Week 12 Preview

Today we have the Week 12 Preview edition. Here’s your starting roster:

• Injury Implications

• Scheduling Science

• Players to Poach

Let’s dive in!

Injury Implications

Eric Comrie (G, 10%) Comrie had a status update on Wednesday indicating he's close to return but needs reps first. Expect a conditioning stint in the AHL before he plays again for Buffalo but he slots in as a viable streamer upon return. Buffalo has employed tandem goalies and while the Veteran Anderson has had a good campaign the net is open for taking in the second half of the season.

Nathan Mackinnon (C, 100%) Mackinnon who is dealing with an upper body injury skated twice last week. Despite having good legs, Mack doesn't seem ready to take contact and Coach Bednar affirmed he still needs two weeks. This is not the time to make a panic trade with Mackinnon. If you have him keep him stashed.

Boone Jenner (C, 38%) Jenner underwent thumb surgery this week and is expected to miss four weeks after being placed on injured reserve. Jenner has been quite serviceable in a variety of fantasy formats this year and his injury opens the door for two young Centers. Kent Johnson (C, 9%) is now playing 1st line C alongside Johnny Hockey and Patty Lines and also assumed the top powerplay spot. Jack Roslovic (C, 5%) slots in as 2C and 2PP. Johnson has 2 goals and Roslovic has 4 assists in 3 games since the injury to Jenner. Both players should be available in all but the deepest leagues and are certainly worth the streamer add or as a clutch if you have Jenner on you IR.

Anthony Duclair (RW, 13%) Duclair resumed skating from an Achilles injury shifting his timetable to return from months to weeks. Duclair scored 31 goals in 74 games last year indicating he has a scoring touch. Look to stash him if you have IR space as positive deployment on the powerplay could be an awesome mid-season addition for any team.

Ondrej Palat (LW, 26%) Palat has been skating recently and is closing to returning to practice. He had groin surgery on November 8th and hadn't played before that since October 24th. This is a good stash opportunity if he is on your waiver wire. New Jersey has shown they can score this year and don't let the recent slump fool you because they are still a dangerous team. Upon return Palat could slot in beside Jack Hughes on the first line which should make Palat rosterable in all formats.

Cam Atkinson (RW, 8%) Atkinson will undergo neck surgery which confirms he will miss the whole season. If you were part of the 8% swap out for another IR candidate. Target guys Duclair who is sitting at 14% if available.

Rasmus Sandin (D, 34%) Sandin was able to assume a significant role on the leafs playing powerplay 1 with the silky core 4 forwards. Anyone in this roll is a must roster and Sandin was providing great waiver value to any of the 34%. In his absence the buds have been using a 5-forward powerplay with pesky bunting getting the nod. Don't expect much offense out of the banged up blue line but anyone that gets a sniff at the top 6 in this lineup is worth a stream.

John Carlson (D, 98%) Took a puck to the face and is out indefinitely. Look to add Dmitry Orlov 41% if available. He's the one feeding ovi his biscuit. Expect powerplay assists.

Tom Wilson (RW, 50%) Wilson is practicing in a normal jersey for the first time indicating he's close to a return from a knee injury. When he returns he will likely bump Conor Sheary (7%) and/or Anthony Mantha (12%) down the lineup.

Scheduling Science

A deeper look:

New Jersey plays Boston at Home (Wed) Pittsburgh on the road (Fri) and Carolina at home (Sun). Boston is playing their second half of a back-to-back. Could see this one being a scoring affair. Look for the recommended players below to capitalize on this matchup.

Seattle plays Calgary (Wed), Edmonton (Fri) and the islanders (Sun) all at home. Calgary is playing their second half of a back-to-back so you gotta think the kraken will pounce on those turkey legs. Look for the recommended players below to capitalize on this matchup.

Teams with 4 games:

• Buffalo (Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)

• Chicago (Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)

• Ottawa (Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)

• San Jose (Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun)

Teams with 2 games:

• Philadelphia (Thurs, Sat)

Players to Poach

New Jersey

Tomas Tatar (LW, RW) 16% rostered Yahoo.

Tatar is a strong stream candidate given solid schedule (3 offnights) and strong deployment (1st line and 1st line powerplay. He doesn't play with Hughes 5v5 but he's skating strong minutes and is exposed on the PP. He's riding 2 G 1 A in his last 2 before the break. Plug him in.

Alternatives:

• Eric Haula (C, LW, 13%). Playing 5v5 with Hughes currently in Dawson Mercer's (C, RW, 16%) usual spot. Could see these flip flopping so monitor this if you're considering the add. Both see 2nd powerplay time.

• Damon Severson (D, 18%) This is a fine move if you need a scheduling fit on D for games. Sees PP2 time but don't expect anything more than a few peripherals. 1A in his last 10 games.

Seattle

Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW) 10% rostered Yahoo.

Bjork will make you do a double take when you scroll through the waiver wire. For being touted as a shooter Bjork has a pitiful 4 goals on the year. But he's shooting a measly 4.7% compared to his career average of 12%. Playing decent minutes in his top 6 role along with 1st powerplay time, Bjorkstrand is seeing the exact deployment you want for some positive regression. Shooting 14 times in his last 3 games, its a matter of time before he shoots himself into a hot streak. Stop thinking. Add.

Alternatives:

• Justin Shultz (D 17%). PP1 D are fairly limited. When you need to stream D that's what you want to look for. Hopefully he's not more than a stream as you shouldn't expect much.

• Jordan Eberle (19%) PP1 and 1st line. Not going to blow the roof off but exactly the deployment you need on a team with no absolute studs to play with.

Keep on burning, week 12 preview