The "Banger" Breakdown: Week 13
Six Players to Target in "Banger" Fantasy Hockey Formats
There are many forms of “banger” leagues in fantasy hockey.
Mostly, “banger” leagues tend to be category leagues where stats like hits and blocks are part of the scoring. In more “hardcore” banger leagues, penalty minutes can be a scoring category, though I have seen it scored on both the positive and negative end.
Whether a manager is in a specifically outlined “banger league” or not, hits and blocks are likely part of the scoring format, whether it’s a category or points league. Thus, this post can also be helpful for those managers whose teams are lagging in the hits, blocks, and even shots categories.
As I have done on this blog, I will share a table from Thomas Nestico of TJ Stats. He has an app (through his Patreon) that calculates the top “banger” targets from a specific period of play.
This post will look at the top “banger” performers from the past three weeks, specifically from December 14th to January 4th. There will be two sections and tables of data, with forwards and defensemen individually profiled. I will highlight three forwards and defensemen, but the table will list the top “banger” performers from each position. That gives fantasy managers other options if the three I write about aren’t available (or undesirable to pick up).
Let’s examine the top banger skaters from Week 13 of fantasy hockey play.
Forwards to Target
Courtesy of TJ Stats
Kiefer Sherwood, RW, VAN (42% Rostered)
Sherwood has been a popular "banger” darling, especially after collecting 234 hits (3.44 Hits/GP) and 27 points (0.40 PTS/GP) with the Nashville Predators a season ago. However, he has been even more physical and productive in his first season with the Canucks.
In 38 games, the 29-year-old American winger has 220 hits, averaging 5.79 Hits/GP. Thus, not only is he averaging 2.35 Hits/GP more than his rate a season ago, but he is also just 14 hits away from his 2023-2024 total with the Predators. He has also been productive in scoring and shooting. Sherwood has 12 goals and 19 points this season, averaging 2.03 SOG/GP with an SH% of 15.6%, slightly better than expected.
Sherwood does have zero points in his last four games, but he’s produced decent scoring numbers over the past few weeks.
In his previous 10 games, he has four goals and five points. He also sported an SH% of 16%, a five-on-five SH% of 11.6%, and an SOG/G mark of 2.5. Thus, the metrics over the past three weeks aren’t too out-of-character from what he’s done for the year, though I imagine the SH% will be tough to sustain, especially since he only had an SH% of 9.1% last year with Nashville.
The last four games may just be a cold stretch, and he could be due for a swing in the positive direction in the next couple of games (especially once the Canucks shed all the JT Miller and Elias Pettersson drama). For now, Sherwood is a nice target for managers who significantly need a boost in hits and want some shooting and scoring upside, even if those latter two categories will come in waves.
Ross Colton, LW, COL (18% Rostered)
Colton has recently lost some time on the top power-play line, which explains why his rostered percentage in Yahoo leagues is only 18%. Furthermore, he was demoted to third-line duties in the Avs’ most recent game against the Canadiens. He played with Arturri Lehkonen and Casey Mittelstadt against Montreal, and the trio accumulated 5:37 TOI.
Thus, Colton may be a temporary streamer who may be let go after Week 14 if the ice time doesn’t improve. Conversely, if the ice time does bounce back a bit, he is a productive player to utilize in “banger” league formats.
The 28-year-old American winger provides a lot of goals and shots but not much in assists.
In 23 games, he has 12 goals and is averaging 2.57 SOG/G. In his past nine games, he has collected three goals with a 17.6 SH% and 6.6% 5-on-5 SH%. Lastly, Colton also has sported a 1.8 SOG/G mark and a 53.7% ZS% and 53.2% CF%.
Unfortunately, his secondary assist% this season is zero, and he’s only collected one assist. His IPP% is 50% this year, but it’s 42.9% over the last three weeks. While he is putting himself in situations to generate shots (as evidenced by his ZS and CF percentages), his ability to be involved in point-collecting opportunities is regressing.
Colton may become a deep-league-only option as his role lessens in Colorado. I have seen in my leagues that he’s been recently dropped and available, a sign that managers already think he may not be worthy of a roster spot in 12-team leagues. That said, he’s averaging 2.39 Hits/G this year and has 19 hits in his last nine games. His blocked shots are also serviceable at 0.87 Blocks/G.
That’s not bad to have with his scoring upside, even if it may be hard to predict how his numbers will unfold, especially with a tough week coming up for Colorado against Florida, Chicago, Minnesota, and Winnipeg.
Max Pacioretty, LW, TOR (5% Rostered)
Auston Matthews returned from the IR last night against the Bruins, but it didn’t affect Pacioretty much.
The 36-year-old veteran stayed on the second line with John Tarveras and William Nylander, and the line accumulated 10:41 TOI. They didn’t score and had a -2 plus/minus. However, they produced an SF% of 50% and CF% of 43.8, demonstrating that they still generated many shot opportunities against Boston.
