Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Gibson, Demko and Skater Streams by Team Need

This week’s waiver wire is all about matching your roster holes to the right targets. Whether you’re chasing goals, stabilizing your crease, or grinding out hits and shots, there are a few standout options who also benefit from favorable schedules. Let’s sort John Gibson, Thatcher Demko, Boone Jenner, Ryan Hartman and Chandler Stephenson by what your team actually needs right now.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest shift is in goal. Gibson has caught fire with the Detroit Red Wings, ripping off a seven-game win streak with much better save work than we saw earlier in the season. That kind of heater, on a team that can score, instantly turns him from fringe streamer into a priority add in almost every format.

Demko, back and healthy for the Vancouver Canucks, has quickly re-established himself with a three-game win streak. For fantasy managers who’ve been patching together starts, his return offers real stability and volume just as the schedule tightens.

Up front, Jenner is doing classic Boone Jenner things for the Columbus Blue Jackets: top-six usage, plenty of physicality, and enough scoring to matter in most leagues. Hartman is thriving as the top-line center for the Minnesota Wild, riding elite linemates to steady production. And Stephenson, now a top-six forward for the Seattle Kraken, is on an eight-game point streak that makes him one of the hottest short-term streams available.

Layer in a busy week with multiple teams playing four times and a few light nights where you can squeeze in extra games, and these players become even more valuable as schedule-based edges.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, prioritize ceiling and deployment. Hartman is the headliner among skaters: a top-line center with elite wingers is exactly what you want when chasing raw points. As long as he’s locked into that role, he’s more than a streamer — he’s a rest-of-season hold in most points leagues.

Stephenson’s eight-game point streak for Seattle makes him a classic heat-check add. In points-only setups, you lean into these streaks, especially if the Kraken have a compact schedule with games on lighter nights. He’s not as safe as Hartman long term, but in the short window where he’s rolling and seeing top-six minutes, he’s a strong plug-and-play option.

Jenner’s value in points-only is more modest but still useful when the power-play value is there and Columbus has a favorable run of opponents. Think of him as a matchup-dependent scorer: when the Blue Jackets face weaker defensive teams or have four-game weeks, he can outproduce his usual baseline.

In net, both Gibson and Demko are must-adds in points formats that reward wins and rate stats. Gibson’s current form with Detroit gives you win equity plus a chance at strong save percentages. Demko’s track record and quick post-injury success for Vancouver make him a high-end stabilizer — ideal if you’ve been relying on fringe tandems or backups.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, Jenner becomes a premium target. He hits, he shoots, and he chips in enough offense to matter. On weeks where Columbus plays four times, he can swing matchups in hits and shots alone, with bonus value if he finds the scoresheet.

Hartman offers a nice blend: exposure to top talent on Minnesota plus peripheral contributions. He won’t match Jenner’s raw physical volume, but his combination of goals, assists and decent shot totals plays well in standard categories formats.

Stephenson is more of a finesse add in categories leagues. His value leans heavily on points and power-play exposure rather than banger stats. Use him when you’re behind in goals/assists or power-play points late in the week and need a scoring push, especially if Seattle has games on off-nights where your roster isn’t full.

Gibson and Demko are league-winners in goalie categories if they keep anything close to their current pace. Wins, save percentage and goals-against all benefit from their current roles as clear starters. With both Detroit and Vancouver capable of putting up offense, they’re less likely to get sunk by lack of goal support, which makes them safer to start even in tougher matchups.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty managers should view Demko as the most important long-term piece here. A healthy, productive stretch for Vancouver reinforces his status as a cornerstone goalie; if there’s any lingering concern in your league about his injury history, this could be a window to explore him as a NHL Trade Analyzer target.

Gibson’s surge in Detroit is more of a medium-term storyline. If the Red Wings continue to trend upward, his environment is far better than in past seasons, which can extend his fantasy relevance for another few years. He’s not a prospect, but he’s a solid hold in keeper formats where 1–2 veteran goalies per team are retained.

Among skaters, Hartman is the most interesting keeper asset. As long as he holds the top-line center job in Minnesota, he’s a viable low-cost keeper in deeper leagues. Jenner and Stephenson are more streamer types in dynasty: valuable in-season, but not players you build around unless your league is extremely deep.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

John Gibson – Add (all leagues): Riding a seven-game win streak as Detroit’s starter, he’s a priority add wherever he’s available, especially with a busy upcoming schedule.
Thatcher Demko – Add (all leagues): Back healthy and winning for Vancouver; locks down your goalie categories with strong volume and performance.
Ryan Hartman – Add (standard/shallow): Top-line center for Minnesota with elite linemates; strong scoring floor and weekly ceiling when the Wild play four times.
Boone Jenner – Short-term stream (categories/deep): Ideal for hits, shots and some scoring during heavy weeks for Columbus or when you need a physical stat boost.
Chandler Stephenson – Short-term stream (all formats): Eight-game point streak in Seattle’s top six makes him a great short-week scoring and PP exposure play.

Fantasy Takeaways

Gibson’s resurgence in Detroit moves him from fringe option to must-add starter, especially if you’re chasing wins and save percentage.
Demko’s strong post-injury run for Vancouver gives goalie-needy managers a rare chance to stabilize their crease off the wire.
Jenner is a premium categories streamer when Columbus has four-game weeks, piling up hits and shots with enough offense to matter.
Hartman should be treated as a rest-of-season hold while he’s centering Minnesota’s top line, particularly in points-focused formats.
Stephenson’s eight-game point streak makes him a high-priority short-term add for scoring and power-play help during busy schedule stretches.

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