NHL Fantasy Waiver Wire: Wild's Free Agents Hot, Avoid Avs

NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Letting You Know Which Players You Should Add/Drop Heading Into Week 21, Complete Injury Update, Players of the Week, and More!

Welcome back to our weekly NHL fantasy hockey waiver wire. Free agents from Minnesota still remain the hottest players to scoop up, while both Colorado and Arizona are teams you should stay away from at all costs.

Like always, we're here to help you gain the most out of your hockey pool. Most NHL fantasy pools consist of a weekly total before being reset. So, it's best to maximize your scoring during that week to either stay in the lead or try to climb the standings. The toughest part is always releasing players, but if you're in a pool that isn't very active, you can take those chances.

If you're in a pool that everyone is involved in daily, at least keep your star players even if they're going through a cold streak, so they're not picked up when you release them.

*For a Yahoo pool containing 10 teams or less that only focus' on the essentials*

Adds: (Depending on how your free agent pool looks)

Feb 19, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Winnipeg Jets center Mathieu Perreault (85) celebrates his goal scored in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Centres:
Mathieu Perreault (WPG) – 17% ownership, 2,000 adds since last week, 7G, 21A, -10
Bo Horvat (VAN) – 23% ownership, 1,210 adds since last week, 20G, 25A, +3
Zack Smith (OTT) – 12% ownership, 801 adds since last week, 16G, 15A, +9
Sam Gagner (CBJ) – 24% ownership, 676 adds since last week, 16G, 23A, +8
Mikael Backlund (CGY) – 45% ownership, 521 adds since last week, 20G, 27A, +11
Tyler Johnson (TB) – 57% ownership, 450 adds since last week, 19G, 24A, -4

Left Wingers:
Conor Sheary (PIT) – 41% ownership, 1,628 adds since last week, 18G, 19A, +19
Alexandre Burrows (OTT) – 5% ownership, 606 adds since last week, 12G, 12A, +1
Tanner Pearson (LA) – 29% ownership, 440 adds since last week, 22G, 18A, +13
Marcus Johansson (WSH) – 53% ownership, 428 adds since last week, 21G, 22A, +17
Boone Jenner (CBJ) – 44% ownership, 412 adds since last week, 13G, 11A, +6
Ryan Spooner (BOS) – 11% ownership, 385 adds since last week, 11G, 23A, -2

Right Wingers:
David Backes (BOS) – 43% ownership, 503 adds since last week, 13G, 18A, -1
Tom Wilson (WSH) – 4% ownership, 451 adds since last week, 6G, 9A, +10
Jason Pominville (MIN) – 15% ownership, 402 adds since last week, 10G, 29A, +1
Jason Spezza (DAL) – 60% ownership, 367 adds since last week, 11G, 27A, -14
Nikolaj Ehlers (WPG) – 73% ownership, 351 adds since last week, 21G, 32A, -3
Anthony Mantha (DET) – 16% ownership, 348 adds since last week, 14G, 19A, +14

Defence:
Mark Borowiecki (OTT) – 15% ownership, 1,059 adds since last week, 1G, 1A, -2
Mark Streit (PIT) – 25% ownership, 884 adds since last week, 6G, 17A, -8
Brady Skjei (NYR) – 26% ownership, 723 adds since last week, 3G, 28A, +14
T.J. Brodie (CGY) – 30% ownership, 578 adds since last week, 6G, 22A, -21
Oscar Klefbom (EDM) – 46% ownership, 509 adds since last week, 11G, 17A, +10
David Savard (CBJ) – 10% ownership, 416 adds since last week, 3G, 15A, +24

Goalies:
Connor Hellebuyck (WPG) – 50% ownership, 1,769 adds since last week, 22W, 116GA, 2.74GAA
Antti Raanta (NYR) – 25% ownership, 1,763 adds since last week, 13W, 42GA, 2.22GAA
Steve Mason (PHI) – 45% ownership, 1,477 adds since last week, 18W, 113GA, 2.75GAA
Aaron Dell (SJ) – 13% ownership, 1,249 adds since last week, 9W, 25GA, 1.88GAA
Brian Elliott (CGY) – 73% ownership, 992 adds since last week, 18W, 92GA, 2.65GAA
Jonathan Bernier (ANA) – 20% ownership, 854 adds since last week, 10W, 57GA, 2.85GAA

*For a Yahoo pool containing 20 teams or less that only focus' on the essentials*

