Every Sunday, we examine three players you should consider picking up from the waiver wire in your pool.
As the NHL enters its third month of the 2015-16 season, many fantasy managers are searching for the perfect young player to round out their rosters. Thankfully, there are many capable options primed to emerge as consistent producers throughout the rest of the year.
Here are three players to consider picking up this week:
Stars F Valeri Nichushkin: 3 G, 6 A, +2, 40 SOG
Owned in 14 percent of Yahoo leagues
After a dazzling rookie campaign that saw him put up an impressive 34 points as an 18-year-old, hip surgery forced Nichushkin to miss 74 games as a sophomore last season. It's been a rough year-and-a-half, but he's finally back to becoming one of the best young power forwards in the game today.
The Dallas Stars' 10th overall pick showed some early rust from the long layoff, evidenced by a slow start with only five points over his first 20 games this season. But he has finally started to find his game, and is suddenly playing on the Stars' first line next to the most efficient goal-producing duo in the entire league: Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin.
Nichushkin has already illustrated he's going to take full advantage of the opportunity, recording four points in his last four games. With consistent growth in ice time, as well as his addition to the league's third-best power play, Nichushkin's confidence is growing night after night. He's poised to break out, and could possess serious keeper potential down the road.
His spot alongside Seguin and Benn alone merits an immediate pickup, but in case further evidence is required: He already has the ability to make nasty Patrick Kane-style passes to set up beautiful goals.
Ducks G John Gibson: 3-2-1, 1.55 GAA, .942 SV%
Owned in 36 percent of Yahoo leagues
After posting a 1.36 GAA and .955 save percentage in a standout gold medal-winning performance at the world juniors in 2012-13, it was only a matter of time before Gibson found himself with an opportunity to man the crease for the Anaheim Ducks on a regular basis.
Gibson burst onto the NHL scene in May 2014. Down 2-1 to the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the playoffs, the Ducks turned to their 20-year-old goalie to save their season in just his fourth career NHL game. He recorded a series-tying 28-save shutout in his postseason debut, eventually leading the Ducks all the way to Game 7 before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup champions.
Anaheim had found its goalie of the future, and after another year of development between the Ducks and the AHL's Norfolk Admirals, his time has apparently arrived.
Frederik Andersen's illness and Anton Khudobin's early season struggles have opened the door for the highly touted 22-year-old. Gibson has made six consecutive starts for the Ducks, highlighted by two shutouts in his last three games. He's been so good - sporting a 3-2-1 record to go along with a 1.55 GAA and .942 save percentage this season - that Andersen's and Khudobin's names have emerged in trade talks, making it rather clear the Ducks are totally cool with him taking over now, if not sooner.
Adding a potential No. 1 goalie to your roster would seem unimaginable at any point in the season, let alone in December, but that opportunity presents itself with Gibson. You will need to act quickly, though. He's available in 66 percent of leagues, and that number is declining with every successful start he makes.
Sabres F Sam Reinhart: 7 G, 3 A, +2, 47 SOG
Owned in 7 percent of Yahoo leagues
All the hype surrounding Jack Eichel has made it simple for Reinhart to fly completely under the radar with the Buffalo Sabres this season. The second overall pick in 2014 has gained the trust of head coach Dan Bylsma by playing "the right way," and he's being rewarded for his efforts with a spot alongside stars Evander Kane and Ryan O'Reilly on their No.1 line.
Reinhart appears poised to break out, thriving in his new role early on with three goals in his last three games. His ice time has jumped from around 14 minutes per game to as high as 19:49 minutes earlier this week. Equipped with regular opportunities on the power play, his shot totals are growing as well, averaging three shots over the last four contests.
At first glance, the 20-year-old's seven goals and three assists in 26 games don't exactly stand out, but it's important to comprehend he's only 38 games into his professional hockey career. His 11 points for Canada's gold medal-winning squad at the world juniors last year are a sign of a young player who can handle both the pressure and the spotlight. He'll continue to grow on a young team that's giving him every opportunity to do so.
With a Monday night tilt in his hometown against the Vancouver Canucks, there's no better time to pick him up. He's very likely available in your league, and could be the next young prospect to break out this season.
