Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Marchment, Hartman and More by Team Need

If you’re chasing a playoff spot, you can’t just grab the hottest name on the wire—you need the right fit for your roster. This week’s top options, led by Mason Marchment, offer help in very different areas: pure scoring, power-play upside, category juice, and schedule-based streaming. Let’s sort them by what your team actually needs.

What’s New & Why It Matters

Several roles have shifted in ways that matter immediately for fantasy. Marchment has landed on the Columbus Blue Jackets’ top line and is scoring consistently in that spot, turning him from depth piece into must-roster in most formats. In Washington, Aliaksei Protas has rediscovered his scoring touch and is tracking like a legitimate top-six finisher again.

On the wing in Seattle, Eeli Tolvanen continues to be a sneaky asset for managers who care about hits and secondary scoring. In Minnesota, Ryan Hartman is back in a heavy-usage role between elite linemates, which historically has translated to strong all-around fantasy value.

The blue line in Vegas has tilted toward Noah Hanifin, who is handling key power-play duties and outperforming more established names there in man-advantage production. And in net, Brandon Bussi is positioned for a busy week with the Carolina Hurricanes, giving volume-hungry managers a rare in-season opportunity to rack up goalie stats via schedule alone.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

If your league only cares about points, lean heavily into top-line and power-play exposure plus team scoring environment.

Mason Marchment (Columbus Blue Jackets) is the headliner. As a top-line winger in Columbus who has been finding the scoresheet consistently since the move, he checks every box for points-only: strong usage, prime linemates, and clear coach trust. In many leagues he should be treated as a rest-of-season hold, not just a streamer.

Aliaksei Protas (Washington Capitals) has worked his way back into a top-six scoring role and is once again pacing like a 30-goal threat. In points-only formats, that goal-heavy profile is gold, especially if you’re light on finishers. He’s less of a multi-cat monster, but his value spikes in leagues that reward pure goal scoring.

Ryan Hartman (Minnesota Wild) benefits from elite linemates and heavy minutes. Centering the Wild’s top line gives him exposure to high-end talent every night, which should keep his assist totals healthy even when he isn’t finishing plays himself. In points-only leagues, he’s a strong middle-tier producer with a relatively safe floor as long as he holds that role.

On the back end, Noah Hanifin (Vegas Golden Knights) is the clear points-only prize. Running a key power-play unit on a strong Vegas offense gives him access to secondary assists and primary points that simply aren’t available to most waiver-wire defensemen. The fact that he has outpaced Shea Theodore in power-play production of late underscores how real this opportunity is.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat formats, you’re not just chasing points—you need volume in hits, shots, and special-teams categories.

Eeli Tolvanen (Seattle Kraken) is tailor-made for categories leagues. He brings a combination of physical play and scoring touch, with particular value in formats that count hits. Even when the points aren’t flowing, his physicality keeps him from being a dead roster spot, and any time he gets a run in the top six he can spike in goals and shots.

Marchment also gains extra juice in bangers leagues. As a top-line winger in Columbus who plays a power-forward style, he can chip in hits along with his current scoring run. That profile makes him an excellent all-around add rather than a one-dimensional scorer.

Hartman’s role in Minnesota similarly translates well to categories. Top-line minutes generally mean more shots and opportunities for peripheral stats, and his style of play tends to generate some grit categories along the way. He’s a strong fit if you need a bit of everything from a single roster spot.

On defense, Hanifin’s value jumps in leagues that count power-play points, shots, and blocks. His current power-play quarterback role for Vegas boosts his PPP ceiling, and his all-situations deployment gives him ample opportunity to contribute in the volume categories that are often hard to find on the wire.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, you’re balancing immediate production with staying power and development curves.

Protas is one of the more intriguing dynasty pieces here. A young forward in Washington who has fought his way back to a strong scoring pace, he profiles as a long-term top-six contributor if he can maintain this level. In deeper keeper and dynasty setups, he’s worth stashing now before his role and reputation fully catch up to the production.

Tolvanen remains a classic upside swing in dynasty. His shot and physicality give him a fantasy-friendly toolkit, and if he ever locks down a permanent top-six role with consistent power-play time in Seattle, he could jump a tier in value. In deep leagues, he’s a worthwhile hold; in shallower keepers, he’s more of a streaming specialist.

Hanifin is already an established NHLer, but his current power-play usage in Vegas hints at a sustained offensive ceiling that might have been underestimated in some dynasty circles. If he keeps this role, he can be more than just a depth D in long-term formats—especially in leagues that start four or more defensemen.

Goalies are always tricky in dynasty, but Bussi’s current run as a starting option for Carolina with a favorable schedule is at least a reminder to monitor him closely. In very deep formats, he’s a speculative stash; in most leagues, he’s primarily a short-term volume play rather than a long-term anchor.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Mason Marchment (CBJ) – Add (Scoring/PP exposure): Top-line role and consistent production make him a priority add in almost all formats.
Ryan Hartman (MIN) – Add (Scoring + Peripherals): Heavy minutes between elite linemates give him multi-cat upside and a solid floor.
Aliaksei Protas (WSH) – Add (Goal scoring): Back on a strong goal-scoring pace as a top-six finisher, ideal if you’re light on goals.
Noah Hanifin (VGK) – Add (PP exposure from D): Running a key power-play unit on a strong offense, with recent man-advantage success.
Eeli Tolvanen (SEA) – Short-term stream (Peripherals): Brings hits and scoring pop, especially useful in categories leagues when you need grit and goals.
Brandon Bussi (CAR) – Short-week streamer (Goalie volume): Carolina’s five-game slate sets him up for multiple starts and a rare in-week save/wins boost.

Fantasy Takeaways

If you need pure scoring, prioritize Marchment and Hartman for their top-line roles and steady production.
For power-play help, Hanifin is one of the best widely available options thanks to his current role in Vegas.
In bangers and categories leagues, Tolvanen and Marchment offer the best mix of hits and scoring upside.
Protas is a strong add if your roster is short on goal scorers and you can tolerate some streakiness.
Chasing goalie volume this week? Stream Bussi to take advantage of Carolina’s busy schedule.
Use a needs-based approach and lean on schedule edges rather than blindly chasing the hottest name on the wire.

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