Fantasy hockey top 10 waiver wire pickups
Frost, Raddysh worth adding in standard leagues; EDGE stats insights, new podcast episodes
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FORWARD
Artturi Lehkonen, LW/RW, COL
53 percent rostered in fantasy
The Colorado Avalanche wing had four points (two goals, two assists) and four shots on goal in their win against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Lehkonen has had points in three of his past five games totaling six points (four goals, two assists) and is quietly second on the Avalanche with 18 goals this season despite missing 12 games. He's playing on the second line at even strength and brings exposure to elite skaters Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen and Cale Makar on the top power play. Per NHL EDGE stats, Lehkonen leads the Avalanche in high-danger shots on goal (43; 93rd percentile) and high-danger goals (11; 93rd percentile).
Bryan Rust, RW, PIT
49 percent rostered in fantasy
The Pittsburgh Penguins wing scored a goal in their loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday, giving him goals in three straight games; he has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past six games and ranks second on the Penguins in goals (19) and third in points (37 in 41 games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Rust is among the leaders in midrange goals (nine; 97th percentile) and 20-plus mile per hour speed bursts (98; 90th percentile).
Pavel Dorofeyev, LW/RW, VGK
27 percent rostered in fantasy
The Vegas Golden Knights wing quietly leads them in goals (19) this season and is tied with center linemate Tomas Hertl for their most power-play goals (eight). Dorofeyev is playing on the second line with Hertl and Victor Olofsson and also the first power play with high-scoring forwards Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Hertl and defenseman Shea Theodore. Per NHL EDGE stats, Dorofeyev is among the League leaders in top shot speed (90.75 mph; 86th percentile), top skating speed (22.87; 84th percentile), midrange shots on goal (51; 96th percentile) and midrange goals (eight; 96th percentile).
Morgan Frost, C, PHI
5 percent rostered in fantasy
The Philadelphia Flyers forward ranks among the top 40 (34th) overall fantasy players over the past two weeks in standard leagues; he has 12 points (seven goals, five assists), three on the power play, over his past 15 games dating to Dec. 19 and is tied for Philadelphia's most even-strength goals (six) in that span. Per NHL EDGE stats, Frost ranks highly in high-danger shots on goal (35; 85th percentile) and 20-plus mph speed bursts (83; 82nd percentile).
Kaapo Kakko, RW, SEA
16 percent rostered in fantasy
The Seattle Kraken wing had two assists and two shots on goal in their win against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, extending his point streak to five games with seven points (three goals, four assists) in the span. Kakko has 12 points in 14 games since being acquired from the New York Rangers and has formed chemistry with center Matty Beniers and wing Jaden Schwartz. Per NHL EDGE stats, Kakko’s top skating speed (21.14 mph), top skating distance game (3.09 miles) and period (1.17 miles) of the season have come with Seattle.
Other forward to watch in deep leagues: Marco Kasper, DET
DEFENSEMAN
Seth Jones, CHI
49 percent rostered in fantasy
The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman scored a goal and two power-play assists in their win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Jones has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 13 games since returning from injury in December, including five points in three games this past week, and has been covering categories since his return with five power-play points, 13 hits and 18 blocks. Per NHL EDGE stats, Jones has scored four midrange goals (96th percentile at position).
Darren Raddysh, TBL
6 percent rostered in fantasy
The Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman has four points (one goal, three assists), three on the power play, during his three-game point streak. Raddysh is playing on the top pair with Victor Hedman and also seeing time on the first power play with elite forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Jake Guentzel for the Lightning, who lead the NHL in goals per game (3.66) and have the fourth-best power play (27.1). Per NHL EDGE stats, Raddysh is among the League leaders in top shot speed (96.18 mph; 86th percentile).
In-house replacement for injured Charlie McAvoy: Mason Lohrei (4 percent rostered)
GOALIE
Elvis Merzlikins, CBJ
29 percent rostered in fantasy
Among the 38 goalies who have played at least 20 games this season, Merzlikins ranks 14th in wins per game (0.552) and has the Columbus Blue Jackets in Stanley Cup Playoff contention. Merzlikins has an improved save percentage during his four-game winning streak (.906; .890 this season) and is getting plenty of goal support; per NHL EDGE stats, Merzlikins ranks in the 95th percentile in goals for average (3.57; League average: 2.91) and ranks in the 76th percentile in high-danger saves (179).
Connor Ingram, UTA
32 percent rostered in fantasy
The Utah Hockey Club goalie has allowed four goals in two games since returning from a 23-game injury absence. Teammate Karel Vejmelka has allowed three or more goals in four of his past six games, so Ingram should regain the starting job moving forward. Ingram was tied for the NHL lead in shutouts (six) last season, and, per NHL EDGE stats, has stopped 85 of 88 long-range shots faced (.966 save percentage) this season.
Samuel Ersson, PHI
18 percent rostered in fantasy
The Philadelphia Flyers goalie is 6-1-0 with a 1.66 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and one shutout over his past seven games, including a four-game winning streak. Ersson has 13 wins in 24 appearances this season, and the Flyers are allowing the fewest shots on goal per game (24.2) since Nov. 28. Per NHL EDGE stats, Ersson has improved his midrange save percentage to .879 this season (compared to .854 last season).
Key injury return to add in all formats: Frederik Andersen, CAR (63 percent rostered)
