Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of Geek of the Week. We are wrapping up the second weekend of hockey action. Unless you are a Calgary Flames fan, it has been a great start to the year.

This week we will be looking at some standouts on waivers based on Yahoo percentages who can provide solid multicategory output to help you week to week.

Dylan Cozens, C, OTT – 6 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 17 SOG, 26 Hit, 2 Blk, 46% Rostered

Sometimes a change of scenery works out for everyone involved. Unfortunately for the Sabres and their fans, right now it looks like only Cozens is going to benefit from the trade for Josh Norris, since Norris dealing with yet another injury.

In 21 games with the Senators last year, Cozens managed just five goals, so this is already a great start to the season. The fact that he is on pace for career bests in goals and hits makes it criminal that not even half of Yahoo leagues have this man rostered.

Justin Brazeau, RW, PIT – 6 GP, 4 G, 1 A, 12 SOG, 10 HIT, 7 BLK, 9% Rostered

Making his second straight appearance in Geek of the Week, Brazeau is in the midst of a career best start. Averaging nearly a point per game and chipping in with a little bit of everything is exactly what you want from a waiver pickup.

In the week since his last mention, his ice time has ticked north of 13 minutes. That is a great sign, as it means he is earning an increase in opportunity. If he could get to 40 points, 40 hits, and 40 blocks as someone currently under 10% rostered, that would be a coup for people who take a chance on the young winger.

Jake Neighbours, RW, STL – 5 GP, 4 G, 1 A, 8 SOG, 15 HIT, 3 BLK, 29% Rostered

The young top line winger of the Blues has been an absolute sniper to start the season. Acquiring four goals in his first six shots is an amazing display of shot selection. He is also chipping in a reasonably nice amount of hits and blocks to go with that.

With ample opportunity in a good top 6 as well as his role on the PP2, Neighbours could have a real shot at cracking the 50-point mark after getting 46 in 2024-25.  If he can pair that by coming even close to the 173 hits and 55 blocks he had last year, Neighbours will go from 29% rostered to 92% rostered in no time.

Dawson Mercer, RW, NJ – 5 GP, 3 G 2 A, 8 SOG, 4 HIT, 8 BLK, 10% Rostered

I've missed talking about Mercer. After scoring 98 points over his first two NHL seasons, Mercer had only scored 69 (nods in approval) points over the last two years. That led some to think his top-6 role could be in serious danger going into this season.

Instead, Mercer is starting to tear it up with five points in his last four games while playing alongside Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. Mercer could be a 60-point, 50-hit, and 50-block player this season if he can even remotely keep up this pace. I'm not quite sure the scoring can quite get there, but considering his 10% roster rate, he very easily could post the best season of anyone currently under 25% right now.

Honorable Mention – Bobby McMann, RW, TOR – 6 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 10 SOG, 26 HIT, 5 BLK, 8% Rostered

McMann really isn't producing enough offensively to be on the level of waiver claim the others on this list are. But as a dynasty player who has McMann on every roster of mine currently, I had to shout out his start to the season.

Playing on one of the best third lines in the NHL, McMann is providing amazing defensive output while getting a shockingly high amount of scoring opportunities. I think the best-case scenario for a fantasy owner would be a 35-point season while being one of the best low-ownership banger wings available. 

–

That's it for this week's Geek of the Week. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with feedback and compliments over the first few weeks of my run with this series. Without you guys, this opportunity wouldn't exist.