NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Player Pickups Nov. 11 - Benson Bringing His A Game

On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.

Forwards

Zach Benson, LW, BUF vs. MTL (3% rostered)

Benson got off to a ridiculous slow start, failing to notch a point in seven appearances to begin the 2024-25 season. The 19-year-old forward is starting to heat up offensively recently, notching goals in back-to-back contests heading into today's game. Benson, selected at 13 overall in 2021, had a solid rookie campaign in 2023-24, recording 11 goals, 30 points and 36 PIM across 71 outings with the Sabres.

Alexander Wennberg, C, SJ @ PHI (4% rostered)

The return of Macklin Celebrini has pushed Wennberg down to the third center role in San Jose, That may reduce Wennberg's value, but the Sharks may occasionally use Mikael Granlund at wing, which would allow Wennberg to skate on the second trio as he did this past Tuesday. Don't expect massive production from Wennberg, but he has shown the ability to score occasionally and add assists while also manning a power-play point.

Michael Bunting, LW, PIT vs. DAL (8% rostered)

Bunting more than settled in nicely after arriving from Carolina in Pittsburgh following his acquisition as part of the Jake Guentzel trade. He posted 19 points in 21 outings for the Penguins while skating in the top-six. Bunting started the season in that role, but was dropped down the lineup due to his slow start. He has righted the ship lately, scoring twice in the last three games, adding six shots on net and nine hits in that span.

Sam Steel, C, DAL @ PIT (0% rostered)

Steel has shown he can move up-and-down the Dallas lineup, skating as a pivot or on the wing. His usual role is fourth-line left winger, which limits his output and changes. Steel moved up to the second line Thursday due to an injury and added a goal and an assist. His flexibility and ability to produce when sliding up a line or two makes him worth a look.

Trevor Moore, LW, LA @ CGY (41% rostered)

Moore had a career-best 57 points (31 goals, 26 assists) last season for the Kings. He started off slowly this season for LA, posting just a goal and two assists his first 11 contests. Moore is looking more - no pun intended - like the player we saw last season, Moore has posting a tally and five assists during his current five-game point streak. After that aforementioned poor start, the winger is up to nine points, 40 shots on net, 18 hits and a plus-3 rating through 16 appearances.

Matthew Coronato, RW, CGY vs. LA (0% rostered)

Coronato played 34 mostly nondescript games as a rookie last season for the Flames. He notched just three goals and six assists with a minus-15 rating for Calgary. Coronato started slowly again this season, but has started to find his game. He has three goals and one assist during his three-game point spree and is up to five goals with that single helper in 10 games overall. Keep in mind, though, he has a 27.8 percent shooting percentage, which will regress.

Casey Mittelstadt, C, COL vs. NSH (43% rostered)

Mittelstadt gets to travel a little below the radar due to all the talent surrounding him in Colorado. Don't let that deter you from utilizing him, as he is more than solid in his own right. Mittelstadt posted 59 and 57 points the last two seasons, the latter part of 2023-24 spent with the Avalanche. The center is up to 16 points (eight on the power play), 36 shots on net and a minus-9 rating over 15 appearances this season.

Gustav Nyqvist, RW, NSH @ COL (20% rostered)

Nyqvist exploded last season, his first in Nashville, posting 23 goals and 52 assists in 81 contests. He has not been to match that same production so far this season and also has swapped lines with Steven Stamkos, moving down to the second trio. While that adversely impacts his value, it does not fully remove it, as Nvqvist still should be a solid secondary option for the Predators.

Jordan Martinook, LW, CAR @ LV (1% rostered)

This one is a recency bias add. Martinook has all four goals on the season and an assist during his current three-game point streak. He did pot 13 goals two seasons ago and 14 last season, so he has shown he can light the lamp at times. Martinook will slow, but for now, roll with the hot hand unless he hits that bump in the road.

Pavel Dorofeyev, RW, LV vs. CAR (24% rostered)

Dorofeyev relatively quietly potted 13 goals and added 11 assists in 47 contests last season. He showed chemistry with William Karlsson and Mark Stone, neither of whom he is skating with this season. Dorofeyev is producing on a line next to Tomas Hertl and Brett Howden, lighting the lamp eight times while notching three helpers in 14 contests. Four of those goals have come on the man-advantage as he skates on the Knights' top unit.

Defensemen

Bowen Byram, BUF vs. MTL (27% rostered)

Byram is third on the Buffalo defensemen pecking order behind Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power. Despite that placement, Byram has shown he can be productive from the back line. Byram, who is paired with Dahlin, has lit the lamp three times while adding six assists in 15 contests. His power play time is somewhat limited, though he is manning the point on the second unit, affording him chances on the man advantage.

Vladislav Gavrikov, LA @ CGY (4% rostered)

Gavrikov is on a bit of a heater for the Kings, notching points in four straight contests. He has tallied two goals along with a pair of helpers in this span. Gavrikov, who was highly sought a few years ago in the trade market before landing with LA, has settled in nicely as a top-four blueliner. One of his main values is in hits, as he has notched 35 already and posted at least 114 each of the past three seasons.

Jaccob Slavin, CAR @ LV (16% rostered)

Slavin is a steady blueliner, scoring at least 30 points in six of his seven seasons where he played at least 60 games. He won't produce a ton offensively, but averages at least 21 minutes a game while posting 110+ blocked shots a season. Slavin is a decent mid-priced option in leagues where you have stacked higher-priced forwards.