Fantasy hockey top 10 waiver wire pickups
Kovalenko on Celebrini's line after trade; LaCombe emerges for Ducks; new podcast episodes
© Joe Puetz/NHLI
FORWARD
Logan Cooley, C, UTA
38 percent rostered in fantasy
The Utah Hockey Club center had two assists, one on the power play, in their win against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Cooley has had consecutive games with two assists and a power-play point and has four goals, 10 assists, six power-play points and is plus-10 over his past 11 games on a line mostly with wing Dylan Guenther. Per NHL EDGE stats, Cooley ranks among the League leaders in 20-plus mile per hour speed bursts (88; 96th percentile) this season.
Aliaksei Protas, C/LW, WSH
19 percent rostered in fantasy
The Washington Capitals forward is quietly close to a point per game (26 in 29 games) and sustaining his hot start despite the injury to frequent linemate Alex Ovechkin (broken fibula). Protas, who has been a fixture in the top six for one of the NHL's most surprising teams, has eight points (four goals, four assists) and 22 shots on goal over his past eight games and would only benefit from Ovechkin's eventual return. Per NHL EDGE stats, Protas is among the leaders in midrange goals (five; 93rd percentile) and 20-plus mph speed bursts (56; 81st percentile).
Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, SEA
19 percent rostered in fantasy
The Seattle Kraken wing has been better than a point-per-game over the past month with 14 points (seven goals, seven assists), three power-play goals, and 24 shots on goal over his past 12 games. Bjorkstrand is skating with center Shane Wright (seven points in past six games) at even strength and playing on the first power play. Per NHL EDGE stats, Bjorkstrand is among the League leaders in high-danger goals this season (eight; 94th percentile).
Victor Olofsson, LW/RW, VGK
6 percent rostered in fantasy
The Vegas Golden Knights wing has scored four goals, two on the power play, over his past three games with 12 shots on goal over that span. Olofsson is playing in the middle six on a line with center Tomas Hertl and also on the first power play with high-scoring forwards Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, Hertl and defenseman Shea Theodore. Per NHL EDGE stats, Olofsson ranks in the League's 91st percentile in offensive zone time percentage at all strengths (45.8) this season.
Nikolai Kovalenko, LW/RW, SJS
1 percent rostered in fantasy
Since being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, the Sharks rookie is playing on a line with Calder Trophy candidate Macklin Celebrini and wing Tyler Toffoli and also the second power play. Kovalenko has four assists, one on the power play, and has added six hits and two blocked shots in his first two games since the trade. Per NHL EDGE stats, Kovalenko ranks in the 89th percentile in offensive zone time percentage at even strength (43.6 percent).
Nikita Chibrikov, WPG
1 percent rostered in fantasy
The Winnipeg Jets rookie has four points (three goals, one assist), one on the power play, and nine shots on goal over his first four NHL games (three of which have come this season). Chibrikov is playing on the second line with Cole Perfetti and Vladislav Namestnikov in the absence of injured Nikolaj Ehlers and and second power play with defenseman Neal Pionk. It's a small sample size, but, per NHL EDGE stats, Chibrikov's offensive zone time percentage on the power play (69.4) ranks in the 99th percentile.
Notable injury returns worth adding: Mats Zuccarello, MIN; Mathew Barzal, NYI; Bobby McMann, TOR
Other forwards worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Gabriel Vilardi, WPG; Kent Johnson, CBJ; Pavel Buchnevich, STL; Josh Norris, OTT; Rickard Rakell, PIT; Jonathan Huberdeau, CGY
Other to consider in deep leagues: Troy Terry, ANA; Max Sasson, VAN; Jason Zucker, BUF
DEFENSEMAN
Cam Fowler, STL
3 percent rostered in fantasy
The St. Louis Blues defenseman was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday and has been playing on the top pair with Colton Parayko over his first two games since the trade. Fowler had 39 points in 81 games last season and should see plenty of opportunity for the Blues, who are thin on defense but much improved under new coach Jim Montgomery (6-2-2 in first 10 games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Fowler is one season removed from ranking ninth at his position in total skating distance (281.51 miles; 98th percentile).
Jackson LaCombe, ANA
1 percent rostered in fantasy
The Ducks defenseman has had consecutive multipoint games totaling four points (two goals, two assists), one power-play point and six shots on goal. LaCombe should see an expanded role in the Ducks offense after they traded away Fowler, especially if he continues to run the point of the first power-play unit, and already has 10 points (six goals, four assists) and two power-play assists in 22 games this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, LaCombe is the only defenseman to score three high-danger goals this season.
Other D-man worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Lane Hutson, MTL; Devon Toews, COL
Others to consider in deep leagues: Alex Vlasic, CHI; Matt Grzelcyk, PIT
GOALIE
Scott Wedgewood, COL
33 percent rostered in fantasy
The Colorado Avalanche goalie is 3-2-0 with a 1.92 goals-against average and .931 save percentage in five games (four starts) since being acquired from the Nashville Predators. Per NHL EDGE stats, Wedgewood ranks in the League’s 99th percentile in high-danger save percentage (.914) and is forming a strong tandem with Mackenzie Blackwood (57 percent rostered; acquired from San Jose Sharks), who won his Avalanche debut with 37 saves on 39 shots faced against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Marc-Andre Fleury, MIN
20 percent rostered in fantasy
The Minnesota Wild goalie stopped 21 of 22 shots faced in their win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Fleury has won six of his eight appearances this season with a 2.51 goals-against average and .909 save percentage; per NHL EDGE stats, the Wild are outscoring their opponents by 1.20 goals per 60 minutes with Fleury in net (93rd percentile). Wild starter Filip Gustavsson (undisclosed) was out Sunday; rookie Jesper Wallstedt (5 percent rostered) made his season debut (24 saves on 27 shots faced) in Minnesota’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights and is worth prioritizing in long-term leagues.
Other goalie worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Linus Ullmark, OTT; Mackenzie Blackwood, COL; Darcy Kuemper, LAK
Others to consider in deep leagues: Dustin Tokarski, CAR; Joel Hofer, STL; Tristan Jarry, PIT; Alexandar Georgiev, SJS
