Every Monday, theScore will be rolling out a weekly fantasy hockey column: 5 moves you need to make. Ownership percentages (as of Oct. 6) and position eligibility courtesy Yahoo.
Add Timo Meier
Team: Sharks
Position: LW/RW
Ownership: 49 percent
Heading into the season, Evander Kane was expected to slot in alongside Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, but it turns out Meier has been handed that role. He's a former ninth overall pick coming off breakout, 21-goal season, despite averaging less than 15 minutes per night. Even in a limited role, he still finished third on the team with 210 shots.
The Sharks are one of only three teams with four games this week. Of those three, they're the only club that doesn't play on Saturday, when you'll likely have a full lineup anyway. Meier needs to be added in all leagues.
Scoop up Curtis McElhinney
Team: Hurricanes
Position: G
Ownership: Six percent
McElhinney was claimed on waivers by the Hurricanes after the Maple Leafs opted to go with the younger Garret Sparks as their backup netminder. The decision was made even though McElhinney was coming off a career year, in which he posted a .934 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average.
The veteran goaltender has never threatened to be a starter in his career, but with Scott Darling out to begin the season and Petr Mrazek struggling so far, McElhinney could seize the No. 1 gig. The Hurricanes have one of the league's best blue lines, and allowed the fewest shots in the NHL a year ago, so continued success isn't too far-fetched for the journeyman netminder.
Drop Tom Wilson
Team: Capitals
Position: RW
Ownership: 30 percent
Even though Tom Wilson has great value in leagues that include hits and PIMs, he can be dropped due to his 20-game suspension. He's appealing his ban, but getting it reduced by a significant amount seems doubtful given his history.
Having a player take up a roster spot for a quarter of the year could torpedo your season. It's doubtful anyone will pick him up, so you could re-add him when there's only four or five games left in his suspension.
Pick up Elias Lindholm
Team: Flames
Position: C/RW
Ownership: 28 percent
When Lindholm was sent from Carolina to Calgary in a blockbuster deal on Day 2 of the NHL Draft, the first reaction from fantasy pundits was that an opportunity to play alongside Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau could finally help the former fifth overall pick reach his potential. However, James Neal was signed as a free agent about a week later, presumably stealing Lindholm's first-line real estate.
To start the season, it has been Lindholm, not Neal, playing with Calgary's two best players - both at 5-on-5 and on the power play. If the skilled Swede takes this opportunity and runs with it, he could be a staple on your fantasy team all season long.
Acquire Troy Terry
Team: Ducks
Position: RW
Ownership: 6 percent
Ducks rookie Troy Terry has been gifted a glorious opportunity to skate alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Rickard Rakell on the team's first line. Don't view him as a long-term solution to your fantasy team, as his role could quickly diminish as the Ducks get healthy.
Anaheim plays four games this week, and all of their opponents (vs. Red Wings, vs. Coyotes, at Stars, at Blues) either have question marks in the crease, or on the back end. Terry, who represented USA at the Olympics, could have himself a productive week as long as he remains on the Ducks' top line.
Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.