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Fantasy Hockey Trade Advice: Noah Hanifin, Clayton Keller, Brady Tkachuk

Fantasy Hockey Trade Advice: Noah Hanifin, Clayton Keller, Brady Tkachuk

Can you believe it? It’s time for Week 15 of the National Hockey League (NHL) fantasy season. It’s really feeling like hockey season in the Raleigh, N.C. area, too. If you ever doubted that the Carolina Hurricanes are a real team because they play in the South, I can tell you differently. It’s currently 15 degrees Fahrenheit outside as I type this, the pond in the backyard has a slight glaze of ice across the top, although we’d need a good week of the current temperatures to safely skate on it. That won’t happen. But, we did get a couple of inches of snow, too, and it’s a beautiful thing. I am one of those crazy people who love the winter weather. It excites me for my own hockey games on Thursday and Saturday. It’s way better than heading to the rink when it’s in the 80’s or 90’s, right?

I hope that you’re doing well in your fantasy leagues, and if you ever have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to hit up my X account (@DanielEDobish). I’ll be glad to try and answer as quickly as possible if I see it. Let’s get started.

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NHL Fantasy Hockey Trade Advice (Week 15)

Buy

Noah Hanifin (D – VGK)

Hanifin is a streaky defenseman, at least in terms of scoring. Remember, he was in that amazing 2015 NHL Entry Draft which also included the likes of Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, Mikko Rantanen, etc. He has certainly lived up to his expectations in 10 seasons in the league. It’s amazing that he has been around that long, yet he is just 27 years old.

It’s his first full season with the Vegas Golden Knights, as he was acquired at the trade deadline last season. It’s been up and down, and he is projected for just 37 points. That would be a bit of a backslide from the 47 points he posted in 80 games with the Calgary Flames and VGK in the 2023-24 season. He has six goals and 21 points with an even rating, so the window is open to scoop him up for a song right now. He has been scoreless in the past eight games, too. Don’t expect the bargain basement prices to last long, though. He can pick up points in bunches. If you’re going to make a trade offer, act quickly.

Brady Tkachuk (LW – OTT)

Tkachuk is owned in 100 percent of all fantasy leagues, so you’re not going to be able to get him off of the waiver wire like some other colder players with big names. Everyone knows what Tkachuk is capable of doing.

Right now, he isn’t doing much. Tkachuk has been scoreless in the past eight games since scoring a goal in Detroit on Jan. 7, and frustration appears to be setting in. He has 23 penalty minutes (PIM) in the eight-game scoreless skid, so at least he is contributing something for those in formats that reward bad behavior. He has just two goals and five goals in the past 15 games since Dec. 21, so you might be able to finesse Tkachuk from an irritated fantasy manager looking to shake things up, especially if he/she is tumbling down the standings due to, or partly due to, Tkachuk flaming out lately. Make your offers quickly, as Tkachuk is capable of turning things around in a hurry, and the price tag will shoot back up again.

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Sell

Cam Fowler (D – STL)

The 33-year-old rearguard spent his first 14-plus NHL seasons with the Anaheim Ducks, playing 991 games with the organization. He was traded to St. Louis in mid-December for prospect Jeremie Biakabutuka and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft, while the Blues also picked up a fourth-round pick. He played his 1,000th NHL game in the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Blackhawks, which was kinda cool, although it would have been nice to do with the Ducks probably. Anyway…

Fowler has fit in nicely in St. Louis, and the veteran is having quite the renaissance. He has five goals and 13 points with a plus-6 rating through 18 games, including two power-play goals and a helper on the man advantage. He has already matched his PPG total from last season with the Ducks. Still, he is 33. Fowler isn’t a spring chicken, pun totally intended. His fantasy value is perhaps at the highest point it ever will be again. If you can get a good return on a tried and true scoring threat who is scuffling lately, do it. You’ll be glad you did, as this type of production for Fowler just isn’t sustainable.

Clayton Keller (LW – UTA)

The 26-year-old Keller is on fire, as he is currently on pace for 29 goals, 61 assists and 90 points. Is that possible? Perhaps? He had 37 goals in 2022-23 with the Arizona Coyotes, totaling 86 points, and he is averaging 35 goals and 81 points in the past two campaigns. He has had at least 11 points in every month so far this season, and he is currently on pace for his best production in a single month yet.

Keller has managed three goals with 13 points in nine games in January, including two goals and six points in the past two outings. He also has five power-play assists in the month. This might be a bit of a controversial bit of advice. However, if you’re able to trade Keller, you should do it, especially if you’re in a pool that penalizes plus/minus rating. He has an even rating in January despite the red-hot play, and he is minus-4 in the past 11 games. That’s the drawback with Keller, and if you’re in a format that rewards PIM, he doesn’t do well in that category, either. In fact, with 16 PIM on the season, he has been rather Lady Byng-like.

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Daniel E. Dobish is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Daniel, follow him @danieledobish.

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