We’re through the Christmas break and nearing the halfway point of the NHL season, and what an exciting campaign it has been thus far. From a fantasy hockey perspective, now is the time to bolster your roster with meaningful talent that can help secure wins down the stretch. Below, I’ve listed four players who are widely available and ready to make an impact. Here are my top fantasy hockey waiver wire pickups heading into Week 13.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 13)
(Rosterships courtesy of ESPN)
Conor Garland (F – Van) | 50.1% Rostered
The Canucks may be the worst team in the NHL (33 points), but there’s still some value to be found with a few of their forwards from a fantasy standpoint. At this juncture of the season, I believe Conor Garland can be a fantasy asset. He’s coming off a 50-point season (19 goals, 31 assists), and he’s logged 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 31 games this year.
Garland is catching fire, as he’s registered seven points (one goal, six assists) across his last seven games. Three of those helpers came on the power play, and his man-advantage usage is a bonus. The Canucks play four times this week, making Garland an ideal short-term streaming option.
Mason Marchment (F – CBJ) | 47.4% Rostered
Mason Marchment was dealt to the Blue Jackets right before Christmas. He has two goals and an assist in two games with Columbus. He was formerly with Florida, Dallas and Seattle, but this may be the best opportunity for the left winger to emerge as an elite offensive player.
Marchment is currently slotting in on a Columbus first line that features Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko. If Marchment can’t explode with those linemates and in this run-and-gun, high-paced system, then he’ll never pan out as a top-six forward in this league.
Eeli Tolvanen (F – SEA) | 41.5% Rostered
With the aforementioned Mason Marchment out of the way in Seattle, it has allowed Eeli Tolvanen a chance to log some top-six forwards ice time. Tolvanen has always been a fringe fantasy option, but this could be the time for the 26-year-old to really elevate his game.
Tolvanen is on fire right now, amassing 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 12 December games. That includes two goals and an apple in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the Flyers, bringing him to 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) on the year. It’s time to buy some stock in Tolvanen. Let’s hope he can continue his current production.
Anthony Mantha (F – PIT) | 18.6% Rostered
Pittsburgh’s Anthony Mantha has been another borderline fantasy option throughout his career, failing to hit the 50-point threshold in each of his 10+ seasons in the NHL. However, he’s at 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) through 36 games this year. Barring an extreme drop-off in production, he should finally break through 50 points.
With Evgeni Malkin (upper-body) still sidelined, Mantha is currently on the top power-play unit with big guns Sidney Crosby and Erik Karlsson. The Pens have four games this upcoming week, making him a great streaming choice. Mantha is worth a roster spot until Malkin returns and knocks him off the top power-play unit.