The NHL season is in full swing and that means so is fantasy hockey! It’s a long grind to get to the playoffs, and an even tougher challenge to win it all. Like every year, injuries are going to happen to key players, which means we need to be active on the waiver wire. The waiver wire can help you win a championship, so it’s important to add the right players at the right time. Let’s take a look at which players are worth looking adding for the upcoming week.

Tomas Tatar - Montreal Canadiens - Winger

I think people are starting to buy into the hype that is Tomas Tatar. When he came over to Montreal from Las Vegas for Max Pacioretty, everyone assumed he was the “throw in” player because people were so excited about adding former 1st round pick Nick Suzuki. Fast forward seven games into the season and Tatar has eight points (3G, 5A) and is averaging just over 17 minutes per game. Despite all that, he’s only 31% owned on ESPN and 53% owned on Yahoo! At this point, he’s not just a depth player for your fantasy team, he’s an lock every time the Canadiens are in action. The market has already reacted to Tatar, as his ownership has jumped 25% on ESPN in the last week, so if he’s still available, he must be added immediately

Zach Parise - Minnesota Wild - Winger

There’s a 99.9% chance that Parise will get hurt this season, but when he isn’t out of the lineup, he can still produce for him team. He’s totaled ten points (3G, 7A) so far this season and is playing about 20 minutes per night. He’s only 25% owned on ESPN, so there’s still time to take advantage of this hot streak before he cools down, or gets hurt. At worst, he becomes an excellent sell high candidate in a couple of weeks once more injuries start to pile up.

Ryan Dzingel - Ottawa Senators - Winger/Center

While everyone is looking to drop Ryan Dzingel, you should be looking to add him.The best part about Dzingel is that he has triple position eligibility on ESPN, which we all know is gold in fantasy hockey. He’s only totaled four points in five games, but he’s on a terrible Ottawa team and he’s going to get every opportunity possible to produce. He may not be a long term solution, but he can be a depth player on a fantasy team and he can score goals. It’s not a sexy add, but it’s one that could work out nicely down the road.


Josh Morrissey - Winnipeg Jets - Defence

If Josh Morrissey continues to see top power play minutes going forward, he’s going to be a staple on every fantasy team. With Dustin Byfuglien moving down to the second power play unit, Morrissey is going to get a chance to quarterback that top unit, and it’s a pretty deadly unit. The Jets power play is operation at 35% so far this season, and with Morrissey now on that top unit, it could actually get even better! He’s only 12% owned on ESPN, so there’s still some time to add him to your team before the rest of your league catches on. Even if  his stint on the top unit doesn’t last for more than a couple of games, it’s better to add a player that doesn’t end up performing, than to miss out on a player who ends up being a stud.

 

Maxime Lajoie - Ottawa Senators - Defence

If you missed out on adding Thomas Chabot last week, you can get a second chance and add Maxime Lajoie this week. The rookie is having himself a pretty decent start to the season, collecting seven points (4G, 3A) and logging close to 21 minutes a game. He’s also seeing some time on the second power play unit, which is always nice. Just like Dzingel, Lajoie is going to get every opportunity possible to showcase his skills at the big league level, so if your fantasy team is looking for a depth defenceman, Lajoie is a nice low risk / high upside add.

Juuse Saros - Nashville Predators - Goalie

 

If for some reason Juuse Saros is still on the waiver wire, you need to add him! He’s only 10.4% owned on ESPN, which is absolutely crazy. With Pekka Rinne on IR, Saros is going to get the majority of the starts moving forward. The Predators are also a really good defensive team, so this isn’t a case of a mediocre goalie trying to fill a hole. Saros is a must own at this point, even more so if you’re a Rinne owner.

Keith Kinkaid - New Jersey Devils - Goalie

At this point, there’s a good chance that even when Cory Schneider comes back from injury, Keith Kinkaid will keep his job as the starting goalie. He’s been terrific so far this season, posting a 1.85 GAA and a .929 SV%. The Devils have been one of the better defensive teams this season, and Kinkaid is a big part of that. He’s only 68% owned on Yahoo! and 48% on ESPN. Expect his numbers to regress as the season goes on, but for now, he needs to be owned if he’s available in your league.