Fantasy Hockey Replacements for Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnon left Monday’s game in Philadelphia with an upper-body injury, and the Avalanche announced Tuesday that he’s expected to miss one month.
On average, MacKinnon was the No.4 or No.5 pick in Fantasy drafts this fall, so his month-long absence leaves a massive hole to fill. I’ve outlined some of my favourite waiver wire pickups (for various league sizes) to help you replace some of the lost production for the next four weeks.
Number of games while MacKinnon is out (by team)
Dylan Cozens (BUF – C) – 49% Rostered
Cozens’ roster percentage has skyrocketed in the last week, but if he’s available in your league, he’s a must-add. The Sabres’ new-look second line of Cozens, Jack Quinn, and JJ Peterka is playing as well as any line in the NHL. They’re averaging an absurd 5.3 xGF/60, and the production has followed, scoring 5.9 GF/60. An on-ice SH% of 15.3 is worrisome, but as long as they’re averaging 5.3 xGF/60, they will be wildly productive. Cozens has 13 points (5G / 8A) in his last eight games while averaging an impressive 4.1 SOG/gm.
Matty Beniers (SEA – C) – 47% Rostered
Beniers is one of the best options available in over 50 percent of leagues but has a league-low 13 games during the time MacKinnon will be out. Beniers has caught fire as of late, scoring five goals with seven assists (12 points) in his last eight games. The best sign for Beniers has been the increased shot volume during that stretch. Beniers averaged just 1.7 SOG/gm in his first 17 games but has bumped that up to 2.8 SOG/gm.
Ryan O’Reilly (STL – C) – 38% Rostered)
O’Reilly had two goals and no assists in his first 12 games of the season but has turned things around with 11 points (7G / 4A) in his last 14 games. O’Reilly is locked into big minutes at 5v5 and PP usage, so he should be able to continue the mid-60s point production we’ve seen from him during his time in St. Louis. O’Reilly will want to keep up his return stretch of production since he’s in the final year of a seven-year contract.
Kevin Hayes (PHI – C) – 32% Rostered
Hayes continues to be extremely productive, but his roster percentage hardly climbs for some reason. He’s playing massive minutes (19:05 ATOI) atop the Flyers’ lineup and has 27 points (8G / 19A) in 26 games. In addition, he’s been super consistent, picking up at least one point in 19 of 26 games (73.1%). Hayes doesn’t have league-winning upside, but his consistent production will help offset the loss of MacKinnon for the next month.
Dylan Strome (WSH – C/RW) – 26% Rostered
Strome has been skating on the Capitals’ top line with Alex Ovechkin and Conor Sheary, and the trio has been really good. They’re averaging 3.1 xGF/60 but have been limited by a 4.5 SH%. So positive regression should set in, especially when you have Ovechkin on your line. He’s also on the top power-play unit, so Strome should continue to post solid point totals. He’s gone goalless in nine games but has eight points (1G / 7A) in his last 10, including three on the power-play.
Cole Perfetti (WPG – C/LW/RW) – 26% Rostered
The Jets shook up their lines recently, and Perfetti landed with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, and his production has been terrific since. Perfetti has picked up seven points (1G / 6A) in his last six games. Perfetti has also drastically increased his shot volume over that stretch, bumping up from 1.6 SOG/gm to 2.7 SOG/gm. Perfetti-Scheifele-Wheeler are averaging 3.2 xGF/60 and are outscoring their opponents 7-2.
Nick Schmaltz (ARI – C/RW) – 20% Rostered
Schmaltz was hurt in the season opener but returned to the lineup on November 21st. In seven games since, Schmaltz has scored three goals and one assist while averaging 2.9 SOG/gm. The Coyotes are far from an offensive powerhouse, but Schmaltz plays big minutes (20:16 ATOI) and has 63 points (26G / 37A) in his last 71 regular season games–a 30-goal, 43-assist (73 points) per-82 game pace. The Coyotes are one of six teams with 16 games during the time MacKinnon is sidelined.
JT Compher (COL – C/RW) – 16% Rostered
With all of Colorado’s injuries, Compher has seen a massive increase in usage, playing 23:01 ATOI in his last three games. Compher has 12 points (3G / 9A) in his previous 14 games and is in a top-6 role and on the Avalanche’s top power-play unit. He’s a solid in-house replacement for MacKinnon.
Jared McCann (SEA – C/LW) – 16% Rostered
McCann has been scorching hot in the last few weeks, scoring seven goals with two assists (nine points) in his last nine games. He’s not going to maintain a 29.2 SH%, but his shot volume (2.7 SH%) will allow him to continue to score plenty of goals. McCann is skating with Beniers, and Jordan Eberle and the trio has outscored their opponents 10-to-3.
Alex Newhook (COL – C/LW) – 8% Rostered
If you’re not rolling with Compher, Newhook will be thrust into an enormous role while MacKinnon is out. Newhook played 23:04 on Monday, scoring two goals on the top line with Mikko Rantanen and the top power-play unit. Newhook should continue to skate in that role but needs to be more productive than he was early in the season. He’s been better lately, as he enters Wednesday with six points (4G / 2A) in his last nine games.