Adds: (Depending on how your free agent pool looks)

Mar 6, 2017; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; San Jose Sharks goalie Aaron Dell (30) makes a save during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Centres:
Frank Vatrano (BOS) – 3% ownership, 68 adds since last week, 10G, 7A, -1
Oscar Lindberg (NYR) – 1% ownership, 42 adds since last week, 5G, 8A, -2
Cedric Paquette (TB) – 1% ownership, 35 adds since last week, 4G, 6A, -6
Lars Eller (WSH) – 2% ownership, 33 adds since last week, 10G, 12A, +15
Derek Ryan (CAR) – 1% ownership, 32 adds since last week, 10G, 10A, -10
Steve Ott (MTL) – 0% ownership, 30 adds since last week, 3G, 4A, -5

Left Wingers:
Alexandre Burrows (OTT) – 5% ownership, 613 adds since last week, 12G, 12A, +1
Micheal Ferland (CGY) – 3% ownership, 268 adds since last week, 13G, 7A, +1
Justin Abdelkader (DET) – 8% ownership, 229 adds since last week, 5G, 12A, -12
Marcus Foligno (BUF) – 5% ownership, 190 adds since last week, 12G, 8A, -3
Jimmy Vesey (NYR) – 13% ownership, 61 adds since last week, 14G, 10A, -11
Pavel Buchnevich (NYR) – 3% ownership, 54 adds since last week, 7G, 9A, +4

Right Wingers:
Drew Stafford (BOS) – 3% ownership, 167 adds since last week, 4G, 10A, -1
Oliver Bjorkstrand (CBJ) – 2% ownership, 55 adds since last week, 3G, 4A, +4
Alex Steen (STL) – 75% ownership, 37 adds since last week, 12G, 27A, -10
Brian Gionta (BUF) – 1% ownership, 35 adds since last week, 14G, 17A, -5
Brett Ritchie (DAL) – 1% ownership, 34 adds since last week, 11G, 8A, +14
Kevin Labanc (SJ) – 1% ownership, 28 adds since last week, 7G, 12A, +9

Defence:
Brooks Orpik (WSH) – 8% ownership, 346 adds since last week, 0G, 13A, +32
Stephen Johns (DAL) – 1% ownership, 118 adds since last week, 4G, 5A, -6
Ben Hutton (VAN) – 1% ownership, 107 adds since last week, 4G, 14A, -13
Dennis Seidenberg (NYI) – 8% ownership, 107 adds since last week, 5G, 14A, +23
Colin Miller (BOS) – 1% ownership, 82 adds since last week, 5G, 6A, -1
Cody Ceci (OTT) – 4% ownership, 77 adds since last week, 1G, 10A, -13

Goalies:
Aaron Dell (SJ) – 13% ownership, 1,249 adds since last week, 9W, 25GA, 1.88GAA
Mike Condon (OTT) – 32% ownership, 184 adds since last week, 17W, 83GA, 2.54GAA
Richard Bachman (VAN) – 1% ownership, 129 adds since last week, 1W, 1GA, 1.00GAA
Louis Domingue (ARI) – 3% ownership, 54 adds since last week, 7W, 69GA, 3.20GAA
Jeff Glass (CHI) – 0% ownership, 49 adds since last week, 0W, 0GA, 0.00GAA
Anders Nilsson (BUF) – 6% ownership, 40 adds since last week, 9W, 59GA, 2.75GAA

*For an ESPN pool containing 10-20 teams, including all statistical categories*

Feb 26, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Viktor Arvidsson (38) celebrates the goal during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Centres:
Leo Komarov (TOR) – 10G, 13A, +4, 25PIM, 3PPG, 4PPA, 1SHG, 0SHA, 88SH, 196HITS, 41BLKS, 1GWG
Zack Smith (OTT) – 16G, 15A, +9, 53PIM, 1PPG, 0PPA, 4SHG, 0SHA, 121SH, 114HITS, 33BLKS, 1GWG
Martin Hanzal (MIN) – 16G, 13A, -16, 45PIM, 4PPG, 4PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 137SH, 112HITS, 46BLKS, 2GWG
Mikko Koivu (MIN) – 17G, 31A, +28, 22PIM, 2PPG, 14PPA, 0SHG, 1SHA, 104SH, 25HITS, 52BLKS, 4GWG
Adam Lowry (WPG) – 11G, 9A, -1, 29PIM, 3PPG, 3PPA, 0SHG, 1SHA, 98SH, 176HITS, 44BLKS, 0GWG
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (OTT) – 6G, 16A, +6, 16PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 128SH, 134HITS, 57BLKS, 1GWG

