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Nino Niederreiter jumped from being rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues to 36% after he was featured on Waiver Wired a week ago. Ondrej Kase skyrocketed from 6% to 30% after he was highlighted last week. Unfortunately, Toronto had two games postponed, but he remains a solid option until the Maple Leafs get healthier.
Tanner Jeannot was going to make an appearance on Waiver Wired this week, but Nashville’s shutdown until at least Dec. 27 has put a hold on that. Still, he is worth putting on your watch list or adding if you have the roster flexibility.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise, the NHL schedule and fantasy rosters have been in disarray heading into the holiday break for Christmas. The losses of players have piled up, but it has opened the door for others and a few of them will be featured here.
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Let’s get into this week’s recommendations:
Clayton Keller (Arizona) - LW, RW - Rostered in 23% of Yahoo leagues
Keller has heated up following a sluggish start to the season. He has racked up six goals,16 points and 40 shots over his past 13 outings. He has been held off the scoresheet just four times during that span, while averaging 21:15 of ice time per match. The bulk of his production has come at even strength, but he does play on the top power-play unit and he has one shorthanded helper. Keller and Nick Schmaltz (4%) have been clicking on the top line of the Coyotes.
Noah Dobson (NY Islanders) - D - Rostered in 18% of Yahoo leagues
Dobson has accounted for five points (three goals, two assists) and 19 shots in his past seven games. He has notched one goal and one helper on the man advantage during that span. Dobson is on pace for his best offensive season in the NHL thanks in large part to his best stretch of the year. He is worth streaming this week, with the Islanders set to play two times, if you need a blueliner. New York also plays on Sunday afternoon.
Lars Eller (Washington) - C - Rostered in 11% of Yahoo leagues
Eller’s four-game point streak was snapped on Friday, but he has five goals and five assists in his past 12 contests. He has 17 shots on target during that stretch. Eller has moved up to the top line of the Capitals and the first power-play combination with Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov in COVID-19 protocol. Washington has two games scheduled for this week, but you could get a bonus match on Sunday if you pick him up now.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo) - G - Rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues
Luukkonen has been solid between the pipes for the Sabres. He made five straight starts prior to getting a breather on Friday. Luukkonen has a 2-2-1 record with a 1.96 goals-against average and .939 save percentage. He has surrendered just two goals against in each outing, while picking up wins over Minnesota and Winnipeg in his past two matches. Luukkonen could get both starts versus Columbus this week.
Connor Brown (Ottawa) - LW, RW - Rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues
Brown has compiled eight points in his past 10 matches, while chipping in seven assists and 13 shots on goal. He has two power-play helpers and two shorthanded assists during that stretch. Brown has been a valuable secondary scorer for the Senators with 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 24 games this campaign. He has been clicking with Tim Stutzle (40%) and Alex Formenton (1%) on the second line.
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Kyle Okposo (Buffalo) - RW - Rostered in 10% of Yahoo leagues
Okposo has quietly put together a productive bounce-back season in 2021-22. He been all over the scoresheet this season and he currently leads the Sabres in scoring with 20 points in 30 games. Okposo also sits first on the team with 14 assists. He has 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) and 39 shots in his past 17 appearances. Okposo has been credited with 71 shots and 24 hits this year.
Jonathan Drouin (Montreal) - C, LW - Rostered in 8% of Yahoo leagues
Drouin has generated two goals and two assists in his past five contests thanks to a pair of multi-point performances. He has supplied nine points (three goals, six assists) in his past 12 outings. Drouin has meshed well with recent call-up Laurent Dauphin (0%), who has a three-game point spree. Montreal has three games scheduled for this week.
Zack Kassian (Edmonton) - RW - Rostered in 7% of Yahoo leagues
Kassian has contributed one assist in each of his past three outings. He has been skating alongside Connor McDavid at even strength, which gives his fantasy value a boost. Kassian has posted 12 points, 26 shots, 73 hits and 31 penalty minutes. Edmonton has three games on tap for this week.
Warren Foegele (Edmonton) - LW, RW - Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues
Foegele has potted three goals on seven shots in his past two games. He logged a season-high 19:45 of ice time on Saturday and scored a pair of goals against Seattle. Foegele has been given an increased role because Edmonton has been short on forwards due to injuries and COVID-19 protocol. He has been playing alongside Connor McDavid and he has seen ice time with Leon Draisaitl as well on the top power-play unit. The Oilers have three games scheduled for this week and Foegele ranks as a top pickup.
Logan Brown (St. Louis) - C - Rostered in 1% of Yahoo leagues
Brown has been a great addition for the Blues since he was called up from the minors in late November. He has notched three goals and three assists in nine games, while adding 13 shots and six blocks. Brown doesn’t have winger eligibility on Yahoo, which is a shame, but he has been playing on the top line with Ryan O’Reilly. Fantasy managers could get three games out of him if he is picked up prior to Sunday’s match against Winnipeg. However, it should be noted that Thursday’s game versus Toronto is very much up in the air.
Honorable Mention:
Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia) - D - Rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues
Sanheim has awakened offensively of late with two goals and two assists during a three-game point streak. He generated 35 points in 82 games during his sophomore season, but his contributions on the scoresheet have waned since then. If he can continue to chip in some point then he gains plenty of fantasy potential because of his category coverage. Sanheim has amassed 50 shots, 45 blocks and 25 hits in 29 games this year.
