NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Player Pickups Nov. 9 - Byfield, Vilardi Looking To Extend Points Streaks

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

JJ Peterka, LW/RW, BUF vs. CGY (38% rostered)

These matinee games on the East Coast for Western Conference teams are always a little tough, so perhaps the Sabres offense can take advantage. They've been humming lately with 11 goals in their past two games, including Peterka's four points. With a top-line role and plenty of power play, Peterka remains under-rostered in most fantasy leagues.

Quinton Byfield, C/LW/RW, LA vs. CLB (37% rostered)

A blip on the radar or the start of something new? Pegged as 2024-25's breakout star, Byfield's been disappointing so far, but there's been a spark with two goals and three points in his past two games. He played 19:03 against the Canucks and the Kings' third line with Byfield between Warren Foegele and Alex Laferriere (honorable mention below) has been excellent. The Jackets have lost three straight with 15 goals allowed.

Gabriel Vilardi, C/RW, WPG vs. DAL (35% rostered)

Vilardi has scored all six of his goals this season in his past eight games, and he's currently riding a six-game points streak. He's streaky, but at least he's putting ample shots on net unlike earlier in the season. This could be a tough defensive matchup between two teams with good defense and goaltending. That's about the only downside.

Yegor Sharangovich, C/RW, CGY at BUF (26% rostered)

After failing to score a point in his first four games since returning from injury, Sharangovich has now scored two goals in three games, playing on L1 and PP1. He's arguably the Flames' most dangerous shooter, and his recent string of faceoff wins makes him valuable in multi-category leagues.

Tyler Seguin, C/RW, DAL at WPG (25% rostered)

When Seguin is in the lineup, he remains a dangerous offensive player. Various injuries have robbed him of his durability, but through nine games he's scored 10 points, including four goals in his past five games. Connor Hellebuyck has consecutive shutouts so this will be a tough matchup, but Seguin's a high-percentage play almost every night.

Kyle Palmieri, RW, NYI vs. NJ (19% rostered)
Anders Lee, LW, NYI vs. NJ (13% rostered) 
Jean-Gabriel Pageau, C, NYI vs. NJ (5% rostered)

With Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair injured, these three veteran forwards have benefitted the most. Palmieri has been the most consistent of the bunch and offers the most offensive upside with 11 points this season. He plays PP1 while Lee and Pageau play PP2.

Lee has recently caught fire with a goal and five assists, and offers the most shots. He's not a good finisher, however, so relative to the number of shots he takes, he scores on very few of them.

Pageau was elevated to the top line with Bo Horvat at center and Lee on the left wing, and the move has paid off with three goals in four games. Pageau's the weakest option of the three since his fantasy value is derived from his deployment and not his individual skill.

Conor Garland, RW, VAN vs. EDM (14% rostered)

Garland led all Canucks forwards in ice time in a 3-2 win against the Kings, playing 22:45 and extended his points streak to three games. He remains well overlooked in fantasy given his role on PP1, and he plays with Elias Pettersson at even strength, who already looks much improved after a very slow start. Garland has plenty of value for the rest of the season.

Jack Roslovic, C/RW, CAR at COL (6% rostered)

Getting RW eligibility has given Roslovic lots of fantasy value since C tends to be a very deep position, and it's been a long time coming considering Roslovic has barely played center over the past few seasons. He's been an excellent finisher on a line with Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, scoring six goals (!) in his past four games and the Avs have been very poor defending against the rush, which is where the Canes really excel.

Evan Rodrigues, C/LW, FLA vs. PHI (5% rostered)

Rodrigues has a good chance to extend his goals streak to four goals against a Flyers team that will likely be forced to start their third option, Ivan Fedotov, with Samuel Ersson and Aleksei Kolosov both day-to-day with injuries. Rodrigues is playing L1 with Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart with PP2 minutes.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki, RW, VAN vs. EDM (1% rostered)

Could we see Lekkerimaki's NHL debut? He's currently the Canucks' top prospect, a skilled Swedish forward - they've done really well with those - who possesses top-six potential in the NHL, and through seven games in the AHL has already scored five goals and seven points.

After Brock Boeser left Thursday's game against the Kings with an upper-body injury, Pius Suter took his spot on PP1 and J.T. Miller's line, playing nearly 20 minutes but generated little offense. With the Canucks trading Daniel Sprong to the Kraken late Friday evening, and with Dakota Joshua yet to be activated from IR (though he's reportedly close to returning), it's opened up the possibility of the Canucks calling up Lekkerimaki for some offensive help.

If Lekkerimaki does get called up, he's an intriguing play in very deep leagues, and could already have value in dynasty leagues depending on how many prospects managers are allowed to keep. I don't expect Lekkerimaki to play a lot of minutes, but if he does dress, look for the Canucks to give him some looks on the power play. As of Friday evening, the Canucks have yet to make the call-up, likely for cap accrual reasons, but may do so on game day, so watch for that news.

Defensemen

Uvis Balinskis, D, FLA vs. PHI (1% rostered)

He's the PP QB no one knows about even though the Panthers are very good on special teams. Balinskis is definitely a bit of a specialist, playing limited minutes and even filling in as a forward earlier in the season, but over the past two games he's notched three assists and averaging 19 minutes per game. While previously a boom-or-bust option, with that kind of usage, Balinskis has become a far less risky play.

Honorable mention:

Anton Lundell, C/RW, FLA vs. PHI (50% rostered) - L3, PP2
Alex Laferriere, RW, LA vs. CLB (50% rostered) - L3, PP1
Matthew Kniews, LW, TOR vs. MON (47% rostered) - L1, PP1
Logan Cooley, C, UTA at NSH (35% rostered) - L2, PP2
Jake DeBrusk, LW/RW, VAN vs. EDM (33% rostered) - L1, PP2
Sean Monahan, C, CLB at LA (30% rostered) - L1, PP1
Josh Norris, C, OTT vs. BOS (24% rostered) - L2, PP1
Dylan Cozens, C, BUF vs. CGY (22% rostered) - L2, PP2
Will Cuylle, LW, NYR at DET (13% rostered) - L3
Matt Coronato, RW, CGY at BUF (1% rostered) - L3, PP1
Pius Suter, C, VAN vs. EDM (0% rostered) - L1, PP1

Bowen Byram, D, BUF vs. CGY (26% rostered) - L1, PP2

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