Fantasy: Sources of power on waiver wire

Of the standard fantasy categories, power-play points can be the most difficult to find a readily available specialist.
Players on top power-play units around the NHL usually range from elite forwards to first or second-line occupants. In some cases, third-liners see time on the top power-play unit (i.e. Logan Couture, Corey Perry, David Backes, Marcus Johansson). Still, in many of these instances, those players are well-known, largely owned commodities.

But paying extra attention to power-play usage and minutes per game on a daily basis sheds light on players who can help in deep leagues down the stretch of the season. It's not unusual to own top-flight fantasy performers who are lacking in man-advantage production and/or usage (i.e. Taylor Hall, Brad Marchand, Jonathan Toews, Dylan Larkin), so take note of the players below who can compensate for a lack of power-play production on your roster.
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Mike Ribeiro, C, Nashville Predators
Yahoo ownership: 17 percent
Ribeiro, under the radar as usual, is the highest-ranked fantasy player (121st) owned in fewer than 20 percent of Yahoo leagues. He averages 2:48 per game on the power play and has 12 power-play points this season. Though center-only assets are least convenient in terms of fantasy forward eligibility, Ribeiro's production can no longer be ignored. He is covering four of the six standard categories well, with 33 assists (T-19th in the League), a plus-7, 48 penalty minutes and a strong PPP output. With Ryan Johansen in the fold, Ribeiro has had an opportunity to thrive in a secondary role alongside Filip Forsberg at even strength and on the power play.
Sam Reinhart, C, Buffalo Sabres
Yahoo ownership: 7 percent
With Ryan O'Reilly injured, Reinhart is the biggest candidate for a fantasy value boost because of his increased power-play role. He's on the top man-advantage unit with Jack Eichel, Rasmus Ristolainen and Evander Kane, and has already performed well in those spots (2:47 per game, seven PPP). He ranks third among rookies in goals (18), and six of them have come on the power-play. Grab Reinhart now in deep leagues, because there's a good chance he could translate his even-strength scoring to power-play production with O'Reilly out of the mix for most, if not all, of the Sabres' 22 remaining games.
Anthony Duclair, LW/RW, Arizona Coyotes
Yahoo ownership: 24 percent
The Coyotes' line of Duclair, Martin Hanzal and Max Domi has cooled off in their past two games, but that trio is seeing time together at even strength and on Arizona's top power-play unit. Duclair offers dual eligibility in Yahoo, and has strong power-play usage and production (2:56 per game; nine PPP) in his inconsistent rookie season. His goal (16) and assist (17) totals are balanced, and he's owned in fewer than one-quarter of Yahoo leagues. First-unit power-play time for Duclair means exposure to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, whose 25 PPP rank second in the League behind Patrick Kane.
Anders Lee, C/LW, New York Islanders
Yahoo ownership: 23 percent
Lee hasn't seen nearly as much time alongside John Tavares at even strength as he did in his 25-goal season in 2014-15, but he's at least seeing 2:35 per game on the power play with a career-high 10 PPP through 58 games. Two of those came Tuesday at the Minnesota Wild, where he earned his first points since Feb. 11 (four-game drought). This is as boom-or-bust of a waiver wire pickup as you'll find on this list, but Lee has potential with the Islanders tied for the most remaining games (24) in the League. A safer option is Frans Nielsen (C, 26 percent owned, 13 PPP) if you need a center and he's available in your league. Lee and Nielsen play with Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Nick Leddy on New York's No. 1 power-play unit.
Matt Beleskey, LW, Boston Bruins
Yahoo ownership: 16 percent
Beleskey has three goals, one assist, two PPP, and seven shots on goal in his past two games playing on the third line and top power-play unit for the Bruins. Though his production for the season has not been there since Ryan Spooner has played more first-unit power-play minutes, things could change if Loui Eriksson, a pending unrestricted free agent, is traded before the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 29. Beleskey has five power-play points on the season in 1:02 per game of such ice time, but the recent uptick (5:59 on Feb. 20; 3:05 on Feb. 22) is a reason to believe in his stretch-run upside.
Joseph Blandisi, C, New Jersey Devils
Yahoo ownership: 2 percent
Travis Zajac (9 percent owned) has 12 PPP this season in 2:27 per game in those situations, but has been operating alongside Kyle Palmieri and Blandisi of late in man-advantage situations. Though Zajac is a hit-or-miss fantasy asset, Blandisi is tied for 12th in the League in power-play points (six) since Jan. 21 (2:25 per game on power play in span). He had two assists, one on the power play, to go along with four PIMs and two SOG against the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Though his SOG volume is low for the season (31 in 22 games), he's a win-now fantasy add who brings much more fantasy production than his name value might suggest. For as long as Michael Cammalleri is out, Blandisi's ownership should be much higher.