The NHL season is entering its homestretch. Unless you’re in the Pacific Division, the playoff picture is becoming quite clear, and we’re finally seeing teams choose whether they’ll be buyers or sellers this year.
Fantasy hockey is entering a similar period, and now is crunch time every team. Whether you’re at the top of the table and are looking for improvements for the playoffs, a cellar dweller looking to offload, or a bubble team desperate for a boost to make the playoffs, now is the time for action.
When I was putting together this list of players, I didn’t thin the list would be this deep. Here are seven players that can provide an offensive boost right now, especially on the power play.
1. Marcus Johansson – LW – WSH – 4% Rostered
At just 4% rostered, Marcus Johansson is a great value add on the waiver wire right now. He currently has 27 points and is getting fairly decent deployment. He’s on the third line, but he’s skating with Nicklas Backstrom and Sonny Milano – definitely better than some second lines in the NHL. He’s also on the Capitals’ first power play unit with exposure to Alex Ovechkin. Johansson is on a three-game point streak, shoots a ton, and has seen his ice time increase over the past few weeks.
2. Max Domi – C – CHI – 26% Rostered
Max Domi is a likely trade candidate this season, which makes his stock even higher than it currently is. He’s 26% rostered so he won’t be available in as many leagues as the rest of the players on this list, but it’s for good reason. With 14 goals and 35 points, he’s tied for first in both goals and points on the team. Domi is centering Chicago’s second line, and is on the first power play unit with exposure to Patrick Kane and Seth Jones.
3. Stefan Noesen – RW – CAR – 3% Rostered
Definitely not a fantasy relevant player over the course of his career, but Stefan Noesen is in the conversation now, solely because of his deployment. He’s put up 25 points so far this season, and despite playing a fourth line role for the Hurricanes, is getting time on their first power play unit. He has a whopping 12 power play points this season, tied with Sebastian Aho and the third most on the team, so this looks like a situation that will stick. Power play points are hard to come by, and Noesen can be a sneaky add who contributes in all the preipheral categories too. He should be on significantly more than 3% of teams.
4. Anthony Beauvillier – LW – VAN – 6% Rostered
The newest member of the Vancouver Canucks has missed the memo on “team tank.” Anthony Beauvillier played just under 20 minutes, scored a goal, and chipped in with three shots, two hits, and a block in his first game as a Canuck. He’s in the best possible situation playing on the first line with Elias Pettersson and Andrei Kuzmenko, and is on the team’s first power play unit with J.T. Miller and Quinn Hughes. He’s proven he can be a legit fantasy asset in years past, and with his deployment in Vancouver this could be a huge second half for Beauvillier.
5. Adam Henrique – C – ANA – 19% Rostered
The Anaheim Ducks aren’t good. But, they have the best schedule in the NHL from a man game maximization perspective, and Aam Henrique is still a fantasy relevant player. He has put up 12 points in his last 11 games, and added 27 shots along the way. He’s on the Ducks’ top line with Trevor Zegras and Ryan Strome, and centering the top power play unit. Henrique isn’t an amazing option, but if you’re in a pinch, you could do worse.
6. Jakob Pelletier – LW – CGY – 1% Rostered
The highly touted prospect looks to have made a positive impression on old-school coach Darryl Sutter, and is getting phenomenal deployment for the Calgary Flames right now. He has yet to put up a point in six games thus far, but from watching Flames games on a regular basis, I can confirm it is not for a lack of trying. Pelletier has been an excellent addition to the Flames’ second line alongside top players Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau, and has recently gotten a shot to skate on the team’s top power play unit. His ice time is steadily increasing, and he’s being put in a position to succeed. The Flames are desperately in need of a strong finish to the season, and Pelletier is going to be a big part of that.
7. Jaret Anderson-Dolan – C – LAK – 0% Rostered
Rounding out our list is Los Angeles Kings center Jaret Anderson-Dolan. Once a highly anticipated prospect, Anderson-Dolan has finally broken into the NHL and is starting to produce. He’s on the Kings’ third line, but is skating alongside all-star Kevin Fiala. He’s also on the team’s top power play unit with Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, and Adrian Kempe. Anderson-Dolan is on a two-game point streak, one of which came on the man advantage, and played over 18 minutes in the Kings’ last game. He’s heating up, and should be rostered in more than 0% of leagues.
