Fantasy All-Access: Wingels, Ramo deserve an add

By Matt Sitkoff - NHL.com Contributor

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Fantasy All-Access: Wingels, Ramo deserve an add
Every Monday, NHL.com contributor Matt Sitkoff identifies waiver wire pickups, roster trends, schedule notes and a prospect to watch in fantasy hockey.

Every Monday, NHL.com contributor Matt Sitkoff identifies waiver wire pickups, roster trends, schedule notes and a prospect to watch in fantasy hockey.

The Edmonton Oilers won a game Sunday for the first time since they beat the New York Rangers on Nov. 9. Their record since that day is 1-7-4, but that does not mean there aren't players with fantasy value in Edmonton. Taylor Hall has continued to produce with seven points in the 10 games he played during the winless streak. Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have seven points in the past 12 games, while David Perron has three goals and four assists. Their fantasy owners could be clouded by the Oilers' slump and ready to deal these talented players, making them perfect buy-low candidates.

FANTASY HOCKEY ANALYSIS

The 2014-15 NHL season is in full swing, so NHL.com has you covered with weekly fantasy hockey positional rankings, real-time spin updates and waiver wire advice.

WAIVER WIRE WATCH

Tommy Wingels, San Jose Sharks (owned in 44 percent of Yahoo Leagues) -- The Sharks have won four of their past five games and at the forefront of that is Wingels, who has nine points during that stretch. Playing on a line with Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture, the 26-year-old has 20 points in the first 29 games, putting him 18 points away from his career-high (38) set last season. San Jose plays all three games at home this week (against the Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, and Nashville Predators). This is good news for Wingels, who has four goals and five assists in 11 games played at SAP Center this season.

Brayden McNabb, Los Angeles Kings (owned in 5 percent of Yahoo Leagues) -- The 23-year-old is finally getting an opportunity to be a regular defenseman this season for the Kings. He has been a pleasant surprise in a difficult season on the back line for the defending Stanley Cup champions. With nine points, McNabb has already set a career-high in a season. The 6-foot-4 physical defender with a booming shot has chipped in 75 hits, 33 penalty minutes, 24 blocked shots and 25 shots on goal this season. He has seen his power-play time increase, now playing on the second unit. Los Angeles has four games scheduled this week, all on the road (at the Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs), and McNabb has five of his nine points on the road this season.

Karri Ramo, Calgary Flames (owned in 40 percent of Yahoo Leagues) -- We are ready to call the Flames goalie duo a timeshare. Ramo has now started 13 of the 28 games, with Jonas Hiller starting the other 15. Ramo has been the better option for the Flames lately. The 28-year-old is 6-1-0 in his past seven starts with a 1.99 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. The Flames have four games scheduled this week (at Maple Leafs, at Sabres, at Pittsburgh Penguins, at Chicago Blackhawks), so we expect Ramo to start two or three games and continue his red-hot play.

ROSTER TRENDS

Back-to-back starts -- There have been 158 instances of a team playing on back-to-back nights this season, and so far a team has started the same goalie in both games 31 times. The starting goalies of those games have a record of 10-18-1 (two no-decisions) with a 3.20 GAA and .901 save percentage. This week we have another 13 opportunities for goalies to start on back-to-back nights, and if the trend continues expect a lot of saves but not a lot of wins.

Matt Beleskey
Left Wing - ANA
GOALS: 13 | ASST: 2 | PTS: 15
SOG: 75 | +/-: 10
Goals galore -- There is a trend around the NHL of players producing goals but not many assists. Anaheim Ducks forward Matt Beleskey has 13 goals with two assists. Detroit Red Wings forward Gustav Nyquist has 12 goals and four assists. Wild forward Nino Niederreiter has 11 goals with three assists. New Jersey Devils forward Mike Cammalleri has 11 goals and four assists. Carolina Hurricanes forward Jiri Tlusty, Kings forward Tanner Pearson and Wild forward Jason Zucker all have 10 goals with three assists. These players can provide an added boost if your team is in need of goals despite their one-dimensional fantasy stat line this season.

PROSPECT RUMBLINGS

Vincent Trocheck
Center - FLA
GOALS: 2 | ASST: 9 | PTS: 11
SOG: 38 | +/-: 7
Vincent Trocheck, Florida Panthers -- Since he was recalled from the American Hockey League by the Florida Panthers on Oct. 31, Trocheck's 11 points are fourth among rookies. The 64th pick of the 2011 NHL Draft has 19 points in his first 36 NHL games. This is not surprising for the Pittsburgh native who first made a name for himself with six points to help the United States win gold at the 2013 World Junior Championship. He finished his Ontario Hockey League career with 299 points in 264 games with Saginaw and Plymouth. The 5-foot-10 center continued his scoring ways with 42 points for San Antonio in the AHL last season, earning his first NHL promotion. Now here to stay in the Panthers lineup, he is ready to be a regular contributor to your fantasy lineup.

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