Sport: NHL
Many fantasy hockey leagues are about to enter the halfway point of the season, and those currently sitting in a playoff spot cannot afford to carry any underperformers for the remainder of the year. Listed below are three players that fantasy managers should consider parting ways with, as they are showing no signs of snapping their cold streak.
Week 9 Fantasy Hockey Cold List
JJ Peterka – Utah Mammoth
When JJ Peterka was traded to the Utah Mammoth from the Buffalo Sabres, many believed the 23-year-old would have a breakout season after no longer playing on one of the most disappointing teams in the league. Although Peterka played well throughout October, his production has significantly declined over the last month, making him difficult to start in many fantasy leagues.
Through his last 8 games, Peterka has recorded only 3 points, and was a -6 during November, leading him to be moved out of the Mammoth’s top six forward group. Additionally, he isn’t featured on Utah’s first power-play unit and barely contributes to categories such as hits and blocks, which has decreased his overall fantasy value. For those still holding on to Peterka, it’s best to drop him for a more balanced forward that can target multiple areas of the ice in addition to scoring.
Noah Hanifin – Vegas Golden Knights
Noah Hanifin spent almost all of October on the sidelines after suffering a lower-body injury, but he’s been unable to add much from a fantasy perspective since returning to the ice. Through 15 games, Hanifin has tallied just four points and is sitting at a -7 on the season while playing over 20 minutes a night for the Vegas Golden Knights. He’s also failed to record a point during his last six games, yet he’s still heavily rostered in several leagues.
Outside of blocks, Hanifin doesn’t throw the body often, is inconsistent with his shot volume, and is absent from Vegas’ first power-play unit. The 28-year-old has become nearly unplayable as of late, and should be replaced by other defensemen who provide more offense on a regular basis.
Jordan Binnington – St. Louis Blues
Throughout this season, Jordan Binnington has been unable to string together a series of wins playing on a St. Louis Blues team that has been lackluster so far. Binnington has posted a save percentage lower than .900 during 5 of his last 6 starts, and has registered a 3.20 goals against average this year.
Binnington has not only become an unreliable goalie option in fantasy hockey, but is possibly at risk of losing his job as a starter for Canada’s Olympic team next year. When the Blues happen to play a weaker team, Binnington can be a decent goalie to stream for a single night, especially because he earns a high volume of saves. Otherwise, he shouldn’t be used on a weekly basis in order to succeed in all goaltending categories.
Moving forward, there will be less room for mistakes or unproductive games during the fantasy hockey season, and Peterka, Hanifin, and Binnington are not displaying signs of improvement heading into the new year. Make sure to return next week for week 10 of The Cold List.
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