We’re entering crunch time of the fantasy hockey season, and if you’re looking to make a last-second push for the playoffs, you may need to head to the waiver wire to find a solution. Below I’ve listed four players who have the potential to catapult you up the standings and secure a playoff spot. Here are my four favorite waiver wire pickups in the NHL this week.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 18)
(Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN)
Jake DeBrusk (F – VAN) | 50.9% Rostered
With J.T. Miller (traded to the New York Rangers) out of the picture in Vancouver, the Canucks are going to need someone to step up and carry the offensive load moving forward. We could see Jake DeBrusk take a step forward as he shoulders more responsibilities down the stretch.
DeBrusk logged a goal and registered five shots on goal (SOG) in Friday night’s 5-3 loss to the Stars. He’s up to 18 goals and 13 assists on the season and is averaging two shots on goal per game (SOG/G) across 51 games. He could be worth a flier as a top-line winger, especially as the Canucks try to make a push up the standings as we near the final quarter of the campaign.
Adam Fantilli (F – CBJ) | 32.1% Rostered
I write this article weekly and I’ve mentioned Columbus’ Adam Fantilli (15 goals, 15 assists) several times over the past few weeks. The message isn’t getting across, as the first-line centerman and top-unit power-play contributor is still only rostered in only 32.1% of ESPN leagues.
Since Sean Monahan (upper-body) was sidelined on January 7th, Fantilli has stepped in and lit up the scoresheet. Including the January 7th game against the Penguins where Monahan departed early, Fantilli has amassed 13 points (seven goals, six assists) across 12 games. He’s also averaging three SOG/G during the stretch. The former third-overall pick from 2023 is cementing himself as a top-six forward in this league. I think we’ll see his production continue as the Blue Jackets attempt to lock up a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jonathan Drouin (F – COL) | 18.7% Rostered
In a similar line of thought to the above-mentioned DeBrusk, some transactions and injuries to Colorado’s roster opened up an opportunity for Jonathan Drouin to move into a top-six forward role. The second-line winger has played in just 20 games this season, but he’s producing at a point-per-game rate with six goals and 14 helpers.
Due to Colorado’s high-octane nature, Drouin is well worth a shot if you need a bump in scoring down the stretch. With Valeri Nichushkin (placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury) and Mikko Rantanen (traded to Carolina) out of the picture, Drouin has been elevated to the Avs’ top power-play unit (18th, 21.02%). Anytime a player can get Nathan MacKinnon-adjacent, there’s a chance that they pop off. Drouin could be worth a look in deeper leagues.
Drew Doughty (D – LAK) | 44.4% Rostered
Drew Doughty is back in the mix for the Los Angeles Kings, and he’s reclaimed his spot on the top defensive pairing and main power-play unit. The veteran defenseman has one assist across three games played and is already averaging north of 25:00 time on ice per game (TOI/G).
Doughty logged 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) across all 82 games last season. He also ranked 45th in shots blocked (142), averaging 1.7 per game. He’s a pretty stable option on the backend. I recommend snagging him if you have a hole to fill in your defensive core.
