With fantasy hockey playoffs just around the corner, the waiver wire becomes even more important. It’s taken weeks for us to get here, and now it’s time to finish the job. Injuries at this time of the year can cripple a fantasy team, but if you look for value on the waiver wire, you can survive the loss and still make a push for the championship. With that, let’s take a look at which players you should be looking to add this week off the waiver wire.

Roope Hintz - Dallas Stars - Winger

Ever since being promoted to the top line, Roope Hintz hasn’t stopped scoring. The 22-year-old has six goals in his last ten games, bringing his season total to ten in 47 games. Despite the recent success, fantasy owners haven’t jumped to add the former second round pick in 2015. He’s 10% owned on Yahoo!, which is surprising considering his recent production. Fantasy playoffs are in full swing and Hintz is heating up at the right time. As long as he can hold onto his spot on the top line, he deserves to be on your fantasy hockey team.

Max Veronneau - Ottawa Senators - Winger

So last week I talked about Filip Zadina and how he was going to see a ton of ice time till the end of the season. I was wrong. Detroit doesn’t want their talented winger to play more than ten games so he doesn’t burn his a year on his entry-level contract. A player who won’t have to worry about that is Max Veronneau. The 23-year-old signed with the Senators earlier in the week after finishing up his university hockey career with Princeton. The Ottawa native pick up his first NHL point last game and was seeing time on the top line and top power play unit. The Senators aren’t a very good team, but Veronneau is going to get a chance to show management what he can bring to this team. He’s a nice depth option that can provide some value if he can continue to see top line minutes.

J.T Compher - Colorado Avalanche - Winger

The Colorado Avalanche are trying to stay alive as they continue to push for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. J.T Compher has found himself playing on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and on the top power play unit. He’s playing with one of the best players in the league, and maybe that will lead to Compher picking up some points. It’s a stretch, but it’s not impossible. As long as he can hold onto that top line spot, anything is possible. He’s 7% owned on Yahoo!, so if you want to take a risk or just need some depth heading into the playoffs, add him.

Oskar Lindblom - Philadelphia Flyers - Winger

Here’s a player that no one is talking about, but is having himself a pretty decent season. Lindblom is skating on the top line with Sean couturier and Jakub Voracek, while seeing a healthy amount of ice time. The former fifth round pick has played over 17 minutes in seven of his last ten games, and he’s played over 18 minutes in five of the last six games. He isn’t seeing any top power play minutes, but we can live with that. He has five points in his last ten games, and while the Flyers aren’t bound to make the playoffs, they aren’t mathematically eliminated, so they still have something to play for. Lindblom is 4% owned on Yahoo!, so he’s widely available if you need to add some depth.


Anton Khudobin - Dallas Stars - Goalie

With Ben Bishop still out of the lineup, back up goalie Anton Khudobin is expected to take over the starting job in the meantime. The veteran goalie has put up some decent numbers this season, posting a 2.54 GAA and a .925 SV%. His record doesn’t do him justice (13-15-3), but his SV% is up there with some of the better goalies in the league. Maybe he sees a start or two next week, and if he does, he will get matchups against the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche, two mediocre teams. Even if Bishop does return, Dallas might want to play it safe and give their starting goalie some rest before the playoffs. Khudobin is a smart add for a team that needs some depth at the goaltending position. Let’s hope he does get a chance to start some games next week.

Samuel Montembeault - Florida Panthers - Goalie

We may be witnessing a changing of the guard in Florida. Rookie goalie Samuel Montembeault has played five NHL games this season and his record stands at 4-0-1, with a 2.39 GAA and a .906 SV%. It’s a small sample size, but those numbers aren’t too bad. Roberto Luongo is still going to get some starts from now till the end of the season, but Montembeault figures to see the bulk of the action. The 22-year-old is basically free on both sites, so fantasy owners who need an extra goalie for the playoffs should go ahead and scoop up Montembeault.