Fantasy: 5 moves you need to make to win the finals

Every week, theScore offers a fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on the season's final matchup, although that may not apply to all leagues. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.

Be aggressive

We're beginning our list with a tip rather than a roster move; Any fantasy manager seeking a title this week has to be aggressive if they want to get it done. If you've been hoarding an unproductive player with upside, now's the time to drop him. Alternatively, seek out players on hot streaks, even if they're lesser names. Every point counts in the finals.

Add Sam Bennett

Joel Auerbach / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Team: Panthers
Position: C, LW, RW
Rostered: 44%

Bennett has settled wonderfully into his new surroundings in the Sunshine State, posting six points in five games since being traded out of Calgary. He's centering a pair of offensive threats in Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Duclair - another streaming target for the same reasons as Bennett - and has seen his role gradually increase under Joel Quenneville, logging over 19 minutes in each of his past three contests.

The Panthers play four games this week against weaker opponents (Predators and Blackhawks), making Bennett even more desirable.

Add Cal Petersen

Team: Kings
Position: G
Rostered: 23%

If you need a spot start this week, Petersen is a great option. The 26-year-old has struggled to register wins this season - he's 8-13-4 in 27 starts - but he owns a .917 save percentage and 7.9 goals saved above average. He's a quality netminder but hasn't received much help in front of him from the rebuilding Kings.

On top of solid peripheral stats, Petersen has a favorable schedule to finally bank some victories this week as L.A. plays the Ducks four times.

Drop Dominik Kubalik

Dave Sandford / National Hockey League / Getty

Team: Blackhawks
Position: LW, RW
Rostered: 71%

Kubalik is a prime example of a good player you should get rid of in the last week of the season. He's had a decent year overall but only has three points in his past 10 games and is currently slotted on Chicago's third line. There's not much value hanging on to a cold player on a poor team, and it's unlikely Kubalik snaps his slump with matchups against the Lightning and Panthers this week.

Add Nick Foligno

Team: Maple Leafs
Position: LW, RW
Rostered: 34%

Foligno was put in a prime position to put up points upon arriving in Toronto, immediately placed on the club's top line alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. After two games, Foligno hasn't done anything to justify taking him off the No. 1 unit and tacked on a pair of assists to boot. The veteran winger always provides upside with hits and blocks in banger leagues, and his offensive value has recently skyrocketed based on his deployment.

It's worth noting that the Leafs don't play until Wednesday, so he'd be better as a mid-week pickup instead of adding him at the start of your matchup.

Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *