Fantasy hockey top 10 waiver wire pickups
Talbot thriving under McLellan; Fantilli elevated; EDGE stats insights, new podcast episodes
© Kirk Irwin/NHLI
FORWARD
Adam Fantilli, C, CBJ
14 percent rostered in fantasy
The Columbus Blue Jackets forward scored a goal on six shots on goal against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday and has a five-game point streak totaling six points (three goals, three assists), one power-play point and 14 shots on goal. Fantilli, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, has been elevated to the top line with high-scoring wings Kirill Marchenko and Dmitri Voronkov in place of injured center Sean Monahan (wrist; injured reserve) and is playing on the first power play with exposure to elite defenseman Zach Werenski. Per NHL EDGE stats, Fantilli ranks in the 98th percentile in 20-plus mile per hour speed bursts (155; just outside top 10 in category).
Brock Nelson, C, NYI
50 percent rostered in fantasy
The New York Islanders center has had consecutive multipoint games totaling two goals, two assists and five shots on goal in their road wins against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday and Utah Hockey Club on Saturday. Nelson is tied for third on the Islanders in goals (12) and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, making him worth targeting in fantasy before a potential trade. Per NHL EDGE stats, Nelson is among the forward leaders in total skating distance (138.12 miles; 96th percentile), midrange shots on goal (41; 93rd percentile) and 20-plus mph speed bursts (90; 89th percentile).
William Eklund, LW, SJS
18 percent rostered in fantasy
The San Jose Sharks wing has four points, two on the power play, and 13 shots on goal in four games since returning from injury. Eklund is playing on a potent line with rookie standout Macklin Celebrini and veteran goal scorer Tyler Toffoli and quietly ranks second on the Sharks in points (31 in 40 games; behind Mikael Granlund’s 36 in 43 games) despite missing five games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Eklund ranks among the forward leaders in top shot speed (93.69 mph; 95th percentile).
Jordan Staal, C, CAR
25 percent rostered in fantasy
The Carolina Hurricanes captain has had points in four of his past five games with three multipoint games in the span, including a hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Staal has totaled eight points (five goals, three assists) in those five games and is covering shots on goal (10) and hits (12) in that span. Per NHL EDGE stats, Staal ranks among the forward leaders in offensive zone time percentage at even strength (46.7; 98th percentile), top skating speed (23.15 mph; 94th percentile) and high-danger shots on goal (37; 90th percentile).
Teuvo Teravainen, LW/RW, CHI
15 percent rostered in fantasy
The Chicago Blackhawks forward has had points in four of his past five games, including a three-game point streak, and has been a beneficiary of the coaching change to Anders Sorensen; since Sorensen’s debut Dec. 7, Chicago has two point-per-game players in Teravainen (18 in 17 games) and his power-play linemate Connor Bedard (19 in 17). Per NHL EDGE stats, Teravainen ranks in the 90th percentile at his position in long-range shots on goal (12) and 84th percentile in top shot speed (90.22 mph).
DEFENSEMAN
Justin Faulk, STL
18 percent rostered in fantasy
The St. Louis Blues defenseman has three assists, two on the power play, in three games since returning from a two-game injury absence. Faulk has seven points (one goal, six assists) in his past six games played, is playing on the top power-play unit and has strong coverage of hits (49), blocks (55) and shots on goal (69) and power-play points (leads Blues defensemen with six). Per NHL EDGE stats, Faulk ranks in the 93rd percentile at his position in midrange shots on goal (20).
Erik Gustafsson, DET
1 percent rostered in fantasy
The Detroit Red Wings defenseman had his first multipoint game of the season in their win against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. Gustafsson has bounced back since Detroit’s coaching change with six points (two goals, four assists) in eight games under Todd McLellan (compared to five points, all assists, in 26 games under Derek Lalonde) and has the same number of power-play points (three) under McLellan as he did under Lalonde. Gustafsson has a high points ceiling (career-high 60 with Blackhawks in 2018-19), and, per NHL EDGE stats, ranks among the defenseman leaders in offensive zone time percentage (44.8; 87th percentile) this season.
GOALIE
Cam Talbot, DET
45 percent rostered in fantasy
The Red Wings goalie has reunited with his twice-former coach McLellan and has four straight wins with two goals allowed twice in the span. Detroit is 7-1-0 under McLellan, and Talbot is the No. 1 option in net with Alex Lyon (upper body) injured. Talbot has a .913 save percentage in 509 career games, three 30-win seasons (including career-high 42 under McLellan with Edmonton Oilers in 2016-17) and was an NHL All-Star with the Los Angeles Kings last season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Talbot is just outside the top 10 qualifying leaders in high-danger save percentage (.830; League average: .805).
Dustin Tokarski, CAR
3 percent rostered in fantasy
The Hurricanes goalie stopped all 14 shots faced in their shutout win against the Canucks on Friday. Tokarski has won three straight starts and is 4-0-1 with a 2.00 goals-against average and one shutout in five games for the Hurricanes. Tokarski is the backup to Pyotr Kochetkov with Frederik Andersen (knee) injured and has become a must-roster goalie anytime he gets a spot start behind the deep Hurricanes defense. Per NHL EDGE stats, Tokarski has a perfect long-range save percentage (stopped 23 of 23 long-range shots faced) and one of the best goal differentials per 60 minutes (plus-1.40; 95th percentile).
Leevi Meriläinen, G, OTT
2 percent rostered in fantasy
The Ottawa Senators rookie has won four of his first six appearances this season, including back-to-back victories this weekend and a shutout at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Meriläinen, who has emerged as Ottawa’s top replacement option for injured Linus Ullmark (back; injured reserve), has a .913 save percentage, and, per NHL EDGE stats, Meriläinen ranks in the 80th percentile in midrange save percentage (.909).
