Waiver Wire Targets by Team Need: Lindholm, Zuccarello and More

This week’s waiver wire is light on name value but rich in role-driven upside. Instead of a simple add/drop list, let’s sort the top options by what your roster actually needs: scoring punch, power-play exposure, category juice, or short-week streaming help. With several top-six forwards available in many leagues, smart managers can squeeze real value out of schedule and deployment.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The common thread this week is opportunity. Elias Lindholm has locked in as the top-line center and PP1 fixture for the Boston Bruins, driving near point-per-game production. Mats Zuccarello continues to ride shotgun with Kirill Kaprizov on the Minnesota Wild’s primary scoring units, keeping his floor high in any scoring format.

Deeper down most waiver wires, Jason Zucker is getting top-six and power-play looks for the Buffalo Sabres, while Anthony Duclair has carved out a goal-heavy role in the top six and PP1 for the New York Islanders. Finally, Jonathan Toews is showing signs of life as a top-six, PP1 center for the Winnipeg Jets, with the added wrinkle that a trade could further boost his value.

All five forwards combine strong usage with varying levels of risk and upside. How you prioritize them should depend on your category needs and schedule situation more than name recognition.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, Lindholm is the clear priority. Centering Boston’s top line and running with the first power-play unit gives him exposure to the team’s best finishers and the bulk of high-leverage minutes. His recent point-per-game pace isn’t guaranteed to last all season, but the role supports a strong rest-of-season scoring clip, making him a must-add wherever he’s available.

Zuccarello is right behind him as a points-only asset. Playing on Minnesota’s top line and PP1 with Kaprizov keeps his assist totals buoyant and ensures plenty of primary touches on the puck. He’s especially valuable if your roster leans goal-heavy and you need a playmaker who can stack multi-point nights when the Wild have favorable matchups.

Duclair and Zucker are more volatile but still useful in points-only leagues. Duclair’s value is driven by goals and power-play touches; he can go quiet for stretches but also string together hot streaks that swing weekly matchups. Zucker is better viewed as a streaming scorer: top-six and PP1 usage in Buffalo gives him access to power-play points, but his production profile is streaky enough that you want to ride the hot runs and move on quickly when the Sabres’ schedule or his line assignment cools.

Toews is more of a watchlist name in points-only. His current top-six, PP1 role in Winnipeg is promising, but his ceiling isn’t as high as the others. The main appeal is the possibility that a trade could drop him into an even more favorable offensive environment. For now, he’s a speculative add in deeper points-only formats and a monitoring candidate in shallower leagues.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat formats, Lindholm’s across-the-board contributions make him even more appealing. Top-line centers on strong teams naturally accumulate shots, faceoff wins (if your league counts them), and special-teams production. He won’t carry you in hits or PIM, but his volume of quality minutes keeps his floor high in most skater categories.

Zuccarello’s value in bangers leagues leans heavily on assists, power-play points, and shot volume. He’s not a bruiser, but his consistent role on Minnesota’s primary offensive units means he can help in PPP and SOG while providing steady scoring. He’s ideal for managers already strong in hits and blocks who need to shore up the finesse categories.

Duclair is the best target here if your team needs a jolt in goals, shots, and power-play production. His top-six, PP1 role with the Islanders supports a high shot rate and goal-heavy line, and he’s exactly the type of streaky winger who can flip a goals or SOG matchup in a single week. Zucker is similar but slightly more stream-oriented: he can help in goals, shots, and PPP when Buffalo has a dense schedule, but he’s not as strong a long-term hold.

Toews’ category appeal depends on your league settings. In formats that reward faceoff wins and special-teams points, a top-six, PP1 center has sneaky value. However, if your categories lean heavily into hits and blocks, his profile is more modest. Consider him a depth piece in deep multi-cat leagues rather than a priority add.

Dynasty / Keeper

None of these players are true long-horizon building blocks, so dynasty managers should think in terms of windows rather than multi-year upside. Lindholm is the safest medium-term asset: his all-situations role on a strong Bruins team should remain stable, making him a reliable hold in competitive dynasty squads that are contending now.

Zuccarello is more of a win-now piece. His production is tied closely to Kaprizov and Minnesota’s current core, so he fits best on teams pushing for a title in the next year or two. In rebuilds, he’s a sell-high candidate if you can leverage his current production via your NHL Trade Analyzer discussions into younger assets.

Duclair and Zucker are classic short- to medium-term depth scorers in dynasty. They’re worth rostering on contenders as plug-and-play options when injuries hit, but they’re not must-hold players if you need prospect spots. Toews is the most speculative: if a trade lands him in a prime offensive role, his short-term value spikes, but his long-term outlook still profiles as a complementary piece rather than a cornerstone.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Elias Lindholm – Add (all formats): Top-line, PP1 center in Boston with near point-per-game production and strong schedule insulation.
Mats Zuccarello – Add (all formats): Locked into Minnesota’s top offensive units with Kaprizov, offering high-assist and PPP upside.
Anthony Duclair – Add / Short-term stream (standard to deep): Goal-heavy winger in the Islanders’ top six and PP1, ideal if you need goals and shots.
Jason Zucker – Short-term stream (points-only, deeper cats): Top-six and PP1 exposure in Buffalo makes him a strong schedule-based scoring streamer.
Jonathan Toews – Watchlist (all formats; add in deep): Top-six, PP1 role in Winnipeg with potential trade-driven upside if his situation improves further.

Fantasy Takeaways

If you need pure scoring and stability, prioritize Lindholm and Zuccarello as rest-of-season adds in almost any league size.
Managers chasing goals, shots, and power-play points should lean toward Duclair, with Zucker as a strong schedule-based streamer.
In multi-cat formats, Lindholm’s all-situations usage and Zuccarello’s PPP/assist profile make them excellent complements to hit-heavy rosters.
Toews is best treated as a deep-league stash or watchlist name whose value could jump if a trade lands him in a more explosive offense.
Use your league’s weekly schedule to time adds for Zucker and Duclair, maximizing short bursts of top-six and PP1 exposure when they play more often than your bench options.

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