Fantasy hockey top 10 waiver wire pickups
Kakko worth considering after trade; Askarov long-term add; new podcast episodes
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FORWARD
Jonathan Huberdeau, C/LW, CGY
27 percent rostered in fantasy
The Calgary Flames wing leads them with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 34 games, including 13 points (six goals, seven assists) and four power-play points in his past 10 games. Huberdeau, who’s playing on the top line with center Nazem Kadri, has had points in nine of his past 10 games and already surpassed his goal total from last season (12 in 81 games). Huberdeau is averaging 18:30 per game this season, much higher than his first two seasons in Calgary (17:25 last season; 16:52 in 2022-23), and is bouncing back from a low shooting percentage (8.4 last season; lowest since 8.3 with Florida Panthers as rookie 2013-14). Per NHL EDGE stats, Huberdeau is tied for sixth in high-danger goals (11) ranks in the 92nd percentile in high-danger shots on goal (31).
Teuvo Teravainen, LW/RW, and Ilya Mikheyev, RW, CHI
16 and 1 percent rostered in fantasy
The Chicago Blackhawks linemates have combined for 16 points over their past four games. Teravainen has four straight multipoint games totaling 10 points (one goal, nine assists), two on the power play. Mikheyev has six points (five goals, one assist) in his past four games with 15 shots on goal in the span. Per NHL EDGE stats, Teravainen is among the forward leaders in long-range shots on goal (11; 91st percentile) and ranks highly in top shot speed (90.22 mph; 86th percentile). Mikheyev, meanwhile, is among the fastest forwards in terms of top skating speed (23.18 mph; 95th percentile).
Bobby McMann and Nicholas Robertson, LW, TOR
6 and 2 percent rostered in fantasy
McMann has a four-game point streak (goals in three straight) with six points (three goals, three assists) in the span. McMann, who was recently elevated to the second line with John Tavares and Mitch Marner, has 14 shots on goal and 11 hits over the past five games since he returned from injury. Robertson, who’s on the third line with Max Domi and Max Pacioretty, has had multiple points in three of his first four games since being a healthy scratch in each of his prior four games. Per NHL EDGE stats, McMann ranks in the 95th percentile among forwards in 22-plus mph speed bursts (eight), while Robertson is in the 89th percentile at the position in top shot speed (91.24 mph).
Tyson Foerster, C/RW, PHI
2 percent rostered in fantasy
The Philadelphia Flyers forward has had consecutive multipoint games and six points over his past three games. Foerster ranks third on the Flyers with 10 points (five goals, five assists) over their past 11 games despite playing mostly on the third line. Per NHL EDGE stats, Foerster is among the forward leaders in top shot speed (93.79 mph; 95th percentile), average shot speed (63.38 mph; 91st percentile) and high-danger goals (eight; 92nd percentile).
Kaapo Kakko, F, SEA
4 percent rostered in fantasy
The Seattle Kraken forward, who was acquired from the New York Rangers last week, flashed his fantasy potential with a goal, three shots on goal and five hits against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. Kakko has been playing in the top six with center Matty Beniers and wing Jaden Schwartz and also on the second power play with high-scoring skaters Jared McCann and Brandon Montour. Per NHL EDGE stats, Kakko has nine shots between 80-90 mph, ranking in the 84th percentile among forwards.
Other forwards worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Cole Perfetti and Gabriel Vilardi, WPG; Kiefer Sherwood, VAN; Victor Olofsson, VGK; Dmitri Voronkov, CBJ
Other to consider in deep leagues: Shane Pinto, OTT; Nick Paul, TBL; Connor Zary and Matt Coronato, CGY; Warren Foegele, LAK; Simon Holmstrom, NYI; Brett Howden, VGK
DEFENSEMAN
Matt Grzelcyk, PIT
6 percent rostered in fantasy
The Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman has nine points (one goal, eight assists), including four power-play assists, over his past 10 games and quietly ranks tied for sixth in points at the position since Nov. 30. Grzelcyk is seeing time on the first power play with elite center Sidney Crosby, as well as forward Rickard Rakell and defenseman Kris Letang, while players like Evgeni Malkin, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson are being spread out onto a separate unit. Per NHL EDGE stats, Grzelcyk ranks highly among defensemen in total skating distance on the power play (10.22 miles; 85th percentile) and long-range shots on goal (29; 83rd percentile).
Other D-men worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Lane Hutson, MTL; Jackson LaCombe, ANA; Devon Toews, COL
Others to consider in deep leagues: Vladislav Gavrikov, LAK; Alex Vlasic and Connor Murphy, CHI; Nick Perbix, TBL
GOALIE
Karel Vejmelka, UTA
38 percent rostered in fantasy
The Utah Hockey Club goalie stopped 28 of 29 shots faced in their road win against the Minnesota Wild on Friday, extending his winning streak to four games. Vejmelka has been one of the best goalies League-wide in December, going 5-1-1 with a .919 save percentage in seven games. Vejmelka continues to see a heavy workload with teammate Connor Ingram (upper body) out, and, per NHL EDGE stats, ranks in the 95th percentile in high-danger save percentage (.857; League average: .805).
Yaroslav Askarov, SJS
10 percent rostered in fantasy
The San Jose Sharks rookie was recalled from the American Hockey League after the injury to Vitek Vanecek and is expected to share time with Alexandar Georgiev for now. Askarov, who was acquired from the Nashville Predators in the offseason, has earned a point in all three of his starts this season (1-0-2) with at least a .917 save percentage in each game. The Sharks have a promising group of rookies (Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Nikolai Kovalenko, Askarov) during their rebuild, and, per NHL EDGE stats, Askarov ranks in the 97th percentile in midrange save percentage (.950).
Other goalies worth adding previously featured on lists earlier in season: Ilya Samsonov, VGK; Sam Montembeault, MTL
Others to consider in deep leagues: Jesper Wallstedt, MIN; Dennis Hildeby, TOR; Arvid Soderblom, CHI
