Week Three Waiver Wire Wisdom

The big story for goalies this past week was the health of Igor Shesterkin. He had an incredible start to the season, and the New York Rangers were climbing up the NHL power rankings. The wonderful start was shattered. Seeing Shesterkin go down with an injury was tough to watch, and hearing that his injury will keep him out for the season is heartbreaking. That being said, Shesterkin owners need to move on and find a replacement quickly. Let’s have a look at some possible options in this week’s edition of waiver wire wisdom.

Early season trends are starting to take shape. Goalies like Mackenzie Blackwood and Carter Hart are looking like draft day steals, cementing the starter role on very good teams. Devon Levi (33% rostered on Yahoo) is being scooped up in many leagues, especially after a great showing versus a red-hot Anaheim Ducks team. (If he is still available, and you need a goalie stream, he is a must-add.) The season is young, and there is still plenty of opportunity to find a gem on the waiver wire.

Target: Joel Hofer (77% rostered on Yahoo)

Stanley Cup and Four Nations Cup champion Jordan Binnington is one of the most controversial goalies in fantasy hockey. It’s difficult to fathom that a player with such an incredible resume, still in the prime of his career, is starting the season as the second goalie on the depth chart. Barring a trade, it seems like Binnington’s fantasy value will be minimal. It’s difficult to find a goalie who has been playing as well as Joel Hofer without the recognition of a true number one netminder. In the past three seasons, Hofer played over 30 games, with respectable numbers. Last year, he had 24 wins, a 2.58 GAA and .914 save percentage in 46 games on a Blues team that struggled. Hofer has been solid throughout the opening weeks of this season. At 6’5, he has the size of the ideal modern-day goalie. In reality, last year was Hofer’s breakout season. However, he is still going undetected by some. He will likely do more of the same this year, only this time, more managers will start catching on. If Hofer is still available on your waiver wire, he is worth a pickup, especially for week three. The Blues play three games this upcoming week, with no back-to-backs. Hofer should start at least two of those. His roster ownership percentage is gradually rising, and he may not be available in your league for much longer.

Target: Dylan Garand (50% rostered on Yahoo) & Jonas Korpisalo (5% rostered on Yahoo)

This is painful. With all due respect to Garand and Korpisalo, there is no goalie that can replace Igor Shesterkin. However, the Rangers have looked good to start the year, and if they could get some decent goaltending, they might still be able to compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Dylan Garand has a small sample size in the NHL, but he has been good when called upon. Garand started this season with a shutout against the Red Wings, he did alright against the Washington Capitals in relief of Shesterkin, and he just picked up another win in a 6-2 victory against the Canucks. The Rangers look like a team with lots to prove, and they might just prove to us all that they are ready to overcome adversity. With three games scheduled, Garand is an obvious stream choice for this upcoming week and the rest of this month. But Garand might not be a long-term solution. There are already rumours of Jonathan Quick coming out of retirement to rejoin the squad. There is also the possibility of acquiring a goalie via trade. And don’t forget that New York just brought in Jonas Korpisalo to be their backup this past offseason. Korpisalo is out for the next four weeks, but if you have a free injured reserve spot, consider stashing him. With loads of experience, Korpisalo might be the guy the Rangers rely on when he returns. Until then, ride the Garand wave.

Target: Jake Allen (35% rostered on Yahoo)

For the past couple of years, Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen formed a strong goalie duo for the Devils. As is often the case with teams that have two good goaltenders, eventually one of them moves on. Markstrom moved on to the sunshine state, and New Jersey didn’t feel the need to find a replacement. Jake Allen has earned the trust and confidence of the Devils throughout his tenure with the team. With Markstrom gone, Allen has a chance to seize a starter role. He just played his 500th career game. He is not a star netminder, and neither will he become one at this stage of his career. However, he has always been reliable. He won’t boost your team, but he won’t bring you down either. If you’re looking for a goalie that won’t wreck your stats, Allen is your guy. The Devils play four games this week. Allen will likely play three of those, and is an easy decision to stream during week three. Given the fact that there is not much goalie depth in New Jersey, you can comfortably use Allen as a long-term option as well. If Jack Hughes can stay healthy, the Devils should make their way back to the playoffs. Number one goaltenders on playoff-bound teams don’t stick around the waiver wire for very long.

Avoid: Dan Vladar (45% rostered on Yahoo)

There is no easy way to say it. The Flyers have been terrible to kick off the campaign. They have gone seven games without a win. Dan Vladar put together an impressive first season in the city of brotherly love, with some analysts including him in the Vezina conversation for this year. However, we may need to temper our expectations. It’s still too early to completely overreact. In fact, the Flyers players are all buy-low candidates right now. But don’t expect Vladar to be able to match his output from last season. Joseph Woll may be relied upon more than expected, and the Flyers might just split the starts evenly between their goalies for the next while. With three games scheduled for week three, and his game not where he would like it to be, Vladar may only get one start. Avoid him for now. The Flyers are a streaky team. If they get hot, Vladar might find himself in the targets portion of these articles. For now, he is an easy decision to avoid streaming.

Before we conclude, here are some words of wisdom to all the Shesterkin owners who are feeling dejected. You made a great pick. The Rangers were primed for a bounce back season, and there was a good chance Shesterkin was on his way to a Vezina worthy season. Don’t give up. Don’t look back at the “what could’ve been” in your draft results had you drafted a different goalie. Look ahead. Every year, there are many good goaltenders to be found on the waiver wire. Keep digging, and you will find a goalie that is worthy of a spot on your team. All the best on your team and goalies for week three.