NHL Fantasy Waiver Wire Forward Pickups January 6 - Emil Heineman Continues to Shine

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.

Aliaksei Protas, C/LW, WSH @ BUF (27% rostered)

The return of Alex Ovechkin has done little to slow Protas' role. Including his tally Saturday, the 23-year-old forward has six goals and an assist over his last eight outings while routinely seeing top-six minutes in that span. Despite seeing almost no time on the man advantage, Protas is enjoying a breakout campaign with 17 goals, 16 assists, 70 shots on net and a plus-21 rating through 39 appearances. His 33 points are a new career-high as are his 17 goals.

Emil Heineman, LW, MTL vs, VAN (1% rostered)

Based on his production, Heineman's rostered percentage is criminally low. Despite being shutout Saturday, Heineman has cracked the scoresheet in seven of his last nine outings. If you extend the prism view, the 23-year-old forward has tallied 10 points (five goals, five helpers) of his 17 points this season across his past 16 contests. Take advantage of that hot streak Monday.

Jesper Boqvist, C, FLA @ COL (0% rostered)

Boqvist has settled in nicely to his third-line spot in his first season with the Panthers. He's produced seven goals and 13 points in 35 games while adding 79 hits, which is already a career high. The 13 points are just 10 shy of his career-high set in 2021-22 with the Devils. Boqvist certainly has a chance to top that number based on the talent around him.

Matty Beniers, C, SEA vs. NJ (11% rostered)

Beniers was shut out Saturday but has five points during his last five games, including a four-game point scoring streak. The Calder Trophy winner in 2022-23 when he notched 24 goals and 33 assists, Beniers fell to 15 and 22 last season. Calling it "a sophomore slump" is too easy an explanation especially when he struggled to start this season as well. Beniers is up to seven markers and 15 apples in 40 games.

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