Fantasy: Top 10 waiver wire pickups for Week 10

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

Tyler Johnson, C, TBL (32 percent owned in Yahoo): A shift to wing and back into the Tampa Bay Lightning's top six has made Johnson a must-own fantasy player again alongside Steven Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov. In four games since the move, Johnson has seven points (two goals, five assists), a plus-3, three power-play points and nine shots on goal. He has remained on the second power-play unit with Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat, Yanni Gourde and Mikhail Sergachev, giving the Lightning enough scoring depth to lead the NHL in power-play efficiency (28.4 percent).

Tom Wilson, LW/RW, WSH (45 percent): Whether you're in a league that counts hits and/or penalty minutes, it's time to make room for Wilson in fantasy. He's the highest-ranked player (74th in Yahoo) to still be owned in fewer than one-half of leagues, and exposure to Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom has helped the power forward showcase his previously untapped offensive potential. Wilson has skyrocketed in ownership after a three-game stretch totaling seven points (three goals, four assists), a plus-6, 11 PIMs, one PPP, nine SOG and 10 hits.
Kevin Fiala, LW/RW, NSH (13 percent):The Nashville Predators wing has developed chemistry with Kyle Turris and Craig Smith, but Fiala's ownership remains extremely low. He's
worth taking more seriously
in most fantasy leagues after 12 points (five goals, seven assists), four PPP and 42 SOG in 14 games since Turris was traded to Nashville on Nov. 5. Nashville's power play is quietly pacing the League since Turris' arrival (33.3 percent).
Vladimir Sobotka, LW, STL (17 percent): The St. Louis Blues remain deep at left wing after injuries to Robby Fabbri (torn ACL) and now Jaden Schwartz (ankle; out at least six weeks). Alexander Steen (C/LW/RW; 47 percent) certainly gains value, and everyone should keep a keen eye on sleepers Dmitrij Jaskin (LW/RW; 2 percent) and the recently recalled Ivan Barbashev (C/LW; fewer than 1 percent). But Sobotka was productive alongside Vladimir Tarasenko and Paul Stastny earlier this season, and that trio was reunited after Schwartz's injury; Jaskin skated with Steen and Brayden Schenn. Sobotka was also on the first power-play unit against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday with Tarasenko, Stastny, Patrik Berglund (C, 5 percent) and defenseman Colton Parayko, who's filling in for the injured Alex Pietrangelo (foot).

Elias Lindholm, C/RW, CAR (11 percent):The Carolina Hurricanes forward was valuable down the stretch last season and is producing lately despite being in a second- or third-line role. He's currently on the third line with Victor Rask and Brock McGinn, but has been playing on the first power-play unit with Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Jordan Staal and defenseman Justin Faulk. Lindholm has nine points (five goals, four assists), two PPP and 27 SOG over his past 13 games, and his past three assists have been primary. That's a noteworthy trend because Lindholm ranked 12th in the NHL with 29 primary assists last season.
Danton Heinen, C/LW/RW, BOS (1 percent): The Boston Bruins rookie has at least one point in eight of his past 11 games, including in four of five games since linemate David Backes (C/RW, 15 percent owned) returned from an absence following colon surgery. Heinen has been producing for weeks now and is available in nearly all season-long leagues. He has goals in back-to-back games and played on the first power-play unit with forwards Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak and defenseman Torey Krug against the New York Islanders on Saturday.
Low-ownership forwards identified in previous waiver wire stories: Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW (17 percent), or Josh Anderson, RW (27 percent), CBJ; Kyle Connor, LW (17 percent); Yanni Gourde, C/RW, TBL (18 percent); Tomas Hertl, C/LW, SJS (27 percent); David Perron, LW/RW, VGK (34 percent); Adam Henrique, C, ANA (29 percent)
Other forward options: Joe Thornton, C (40 percent); Tanner Pearson, LW, LAK (8 percent); Phillip Danault, C/LW, MTL (8 percent); Alex Tuch, RW, VGK (3 percent); Evan Rodrigues, C/LW, BUF (fewer than 1 percent)

DEFENSEMEN

Jacob Trouba, WPG (62 percent):With top power-play defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (lower body) out week to week, Trouba is the leading candidate to step into a first power-play role alongside elite forwards Mark Scheifele, Blake Wheeler and Patrik Laine. Other in-house replacement options include Tyler Myers (41 percent) and Josh Morrissey (13 percent), but Trouba has added value in hits leagues and is worth buying low after this injury development. He has 10 points (two goals, eight assists; one PPP) and 57 hits in 30 games and would likely see a shooting percentage correction (two goals on 69 SOG; 2.9 percent) in a heightened role.

Gustav Forsling, CHI (3 percent):Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Cody Franson (upper body; day to day) did not play against the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday, prompting another power-play shakeup. Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook rejoined the top unit with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, and Forsling was on the second unit with forwards Patrick Sharp, Nick Schmaltz, Brandon Saad and Alex DeBrincat. Forsling had three SOG in 20:36, and had three points (one goal, two assists), one PPP and five SOG in his prior game against the Sabres on Friday. Forsling is second among Chicago defensemen in SOG (56 in 27 games) and tied for its PPP lead at the position (four) despite playing far fewer minutes per game (1:31 on power play) than Keith (3:52), Seabrook (2:29) and Franson (2:23). If Chicago's struggles continue in this area, expect Forsling to eventually gain more usage.
Others to consider: Joel Edmundson, STL (24 percent); Darnell Nurse, EDM (29 percent); Esa Lindell, DAL (10 percent)

GOALTENDER

Aaron Dell, SJS (29 percent):The San Jose Sharks goaltender has arguably been the best backup in the League over the past two seasons; he is 5-3-1 with a .939 save percentage and two shutouts through 11 games (eight starts) and 16-9-2 with a .933 SV% and three shutouts over two NHL seasons. He is beginning to push Martin Jones for more playing time; Jones has dealt with a lower-body injury and is 1-2-1 over his past four games with at least four goals allowed in each. The Sharks have nine remaining back-to-back sets this season (T-10th in NHL), so Dell should remain more valuable than many lower-tier starters.
Antti Raanta, ARI (23 percent): It has been a rocky transition from backup to starter for Raanta with the Arizona Coyotes, but his lack of fantasy value can be pinned on multiple injury absences. Since Nov. 4, Raanta is 4-4-1 with a .930 save percentage in 10 games. He returned from an upper-body injury and stopped 33 of 34 shots faced at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. He's in the final year of his contract, leaving the possibility of him being moved before the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline. Whether or not that happens, he's Arizona's full-time starter and has been efficient when healthy.
Others to consider: Ryan Miller, ANA (25 percent); David Rittich, CGY (1 percent)
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GAMES THIS WEEK:
MOST: CGY, CAR, COL, DAL, FLA, MIN, NYI, NYR, STL, VAN, WSH, WPG (four each)
FEWEST: ARI, MTL, SJS (two each)