While a good number of NHL fantasy leagues wrapped up last week, there is still plenty of hardware on the line heading into the final week of the NHL regular season. There is still a good portion of fantasy hockey leagues that take it right until the end with the final week of the regular season determining which team takes home the championship prize. The core rosters of the teams that reach this round have to be absolutely stacked in order to get this far in the first place. However, there is always room for improvement with the chance to add a key waiver wire addition to help put your club over the top. And, of course, there is always the risk of injuries. With that in mind, here is a look at the top five NHL fantasy waiver wire additions for this week.
LW, RW: Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings incredible playoff streak is over. However, Detroit has played some of its best hockey down the stretch and Nyquist has been an important part of the club’s success. Nyquist has 15 points in his last 16 games, including multi-point efforts in three of his last five contests. With a plum role on the top line and top powerplay unit along with Henrik Zetterberg, Nyquist should finish the season on a high note this week.
D: Nikita Zaitsev, Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs join the Ottawa Senators as the two teams that will play five games this week. That makes Zaitsev an even more intriguing waiver wire pickup on the back end. The rookie defenseman has six points over his last seven games, pushing him to 35 points in 77 games this season. As the lone defenseman on Toronto’s top powerplay, Zaitsev should add to his point total with five games this week.
C, RW: Sam Reinhart, Buffalo Sabres
Reinhart was forced to sit an entire game on Tuesday for violating a team rule. Hopefully he learned his lesson and could deliver a strong finish as a fantasy waiver wire option. Reinhart had registered three points in his previous three games so there is reason for optimism. Factor in that he is playing on a line with Jack Eichel, and it’s clear Reinhart should be in for a strong finish.
LW, RW: Sven Andrighetto, Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche has four games remaining on their regular season schedule, which means plenty of opportunities for Andrighetto to add to his point total this week. The 24-year-old winger has 11 points in 14 games since getting an increased role in Colorado. Andrighetto has spent a lot of time with Nathan Mackinnon and Mikko Rantenen on the top line for the Avalanche, averaging 17:14 of ice time with his new team. Colorado’s busy schedule should make Andrighetto an even more attractive fantasy waiver wire option this week.
C: Jordan Weal, Philadelphia Flyers
Weal has scored in four straight games for the Flyers and now has seven goals in 13 games. A big part of his success has been playing on a line with Wayne Simmonds and Valtteri Filppula, Weal has shown a knack for getting to the net and scoring in the dirty areas, which makes him a perfect fit on this line. Philadelphia plays three times this week, so Weal will have an opportunity to pad his goal total before the season ends.
C, RW: Tanner Kero, Chicago Blackhawks
It’s not often that you find a quality member of the Chicago Blackhawks on the NHL fantasy waiver wire this late in the season but that’s what we have with Kero. Taking a look at his ownership numbers, he’s on a team in less than 1% of Yahoo NHL fantasy leagues. What’s relevant here is that he’s the latest player to get a shot to play on a line with Patrick Kane and Artemi Panarin. As a result, he immediately picked up a goal and three helpers over a span of three games. As long as he’s on that top line, he’s going to have plenty of NHL fantasy value the rest of the way.
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