NHL Waiver Wire: Pickups of the Week

'Tis the season to catch a break
Hope you added Jackson Blake
Time to ignore all the haters
And avoid most St. Louis skaters
If you're looking to improve your rosters
Don't take on any fantasy impostors
Should your playoff chances start to wallow
Read the player picks that follow

(Rostered rates as of Dec. 26)

Forwards

Eeli Tolvanen, SEA (Yahoo: 25%): The Kraken haven't been the most reliable scoring team, though they've improved of late with at least three goals in eight of the last 11 games. Tolvanen has done well over this stretch by notching 11 points — including four on the power play — alongside 20 shots, 29 hits and 12 blocks on an 18:04 average. This type of production doesn't seem sustainable, yet there's promise in a steady offensive role and a 9.3 shooting percentage significantly below his career average.

Ryan Hartman, MIN (Yahoo: 22%): The Quinn Hughes effect continues to spread its way through the Minnesota lineup, where Hartman has been one of the more noticeable beneficiaries with four goals and two assists over six contests. And while he doesn't join the star defender while up a man, he's still potted two PPGs during that time and now centers Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello at even strength. Hartman carries further fantasy appeal from a steady flow of shots (18 in the last six) and decent amount of hits and blocks.

Alex Laferriere, LA (Yahoo: 15%): There's not a lot to like about LA's offense as they're tied for the lowest average output (at 2.50 with the aforementioned Blues) and rank 31st on the power play. Selecting one of their players may seem like a terrible fantasy decision, but someone like Laferriere is doing as much as he can to boost his stats. Even though he hasn't found the scoresheet in any of the last three outings, 12 pucks have been directed on net to go with nine hits. Laferriere has also recently taken on more responsibility as part of the first line and man-advantage. He's active and favorably placed, so the points should eventually come.

Anthony Mantha, PIT (Yahoo: 13%): Mantha has been one of the NHL's better low-key offseason additions having already registered 11 goals and 12 assists following a campaign in Calgary that was decimated by injury. His biggest current asset is a spot on the Pens' lead power play (with six points there overall) joining Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson. Mantha may eventually be replaced on that group by Ben Kindel (or Evgeni Malkin, whenever he returns), yet covers that role for now and supplies sufficient stats in a couple categories.

Mason Marchment, CLS (Yahoo: 12%): In case you missed it, Marchment came over from Seattle last week. There may not be much to get excited about that transaction at first glance, yet he's already potted three goals — two of those while up a man — across two games with seven shots while logging just under 36 minutes. Marchment also skates with Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko during five-on-five, and let's not forget he combined for 100 points the previous two years, albeit on a more lethal Dallas attack. Monitor his situation to see if he remains in a decent place after the break before picking him up.

Emmitt Finnie, DET (Yahoo: 12%): Finnie probably won't win the Calder Trophy, but he's done plenty so far as a rookie to prove many scouts wrong. The 201st selection from the 2023 Draft has so far racked up 19 points, 71 shots and 61 hits while mainly sharing the ice with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. And just as Finnie endures a brief downturn, he gets right out of it with his latest two-week totals covering three goals, two assists, three PPPs and 13 shots on 18:08 a night.

Fabian Zetterlund, OTT (Yahoo: 12%): Zetterlund didn't do much during the first month, though he's since shown more consistency. The last four matchups have been particularly plentiful by way of six points — three on the power play — 12 shots, and seven hits as part of a trio next to Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk and backup man-advantage featuring Claude Giroux and Thomas Chabot. If Zetterlund can stay active, he deserves more coverage.

Igor Chernyshov, SJ (Yahoo: 1%): While Collin Graf (8 percent) is earning enough publicity excelling alongside Macklin Celebrini, let's not forget the forward on the other side. Since being drafted in 2024, Chernyshov dominated the OHL and AHL, totaling 30 goals and 49 assists across 50 appearances. That led to a promotion on Dec. 15, and he's since recorded a point in his first three games with the Sharks alongside nine shots. Take a chance on Chernyshov for as long as he's in the top-six and while Will Smith (upper-body, week-to-week) is sidelined.

Defensemen

Noah Hanifin, VGK (Yahoo: 51%): Shea Theodore is set to be out for at least another month. His absence has allowed Hanifin to take over as Vegas's lead offensive defender running the point on PP1, and he's responded by producing five assists — four of the man-advantage variety — in four games, supplemented by 13 shots, four hits and six blocks while averaging 24:39. This is too good of a fantasy opportunity to ignore. Get him before others beat you to it.

