Fantasy: 3 players to watch on the waiver wire

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

Sharks F Melker Karlsson: 3 G, 1 A, +4, 12 SOG

Owned in 8% of Yahoo leagues

After missing the season's first 14 games recovering from a lower-body injury, the Sharks are 5-1-0 since Karlsson's return to the lineup, and the 25-year-old is producing when it counts.

The Swede has three goals and an assist during the Sharks' current five-game winning streak, including the overtime winner Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Karlsson picked up 24 points in 53 games last season, including a five-game goal streak in January. Now playing on the Sharks' top line alongside Joe Thornton and Joe Pavelski, he shouldn't remain on the waiver wire for long.

Islanders F Frans Nielsen: 8 G, 7 A, +3, 52 SOG

Owned in 28% of Yahoo leagues

Nielsen has been streaky, to say the least, through the early part of the season, but there's little reason to think he shouldn't push his career high of 58 points from two seasons ago.

With five points in his last three games, the 31-year-old is third in team scoring behind John Tavares and Kyle Okposo, who he joins on the team's top power-play unit.

But the biggest development may be his recent even-strength play, which has helped awaken second-line wingers Josh Bailey and Anders Lee. The pair have combined for six points during Nielsen's three-game run after accumulating two points between them in their previous eight outings.

Nielsen can go cold for multiple games, but he puts a lot of pucks on net, and his power-play time alone makes him worth the add.

Flyers D Shayne Gostisbehere: 1 G, 1 A, 0 +/-, 10 SOG

Owned in 5% of Yahoo leagues

With Mark Streit ruled out for six weeks following surgery to repair a pubic plate detachment, the door opened for a new power-play quarterback, and Gostisbehere quickly proved he's up to the task since being called up from Lehigh Valley.

In his second game of the season, the rookie defenseman blasted a power-play marker past Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick for his first NHL goal. With two points in his first three games, general manager Ron Hextall sounded very pleased Friday with "Ghost's" offensive upside.

"He's helped us offensively, no question," Hextall said, according to Tim Panaccio of CSN. "Ghost has certainly added some speed and puck movement back there for us. He's got a bomb for a shot."

It's rare to find a defenseman who gets top unit power-play time on the waiver wire, and if the Flyers offense can work out their early struggles, Ghost should have plenty of opportunities to produce in the coming weeks.