The Leafs left winger doesn’t offer a ton of upside in scoring and points. He has 12 points this season, averaging 0.19 Goals/G and 0.26 Assists/G. However, he is collecting many hits, evidenced by his 2.89 Hits/G mark. His secondary assist% is also high at 57.1%, and his IPP is 60%. That shows that Pacioretty benefits from being on a line with starts like Taveras and Nylander.
Pacioretty has been on a cold streak recently, which slightly deflates his value. He has zero points in his last three games, and in his past 11, he has three points. Over the past three weeks, his SH% has been paltry at 4.5%, but his 5-on-5 SH% is 9.7%, and his CF% is 50.4%.
Thus, I wouldn’t be afraid to take a flyer on Pacioretty, especially with his substantial hit numbers and Matthews back on the ice. The matchups are also favorable: two games against Philly this week, a road contest against Carolina, and a home game against Vancouver.
Defenders to Target
Courtesy of TJ Stats
Jake McCabe, D, TOR (11% Rostered)
I will stick with the Leafs in my first blue-liner profile, especially with a favorable schedule approaching.
McCabe provides everything one wants from a “banger league” defenseman. He’s averaging 2.03 Hits/G, 1.94 Blocks/G, and 1.06 SOG/G in 35 games this season. The points aren’t great, but he’s suffered from a significantly low 2.7% SH%. His 10.6% 5-on-5 SH%, 1019 PDO, and 70% secondary assist% hint that he could see a positive swing soon in scoring production, especially with the Leafs roster more at full stregnth.
Chris Tavev and McCabe were the primary blue-line pair against Boston. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them continue in that role, especially considering the recent struggles of Morgan Rielly. Rielly has zero points in his last seven games, and his 0.45 Points/G and 37-point 82-game pace aren’t significantly better than McCabe’s marks (0.31 Points/G and 26 points).
Due to Rielly’s skill and standing on the team, I don’t see Rielly ceding much power play duties to McCabe, who only has a PP% of 5.2%. However, McCabe is a nice streamer for managers who need consistent “banger” production from their blue liners.
Matt Roy, D, WAS (10% Rostered)
The Capital have a loaded blue line with Jakob Chychrun (27 points), John Carlson (24), and Rasmus Sandin (17). That said, Roy is a defenseman that offers significant “banger” value despite lagging behind those in points (8).
Roy is averaging 2.21 Hits/G and 1.66 Blocks/G in 29 games played this year. The past three weeks have been particularly rough for 29-year-old American defenseman, as he only has one point in his last 11 games. He also only has nine shots on goal, a -2 plus/minus, and a 48.6 CF% in that time. That’s rough to see, especially considering primary linemate Rasmus Sandin has four points in his last six games.
However, Roy’s “banger” numbers have been stronger than ever in the past three weeks.
Over the last 11 contests, he has collected 24 hits and 19 blocks. He is also averaging 17:58 TOI in even-strength scenarios and 1:31 TOI in penalty-kill situations. Thus, he’s getting plenty of time on the ice in Washington, even if he’s not involving himself too much in the scoring attack from the Capitals blue line (34.8% IPP).
He also has a 42.9% secondary assist% this season, surprising for someone with such a low IPP. Hence, while goals may not be plenty for Roy in his future, he has the potential to be a source of assists for fantasy managers when the Capitals attack is surging.
The Capitals have a great shot to collect plenty of points this week with matchups against the Sabres, Canucks, Canadiens, and Predators.
Sean Walker, D, CAR (6% Rostered)
The injury to defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has put the Carolina blue line in a bit of a dilemma. Gostisbehere was Carolina’s primary power play quarterback and he thrived in the role with 18 PPP while averaging 3:45 PP TOI. His upper-body injury has put more pressure on others to pick up the slack in Carolina special teams situations.
Walker could be one of those who benefits, making him an ideal target for managers with a need in the “banger” categories.
The 30-year-old Canadian defenseman has lagged in scoring this year with only nine points and a 19-point 82-game pace this season. However, he is averaging 1.05 Hits/G and 1.03 Blocks/G, making him a balanced source when it comes to “banger” metrics.
Walker has demonstrated that balance in the past three weeks as well with 15 hits and 10 blocks. Furthermore, he’s provided an added fantasy scoring boost with four assists, 19 SOG, and a +3 plus/minus in his past 10 games. He has primarily been paired with Ty Smith, and they produced a 61.1% CF% in the Hurricanes’ last game against the Wild. That gives him some scoring upside, in addition to his consistent banger production. That makes him worth a flier for desperate fantasy managers, and he’s available in 96% of Yahoo leagues as of Sunday.
Carolina has a tough schedule in Week 14 with Tampa, Toronto, and Vancouver on the docket. However, they end Week 13 with a favorable matchup against Pittsburgh at home today. How Walker fares against the Penguins could determine if he is worth keeping for an extended period, or if he may be a one-game Sunday streamer.
Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images