Special to Yahoo Sports
There are always a slew of players available to pick up off the waiver wire in most leagues as fantasy leagues generally use less than 200 players in their pools. This week I am giving you a couple of players who could be used in shallow pools, two players for deeper pools and a pair of players for deep, deep pools. All stats are through Sunday’s games.
Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, Ottawa Senators (48% rostered)
Tarasenko is having a fine season with the Senators, but he could be going elsewhere by the March 8 trade deadline if Ottawa doesn’t improve its chances of making the playoffs. Tarasenko has always been a scorer at the NHL level — he’s had six seasons with at least 66 points — and while his scoring is a little down this season, he still has 15 goals and 22 assists in 53 contests. Tarasenko is seeing first-line action alongside Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto. Another point in his favor is that the Senators still have 27 games left to play this season, tied for the most in the NHL with Pittsburgh and Edmonton.
Byfield had three difficult seasons trying to break into the NHL after he was drafted second overall in 2020. Such are the pitfalls of being a power forward. But Byfield finally is coming into his own this season, as the 21-year-old has 18 goals and 42 points in 54 games. Byfield has been playing on the first power-play unit, and it’s paid off with five goals and 12 points with the man-advantage. Byfield is only going to get better, which makes him a great keeper in dynasty leagues.
Henrique is having a fine season with 16 goals and 22 assists in 57 games. His name is also being bandied about in trade rumors, which could hurt his value as he’s on the first line and first power-play unit with the Ducks. Henrique has hit the 50-plus point mark twice in his career — with 51 points being his career high — and he is poised to surpass that total this season. Henrique was red hot from Jan. 20 to Feb. 9, when he had four goals and 11 points in a seven-game point streak.
Nyquist has three goals and nine points in his last nine games, giving the 34-year-old 15 goals and 46 points in 59 contests. He is headed for the best season in his NHL career — he had 54 points in the…