Fantasy: 3 players to watch on the waiver wire
Every Sunday, we examine 3 players you should consider picking up from the waiver wire in your pool.
As the 2015-16 NHL season continues through its second month of action, a number of young players are starting to find their legs. Their upside is not only valuable to their respective clubs, but to fantasy owners looking for a boost in production.
Here are three players to consider picking up this week:
Blackhawks F Marko Dano: 1 G, 1 A, +1, 5 SOG
Owned in 16 percent of Yahoo leagues
Many were surprised when news broke that the 20-year-old Austrian would be beginning in Rockford of the AHL. Dano has been quiet in limited minutes through his first six games with the Blackhawks, and could be the spark they need to fuel some much needed top-line production.
Dealt to Chicago along with Artem Anisimov in the offseason trade that sent Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dano was finally promoted to the left-wing spot many envisioned during training camp, beside Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues.
Despite only six minutes of action, Dano picked up his first assist of the year, and would have netted his second goal moments later if not for Jake Allen's glove.
With the Blackhawks' next three games coming against a pair of Alberta teams struggling mightily to keep the puck out of their net, this could be the week the 2013 first-round pick finally hits his stride.
Sabres D Rasmus Ristolainen: 4 G, 7 A, -6, 45 SOG
Owned in 30 percent of Yahoo leagues
While Jack Eichel and Max Reinhart have been equally impressive in their rookie seasons, it's a third-year defenseman impressing many as the Buffalo Sabres are off to a surprising 4-1-1 start in November.
Leading his team in ice time, averaging over 24 minutes a night in the early going, Ristolainen has six points in his last four games, and is well on pace to surpass his 20-point campaign from last season.
Paired with veteran Josh Gorges, the 21-year-old is quickly becoming the anchor of the young team's backline. Though playing a vast portion of his minutes against opposing teams' best players won't help his plus/minus, his time on the league's fourth-best power play should ensure his point totals continue to climb.
The Sabres play their next five games against Central Division opponents, which should prove to be a massive test for the young blue-liner, but Ristolainen is no stranger to performing in big games - scoring the overtime winner in the gold medal game of the 2014 World Junior Championships for Finland.
Flames F Sam Bennett: 4 G, 7 A, 0 +/-, 21 SOG
Owned in 18 percent of Yahoo leagues
After recording just one point in his first eight games, Bennett's slow start is now long behind him as the Calgary Flames forward has recorded 10 points in his last nine outings, lifting him to a tie for fifth in the rookie scoring race.
The 19-year-old attracted a lot of praise after an impressive showing in last year's playoffs, picking up three goals and an assist in 11 games with only one regular-season contest of NHL experience under his belt.
The 2014 fourth-overall pick finally looks to be living up to his potential playing alongside Mikael Backlund and Michael Frolik on the team's second line. If there were any early-season jitters hampering his play, Bennett seemed to overcome them with little trouble.
"I'm feeling confident," he told Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun. "In any area of the ice, it's just not being afraid to make a play with the puck, not being afraid to lose it and just having the trust and confidence in myself to be able to make the play."