Every Monday, we give you the list of guys you are going to want to add from the waiver wire.
We’ll give you pickups for daily, weekly and dynasty leagues!
As for this weeks pickups, we’ve selected a group of players who have been surprisingly good the first quarter of the NHL season.
FORWARDS
Sam Gagner – Columbus Blue Jackets
ESPN Owned Percentage: 30.8%
Gagner has been the biggest surprise on a surprise team this season. The Blue Jackets forward has scored 19 points in 25 games which has been a huge shock to the whole league. To make things even crazier, Gagner is only averaging 13 minutes per game yet he is still performing at quality level despite the lack of minutes. On the schedule next for Gagner and the Blue Jackets they play three teams in the top 10 for goals against, Edmonton (8th), Calgary (5th) and Vancouver (6th). At least for the next little while it is likely that Gagner’s form will continue. Also, if he his form does start to die off, Gagner will still have high trade value so you may get something nice in return.
Tomas Plekanec – Montreal Canadians
ESPN Owned Percentage: 49.5%
With all the injuries that have happened in the past week or so for the Canadians, Plekanec’s has been looked upon more to perform and he has done so. Since Galchenyuk went down with his injury against the Kings, the Czech forward has assisted on five goals and grabbed one for himself. He didn’t start off the season too strong with only one goal and six assists but in just three games he pretty much matched those numbers. The injuries and form should be what encourages you to add Plekanec’s, even if it’s only until Galchenyuk and others return.
Viktor Arvidsson – Nashville Predators
ESPN Owned Percentage: 29%
A player that has been consistently good all season but yet not getting the recognition. Second on the Predators for points for with 17, Arvidsson, much like Gagner, has been surprising this season and has already surpassed his point total from last season, 16. The Preds forward is averaging around 16 minutes a night whilst playing on the top line with all-star centre Ryan Johansen, however, he is currently not a part of Nashville’s power-play. As for Arvidsson’s upcoming schedule, it is not looking in his favour, he goes up against St Louis, Minnesota and the New York Rangers with both the Wild and Rangers averaging less than 2.5 goals against per game. Despite the schedule, he is absolutely worth the pickup due to his consistency. The Swede is playing with talented players and he is skilled enough to grab points in these tough games.
DEFENSE
Justin Schultz – Pittsburgh Penguins
ESPN Owned Percentage: 25.8%
Justin Schultz might actually be becoming the player all Oilers fans hoped he would be, obviously not as a Penguin but still. Sadly, Schultz was held pointless Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning meaning his five-game point streak was snapped. Over his hot streak, Schultz put together three goals and five assists for eight points, something Oilers fans are upset to see. It now seems that the defender is finally getting into the NHL groove and will more than likely continue this trend. The Penguins defensemen isn’t playing on the power-play with the superstars but with one injury to Letang we should see him get pushed up. As of right now, Schultz is the hottest blue-liner on the market.
Oscar Klefbom – Edmonton Oilers
ESPN Owned Percentage: 22.9%
Klefbom is making his second appearance on the list which can only mean nobody reads my articles or that Klefbom doesn’t get enough recognition. The Oilers blueliner is riding a three-game point streak right now after extending it with a goal against the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night. Klefbom leads all Oilers defensemen with 73 shots on goal and is playing top minutes on the power-play, however, unfortunately not with McDavid. He is the go to the defender for the Oilers and is in top form, along with the minutes he is playing we could see this trend continue for the next week or so.
GOALTENDER
Steve Mason – Philadelphia Flyers
ESPN Owned Percentage: 37.7%
Ride the streak! Steve Mason and the Flyers are hot right now and beating everyone in their path over the past nine games. Over these past nine games, Mason has only given up more than two goals on one occasion where he let in five against the Oilers. This form will not end soon, especially over his next two games, since he plays the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars two teams who struggle to find the net. Since the injury to Michael Neuvirth, Mason has been phenomenal and actually picked up himself a player of the week award. The goaltender situation around the league has been odd this season, so, if you’re having issues in the net then Mason is your guy.
