How much does positional eligibility matter? It depends on your league settings.
If you simply need to fill your roster with forwards, then you can disregard whether a forward plays centre, left wing, or right wing. But if you need to fill your fantasy roster with an equal number of forwards at each of the three positions, then it takes on a whole lot more meaning.
If a centre becomes eligible as a winger, he turns out to be more desirable in fantasy leagues. Case in point: The top 30 centres in 2015-16 scored a minimum of 55 points. Conversely, the 30th-ranked left winger scored just 43 points, while the 30th-ranked right winger reached 41 points.
So included in this week’s waiver wire suggestions are a few players who either hold dual positional eligibility or may receive it in the near future.
Rickard Rakell, C, ANA
Finally back in the lineup after waiting for a new contract and a work visa, Rakell scored a goal and added two assists in his season debut on Tuesday against Los Angeles. Don’t be surprised if he gains left wing eligibility soon, since he has been playing on a line with centre Antoine Vermette since rejoining the Ducks. Over his first two games, Rakell has averaged three minutes of power-play time. Although that could drop once Ryan Getzlaf returns from injury, Rakell could still easily reach 40 points for the second consecutive season.
Travis Konecny, C/LW, PHI
In his first NHL season, Konecny is off to a fast start with eight points in 12 games. He has found success alongside Jakub Voracek and Sean Couturier, so he is clearly not a rookie struggling for minutes. In addition, you probably won’t have to worry about Konecny being sent back to junior now that he has played 10 games. Konecny also recently gained left wing eligibility in many leagues, which should help him find a home in more fantasy leagues.
Colton Sceviour, C/RW, FLA
Injuries in Florida opened up a spot for Jonathan Marchessault, whose early-season success now has him owned in most fantasy leagues. More recently, these injuries have also created a scoring-line role for Sceviour, who has approached 20 minutes of ice time in his past two games. He has demonstrated offensive prowess during that recent stretch, scoring three goals and adding two assists over his past three games. Included was a hat trick on Sunday against Detroit. Needless to say, Sceviour is one of the league’s biggest surprises over the first month of the season with eight points in 11 games.
Michael Grabner, LW/RW, NYR
Grabner’s goal totals have generally declined ever since his 34-goal campaign with the Islanders back in 2010-11, but this could be the season that he reverses that trend. After posting a hat trick on Sunday against Tampa Bay, Grabner scored another goal and added an assist with a plus-3 rating on Thursday against Edmonton to increase his totals to six goals and two assists. The Rangers currently lead the NHL in goals (45), which is both good and bad for Grabner. He is currently playing on a productive line with J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes, but this line’s ice time will be limited by the names above them on the Rangers’ depth chart.
Radko Gudas, D, PHI
Chances are if you already own Gudas, it is because of the penalty minutes, hits, and blocked shots that he racks up. Strangely enough, he has not taken a penalty in the six games that he has played since returning from a six-game suspension to start the season. But the hits (23) and blocked shots (13) are still there. And he’s surprisingly enjoyed an offensive surge that has seen him score two goals and two assists over his past four games. Of course the offence will disappear and the penalty minutes will resurface, but this should serve as a reminder to add him if he’s available in any leagues that count the three non-scoring categories he’s known to accumulate.
Dennis Seidenberg, D, NYI
The Islanders have mostly been an underachieving group this season, but new Islander Seidenberg has impressed so far. Not normally a huge scoring option, Seidenberg has goals in back-to-back games and is already up to six points with a plus-8 in 11 games. His six hits and 22:25 of ice time on Thursday led all Islanders skaters, while his 26 blocked shots places him in the top 10 in that category. Don’t expect the offensive pace to be sustainable, but Seidenberg can still pad your peripherals.
Mike Condon, G, OTT
Last week we mentioned Andrew Hammond as a goalie to pick up because of Craig Anderson’s current situation. Unfortunately, Hammond lasted all of one period before leaving Friday’s game with a groin injury that landed him on the IR. So in desperate need of goaltending, the Senators acquired Condon on Wednesday after he became expendable by the Penguins. Condon then proceeded to record a 27-save shutout in his Senators debut on Thursday. Sure, it was against the cannot-score Canucks, but Condon could see plenty of work at least in the short term given Anderson’s uncertain timetable. You’re probably best to pick and choose his match-ups, though.
