Waiver Wire Targets by Team Needs Using EDGE Trends
If you’re grinding the waiver wire, it’s not enough to just grab the hottest name. You need to match adds to your team’s specific needs and this week’s schedule. Using EDGE-style trends like shot locations, offensive-zone time, and usage, we can separate short-term heaters from sustainable help. Below, we group the top options by category: scoring, power-play exposure, peripherals, and short-week streamers.
What’s New & Why It Matters
This week’s standout is Vladimir Tarasenko in Minnesota, riding a scoring surge while skating in the top six and on the top power play next to Kirill Kaprizov. His midrange shot volume and recent point run suggest more than just a lucky streak. In San Jose, John Klingberg has re-emerged as a PP1 quarterback with a multi-game point streak and strong goal output from the blue line, while William Eklund is carving out a top-six and PP1 role with heavy offensive-zone deployment.
Detroit has settled on John Gibson as its starting goalie, and his strong save percentage in tight game states makes him a priority add in leagues that count ratios and saves. In Edmonton, Vasily Podkolzin is flashing both speed and physicality on the second line, with recent production that hints at real scoring upside. Together, these players offer edges in different stat buckets, letting you target exactly what your roster is missing while taking advantage of favorable usage and current form.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
If you’re chasing pure offense, Tarasenko and Klingberg are the headliners. Tarasenko’s value is driven by his deployment: top-six minutes in Minnesota and access to elite linemates on the first power play. His recent run of points, backed by strong midrange shot volume, suggests he’s not just converting on a few lucky chances. In most points-only formats, he should not be sitting on waivers.
Klingberg’s appeal comes from his role as San Jose’s PP1 quarterback. A sustained point streak plus high involvement in the team’s offensive schemes makes him one of the better available defensemen for assists, secondary points, and power-play production. As long as he’s running the top unit, he has a solid floor with upside whenever San Jose’s power play heats up.
Eklund is more of a secondary scoring add in points-only. His top-six role, offensive-zone usage, and power-play time give him enough opportunity to keep a modest point streak going, but he’s still more volatile than Tarasenko or Klingberg. Think of him as a flexible depth scorer or short-term plug when you need extra games played.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-cat leagues, you want players who fill more than one column. Tarasenko still matters here because shot volume and goals carry weight, and his power-play role can help in PPP. However, the true bangers-friendly add is Vasily Podkolzin. His profile in Edmonton combines speed, physicality, and scoring touch on the second line. That mix can translate into goals, hits, and potentially shots, making him a strong fit if you’re trying to climb in both scoring and peripheral categories.
Klingberg is more specialized: he’s primarily a source of power-play points, assists, and some shot volume from the back end. He won’t help much in hits or blocks, but he can stabilize your PPP and overall blue-line scoring. Eklund offers some shots and power-play help, but he’s not a heavy peripherals contributor yet; treat him as a scoring-focused streamer rather than a bangers anchor.
In net, Gibson is a priority for categories formats. Being locked in as Detroit’s starter with a strong save percentage in high-leverage situations means he can support both ratios and volume categories like saves and wins when the team in front of him cooperates. If you’re lagging in goalie stats, he’s one of the few widely available options who can realistically move the needle.
Dynasty / Keeper
In long-term formats, the calculus shifts. Tarasenko and Klingberg are more win-now pieces; they’re excellent targets if you’re contending this season, but their long-term trajectories are flatter. Don’t overpay future assets for them, but do consider acquiring them cheaply via the NHL Trade Analyzer if your league is still active on the trade front.
Eklund is the most interesting dynasty asset of this group. A top-six role in San Jose with heavy offensive-zone time and PP1 exposure is exactly the developmental path you want to see. Even if his production ebbs and flows this year, the underlying usage suggests he can grow into a reliable top-six scorer and power-play contributor over multiple seasons. He’s a strong stash in rebuilding situations and a viable depth piece for contenders.
Podkolzin has a boom-or-bust dynasty profile. The combination of speed, physicality, and scoring upside on a strong Edmonton offense is enticing, but his role could fluctuate over time. In deeper keeper formats, he’s a worthwhile hold to see if he cements himself as a long-term top-six winger. Gibson, as a starting goalie with strong recent play, has value in the near term, but goalies are volatile assets; in dynasty, treat him as a medium-horizon piece rather than a cornerstone.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Vladimir Tarasenko (MIN) – Add, Scoring/PP exposure (shallow to standard): Top-six and PP1 usage with a current scoring surge make him a must-add for goals, points, and PPP.
- John Klingberg (SJS) – Add, PP exposure/blue-line scoring (standard to deep): Running PP1 with a sustained point streak; ideal if you need defenseman offense and power-play help.
- William Eklund (SJS) – Short-term stream, Scoring/PP (standard to deep): Top-six and PP1 role with strong offensive-zone time; stream while his point streak and deployment hold.
- John Gibson (DET) – Add, Goalie ratios/volume (all but the shallowest): Locked in as Detroit’s starter with strong recent save metrics; boosts wins, saves, and ratios.
- Vasily Podkolzin (EDM) – Add, Peripherals + secondary scoring (standard to deep): Speed and physical play on Edmonton’s second line give him multi-cat appeal in goals, hits, and shots.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Tarasenko should be scooped up in most leagues for his combination of scoring form, shot volume, and top-line, top-unit deployment.
- Klingberg is one of the better available PP1 defensemen, offering a reliable stream of points and power-play production from the blue line.
- Eklund is a strong short-term scoring and PP streamer, especially in deeper and dynasty formats where his role growth matters.
- Gibson is a priority add for managers needing goalie stability, with his starting role and strong save percentage supporting both volume and ratios.
- Podkolzin is a multi-category asset, blending physicality with scoring upside, and fits best on rosters needing both hits and goals.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.