Hockey doesn’t start again until Friday, December 27, but it’s best to jump on adding players to stream ahead of time as many of the owners will be busy with the holidays. In anticipation for the three heavily filled days upon the return from the break, these are three of the best streaming options at forward.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Forwards to Consider for Week 12
Gabriel Vilardi, Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are hot once again and they are being led by the top line of Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and our streaming target Gabriel Vilardi. The latter has five goals and 14 points in the last 10 games with five of those being multi-point games. The power-play has been on fire for over a week now as Vilardi also has six power-play points in the past five games.
While the Jets only play one more game to close out this week against the Ottawa Senators, the team does kick off next week with a back-to-back against the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche before we’re back here looking at the best options to stream once again. The reason to jump on him now is because he won’t be available for long with how he and the top line/top power play of the Jets is performing.
Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins
Rickard Rakell is the first of the two Pittsburgh Penguins forwards that I encourage you to pick up before it’s too late. He is a regular linemate of Sidney Crosby and part of the top power-play unit as well. There has been a ton of offense coming from the top line and with the team’s success, I don’t see anything changing anytime soon.
Rakell is regularly underappreciated for the work he does year after year. He is an all-around player that shoots a lot and is physical. He has 16 goals and 29 points in 36 games this season, but more importantly, he has nine goals and 17 points in the last 13 games as well as five goals and 11 points in the last six games. The Penguins play the New York Islanders back-to-back this weekend and Rakell’s linemate Crosby has recorded the most points against the Islanders in his long and very incredible career with 135 in the regular season.
Bryan Rust, Pittsburgh Penguins
Rakell isn’t the only one who benefits from playing on the top line of the Penguins, on the top power-play unit, and is in line to continue to dominate on the weekend against the Islanders. Rust gets the same benefits and is rostered even less than Rakell because of an injury earlier in the season. In Rust’s previous 13 games, he has 10 goals and 19 points which includes a hat trick and two other two-goal games.
Rust’s last eight games are just as impressive with seven goals and 14 points. He shoots, hits, and blocks shots and is just as much of an all-around player as Rakell. As I noted above, the Penguins have two games to close out the week against the Islanders, who they dominate. Look for a couple of big nights and while these Penguins forwards are playing so well, they are must-roster players.
Related: Week 12 Fantasy Hockey Goalie Streams
Take advantage of the break by jumping on players early before the rest of your league(s) scramble for players to add on Friday. Also make sure to head back here next Tuesday for more of the best forwards to stream.