RADIO
What's up RotoBallers? Welcome to my weekly edition of the fantasy hockey waiver wire. Below are a few skaters at each position that will steer your fantasy hockey team toward a championship.
Whether your fantasy hockey team is dealing with injuries or lack of production, these NHL players will help get you back on track. These players can be considered waiver wire pickups or sleepers depending on the league format.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire - NHL Forwards
Mike Santorelli (F, TOR) - 21 % Owned
The Maple Leafs have been winning the majority of their games as of late and Mike Santorelli is a big reason why. Santorelli has netted 13 points over his last 11 games. Mike now has 16 assists on the season and has consistently been setting up his teammates for high-quality scoring chances. In addition to his point totals, Santorelli is also sporting an impressive +17 rating on the season. He is an excellent waiver wire addition going forward.
Steve Downie (F, PIT) - 21% Owned
It's always a bonus when a player known for racking up penalty minutes starts to find the back of the net. Steve Downie leads the league by a long shot with 116 penalty minutes. He also has a +6 rating and 15 points in 30 games. He has five points (2G, 3A) over his last five contests. Downie is providing plenty of value at the moment. If your fantasy team isn't getting to the penalty box often enough, Steve Downie is the guy to add.
Mika Zibanejad (F, OTT) - 16% Owned
Talk about turning around a season. Mika Zibanejad has nine points in seven December games after posting just six points over his first 21 games to start the year. Zibanejad has at least one point in six of his last seven starts. The future looks bright for the 21 year-old forward from Sweden. He is worth a look in deeper leagues or for owners looking for some instant offense during his current scoring streak.
Sean Couturier (F, PHI) - 11% Owned
Generally speaking, Sean Couturier is more known for his defensive prowess rather than his offensive skill. Lately, Couturier has been playing a strong two-way game. He has seven points in seven matchups in December. Sean likely won't continue to score at a point-per-game pace, but he is worth a look in deeper league formats as long as his recent scoring trend continues.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire - NHL Defensemen
Nick Leddy (D, NYI) - 44% Owned
Nick Leddy is quietly putting together a strong all-around season up to this point. He has 5 G, 10 A, 10 PIM, 48 SOG, and a +7 rating in 31 games. Leddy has notched five assists over his last six games and continues to be an integral part of the Islanders power play. He is a solid addition for fantasy owners looking for a defenseman with offensive upside.
Christian Ehrhoff (D, PIT) - 48% Owned
In his first year in Pittsburgh, Christian Ehrhoff has been a steadying presence on the Penguins blue line. Ehrhoff leads the team with a +15 rating and has skated over 22:00 minutes in each of his last 14 starts. He is second on the team in points and shots on goal by a defenseman with 10 and 66, respectively. Ehrhoff skates a lot of power play minutes alongside some very talented Penguins forwards, which should lead to quality scoring chances throughout the season.
Jonas Brodin (D, MIN) - 5% Owned
One of the NHL's most underrated defensemen is Minnesota's Jonas Brodin. Brodin skates nearly 25:00 minutes per game and is sporting a superb +14 rating in 19 games played. Brodin had some injuries early on but has been skating huge minutes since rejoining the team in late November, including 31:54 against the Coyotes on December 13th. Jonas doesn't contribute a whole lot offensively, but does have some value in deeper leagues or for fantasy owners looking for an uptick in overall time on ice.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire - NHL Goalies
Jonathan Bernier (G, TOR) - 69% Owned
The Maple Leafs have won six straight and 10 of their last 12 games. Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer have both been playing well, but Bernier has a firm grasp on the starting gig at this point. He has won four straight starts and is now sporting a .920 save percentage and 2.55 goals against average in 23 games.
Jhonas Enroth (G, BUF) - 31% Owned
Jhonas Enroth continues to stack up the wins in Buffalo. After a rough start to the season, Enroth has picked up the win in four straight starts and seven of his last eight. Nine of his ten total wins have come in his last eleven contests. As long as the Sabres are playing decent hockey in front of him, Enroth will continue to be a serviceable fantasy goaltender.
