby in the offseason and entered the season with a plethora of goalies on the roster, which is now cut down drastically. The Stars relied on Anton Khudobin in the playoffs in the 2019-20 season and he was also solid in the regular season last year in his 32 starts. Unfortunately, his early season struggles and the emergence of Jake Oettinger as the team’s number one goaltender forced the team to make the tough decision to send him to the minors.
Even in the American Hockey League, he is splitting time in the net but, with a number of teams desperate for goaltending help, there is a good chance that Dallas either opts to move him and his $3,333,333 cap hit at the trade deadline or buy him out and allow him to sign with another team. You may not have to stash him but it’s a situation worth keeping a close eye on a week before the trade deadline.
Roster percentages courtesy of Yahoo
