Skip to content

Fantasy: 5 moves you need to make in Week 18

Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Every Monday, theScore will offer a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. Ownership percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.

Buy low on Patrik Laine

Team: Jets
Position: LW/RW
Ownership: 99 percent

Laine has just two goals in his last 24 games and is on pace for career worsts in goals and points, despite generating the same amount of scoring chances and high-danger scoring chances that he did during his 44-goal campaign a year ago.

However, with ample cap space this season before things get tight in the summer, you can bet the Jets will be in heavy pursuit of a top rental candidate at the trade deadline - such as Matt Duchene, Mark Stone, or Artemi Panarin - to add to their second line and help ignite Laine, as Paul Stastny did a year ago.

Pick up Dylan Strome

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Team: Blackhawks
Position: C
Ownership: 23 percent

What a difference a change of scenery can make. Strome has 30 points in 32 games since joining the Blackhawks after tallying just six points in 20 games in a sheltered fourth-line role with the Coyotes. The Blackhawks' second line featuring Strome and OHL teammate Alex DeBrincat is humming right now during the club's hot streak, led by Strome's 14 points in seven games. He needs to be owned everywhere.

Add Tyler Toffoli

Team: Kings
Position: RW
Ownership: 25 percent

Toffoli, who's been a victim of a low on-ice shooting percentage all season, is finally starting to have some bounces go his way, as he's registered six goals - as well as four assists - over his last nine games. He could be in line for some more ice time if Los Angeles manages to trade some of its veteran forwards before the deadline.

Take advantage of Anders Nilsson's hot streak

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Team: Senators
Position: G
Ownership: 10 percent

Nilsson is 6-2-0 with a .949 save percentage over his last eight games. Unlike most teams hovering near the bottom of the standings, the Senators have the incentive to win since they don't own their first-round pick this year. The veteran netminder's strong play likely has an expiration date, but fantasy owners should ride his hot streak while it lasts.

Cut ties with Corey Perry

Team: Ducks
Position: RW
Ownership: 27 percent

Perry has struggled since re-joining the slumping Ducks after preseason knee surgery, tallying just one assist with a minus-6 rating in five games. Think about how long it took the Maple Leafs' William Nylander to get back up to speed after holding out the first two months of the season. Nylander is over a decade younger than Perry - who already showed signs of decline over the last two seasons - and was fully healthy. Now that the 33-year-old is playing catch up in a younger man's game, the chances of him hitting his stride at any point this season are awfully slim. He isn't worth owning even in 16-team leagues.

(Advanced stats courtesy: Natural Stat Trick)

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox