Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Targeted Adds by Team Need This Week

This week’s waiver wire isn’t about chasing random hot streaks—it’s about plugging specific holes in your lineup. Whether you need scoring punch, power-play exposure, banger stats, or a short-week streaming edge, there are viable options available in most leagues. With the fantasy season winding down, every game and category matters, so focus on players whose roles and schedules actually move the needle.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The big story up front is Troy Terry re-establishing himself on the top line and power play for the Anaheim Ducks after returning from injury. He’s producing again and, more importantly, locked into premium usage. In Pittsburgh, Anthony Mantha is in the middle of a career season as a top-six forward, giving managers a scoring boost while his role holds. Dallas continues to offer multi-category help: Jamie Benn is contributing both points and hits from a top-six, PP1 spot, while Esa Lindell quietly logs heavy minutes and chips in from the back end.

The biggest upside swing comes from Edmonton, where Matt Savoie is skating at five-on-five with Connor McDavid and on the top power play for the Edmonton Oilers. That combination of deployment and talent is rare on the wire. In net, Jakub Dobes has emerged as the main starter for the Montreal Canadiens, giving managers a volume option in goal at a time when many teams are load-managing starters.

Layer on the schedule: teams like Edmonton and Dallas typically offer strong offensive environments, and Montreal’s reliance on Dobes means he’s likely to see most of their starts in any given week. Targeting these situations can swing tight matchups, especially in head-to-head formats.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, you’re chasing deployment and offensive talent above everything else. Terry checks both boxes: top line, top power play, and recent production since returning from injury. On a Ducks team that leans heavily on its top offensive pieces, that makes him a priority add if he’s still out there.

Mantha is another strong points-only target. He’s in the middle of a career year with the Pittsburgh Penguins, operating in a top-six role and contributing consistently. Even if his exact line shuffles, his current form and usage suggest he can remain a meaningful source of goals and assists down the stretch.

Savoie is the high-variance, high-reward play. Top power-play deployment and regular five-on-five time with McDavid give him as much upside as almost anyone on a typical waiver wire. In points-only leagues, that combination is exactly what you want to gamble on, especially if you’re chasing in the standings and need a difference-maker rather than a safe floor.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat and bangers formats, Benn stands out. He’s recently been steady in both points and hits, and his spot in the top six with PP1 exposure on a strong Dallas offense means he can fill multiple columns at once. He’s ideal as a short-term stream when the Stars have favorable slates, but he can stick as a hold if your league counts a wide range of peripherals.

Lindell is more subtle but still useful in deeper leagues. His consistent minutes for Dallas and secondary power-play role give him a path to modest points, while his defensive responsibilities often translate into peripheral contributions like blocks and some hits. He’s not a ceiling play, but he’s the type of stabilizing depth defenseman who can quietly help you win categories when injuries hit.

Terry and Mantha also retain value in categories leagues thanks to their shot volume and power-play roles, but they’re primarily scoring-centric adds. If your priority is hits, blocks, and physical stats, Benn and Lindell are better tailored to that need.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, Savoie is the name that really pops. Anyone who can hold a top power-play role and skate next to McDavid has both immediate and future value. Even if his deployment fluctuates in the short term, his current opportunity is a strong indicator of how the organization views his upside. He should be rostered in most dynasty and deeper keeper leagues, and he’s a candidate to buy via trade if your league’s market hasn’t fully adjusted.

Terry remains a solid mid-prime asset. His role on Anaheim’s top line and power play should be stable for the next few seasons, and his post-injury production shows he can bounce back quickly when healthy. He’s not a franchise cornerstone, but he’s exactly the kind of reliable winger who rounds out a contender’s keeper core.

Dobes is more format-dependent in dynasty. As Montreal’s current main starter, he’s a valuable stash in leagues that reward volume starts and saves. His long-term ceiling will depend on how the Canadiens evolve defensively, but any young goalie with a starter’s workload deserves attention in deeper formats.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Troy Terry – Add (Scoring & PP exposure): Top-line and top power-play role in Anaheim with strong post-injury production make him a priority scoring add in most formats.
Anthony Mantha – Add (Scoring): Riding a career season in Pittsburgh’s top six, offering reliable goals and assists for points-focused managers.
Matt Savoie – Add (High-upside scoring & PP exposure): Skating with McDavid at five-on-five and on Edmonton’s top power play gives him league-winning upside if he sticks.
Jamie Benn – Short-term stream (Peripherals & scoring): Contributing hits and points from Dallas’ top six and PP1; ideal when the Stars have busy weeks or strong matchups.
Esa Lindell – Watchlist / Deep-league add (Peripherals): Heavy minutes and secondary power-play time in Dallas make him a quiet source of blocks, some hits, and occasional points.
Jakub Dobes – Add (Goalie volume & schedule): Montreal’s main starter with solid recent play; valuable for managers chasing wins, saves, or starts in tight weekly matchups.

Fantasy Takeaways

If you need pure scoring, prioritize Terry and Mantha for their top-six roles and strong recent production.
For power-play upside, Savoie and Terry stand out thanks to their top-unit deployment in Edmonton and Anaheim.
Managers chasing hits and multi-cat value should look to Benn as a stream and Lindell as a depth add in deeper leagues.
Dobes is a key target if you’re short on goalie volume, as Montreal continues to lean on him as their primary starter.
Use schedule edges—especially for Edmonton and Dallas—to time your adds and streams, maximizing games played in critical weeks.

Source: Rotowire. See the original for full details.