Fantasy hockey top 10 waiver wire pickups
Blackwood must-add goalie after trade to Avalanche; Colton returns; new podcast episodes
© Getty Images
FORWARD
Ross Colton, C/LW, COL
50 percent rostered in fantasy
The Colorado Avalanche forward returned from injury Friday and has scored one goal with five shots on goal, five hits and four blocks in his first two games back. Among players to play at least 10 games this season, Colton is third in goals per game (0.75; nine in 12 games) behind Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning (0.86; 18 in 21 games) and Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (0.83; 15 in 18 games). Colton is playing on the second line with Valeri Nichushkin and Casey Mittelstadt and second power play unit; per NHL EDGE stats, Colton ranks in the 95th percentile in offensive zone time percentage at all strengths (46.9).
Marco Rossi, C, MIN
26 percent rostered in fantasy
The Minnesota Wild center is skating on the top line and first power play with elite wings Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy in the absence of injured Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body; week to week). Rossi has six points (three goals, three assists), two on the power play, in his past five games, and ranks third on the Wild in points (23 in 27 games) behind Kaprizov (42 in 26 games) and Boldy (27 in 27). Per NHL EDGE stats, Rossi is among the League leaders in high-danger shots on goal (23; 87th percentile) and high-danger goals (seven; 93rd percentile) this season.
Jake Neighbours, LW/RW, STL
20 percent rostered in fantasy
The St. Louis Blues forward has had points in four of the six games (two goals, two assists; two power-play points) since Jim Montgomery was hired to replace Drew Bannister. Neighbours ranks second on the Blues in hits (69) and is tied for third among their forwards in blocks (19). He’s also producing on the top power-play unit; each of his past four goals have been scored with the man advantage. Per NHL EDGE stats, Neighbours is among the League leaders in high-danger shots on goal (30; 96th percentile) and high-danger goals (seven; 93rd percentile) this season.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/LW, WSH
18 percent rostered in fantasy
The Washington Capitals forward had a multipoint game (one goal, one assist) and three shots on goal in their win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, giving him 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in his past 18 games. He is playing on the second line with breakout forward Connor McMichael (26 points in 27 games) and also the second power play unit. Per NHL EDGE stats, Dubois ranks highly in 20-plus mile per hour speed bursts (55; 85th percentile) this season.
Bryan Rust, RW, and Rickard Rakell, C/RW, PIT
32 and 26 percent rostered in fantasy
The Pittsburgh Penguins forwards are settling in as Sidney Crosby’s linemates this season; Rust had a multipoint game (one goal, one assist) against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, giving him 11 points (six goals, five assists) and 37 shots on goal over his past 14 games. Rakell quietly leads the Penguins with 11 goals, including goals in four of his past six games, and is on pace for his first 30-goal season since 2017-18 with the Anaheim Ducks. Per NHL EDGE stats, Rakell is among the best in top shot speed (91.85; 92nd percentile); in terms of high-danger shots on goal, Rust (31; 96th percentile) and Rakell (27; 93rd percentile) both rank highly.
Shane Wright, C/RW, SEA
6 percent rostered in fantasy
The Seattle Kraken forward has scored goals in three straight games, giving him six in his past eight games. Four of Wright’s nine points in that eight-game span have come on the power play. Wright is playing center in the middle six with wings Eeli Tolvanen (seven points in past seven games) and Oliver Bjorkstrand (12 points in past nine games). The No. 4 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft had five points (four goals, one power-play assist) in eight games last season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Wright is among the leaders in average skating distance per 60 minutes (10.52 miles; 95th percentile).
Other forwards worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Kent Johnson, CBJ; Patrik Laine, MTL; Dylan Holloway, STL; Anders Lee, NYI
Other to consider in deep leagues: Nick Paul, TBL
DEFENSEMAN
Lane Hutson, MTL
35 percent rostered in fantasy
The Canadiens rookie had an assist against the Washington Capitals on Saturday, extending his assist streak to six games (seven in span), and is playing on the top power play unit since forward Patrik Laine's season debut. Hutson is covering categories during that stretch with two power-play points, nine blocks and 11 shots on goal and leads NHL rookies in assists (18) and is second in his class in points (18) and power-play points (six) behind Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov (25 points, 11 on power play, in 25 games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Hutson leads all rookie defensemen in 20-plus mph speed bursts (39; 96th percentile) this season.
Other D-man worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Luke Hughes, NJD; Aaron Ekblad, FLA; Philip Broberg, STL
Others to consider in deep leagues: Jared Spurgeon, MIN; Alex Vlasic, CHI; Jacob Trouba, ANA
GOALIE
Mackenzie Blackwood, COL
35 percent rostered in fantasy
The goalie was acquired by the Avalanche on Monday in the trade that sent Alexandar Georgiev to the San Jose Sharks. Blackwood has a chance to be the 1A, the ceiling of being the clear starter and, at worst, would be a part of a tandem with Scott Wedgewood (two wins, .951 save percentage, one shutout in three games since being acquired from Nashville Predators earlier in season). Blackwood had a .909 save percentage in 19 games with the Sharks this season, and, per NHL EDGE stats, is tied for second in the League in midrange saves (157) behind Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild (169).
Darcy Kuemper, LAK
59 percent rostered in fantasy
The Los Angeles Kings goalie stopped 22 of 23 shots faced in a win against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, which was his first game back from injury. Kuemper remains in a timeshare with David Rittich but has allowed two or fewer goals in three straight games and four of his past five; the Kings have won five straight games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Kuemper ranks in the 87th percentile in high-danger save percentage (.848), well above the League average (.807) this season.
Other goalie worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Scott Wedgewood, COL
Others to consider in deep leagues: Tristan Jarry, PIT; Jaxson Stauber, UTA
