NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups: Forwards, November 29: Vegas' Barbashev Posting Solid Numbers for Second Straight Month

On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies are rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and can be selected in standard fantasy leagues and/or for daily fantasy games.

Vincent Trocheck, C, NYR vs. TB (64% rostered) - FanDuel $xxTrocheck, injured in the second game of the season, has been red-hot since returning to action after missing nearly a month. He's scored in consecutive contests and has three goals and a helper over his last five outings. In nine games since rejoining the Rangers, Trocheck has five tallies and three helpers. He's skating again on a line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, boding well for continued success.

Timo Meier, LW/RW, NJ vs. PHI (88% rostered) - FanDuel $xxMeier has experienced a few goal-droughts this season -one of eight games and one of four - but lit the lamp in three straight contests coming into Friday's games. His production has fallen off since coming from San Jose to New Jersey, going from 76 points in 2021-22 to 66 the following season split between the Sharks and Devils. He followed that season up by notching 52 and 53 points, respectively, in New Jersey. His current goal streak has Meier up to eight tallies and 11 apples in 23 games while skating on the first line.

Ivan Demidov, RW, MTL @ COL (61% rostered) - FanDuel $xxDemidov's game-winning tally Wednesday extended his point streak to four games (one goal, four assists). This stretch continues Demidov's solid rookie campaign, during which he has posted five goals (two game-winners), 18 points, 25 shots on net and a plus-2 rating over 22 appearances. Demidov is entrenched as the Habs' second-line right winger and likely future superstar.

John Tavares, C, TOR @ PIT (96% rostered) - FanDuel $xxTavares seems to be aging like fine wine, very well. He topped the 500-goal mark this season and sits with 12 tallies in 23 contests. Add in 16 assists and he is averaging more than a point-per-game. The return of Auston Matthews actually takes some pressure off Tavares, as opponents can't thrown their best defender against the JT line or that leaves Matthews' trio matching up against lesser blueliners.

Clayton Keller, LW/RW, UTAH @ STL (98% rostered) - FanDuel $xxKeller's production is down from year's past, as he sits with eight goals and 13 assists in 24 games after posting 30 tallies and 60 helpers in 81 contests last season. The addition of JJ Petreka and continued rise of Dylan Guenther have lengthened the Mammoth lineup, taking some of the offensive pressure off Keller. That being said, another 70-point season certainly looks to be in reach with a higher ceiling if he hits a hot streak.

Mats Zuccarello, RW, MIN vs. BUF (28% rostered) - FanDuel $xxZuccarello-Aasen hit the ground running after missing the first 15 games with a lower-body injury sustained prior to the preseason. He has notched a goal and seven assists in nine games while skating on the Wild's top line opposite Kirill Kaprizov. Zucc is not a material goal-scoring threat, preferring to notch his points as a playmaker and facilitator

Ivan Barbashev, LW, LV vs. SJ (35% rostered) - FanDuel $xxBarbashev had his best offensive season in 2021-22 as a member of the Blues, tallying 26 goals and 34 assists. While he has not reached that height again, he has been extremely solid for the Knights, posting 45 points between STL and LV in 2022-23, 45 points the following season and 51 points in 2024-25. Barbashev notched 10 points in 11 games in October and has tallied that same number (five goals, five assists) in 12 outings since the beginning of November, putting him on early pace to set career-marks across the board.

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