NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Players to Target - Monday, Jan. 15

Eeli Tolvanen, LW/RW, SEA at PIT (47% rostered)
Jaden Schwartz, C/LW, SEA at PIT (15% rostered)

Schwartz was the Kraken's top forward prior to his injury and he's assumed that role since returning from injury. He's scored four points in three games and the more reliable option than Tolvanen. 

Tolvanen, however, can be a really great source of shots and hits in banger leagues. His production is more volatile than Schwartz, but he's on a hot streak right now with a five-game points streak, and both share the ice on PP2. 

Bryan Rust, RW, PIT vs. SEA (45% rostered)
Rickard Rakell, RW, PIT vs. SEA (44% rostered)

I prefer Rakell over Rust because Rakell plays with Sidney Crosby, but note both players take turns on PP1. Both right wingers have been very good since returning from injury; Rust has scored four points in six games while Rakell has been every bit the first-line player after starting the season 17 games without a goal. 

The Kraken are tough to score on with Joey Daccord in net, but the Pens rely heavily on their top two lines, more so than other teams, ensuring they'll get plenty of offensive chances. 

Gustav Nyquist, LW, NSH at VEG (44% rostered)

Nyquist has been under-rostered all season and this matchup may be closer due to the various injuries affecting the Knights. The Preds' top line has been a top-10 line in expected goals at 5-on-5, per moneypuck.com, with Nyquist averaging around 19 minutes per game lately. 

Tomas Hertl, C, SJ at BUF (41% rostered)

Hertl has an assist in two straight games, and the Sharks shouldn't have much trouble scoring against a defensively poor team. The Sabres limited the Canucks to just one goal on Saturday, but their performances have been so uneven that it seems unlikely they'll be able to put forth another effort like that. The Sharks' offense is very limited, but Hertl's at the forefront. If anyone on the Sharks is going to score a point, Hertl's a great bet to do so. 

Brayden Schenn, C, STL vs. PHI (30% rostered)

Schenn is on a three-game points streak and he's a great option for broad category coverage. Few players can offer offensive upside and faceoff wins, hits and blocks like Schenn. While the Flyers are a tough matchup, they are playing their third road game in four nights while the Blues have been at home for nearly a week. 

Jonathan Drouin, C/LW, COL at MTL (28% rostered)

This will be Drouin's first game in Montreal after six seasons with the club, and he's arguably in a far better spot than he ever has been in his career. His usage is through the roof playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon, averaging close to 24 minutes per game in January. With Jake Allen expected to start, his first action in 2024, and an Avs offense that's been rolling, Drouin is one of the top streaming options for Monday.

Ryan Hartman, C/RW, MIN vs. NYI (24% rostered)

No matter what the Wild do, Hartman inevitably comes back to L1. He's centering Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, a position he's all too familiar with, and he's scored five points in his past six games. He's not afraid to shoot the puck and the Isles are a porous defensive team that allows a lot of scoring chances. 

Nicolas Roy, C/RW, VEG vs. NSH (1% rostered)

With Jack Eichel and William Karlsson unavailable, and Chandler Stephenson a game-time decision, we might see Roy in a top-line role. This is a great opportunity for Roy, who has played all over lineup at times. The Preds don't defend well; they're allowing 3.12 goals per game, 15th in the league, and rank 25th on the PK.