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Fantasy: 3 players to watch on the waiver wire

Mike Stobe / National Hockey League / Getty

Every Sunday, we examine three players you should consider picking up from the waiver wire in your pool.

This week, we'll examine three young forwards who are criminally underowned in fantasy hockey circles.

But first, here's a look at the NHL's top-10 scorers with five days left before Christmas:

Player Team Goals Assists Points
Patrick Kane CHI 20 28 48
Jamie Benn DAL 22 22 44
Tyler Seguin DAL 18 26 44
Vladimir Tarasenko STL 21 15 36
Taylor Hall EDM 15 21 36
Erik Karlsson OTT 8 28 36
Daniel Sedin VAN 14 20 34
Johnny Gaudreau CGY 12 21 33
Blake Wheeler WPG 10 23 33

Panthers F Aleksander Barkov: 7G, 10A, +6, 60 SOG

Owned in 25 percent of Yahoo leagues

One day, Aleksander Barkov will be compared to the likes of Patrice Bergeron, Jonathan Toews, and Anze Kopitar. Yes, he has the look of that kind of high-end, two-way center, and is a key piece of the Florida Panthers' puzzle.

Sidelined earlier this season with a hand injury, Barkov - the second overall pick from the 2013 draft - displayed what he's capable of with a three-point performance on Dec. 15 in Brooklyn, dropping three points on the New York Islanders, including a shorthanded assist and the game-winning goal.

Averaging almost 20 minutes of ice time a night and deployed in all situations, Barkov is averaging 0.74 points per game, and we get the sense he's only getting started.

Grab him now, and target him in fantasy drafts for years to come.

Blackhawks F Teuvo Teravainen: 8G, 8A, +4, 53 SOG

Owned in 25 percent of Yahoo leagues

Anyone who's assigned to play with Toews and Marian Hossa deserves attention in fantasy leagues, and especially those with Teuvo Teravainen's offensive potential. The young Chicago Blackhawks forward has long been viewed as one of hockey's top prospects, and has been waiting in the wings for the championship club.

Recently plugged onto the top line, Teravainen scored two goals and added an assist in a win over the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 14, signalling what could become a regular occurrence moving forward, especially if he's able to hang with Toews and Hossa long term.

Teravainen's recorded seven points in 10 games this month, and fantasy managers should bank on the fact he's finally arrived.

Bruins F Ryan Spooner: 8G, 14A, -2, 52 SOG

Owned in 20 percent of Yahoo leagues

Playing a third-line center role for the Boston Bruins, Ryan Spooner is developing a knack for exploiting the opposition's bottom-pair defensemen, as evidenced in Friday's win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. With the primary focus on Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, Spooner recorded a four-assist game, with three of the helpers coming at even strength, courtesy of a Frank Vatrano hat trick.

Spooner has seven points in his last six games, and while he's already exceeded his previous benchmarks in games played, assists, and total points, one more goal would set a career high in that category, as well.

The 23-year-old is gradually earning the trust of head coach Claude Julien, meaning his ice time should remain consistent or even increase as the season wears on. Reeling off three assists at even strength bodes well for his overall point total which, to date, has been boosted by strong power-play production.

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