Mattias Samuelsson, BUF (Yahoo: 17%): Regression is probably coming for Samuelsson. After all, he's already achieved a season-best 15 points to go with an elevated 10.9 shooting percentage. On the other hand, Samuelsson is paired at even-strength with Rasmus Dahlin notching 72 blocks and a plus-12 logging 22:35 a night. The chances will continue as part of the top duo, so be ready to throw him back if he moves off that group and/or when the scoring significantly drops off.

Jamie Drysdale, PHI (Yahoo: 6%): Drysdale has been unlucky throughout his career when it comes to injuries, though that hasn't happened yet this year. He's the latest Philly blueliner to quarterback a top power play after Cam York and Travis Sanheim got their turns and registered both of his PPPs from the last three outings with seven points during his last 11 overall. Drysdale is this widely available in Yahoo! leagues as his fantasy contributions are almost exclusively offense-dependent, but he'll work if you're looking for a defender who hypothetically has better odds of producing while up a man — even if the Flyers have struggled there.

Ryker Evans, SEA (Yahoo: 1%): Brandon Montour underwent hand surgery and won't be back until at least mid-January. Vince Dunn was forced out of Monday's contest with no recent update provided regarding his status. That leaves Evans as Seattle's de facto No. 1 attacking defenseman, a job he's previously filled and succeeded in. We've already alluded to the Kraken's weak offense, but their power play is above-average and the other four players on the lead unit have combined for 33 power play points. Look for Evans and company to take advantage of a vulnerable Canucks' penalty kill during two of their next four matchups.

Goaltenders

Jet Greaves, CLS (Yahoo: 42%): Greaves alternated starts with Elvis Merzlikins for the first four weeks of the season. The former has since made 15 appearances, posting a 2.45 GAA and .912 save percentage, while the latter has slumped to a 5.02/.840 line in only seven outings. Greaves also hasn't allowed more than three goals since Nov. 28. Expect him to continue outpacing Merzlikins as Columbus's top netminder and grab some wins behind a decent offense.

Jacob Fowler, MON (Yahoo: 28%): Sam Montembeault couldn't follow up on a promising campaign and was subsequently demoted. Jakub Dobes has been brilliant at times, yet too inconsistent overall. The time came for Fowler to earn his opportunity, and he hasn't disappointed so far via a 3-1-1 record, 2.40 GAA, and .918 save percentage highlighted by a shutout over Pittsburgh. Add him as soon as possible. And if the Habs ultimately decide to limit his workload or possibly return him to the AHL, he's at least worth a spot as a streamer or someone to stash.

Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Carter Verhaeghe, Gabriel Landeskog, Cole Perfetti, Nick Schmaltz, Anze Kopitar, Kiefer Sherwood, Brock Nelson, Zach Benson, Tyler Toffoli, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Fantilli, Patrick Kane, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, Brock Boeser, Mikael Granlund, Sean Monahan, Mats Zuccarello, Ryan O'Reilly, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Anders Lee, Tyler Bertuzzi, Owen Tippett, Josh Norris, Pavel Buchnevich, Alexis Lafreniere, Boone Jenner, Anton Lundell, Ivan Barbashev, Vladimir Tarasenko, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Beckett Sennecke, Jake Neighbours, Jamie Benn, Vasily Podkolzin, Zachary Bolduc, Logan Stankoven, Luke Evangelista, Claude Giroux, Marcus Johansson, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Teuvo Teravainen, Alexander Wennberg, Jake DeBrusk, Chandler Stephenson, Braeden Bowman, Sean Couturier, Jordan Eberle, Jackson Blake, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Jackson Blake, Blake Coleman, Ross Colton, Jack Quinn, Josh Doan, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Arseny Gritsyuk, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Oliver Kapanen, Ben Kindel, Andrew Copp, Ryan Leonard, Erik Haula, Matthew Wood, Brock Faber, Drew Doughty, Mattias Ekholm, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, Zeev Buium, Cam Fowler, K'Andre Miller, Jake McCabe, Artyom Levshunov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ivan Provorov, Hampus Lindholm, Darren Raddysh, Brent Burns, Olen Zellweger, John Klingberg, Ryan Pulock, Sean Durzi, Radko Gudas, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Esa Lindell, Josh Manson, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Roy, Cam York, Nick Blankenburg, Tony DeAngelo, Jordan Spence, Nate Schmidt, Pyotr Kochetkov, Spencer Knight, Jesper Wallstedt, Brandon Bussi, Jakub Dobes, Yaroslav Askarov, Carter Hart, Jake Allen, Tristan Jarry, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Dan Vladar, Casey DeSmith, David Rittich, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid, Joel Hofer, Jonathan Quick