With the Christmas break arriving this week, it’s important to keep in mind that there are only five days of action before the NHL takes Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off on Saturday and Sunday. That means getting as many quality starts in to your lineup as possible with some solid options likely available right now on the free agent market. Here is a look at the top NHL fantasy waiver wire options right now.
D: Justin Schultz, Pittsburgh Penguins
Schultz was absolutely on fire when it was announced that Kris Letang would miss significant time with a lower-body injury and the combination of the hot streak and the opportunity on the Penguins’ top powerplay has sent his ownership skyrocketing ever since. Schultz is on pace to set career-highs across the board with five goals and 18 points through 32 games with the Penguins this season. He has registered two goals and five points over his last four games while serving as the only defenseman on Pittsburgh’s top powerplay next to Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Patric Hornqvist and Phil Kessel. Pittsburgh leads the NHL in scoring this season and in such a promising role Schultz should be owned in almost every NHL fantasy league.
C/LW: Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks
Rakell has been considered a promising young winger for years in the Ducks system and it appears as though he is finally breaking through this season. Rakell has 14 goals in 21 games this season while also grabbing seven assists to get up to a point per game. He is playing on a line with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry so he is in a prime position to keep producing. The condensed schedule for this week will place a premium on scoring but like Schultz it is Rakell’s overall outlook that makes him a must-own in NHL fantasy leagues right now.
RW: Justin Williams, Washington Capitals
The veteran Williams really struggled at the beginning of the season but he has picked up his production since with three goals and an assist during a four-game point streak. Five of his seven goals this season have come over the course of his last seven games and he is up to 11 points. Williams is enjoying the benefits of playing on a line with Evgeni Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin while also getting some secondary powerplay time so he is worth taking a chance on this week.
D: Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens
Montreal’s injury issues continued this week with Andrei Markov going down with a lower-body injury and that could make Petry a sneaky good pickup in NHL fantasy leagues. Petry has been elevated to the Canadiens’ top powerplay alongside Shea Weber where he can unleash his booming shot. He already has 61 shots and 13 points in 30 games this season and with three of his goals coming over the course of his last four games it appears as though he is starting to heat up with the powerplay role potentially helping him remain productive.
The Canadiens continue to be a top team in the NHL so far this season. They enter Tuesday with a record of 20-7-4 and 44 points, which is the second-highest total in the NHL. They have cooled off of late as they are just 5-3-2 in their last 10 games.
LW/RW: Nino Niederreiter, Minnesota Wild
Niederreiter might have had his four-game point streak snapped on Saturday but he had a goal and four assists during his hot streak and he already has 20 points through 30 games. Niederreiter could be in the midst of a breakout season and his production is even more valuable in leagues that count his 55 shots and 52 hits. The Wild need their young winger to continue to mature and produce up front and right now every indication is that Niederreiter is worth taking a chance on in NHL fantasy leagues as a waiver wire option this week. The Wild are hot right now as they have won seven in a row. They are currently in second place in the Central Division with 40 points and are a pretty good option to look at for NHL fantasy as they have scored 89 goals in 30 games this season.
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