Finding solid defensemen to stream this week in fantasy hockey will be more difficult than many of the other weeks, but there are still d-men who have performed well and should continue doing what they’re doing for at least a few more games. Here are some of the top targets for Week 17.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Defensemen to Target for Week 17
Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
Darren Raddysh is in a great spot for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Not only is he playing top minutes on the top pairing with Victor Hedman, Raddysh is also the defenseman on the top power play as the team has spread the wealth more. Since the change, it has worked out and the Lightning are a high-scoring team, so he is a good option to roll with while he’s hot.
Raddysh has two goals and seven points in his last seven games. Four of those points have come with the man advantage. He shoots, hits, and blocks shots. What more could you want from a defenseman that is most likely sitting on the waiver wire for you to take advantage of? In the role Tampa Bay has him in, he is likely worth an even longer look than for just this week if he keeps performing. The Lightning play the Los Angeles Kings and New York Islanders to close out this week and match up against the Ottawa Senators before the next time we’re here looking at defensemen to stream.
Alexander Romanov, New York Islanders
Alexander Romanov is in a great position right now as Noah Dobson and Ryan Pulock are both injured. Romanov’s ice time has picked up significantly and the Islanders are also winning games. He doesn’t play the power play, but that didn’t stop him from logging close to 27 minutes of ice time last game. He also plays on the penalty kill, so he finds time and gets lots of blocks there.
Romanov has one goal and three points in his last two games. I don’t expect his offensive production to stay at that pace, but with the increased playing time he has, there’s a better chance of him being on the ice and being in on goals. He’s not the biggest shooter, but he’ll have his games like his previous game with four shots. What Romanov can be counted on is his willingness to hit and block shots. That’s where his most value is. The extra offense right now with injuries on the team is a bonus. After the game, the team just played against the Colorado Avalanche, the Islanders still play the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers.
Brayden McNabb, Vegas Golden Knights
Brayden McNabb is another physical defenseman who is more focused on defending but has increased his offensive production lately while keeping the other elements of his game. The veteran has one goal and four points in his last four games. Like Romanov, you’ll find him on the second pairing and on the penalty kill.
McNabb is good for 1-2 shots per game, but really shows his value with hits and blocked shots too. The Vegas Golden Knights are one of the highest-scoring teams in the league, so McNabb is bound to get in on some of the offense. The team has games against the Columbus Blues Jackets and New York Rangers to close out this week, but a game against the Islanders at the start of next week.
Related: Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Week 17 Forward Streams
If you need defensemen to stream this week, the options are limited and these players might have to do. Let’s hope that you’re in a banger league as they are on tap this week. If not, Raddysh is a great option and the other two defensively-minded d-men have found the scoresheet anyway. Be sure to come back next week for more of the top defensemen streamers.
2025 Fantrax Fantasy Sports