Left Wingers:
Marcus Foligno (BUF) – 12G, 8A, -3, 60PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 1SHG, 0SHA, 88SH, 235HITS, 52BLKS, 0GWG
Nick Ritchie (ANA) – 11G, 12A, +1, 39PIM, 1PPG, 1PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 128SH, 208HITS, 18BLKS, 3GWG
Viktor Arvidsson (NSH) – 23G, 24A, +14, 18PIM, 4PPG, 3PPA, 3SHG, 2SHA, 199SH, 16HITS, 37BLKS, 3GWG
Tanner Pearson (LA) – 22G, 18A, +13, 11PIM, 3PPG, 3PPA, 0SHG, 1SHA, 145SH, 101HITS, 20BLKS, 4GWG
Ryan Hartman (CHI) – 15G, 11A, +11, 55PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 134SH, 99HITS, 20BLKS, 3GWG
Jason Zucker (MIN) – 20G, 23A, +31, 28PIM, 1PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 137SH, 56HITS, 33BLKS, 3GWG

Right Wingers:
Patrick Eaves (ANA) – 23G, 16A, -10, 16PIM, 11PPG, 5PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 166SH, 65HITS, 36BLKS, 1GWG
Radim Vrbata (ARI) – 15G, 33A, -17, 10PIM, 3PPG, 11PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 192SH, 41HITS, 24BLKS, 2GWG
Tom Wilson (WSH) – 6G, 9A, +10, 78PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 70SH, 183HITS, 32BLKS, 0GWG
Zack Kassian (EDM) – 5G, 12A, +1, 86PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 89SH, 146HITS, 12BLKS, 0GWG
Josh Anderson (CBJ) – 14G, 10A, +9, 64PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 94SH, 109HITS, 35BLKS, 2GWG
Brett Ritchie (DAL) – 11G, 8A, +14, 32PIM, 1PPG, 1PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 129SH, 118HITS, 14BLKS, 1GWG

Defence:
Luke Schenn (ARI) – 0G, 7A, -7, 68PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 77SH, 219HITS, 96BLKS, 0GWG
Nikita Zaitsev (TOR) – 3G, 26A, -14, 26PIM, 1PPG, 7PPA, 0SHG, 1SHA, 86SH, 148HITS, 114BLKS, 0GWG
Calvin de Haan (NYI) – 4G, 13A, +10, 34PIM, 1PPG, 1PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 91SH, 103HITS, 157BLKS, 1GWG
Dmitry Orlov (WSH) – 5G, 24A, +31, 47PIM, 1PPG, 5PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 98SH, 98HITS, 77BLKS, 0GWG
Deryk Engelland (CGY) – 3G, 9A, +7, 66PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 91SH, 109HITS, 110BLKS, 2GWG
Brooks Orpik (WSH) – 0G, 12A, +32, 38PIM, 0PPG, 0PPA, 0SHG, 0SHA, 63SH, 152HITS, 104BLKS, 0GWG

Goalies:
Calvin Pickard (COL) – 10W, 21L, 2OTL, 97GA, 951SV, .907SV%, 2SO
Mike Condon (OTT) – 17W, 11L, 5OTL, 83GA, 851SV, .911SV%, 5SO
Brian Elliott (CGY) – 18W, 13L, 3OTL, 92GA, 872SV, .905SV%, 0SO
Anders Nilsson (BUF) – 9W, 9L, 4OTL, 59GA, 678SV, .920SV%, 1SO
Louis Domingue (ARI) – 7W, 14L, 1OTL, 69GA, 615SV, .899SV%, 0SO
Carter Hutton (STL) – 9W, 8L, 2OTL, 49GA, 503SV, .911SV%, 4SO

Legend:
G = Goals
A = Assists
PIM = Penalty Minutes
PPG = Power-Play-Goals
PPA = Power-Play-Assists
SHG = Short-Handed-Goals
SHO = Short-Handed Assists
GWG = Game-Winning-Goals
SH = Shots
Hits = Hits
BLKS = Blocks
W = Wins
L = Losses
SV = Saves
SV% = Save Percentage
SO = Shutouts
GA = Goals Against
GAA = Goals-Against-Average

