Fantasy - WireTap: 3 players to watch on the wire

Every Sunday, we examine 3 players you should consider picking up from the waiver wire in your pool.

Hockey takes a break for the holidays this week. No games are scheduled Dec. 24-26, leaving most teams with a truncated schedule. Instead of most teams playing three games and a few playing four, most will play two games and a handful play three, while the Montreal Canadiens have the unfortunate distinction of a one-game week.

With that in mind, it's worth considering available players on the Arizona Coyotes, Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins, but first, a look at the NHL's top 10 scoring leaders.

Here are three players to consider picking up heading into week 11.

Penguins D Derrick Pouliot: 1 goal, 0 assists, +1, 2 SOG

Owned in 1 percent of Yahoo Leagues

Pittsburgh's injury woes are providing Derrick Pouliot with his first taste of NHL action. The former first-round pick was tearing up the AHL in his first pro season, recording 20 points in 23 games before being recalled. Pouliot scored the game-winner in his NHL debut Saturday and saw over 15 minutes of ice-time in the contest. He should factor heavily into the Penguins lineup while Christian Ehrhoff and Paul Martin are injured.

Coyotes F Mikkel Boedker: 9 goals, 11 assists, -3, 65 SOG

Owned in 16 percent of Yahoo Leagues

Arizona's fantasy value mainly lies in its defense, but Mikkel Boedker has been the team's most consistent forward. He leads the Coyotes with six points - four on the power play - in eight December games. Boedker has not gone more than three game without recording a point, aside from a seven-game drought early in the season. He was held off the scoresheet in Arizona's last two games, so another stretch of productive play should be around the corner.

Predators F Craig Smith: 8 goals, 9 assists, +5, 86 SOG

Owned in 16 percent of Yahoo Leagues

Craig Smith was promoted to Nashville's top line after for Saturday's game, after James Neal fell ill, and the move paid off immediately. Smith recorded a goal and an assist, snapping a five-game scoring drought. Smith also fired a team-high seven shots in the contest. The possibilities for points are vast playing alongside Filip Forsberg and Mike Ribeiro, and Smith is the right player to take full advantage while Neal recovers from his (apparently non-mumps) illness.

Week 11 Outlook