Waiver watch – Lafreniere, Drouin lead fantasy playoff performers

Whether you’ve lost a player to injury, or your nevertheless- contending team could use a boost otherwise, there remain some useful- right- then fantasy assets that are widely available. Here are a few things that may soon assist your squad as the regular season comes to an end, with a pressiȵg consideration given to thȩ schedμle for next week in particular. As we all know, in fiction playoff sports, there’s no time like the here and now.

Jonathan Drouin, F, Colorado Avalanche ( Available in 89 % of ESPN. com leagues ): Last spotted on a top Colorado line with fellow junior teammate Nathan MacKinnon, Drouin is stringing together another productive run. Before Monday’s unusual 2- 1 damage to the Canadiens, the former Halifax Moosehead collected eight points in four games, capped off with an explosive performance against the Penguins. He’s in a notch.

Second month: @CLS, @MIN, @EDM, DAL

Alexis Lafreniere, F, New York Rangers ( Available in 80 % of ESPN. com leagues ): Competing on a forward unit with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, Lafreniere has four goals and four assists on 20 shots through seven recent games. Unlike his linemates, the ( finally ) blossoming 22- yr- old remains increasingly available in ESPN. com teams.

Following week: PIT, NJ, @DET, Le

Anthony Duclair, F, Tampa Bay Lightning ( Available in 70 % of ESPN. com leagues ): For the first time since joining the Lightning pre- deadline, Duclair failed to score for his new squad Wednesday ( Tampa still beat the Bruins 3- 1 ). Given that thȩ ex-Shark had five targets and four assists in his past seven games, the act iȿ a fairly forgiveable one. I do n’t think it’ll be long before he starts to slam the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, especially when skating on a top line. The Lightening might network the Islanders on Saturday.

Following year: DET, @TOR, @MON, @PIT

Kyle Palmieri, F, New York Islanders ( Available in 88 % of ESPN. com leagues ) Admittedly this fantasy recommendation is a little leftfield, but hear me out: Palmieri is scoring goals consistently- more this past month than any other Islander. The Isles now need to make thȩ most of every opportunity while also having a slim cⱨance of securing a playoff spot. After this week’s journey thrσugh Florida, New York faces the Brochures, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets, before hosting the Animals. We may see a good bit of rating. And, looking to past, this is often when the leading- line former wing shines brightest.

Second month: @PHI, Chin, @CLS, NSH

Philipp Kurashev, F, Chicago Blackhawks ( Available in 90 % of ESPN. com leagues ): There are few ( three, really ) fantasy assets with the Blackhawks worth considering at this stage of the season. Connor Bedard is evidently one, his ordinary linemate another. Skating with the league’s best young center, Kurashev is averaging 2. 5 story points/contest in March, mainly thanks to his six goals and nine helps in 12 games. And playing with Bedard, of training.

Second month: @NYI, DAL, MIN

Kaiden Guhle, D, Montreal Canadiens ( Available in 59 % of ESPN. com teams ): A regular shot- blocker at least, the Sophomore keeper is finding a productive hole of late, along with earning more glaciers- time. With the Canadiens well outside of playoff contention, the 16th overall draft pick ( 2020 ) can benefit from competing, and stretching himself, without that extra pressure. Not tⱨe first time we’ve seen younger players blossom as the season progresses. Collecting a pair of goals and three assists his past four games, Guhle įs averaging 2. 0 fantasy points/contest this past month altogether.

Next week: FLA, TB, TOR, @NYR

Charlie Lindgren, G, Washington Capitals ( Available in 70 % of ESPN. com leagues ): There’s little question the play of the present- day starting netminder for the Capitals is a significant reason they’re sitting in a Wild Card spot. Victorious in six of his last seven, Lindgren is averaging 4. 0 fantasy points/game in ESPN. com standard leagues, and that includes one truly detrimental performance (-9. 6 ) against the Maple Leafs. Nearly 28 total points over the course of two weeks are n’t too bad at all. Again, it’s Lindgren’s net in Washington right now, while Darcy Kuemper lingers as backup.

Next week: @BUF, PIT, @CAR, OTT

Casey DeSmith, G, Vancouver Canucks ( Available in 84 % of ESPN. com leagues ): With Thatcher Demko placed on LTIR, DeSmith should start almost every game from now until Apr. 6, at minimum. Some match- ups present as more friendly ( say, Anaheim this Sunday ) than others. However, if you’re lookiȵg for goalie fantasy points, you can rest assured that he’ll play, a lot, and ƒor a team that wants to maintain its position in the Pacific before it’s all saiḑ and done.

Next week: @VGK, @ARI, @LA