Fantasy: Top 10 waiver wire pickups for Week 22

Every Monday during the season, NHL.com will provide the top 10 players to add off the fantasy waiver wire. Based on Yahoo transaction data and other factors including production, lineup and/or injury trends, we have identified appealing options at each position for fantasy owners in season-long leagues.

#

FORWARDS

Zach Parise, LW, MIN (42 percent owned): The Minnesota Wild forward has been a source of fantasy production lately skating on their second line with forwards Mikko Koivu (C, 26 percent) and Nino Niederreiter (LW/RW, 32 percent). Parise's six-game point streak ended in their 4-1 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday, but he has seven points (four goals, three assists) and 27 shots on goal in his past nine games. He has three games this week, including two favorable matchups against the Colorado Avalanche at home Tuesday and Arizona Coyotes on the road Saturday.

Paul Stastny, C, WPG (41 percent): The Winnipeg Jets forward has settled in well on their first line with elite forwards Patrik Laine (RW, 23rd in Yahoo) and Nikolaj Ehlers (LW/RW, 60th). Stastny has a four-game point streak, totaling one goal and four assists, and seven points (two goals, five assists) and three power-play points in six games since being acquired from the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 26. He is a must-own forward with exposure at even strength and on the first power play to Laine (15 goals in past 11 games). The Jets play four games this week, including home matchups against the Dallas Stars on Thursday and Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, EDM (24 percent): The Edmonton Oilers forward had a multipoint game (one goal, one assist) and four SOG in their 4-1 win against the Wild on Saturday. Nugent-Hopkins has points in three of his four games since returning from a rib injury that kept him out since Jan. 13. He has two goals, two assists and 12 SOG in that span. Nugent-Hopkins is skating on their first line with elite forward Connor McDavid (C, 11th in Yahoo) and forward Pontus Aberg (LW/RW, fewer than 1 percent) and on the point of their second power-play unit. The Oilers are one of 15 teams in the NHL to play four games this week.
Jake DeBrusk, LW, BOS (17 percent): The Boston Bruins rookie forward had one assist in their 3-1 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday and points in three of their four games this past week. DeBrusk has points in six of his past seven games totaling two goals, seven assists, two PPP and 17 SOG. He continues to skate on the second line with forwards Rick Nash (LW/RW, 55 percent) and David Krejci (C, 32 percent) and is filling in on the first power-play unit with forward David Pastrnak (RW, 35th in Yahoo) and defenseman Torey Krug (93rd) with elite forwards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand injured.
Boone Jenner, C/LW, CBJ (14 percent): The Columbus Blue Jackets newly formed second line of Jenner and forwards Alex Wennberg (C, 19 percent) and Thomas Vanek (LW/RW, 13 percent) has jelled quickly since acquiring Vanek from the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 26. Jenner has points in three of his past four games and has seven points (two goals, five assists) and 20 SOG in his past 11 games. Columbus plays non-contenders in the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators this week, and Jenner is a must-stream player in deep leagues that count hits (167 in 62 games).

Brendan Leipsic, LW/RW, VAN (10 percent):The Vancouver Canucks forward has been skating mostly on their first line with center Bo Horvat (37 percent) since being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 26. Leipsic has six points (two goals, four assists) and 16 SOG in six games with the Canucks. He is also skating on their second PP unit and has taken on an expanded role with rookie standout Brock Boeser (RW, 79th in Yahoo) sidelined with a back injury.
Carl Soderberg, C, COL (2 percent):The Colorado Avalanche forward had one goal and one assist in their 5-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, giving him back-to-back multipoint games. Soderberg is centering their third line and is skating on the wing of their second power-play unit and quietly has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past six games.
Others to consider: Sam Reinhart, C/LW/RW, BUF (38 percent); Nick Bjugstad, C/RW, FLA (35 percent); Jakob Silfverberg, LW/RW, ANA (31 percent); Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, CBJ (22 percent); Ryan Spooner, C/LW, NYR (19 percent); Richard Panik, LW/RW, ARI (13 percent); Charlie Coyle, C/RW, MIN (12 percent)

DEFENSEMEN

Sami Vatanen, NJD (41 percent):The New Jersey Devils defenseman scored his fourth goal of the season and had three SOG in their 3-2 shootout win against the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Vatanen has points in nine of his past 12 games totaling 12 points (two goals, 10 assists), seven PPP and 33 SOG and brings added value in leagues that count blocked shots (17 in span). Vatanen has 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) and 11 PPP in 45 games with the Devils.

Erik Gustafsson, CHI (1 percent):The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman had two power-play assists and three SOG in their 3-1 win against the Boston Bruins on Sunday. Gustafsson has back-to-back multipoint games and six points (two goals, four assists) and seven SOG in his past four games. He is skating on the second pair with defenseman Brent Seabrook (45 percent) and saw time on their first PP unit with elite forward Patrick Kane (RW, 38th), Jonathan Toews (C, 84th), Brandon Saad (LW, 53 percent) and Artem Anisimov (C, 13 percent). In limited playing time this season, Gustafsson has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 23 games.
Others to consider: Zdeno Chara, BOS (47 percent); Will Butcher, NJD (36 percent); Jamie Oleksiak, PIT (4 percent); Alex Petrovic, FLA (1 percent); Ben Chiarot, WPG (fewer than 1 percent)

GOALTENDERS

Philipp Grubauer, WSH (25 percent):The Washington Capitals backup goaltender has risen to 81st in Yahoo and seen an increase in playing time lately with starting goaltender Braden Holtby (407th in Yahoo; 1-5-0, 5.03 goals-against average, .842 save percentage in past six starts) struggling. Grubauer is 5-1-0 with a League-best 1.33 GAA and .954 SV% in his past nine games (six starts) since Feb. 14. The Capitals have four games this week, including a back-to-back set against the non-contending New York Islanders, and will make his third-straight start at home against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.
Others to consider: Antti Raanta, ARI (DTD; 44 percent); Kari Lehtonen, DAL (34 percent); Darcy Kuemper, ARI (29 percent); James Reimer, FLA (17 percent); Christopher Gibson, NYI (4 percent)

GAMES THIS WEEK:

MOST: ANA, CAR, COL, DAL, DET, EDM, LAK, MTL, OTT, PHI, SJS, STL, VGK, WSH, WPG (4 each)
FEWEST: BUF, PIT (2 each)