Drops: (Players currently on cold streaks).
Rick Nash (NYR) – 2 points in last 6 games.
James van Riemsdyk (TOR) – 2 points in last 6 games.
Derek Stepan (NYR) – 2 points in last 7 games
Mats Zuccarello (NYR) – 1 point in last 4 games.
Gabriel Landeskog (COL) – 1 point in last 4 games.
Taylor Hall (NJ) – 1 point in last 4 games.
Mark Stone (OTT) – 1 point in last 4 games.
Matthew Tkachuk (CGY) – 1 point in last 4 games.
Tyler Toffoli (LA) – 1 point in last 4 games.
Alex Ovechkin (WSH) – 1 point in last 5 games.
Ryan Suter (MIN) – 1 point in last 5 games.
Nazem Kadri (TOR) – 1 point in last 5 games.
Seth Jones (CBJ) – 1 point in last 6 games.
Marian Hossa (CHI) – 0 points in last 3 games.
Nino Niederreiter (MIN) – 0 points in last 3 games.
James Neal (NSH) – 0 points in last 3 games.
Daniel Sedin (VAN) – 0 points in last 3 games.
Corey Perry (ANA) – 0 points in last 3 games.
Cam Fowler (ANA) – 0 points in last 4 games.
Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) – 0 points in last 5 games.
Ivan Provorov (PHI) – 0 points in last 5 games.
Matt Duchene (COL) – 0 points in last 7 games.
Morgan Rielly (TOR) – 0 points in last 7 games.

Petr Mrazek (DET) – 1-2-1 in last 4 games.
Peter Budaj (TB) – 0-2-0 in last 2 games.
Thomas Greiss (NYI) – 1-2-1 in last 4 games.
Henrik Lundqvist (NYR) – 1-3-0 in last 4 games.
Ryan Miller (VAN) – 1-3-1 in last 5 games.
Ben Bishop (LA) – 0-1-1 in last 2 games.

Key Injuries:
John Gibson (ANA) – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Kyle Okposo (BUF) – Ribs – Week-to-Week
Curtis Lazar (CGY) – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Johnny Oduya (CHI) – Ankle – Day-to-Day
Scott Darling (CHI) – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Matt Calvert (CBJ) – Oblique – Week-to-Week
Semyon Varlamov (COL) – Groin – Day-to-Day
Gustav Nyquist (DET) – Illness – Day-to-Day
Roberto Luongo (FLA) – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Alexander Radulov (MTL) – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Ryan Ellis (NSH) – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Damon Severson (NJ) – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Mike Cammalleri (NJ) – Upper-Body – Week-to-Week
Dion Phaneuf (OTT) – Illness – Day-to-Day
Bobby Ryan (OTT) – Finger – Indefinitely
Kris Letang (PIT) – Upper-Body – Week-to-Week
Olli Maatta (PIT) – Hand – Day-to-Day
Robby Fabbri (STL) – Knee – Out-for-Season
Steven Stamkos (TB) – Knee – Indefinitely
Loui Eriksson (VAN) – Leg – Day-to-Day
Jacob Markstrom (VAN) – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Andre Burakovsky (WSH) – Hand – Day-to-Day

Top Forward of the Week: Nikita Kucherov (TB) – (4GP, 5G, 4A, 9PTS, +1)
Nikita Kucherov fills all voids that Steven Stamkos leaves open when he goes down with an injury. So having him on your team is fundamental, as well as acquiring him. And if you wish to do so, it would be nearly impossible unless you were giving up someone of equal talent. But when that's the case, you may as well just hold onto that player.

Top Defenseman of the Week: Victor Hedman (TB) – (4GP, 2G, 4A, 6PTS, -1)
Victor Hedman is much like Nikita Kucherov, he's a top tier talent who will lead in all areas of the ice. He will also be very hard for you to acquire, and same goes with Kucherov, if you want Hedman you'll have to give up someone of equal talent, but you may as well keep that player.

Top Goalie of the Week: Carey Price (MTL) – (3GP, 3W, .974SV%, 0.66GAA, 1SO)
Carey Price has returned to top form which has put some poolies on edge when he was playing poorly. It brought up a lot of questions whether to move him or not and for those that stuck with him you made a smart decision. Acquiring Carey is equivalent to getting either Braden Holtby, Sidney Crosby, or Connor McDavid, nearly impossible.