Fantasy: 5 moves you need to make in Week 2
Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on Week 2. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Add Jesse Puljujarvi
Team: Oilers
Position: RW
Rostered: 14%
Puljujarvi replaced the ineffective Zack Kassian on Edmonton's top line, playing alongside Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins on Sunday. He produced his best game of the season, so the winger will surely get another shot in that role.
The 2016 fourth overall pick has recorded just two assists over seven games this campaign, but he ranks ninth in the league in individual expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five (minimum 30 minutes). Puljujarvi isn't a proven finisher, so there's no guarantee he begins to capitalize on his chances. But he's worth picking up because of his talent and the opportunity ahead.
Drop Tony DeAngelo
Team: Rangers
Position: D
Rostered: 71%
I issued a preseason warning that DeAngelo was a prime bust candidate due to his unsustainable shooting percentage, and the threat of Adam Fox replacing him on the Rangers' top power-play unit. Now Fox is already quarterbacking New York's No. 1 power-play group.
DeAngelo has also been a healthy scratch twice through five games due to his lackluster defensive play. He's averaging 16:15 of action per contest over his three games, nearly three fewer minutes than a year ago. He's also yet to record a point.
It may be worth seeing if anyone in your league will take DeAngelo in a trade. But cut your losses and move on if there aren't any takers.
Buy low on Elias Pettersson
Team: Canucks
Position: C
Rostered: 99%
Pettersson is off to a brutal start while notching just a goal and an assist through seven games. His underlying numbers are awful too, which doesn't offer much optimism.
The Canucks phenom is far too talented to stay quiet much longer. He's been among the NHL's most accurate shooters since entering the league in 2018-19, but Pettersson is scoring at just a 6.7% clip thus far - over 10 points down from his career shooting percentage entering the campaign. Perhaps his abnormally high shooting percentage was never sustainable, but it's bound to get above 10% at the very least.
Don't hesitate to pull the trigger if Pettersson's manager in your league wants to trade him for pennies on the dollar.
Hang on to Cam Talbot
Team: Wild
Position: G
Rostered: 56%
Talbot is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The ailment appears to be minor, but the Wild netminder was dropped in over 1,200 Yahoo leagues on Sunday.
If you manage Talbot, don't drop him. If he's available in your league, pick him up. The veteran has posted a .925 save percentage and a 2.34 goals-against average over four appearances this season. Minnesota's blue-line corps is among the league's best - and possibly the best - so those numbers are very sustainable. Playing in the weak West Division also helps.
Kaapo Kahkonen, the Wild's backup goaltender, has played well in the meantime, but he isn't a serious threat to take the starter's job once Talbot returns from his injury.
Add Drake Batherson
Team: Senators
Position: RW
Rostered: 16%
Batherson has recorded three assists in five games, but he has yet to find twine so far. He's bound to get on the board soon, though. The 22-year-old plays on Ottawa's top line and No. 1 power-play unit, and he's second on the team with 18 shots.
The Senators play four games this week, but three of their contests (Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday) come on lightly scheduled nights. That's important because Tuesday (14 games), Thursday (14), and Saturday (12) are all loaded with matchups, so your fantasy lineup will likely already be full on those days.
(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)
Josh Wegman has been theScore's resident fantasy hockey expert since 2015. Find him on Twitter @JoshWegman_.