Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: EDGE-Driven Adds by Team Need

This week’s waiver wire is all about matching your roster holes with the right EDGE-backed targets. Whether you’re chasing goals, power-play juice, banger stats, or a sneaky goalie start, there are options available in many leagues. Instead of a generic ranking, we’ll group the top names by what they actually fix on your roster and highlight where schedule and usage give you an edge.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest shift this week is opportunity. Adam Fantilli has pushed into a top role for the Columbus Blue Jackets, leading the team in goals while skating on the top line and first power-play unit. That combination of deployment and strong skating metrics makes him more than just a hot streak.

In Boston, Elias Lindholm is locked into the second line and PP1 for the Boston Bruins, driving power-play production on a unit that continues to convert. His high-danger involvement on the man advantage is exactly what fantasy managers need when chasing special-teams scoring.

The Tampa Bay Lightning present two different angles. Anthony Cirelli is generating chances from prime scoring areas as a top-six forward, giving him sneaky value in leagues that count both offense and physical categories. On the blue line, Darren Raddysh is running PP1 while Victor Hedman is out, which is a massive temporary boost in both ice time and puck-touch volume.

In goal, David Rittich has quietly become a strong backup option for the New York Islanders, with excellent long-range save numbers in limited work. With a compact schedule and potential spot starts against weaker offenses, he’s a prime streaming candidate.

With these roles in place, the key is matching each player to your specific needs: scoring punch, power-play exposure, peripheral categories, or short-week streaming value.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, Fantilli is the headliner. Leading his team in goals while skating on the top line and PP1 is the exact profile you chase off the wire. His strong midrange shooting and skating speed, highlighted by EDGE data, suggest this isn’t a fluke. Treat him as a rest-of-season hold if he’s still available.

Lindholm is right behind him for points-only value. Centering Boston’s second line while playing a key role on the top power play gives him exposure to high-end finishers and plenty of touches in dangerous areas. Even if his even-strength output ebbs and flows, the power-play role should keep his floor stable.

Cirelli is more format-dependent here. His high-danger scoring makes him interesting, but he doesn’t project as a pure points monster compared to Fantilli or Lindholm. In deeper points-only leagues, he’s a viable add if you need a steady top-six forward with some upside, but in shallow formats he’s more of a streamer when Tampa has favorable matchups.

On defense, Raddysh’s PP1 role is gold as long as it lasts. Any defenseman running a top power play on an elite offensive team is worth a look in points-only leagues, even if the profile is temporary. He’s a classic medium-term add: ride the role while Hedman is out, then reassess.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat formats, the calculus shifts. Fantilli still profiles as a strong add thanks to shot volume and offensive involvement, but you can be a bit more aggressive streaming him around schedule peaks if your league is shallow.

Lindholm’s value spikes in leagues that count power-play points and faceoffs. His PP1 role on a strong Boston unit means consistent chances for PPP, and his center deployment adds sneaky value in formats that track draws.

Cirelli is the most interesting categories add of the group. His high-danger scoring chances suggest he’s around the net often, which typically translates into shots, some hits, and the occasional block. On a high-powered Tampa team, that blend of offense and peripherals makes him a strong bangers-league pickup, especially when the Lightning have multiple games on lighter nights.

Raddysh offers a rare combination for a waiver defenseman: power-play exposure plus category coverage. PP1 time should bring assists and PPP, while his regular defensive workload can chip in hits and blocks. In roto or head-to-head categories, he’s the kind of short-term add who can swing a weekly matchup across several columns.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, Fantilli is the clear priority. A young forward already leading his team in goals while holding a top-line, PP1 role is exactly the type of core piece you want to lock in. If he’s somehow available, he’s not just a waiver add; he’s a potential cornerstone.

Lindholm is more of a win-now piece in dynasty. His value is tied to his current deployment on a strong Boston roster. He’s a great target for contenders needing power-play help, but rebuilding teams might be better off flipping him using tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to maximize future value.

Cirelli’s long-term appeal lies in his stable top-six role on a perennial contender. He may never be a true fantasy star, but in deep dynasty formats he’s a solid depth piece who can fill multiple category needs while maintaining job security.

Raddysh and Rittich are more short-horizon plays. Raddysh’s PP1 role is tied to Hedman’s absence, and Rittich’s value depends on spot starts and team context. In dynasty, they’re better viewed as streaming options rather than long-term stashes unless your league is extremely deep.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Adam Fantilli – Add (scoring / PP exposure): Top-line and PP1 usage in Columbus with strong EDGE shooting and skating metrics make him a must-add for goals and points.
Elias Lindholm – Add (PP exposure / categories): Second-line center on Boston with a key PP1 role, ideal for boosting power-play points and faceoff-heavy formats.
Anthony Cirelli – Add (peripherals / depth scoring): Top-six forward in Tampa generating high-danger chances, offering a blend of offense, shots, and banger-friendly peripherals.
Darren Raddysh – Add (PP exposure / multi-cat D): Running PP1 for Tampa while Hedman is out, giving you rare waiver-wire access to top-unit power-play production from the blue line.
David Rittich – Short-term stream (goalie / short-week): Reliable backup for the New York Islanders with strong long-range save numbers, ideal for spot starts when the schedule lines up.

Fantasy Takeaways

If you need pure scoring, prioritize Fantilli as a top-line, PP1 forward with strong underlying EDGE metrics.
Managers chasing power-play points should look to Lindholm and Raddysh, both riding prime PP1 roles on strong offensive teams.
In bangers and multi-cat formats, Cirelli’s high-danger scoring profile makes him a valuable depth add who can contribute across several categories.
Rittich is a smart short-term goalie stream thanks to strong performance in limited starts and potential soft matchups on the Islanders’ schedule.
In dynasty, Fantilli is a long-term building block, while the others are better viewed as win-now pieces or streaming options based on current deployment.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.