Sidney Crosby, Blake Wheeler, Claude Giroux and Martin Jones were among the top NHL fantasy performers this past week. While nobody will be surprised to see those names among the top NHL fantasy producers, they might not expect to see Troy Brouwer, Matt Stajan, Andrew Shaw and Ian Cole right up there with them. The NHL waiver wire is always stocked with decent options based on schedule, opportunity and team needs and this week is no different with some intriguing names you might want to consider adding to provide a boost to your lineup. Here is a look at the top NHL fantasy waiver wire picks that are available for this week.
RW: Sam Reinhart, Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres offense hit a low point when Ryan O’Reilly, Jack Eichel and Evander Kane were all injured but all three of those players are back and their scoring averages are starting to climb as a result. O’Reilly has teamed up with Kyle Okposo and Zemgus Girgensons on Buffalo’s top line while Reinhart has settled in nicely won a line with Jack Eichel and Derek Grant while also playing top powerplay minutes. Reinhart’s production has picked up with two goals and three assists over the course of a four-game point streak so he is definitely worth grabbing right now as a strong option on the right wing in terms of both short and long-term production.
LW, RW: Conor Sheary, Pittsburgh Penguins
Sheary is in an even better position than Reinhart in terms of his linemates at even strength as he is playing with Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist as part of the Penguins’ top trio. Sheary has two goals and an assist over his last three games and he should continue to get plenty of opportunities to produce at even strength. Sheary doesn’t have the advantage of playing on the top powerplay in Pittsburgh but he is still getting minutes on the team’s second unit so he is worth a long look in NHL fantasy leagues.
LW, RW: Kris Versteeg, Calgary Flames
With players like Brouwer and Stajan making the list of sleeper picks for last week it only makes sense that Versteeg would be in the fold for this week now that he has been moved to a line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. Monahan has started to show signs of getting over a slow start with Gaudreau had a goal and an assist in his return to the Flames lineup after missing just two weeks with a broken finger. Versteeg has four goals and 10 points in 18 games this season and is definitely in a favorable position to produce as a waiver wire option for as long as he sticks with Monahan and Gaudreau in Calgary.
LW, RW: Kevin Fiala, Nashville Predators
Fiala returned from an NHL demotion last weekend and he has looked really good since with three goals in his last three games. Head coach Peter Laviolette talked about how impressed he is with Fiala’s production and he has some decent linemates with Mike Ribeiro and Craig Smith joining him at even strength in Nashville. The Predators desperately need some additional secondary scoring help with James Neal injured and that could make Fiala a decent waiver wire addition for this week in NHL fantasy leagues.
RW: Radim Vrbata, Arizona Coyotes
Vrbata has settled in nicely in the desert where he has found his scoring touch again while playing on the Coyotes top line with Martin Hanzal and Tobias Rieder. Vrbata is up to eight goals and 17 points in 23 games this season and he has also been a decent source for penalty minutes with 18 after totaling 15 penalty minutes all of last season. Vrbata’s role on the top line and top powerplay will help boost his scoring potential and he should be a consistent option that is worth taking a chance on in fantasy hockey leagues this week. As of Monday night, the Coyotes are the second-worst team in the NHL with just 20 points, but don’t overlook them. Someone has to score for them and a guy like Vrbata could be relevant in NHL fantasy the entire season.
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