Titles currently hang in the balance in the fantasy hockey realm. If you’re reading this article, odds are that you likely have a high-stakes fantasy puck on the horizon. Let’s get you geared up to bring home a trophy. Here are my top four fantasy hockey waiver wire pickups for Week 23.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice (Week 23)
(Rosterships courtesy of ESPN)
Anthony Mantha (F – PIT) | 42.3% Rostered
Pittsburgh’s Anthony Mantha is basically a must-add player if you’re looking for a scoring boost this week. For starters, the Penguins are the only team in the NHL that plays five games this week. The sheer volume of ice time that the reemerging forward will get piques my interest.
Mantha’s ice time is also meaningful, being that he’s currently listed on the Penguins’ first line and top power-play unit. This is a Pittsburgh man advantage that ranks sixth in the NHL at 24.40%. Mantha has been playing well recently, racking up 12 points (seven goals, five assists) and 30 shots on goal (SOG) in 17 games since the Olympic Break.
Patrick Kane (F – DET) | 40.8% Rostered
Patrick Kane is doing his part in trying to will the Red Wings to the Stanley Cup playoffs. He has been filling up the stat sheet this month, logging 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and 39 SOG in his last 11 games.
The veteran right-winger sits on Detroit’s second line, but is getting key minutes on their first power-play unit. He won’t do much in terms of hits or blocked shots, but Kane could supply a few assists across Detroit’s four-game schedule this week.
Jimmy Snuggerud (F – STL) | 22.2% Rostered
The Blues are right back in the playoff hunt, and that has largely been in part due to the Dylan Holloway–Robert Thomas–Jimmy Snuggerud top line.
Snuggerud is on fire this month, amassing 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) and 42 SOG in 13 outings. The 21-year-old is also adding 1.1 hits and 0.6 blocked shots per game this year, while slotting in on St. Louis’ main man-advantage unit.
Connor Brown (F – NJ) | 4.2% Rostered
If the free agency pool is very thin, you could find value with New Jersey’s Connor Brown. In his last 14 contests, the 32-year-old second liner has registered 15 points, courtesy of five goals and 10 assists.
The thing about the Devils’ second line is that Jack Hughes is centering it. Considering we can get Hughes-adjacent and also get a player on New Jersey’s top power-play unit, Brown provides some intrigue.