We’re coming down the stretch in the fantasy hockey regular season — time to make sure your roster is as good as it can be. If you see some weak spots, here are four forwards, four defensemen, and two goalies that are probably sitting on your fantasy hockey waiver wire that you can grab and strengthen your team.
(only includes players rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo Fantasy leagues; stats listed are after Wednesday’s games)
Best Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Forwards
Logan Couture – San Jose – C – 46% Rostered
(20 G, 28 A, -18, 14 PPP, 136 SOG, 55 BLK)
San Jose’s first-line center Logan Couture netted his 20th goal of the season last game, making it back-to-back 20+ goal campaigns, and ten times he’s hit that total for his career. He now has points in three straight games and six of his last eight (11 points total in those eight games). With 48 points in 58 games, he has an outside shot at topping his career-best point total of 70 which he registered in 2018/19.
Mikael Backlund – Calgary – C – 39% Rostered
(13 G, 26 A, +18, 4 PPP, 185 SOG, 17 BLK)
Fantasy players are jumping on the Mikael Backlund train, with his rostered percentage doubling since I wrote about him last week. He’s rewarded them with points in four straight games and goals in his last three. He’s already matched his point total for all of January as well as tied his point total from last season, which he needed 82 games to get.
Best Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Defensemen
Erik Gustafsson – Washington – D – 43% Rostered
(7 G, 27 A, +9, 9 PPP, 110 SOG, 54 BLK)
Washington D-man Erik Gustafsson is having his best season since his third year in the league, way back in 2018/19. His numbers across the board are way, way higher than they have ever been since that time. He had four points over his last three games, with six shots on net and four blocked shots. If you need help on the blue line, he’s your man.
Sean Durzi – Los Angeles – D – 33% Rostered
(6 G, 24 A, -9, 14 PPP, 88 SOG, 99 BLK)
Other than the plus-minus, Sean Durzi is another defenseman that can help you across the board. He especially excels in blocking shots, with 99 on the season (but only one over his last four games). He also has assists in four straight games, and is +5 over his last six games as he tries to claw his way out of the minuses and into the pluses for the season.
Best Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Goalies
Joonas Korpisalo – Columbus – G – 12% Rostered
(10 W, 75 GA, 779 SV, 0 SHO)
Columbus netminder Joonas Korpisalo put together back-to-back stellar performances for the Blue Jackets last week, only letting in one goal against Winnipeg and then one more against Dallas the next game. He’s clearly been the team’s best goalie this season, with a 3.14 goals against average, and the NHL’s (tied for) 15th-best save percentage of .912. He could be dealt before the March 3rd trade deadline, which could help his fantasy stock.
James Reimer – San Jose – G – 19% Rostered
(9 W, 93 GA, 816 SV, 2 SHO)
James Reimer made a triumphant return between the pipes for San Jose on Monday after missing almost a month of action. By stopping all 26 of the pucks Seattle sent his way, he earned his second shutout of the season. His season stats aren’t the greatest (nine wins, 3.20 GAA, .898 SV%), but it’s slim pickings if you’re trolling for a goalie on the waiver wire.
Other fantasy hockey waiver wire players worth checking out: Andrei Kuzmenko, Jared McCann, Ryan Graves, Esa Lindell
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