NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Player Pickups Nov. 25 - Go For A Pair of Vets in Seguin and Palmieri

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

Jake Neighbours, LW/RW, STL @ NYR (16% rostered)

Neighbours, who tallied 27 goals last season, has been feast or famine this season, He opened 2024-25 scoreless in his first games, then notched markers in four of his next five contests, only to be held to two helpers his following nine games. Neighbours is in the midst of a mini hot streak, with three goals, nine shots and 12 hits over his last four contests with two of the goals coming on the man advantage. Roll with him while he is warm.

Kaapo Kakko, RW, NYR vs. STL (2% rostered)

Kakko has not panned out to live up to his draft status, as he was selected second overall in 2019. What Kakko has become is a solid presence along with the walls and down deep, grinding to create chances. In addition, Kakko has meshed nicely on a line next to Will Cuylle and Filip Chytil. Kakko has three goals and seven assists in 16 games, plus lately, he has taken draws, adding to his value in leagues that play faceoff wins.

Jonathan Drouin, LW, COL @ TB (21% rostered)

Drouin, injured Opening Night, has returned with a vengeance since coming back to action on Nov, 15. After a scoreless first game back, Drouin notched assists in each of his next two contests and lit the lamp twice Saturday. Drouin racked up personal bests in assists (37) and points (56) in 79 regular-season outings last season, his first in Colorado. Back with the Avalanche for another season, Drouin is once again skating with Nathan MacKinnon.

Anthony Cirelli, C, TB vs. COL (31% rostered)

The loss of Steven Stamkos to Nashville created a hole down the middle for Tampa. Ably filling that role has been Cirelli, who is on a five-game goal streak (six goals, two assists). Cirelli has eight goals and 13 assists in 19 games in 2024-25, putting him on early pace to exceed the career-high 45 points he tallied last season. He should be a fixture in your lineup at this point.

Aliaksei Protas, C/LW, WAS @ FLA (25% rostered)

Yes, it looks like I have a bromance with Protas, who I have recommended several times. Protas continues to produce, and with Alex Ovechkin sidelined 4-6 weeks with his broken fibula, he will need to step up even more. Protas is scoreless his last two contests but firmly planted as the first line left winger, though he is not being deployed on the power play.

Anton Lundell, C, FLA vs. WAS (37% rostered)

Lundell stepped up substantially when Aleksander Barkov was sidelined due to injury. He went scoreless for six straight contests before notching a goal and assist Saturday. Lundell is in a secondary support role, skating on the third line now that Barkov is back, so temper your expectations, but he has shown he can produce

Fedor Svechkov, C, NSH @ NJ (0% rostered)

Svechkov, selected by the Predators with the 19th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, was recalled Saturday after a big start at the AHL level, where he potted five goals and added three assists in seven games. He skated on the second line in his debut, seeing 7:34 of ice time. Svechkov's upside and placement makes him worth a look if he is in the lineup again.

Stefan Noesen, LW/RW, NJ vs. NSH (49% rostered)

This is likely the last time we profile Noesen, who is just short of the 50% rostered threshold for inclusion in the column. Noesen has two multi-point games in his last four outings, and he's up to six points (five goals, one assist) in 10 contests since the beginning of November. Overall, Noesen has 10 markers and eight helpers in 23 contests after posting 36 and 37 points the last two seasons.

Tyler Seguin, C/RW, DAL @ CAR (42% rostered)

Seguin continues to impress from the second line with seven goals, nine helpers, 35 shots on net and a plus-12 rating over 15 appearances. Mason Marchment, Matt Duchene and Seguin may be Dallas' most effective trio, which says a lot seeing who is on the top line. Seguin still is managing a lingering lower-back issue, so keep in mind he likely will sit out one game of back-to-backs.

Jack Roslovic, RW, CAR vs. DAL (11% rostered)

Every Rangers fan is asking where was this Roslovic last season after he was acquired for a playoff run. He likely is benefitting from skating next to Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, extending his goal streak to three Saturday. Roslovic has been streaky, but has racked up 12 goals and one assist through 20 contests. He's added 52 shots on net and a plus-6 rating his first season in Carolina.

Brett Howden, C/LW, LV @ PHI (1% rostered

Howden has settled in so well with Vegas that the Knights signed him to a five-year, $12.5 million contract extension Friday. The 26-year-old is on pace for one of the best years of his career this season, as he's tallied eight goals, nine points and 29 hits while averaging 15:07 of ice time over his first 20 appearances. Howden can be utilized up-and-down the lineup with his versatility a major plus.

Bobby Brink, RW, PHI vs. LV (1% rostered)

Brink has shown signs that he belongs in the lineup nightly. He tallied 11 goals and 12 assists in 57 games in 2023-24, but only five points his last 19 contests. This season, Brink was a healthy scratch for three games in October but has been a steady member of the roster since October 29. Brink has earned a goal and four assists over his last seven outings while skating on the second line.

Yegor Sharangovich, LW/RW, CGY @ OTT (19% rostered)

Sharangovich lit the lamp 31 times last season but got to a slow start this season. He had just two goals and no assists his first 12 games played after missing the first two contests of the season. Sharangovich has collected two goals, three points and 11 shots in his past two games with both markers coming on the man-advantage. Add him quickly if available in your leagues.

