Every Monday, theScore will offer a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. Ownership percentages (as of Jan. 6) and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Buy low on Eric Staal
Team: Wild
Position: C
Ownership: 62 percent
Staal has regressed after scoring 42 goals a year ago, but the numbers suggest he's poised for a big second half after tallying just 13 goals in 39 games so far this season.
The center is averaging 3.21 shots per game, which would be the most he's recorded in a single season since 2010-11. And it's not just the amount of shots he's taking, but the quality of those attempts. He's tied for eighth in the league with 52 individual high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five, and on a per 60-minute basis, his 5.71 iHDCF is the best of his career since his 45-goal, 100-point season in 2005-06.
Staal is a proven finisher, and he's bound to start capitalizing on his chances sooner rather than later. He may actually be available in your league to pick up, but if not, it shouldn't take much to pry him away from his current owner.
Sell high on Joe Pavelski
Team: Sharks
Position: C/RW
Ownership: 97 percent
Pavelski is on pace to shatter his career high in goals this season, as he already has 25 midway through the campaign. However, fantasy owners may have already seen the best of Pavelski in 2018-19.
His 21.9 shooting percentage would stand to be the best in his 13 NHL seasons and is 10 percent higher than his career average of 11.9 heading into 2018-19.
The 34-year-old is unique in that he doesn't always rely on beating a goaltender one-on-one with a shot to score. He's an intelligent player and seems to be in the right place at the right time, and he may be the best deflection artist in the entire league. With that being said, the likelihood he repeats his first half is very low. Fantasy owners are better off trading him now while his value is high.
Stream Michael Hutchinson
Team: Maple Leafs
Position: G
Ownership: 17 percent
It's unclear how much time Frederik Andersen will miss with a groin injury, but he's already been ruled out for Monday's game against the Nashville Predators. Given their place in the standings, and Andersen's value to the team, the Maple Leafs will not rush him back into the crease, leaving Hutchinson with a chance to briefly hold the No. 1 job.
Hutchinson has yielded mixed results since joining the Leafs last week. He allowed four goals on 34 shots Thursday against the Wild but earned a shutout Saturday against the Elias Pettersson-less Vancouver Canucks.
Nonetheless, Hutchinson has enjoyed modest success in the past and offers nice fantasy value for goaltender-needy teams until Andersen is ready to return.
Hang on to Brandon Pirri in deeper leagues
Team: Golden Knights
Position: C
Ownership: 9 percent
Pirri was sent down to the AHL despite scoring six goals in seven games with the Golden Knights, causing the vast majority of his owners to drop him. However, if you're in a deeper league (14 or 16 teams), he might be worth holding for a few days, as it's likely Vegas will find a way to call him back up at some point this week. With Max Pacioretty's return, Pirri was sent down because he didn't have to clear waivers.
Pirri's goal-scoring binge wasn't sustainable but he's certainly worth owning while he rides his hot streak.
Stream Mark Jankowski in deeper leagues
Team: Flames
Position: C
Ownership: 3 percent
In a busy week of games, the Calgary Flames have the most favorable schedule. They play four contests, none of which come Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday - the busiest days of the week when you'll likely have a full lineup.
Calgary has been rolling lately and Jankowski has played a big part, picking up five points in his last six games. There are better options on other teams if you're in a standard 10- or 12-team league, but in deeper leagues, Jankowski might be the most attractive streaming option of the week.
(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)
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