Draisaitl, Vasilevskiy return
This week's Waiver Wired has an abundance of under-utilized talent for your consideration. Before we get to them I feel I should remind everyone that Pascal Dupuis is available in 93% of Yahoo leagues. He is back with Sidney Crosby after recovering from injury and it won't be long before that combination does some damage on the scoreboard.
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Frans Nielsen (NYI) - C - Owned in 14% of Yahoo leagues
Nielsen has been surging with four goals and two assists over a four-game point streak. He has picked up a power-play marker and a shorthanded tally during that span. It's been a strong start to the season for Nielsen, who hasn't gone more than two games without earning a point. He has meshed well with Kyle Okposo, Nikolay Kulemin and Josh Bailey, but he has proven that he can have success with just about any combination. Nielsen registered 14 goals and 43 points in 78 games last year, but should be able to record closer to the 20-goal and 50-point plateaus this campaign.
Jason Zucker (MIN) - LW, RW - Owned in 9% percent of Yahoo leagues
It took Zucker a little time to get going but he has been firing on all cylinders lately. He has compiled seven points, including four assists, during a six-game scoring spree. Zucker didn't have a goal in his first seven contests, but he has scored in three of his past four matches. He racked up 21 goals in 51 games last season, so we know he has what it takes to fill the net. Zucker established great chemistry with Mikko Koivu that year and the duo have continued that success in 2015-16.
Brett Connolly (BOS) - LW, RW - Owned in 2% of Yahoo leagues
Connolly has enjoyed plenty of success since being moved to a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. He has earned a point in each of his last six games and he has found the back of the net four of his past five outings. Connolly got off to a slow start when he was on the third line, but he has been a great fit alongside Bergeron. Connolly is already close to a career year offensively, which isn't hard when his previous best is the 17 points he had last season. Still, this could be a 50-point season if he remains as a top-six forward.
Leon Draisaitl (EDM) - C - Owned in 11% of Yahoo leagues
Edmonton called up Draisaitl to provide the team with a spark and he has provided them with instant offense. In his season debut this past Thursday, he scored a pair of goals, including the game winner, against Montreal. The 20-year-old forward followed that up with a goal and two assists versus Calgary on Saturday. Draisaitl has been skating with Taylor Hall an Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and he has been clicking with Hall, especially. The duo have combined on four of Draisaitl's six points.
Mike Condon (MTL) - G - Owned in 10% of Yahoo leagues
Carey Price will be sidelined for a week because of a lower-body injury, so Condon will likely handle the starting duties with Dustin Tokarski as his backup. Condon has won all three of his starts this season, while posting a .944 save percentage and a 1.67 goals-against average. He has stopped 84 of the 89 shots hurled his way and he hasn't given up more than two goals in a single game. He should provide Price owners with a serviceable replacement.
Andrei Vasilevskiy (TBL) - G - Owned in 9% of Yahoo leagues
Vasilevskiy is back with the Lightning after completing his conditioning stint in the minors. He won both games for the Syracuse Crunch, while registering a .966 save percentage and a 1.00 goals-against average. Vasilevskiy, who had surgery to remove a blood clot from his collarbone area, was excellent for Tampa Bay last season and he's expected to get plenty of action behind Ben Bishop. He was projected to get around 20 starts this year and should still reach that mark to give Bishop some much-needed rest.
Cody Franson (BUF) - D - Owned in 15% of Yahoo leagues
Franson didn't have a point in his first six games with the Sabres, but he has posted five assists in his last five outings. He has been putting more shots toward the goal, which was always one of his better attributes when he was successful as a member of the Maple Leafs. Franson doesn't always blast shots from the point, but he can get pucks on the net quickly and through traffic, which leads to opportunities. He has also collected three power-play helpers in his past five appearances.
Nick Bjugstad (FLA) - C - Owned in 46% of Yahoo leagues
Bjugstad isn't as widely available as the other players, but I still find it surprising that he is available in more than half of fantasy leagues. He flies under the radar a bit because Aleksander Barkov typically plays on the top line, but Bjugstad has been promoted due to Barkov's hand injury. Barkov is expected to miss three or four weeks with a broken bone, which has given Bjugstad an increased role after he produced 24 goals and 43 points in 72 games last year.
Morgan Rielly (TOR) - D - Owned in 21% of Yahoo leagues
Toronto has struggled mightily this season, but Rielly has been a bright spot. He has two goals and three assists in 10 games to go with 18 shots in 22:47 of average ice time per contest. Unfortunately, coach Mike Babcock hasn't been giving Rielly much power-play time, but that should change as the season progresses. Even without it, the 21-year-old blueliner has 35-point potential this campaign.
Torrey Mitchell (MTL) - C, RW - Owned in 9% of Yahoo leagues
Mitchell scored 10 goals back in his rookie season in 2007-08 and he hasn't been able to reach that total again. He already has five goals in 12 games this season. His 29.4 shooting percentage is clearly an aberration, but it doesn't mean you can't advantage of it while it lasts. This is only a recommendation if you are in very deep leagues or if your options are very limited. It's hard to resist a player who has notched eight points in 12 games despite averaging just 11:46 of ice time.