Shane Pinto, C, OTT vs. CGY (6% rostered)

Pinto served a 41-game suspension for activities related to sports wagering, which delayed the start of the 2023-24 campaign for him until Jan. 21. Despite missing the first half of the season, though, he was solid after that, supplying nine goals and 27 points through 41 outings while centering the Sens' second line. Pinto has yet to find his form this season, which includes six straight scoreless contests, but he is still being deployed similarly, making him worth a look.

Marco Kasper, C, DET @ NYI (1% rostered)

Kasper has two goals on the season, both scored on the power play. He has yet to establish himself as a full-time option for Detroit but is skating on the second line while seeing copious action on the man advantage. The eighth overall pick of the 2022 draft, Kasper will be given every chance to solidify that spot for the Red Wings.

Kyle Palmieri, RW, NYI vs. DET (31% rostered)

Palmieri surprisingly tied his career-high with 30 goals last season while falling just short of matching his career-high in assists of 27, as he added 24 helpers. Firmly entrenched as the Isles' second-line right winger, Palmieri potted the opening and closing goals on Saturday and is up to nine tallies, 18 points, 53 shots on net and a plus-4 rating through 21 contests overall.

Vladislav Namestnikov, C/LW, WPG @ MIN (20% rostered)

Namestnikov is one of those glue players that each successful roster has. He is not an elite scorer and won't excel in any specific category but produces enough to warrant a look when hot. The 32-year-old center, who lit the lamp Friday, is at six goals, seven assists, 25 shots on net, 24 hits, 18 PIM and a plus-11 rating through 20 outings, providing both offense and some grit in a middle-six role

Marcus Johansson, LW, MIN @ WPG (1% rostered)

Mo Jo has has scored in back-to-back games, picking up four points over his last five contests. Like Namestnikov, Johannson is someone you can plau-and-play up and-down the lineup as needed. Recently, his contributions were needed as the Wild navigated the absence of Kirill Kaprizov, who fortunately is not expected to be out long-term. Roll with Johansson as long as he is in a top-six role.

Trevor Zegras, C, ANA vs, SEA (9% rostered)

Two years ago if you said Zegras would only be 9% rostered most would have told you that you were crazy. But that is where we are now, as Zegras' production cratered to just 15 points in 31 games last season and he got off a to a slow start to the 2-24-25 campaign. But, with a goal and three helpers over his last four contests, Zegras appears to be breaking out of that slump, making him a possible solid buy-low candidate.

Alex Turcotte, LW, LA @ SJ (0% rostered)

Turcotte returned from a five-game absence this past week, notching an assist Saturday. He is skating on the Kings' top line, though his ice time has been minimal. Turcotte will likely settle in on the third trio, but as long as he is skating up in the lineup, give him a look see to see if he can stick in that spot.

Fabian Zetterlund, LW/RW, SJ vs. LA (44% rostered)

Zetterlund has been a bit up-and-down, but continues to produce for San Jose. The winger is at eight goals, 15 points, 44 shots on net, 50 hits, 23 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating across 23 appearances in a top-six role this season. One concerning aspect is Zetterlund's lack of shots, as he is averaging less than two per game after posting 2.5 per last season. An uptick in that category would aid Zetterlund's possible point production.

Defensemen

Scott Perunovich, STL @ NYR (0% rostered)

Perunovich entered 2024-25 with no goals and 23 assists in 73 games played. With Torey Krug out of the season, Perunovich has stepped up slightly after returning from missing the first seven contests. Perunovich has lit the lamp for the first two times in his career while skating on the second blueline pair both at even strength and on the man advantage.

Matt Roy, WAS @ FLA (10% rostered)

Roy was highly sought after this offseason and signed a six-year, $34.5 million contract with the Capitals in July. He was injured Opening Night, missing 10 games with an upper-body ailment. Since returning, Roy, not specifically known or added for his offense, has a goal and three assists with 19 hits and 16 blocked shots in nine games. He is skating on the third pair with Rasmus Sandin, averaging close to 20 minutes a contest.

Emil Andrae, PHI vs. LV (1% rostered)

Travis Sanheim is locked in as the Flyers' top blueline offense. Who fills the role as the secondary option remains to be seen. Andrae is seeing close to 19 minutes of ice time per game, including two minutes on the man-advantage, giving him a chance to show he can fill that spot. On a deep night of action, give Andrae a look as a low-cost option.

Scott Mayfield, NYI vs. DET (1% rostered)

Mayfield's inclusion is for those who play in leagues that count hits and blocked shots. He blocked 10 shots Saturday and is up to 40 in each category through 21 contests. Mayfield, barring injury, should finish with well over 100 in both ancillary categories, providing him value in leagues that play that way.

Pavel Mintyukov, ANA vs. SEA (6% rostered)

Minty looks to be breaking out of his early-season slump, notching a goal and a pair of assists his last five games. Anaheim should give the second year blueliner all the ice time and responsibility he can handle as they continue to build to the future. Mintyukov can be a multi-category contributor (points, blocks, shots on net) in deeper formats if he can sustain his recent performance.