Week 9 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Schedule-Driven Targets by Team Need

This week’s waiver wire isn’t about chasing random hot streaks; it’s about matching your roster holes to players with strong roles and favorable schedules. Whether you’re hunting goals, power-play points, goalie help, or just squeezing value out of a short week, there are a few clear standouts worth prioritizing.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The key storylines for this slate of pickups center on opportunity and deployment. Gabriel Landeskog looks like a legitimate scoring asset again for the Colorado Avalanche, skating in a top-six role and back on the main power-play unit. That combination of even-strength usage and PP1 time is exactly what you want when you’re trying to win scoring-heavy matchups.

In Minnesota, Mats Zuccarello has slid right back into his familiar spot alongside Kirill Kaprizov on the Minnesota Wild top line and first power-play unit. His playmaking has stabilized the Wild’s attack and gives fantasy managers a reliable source of assists and power-play production during weeks when volume games matter.

The goalie landscape also shifts a bit with Brandon Bussi emerging as a starting option for the Carolina Hurricanes. Strong recent performances, including a shutout, suggest he’s more than just a spot starter, especially in weeks where Carolina’s schedule lines up with your off-nights.

Finally, the Anaheim Ducks have a sneaky source of offense in Beckett Sennecke, who’s riding a point streak while holding a top-six role. Anaheim’s schedule gives him multiple chances to stay hot, and his emerging role makes him particularly intriguing for managers thinking beyond just this week.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

If your league only counts goals and assists, Landeskog and Zuccarello are the clear priority adds. Landeskog’s value comes from his dual threat as a finisher and net-front presence on PP1 for Colorado. When the Avalanche have a busy week, that top power-play exposure can swing a matchup on its own, and his recent scoring surge suggests the rust has shaken off.

Zuccarello, meanwhile, is the safer playmaking engine. His chemistry with Kaprizov is well established, and he’s already back to piling up assists after returning from injury. In weeks where the Wild have a dense schedule, Zuccarello’s ability to rack up multi-assist nights gives him a very high floor in points-only formats. If you’re choosing between the two and need pure assists, Zuccarello is your guy; if you’re chasing goals with some assist upside, lean Landeskog.

Sennecke is more of a swing for upside in points-only. His top-six role and point streak show he’s being trusted in offensive situations, but Anaheim’s attack can be streaky. He’s best used when the Ducks have four-game weeks or a favorable run of weaker defensive opponents, where volume and matchup can help smooth out the volatility.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, context matters even more. Landeskog’s value extends beyond goals and assists because of his typical physical style and shot volume. While the summary here focuses on his scoring resurgence and power-play role, managers in categories formats should also appreciate that a top-six winger on Colorado generally contributes across several counting stats. When the Avalanche have a heavy schedule week, Landeskog can help you in goals, points, power-play points, and peripheral categories.

Zuccarello is more specialized: he’s an assists and power-play specialist. If you’re lagging in helpers or PPP, he’s an ideal plug-in, especially when the Wild have multiple games on lighter NHL nights where you can actually get him into your lineup. Just don’t expect him to fix your hits or PIM categories.

Bussi is the big categories add in net. As the current starter in Carolina with strong recent results, he’s a high-impact option for wins and ratios. When the Hurricanes have a compact schedule with back-to-backs or multiple home games, Bussi can give you multiple quality starts in a single matchup period. In head-to-head leagues, that can be the difference between winning or losing your goalie cats.

Sennecke’s value in categories leagues depends on your build. His primary appeal is scoring and opportunity, but a top-six winger on a young Ducks team can also help with shots and occasional secondary categories. Use him when Anaheim’s schedule is favorable and you need a scoring push more than pure banger stats.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, Sennecke is the most interesting name. A top-six role at his age, combined with a sustained point streak, hints at a player who could grow into a core fantasy asset as Anaheim’s offense matures. Dynasty managers should be willing to act early on players who show they can produce while still developing, especially when they’re already trusted in scoring roles.

Landeskog and Zuccarello are more win-now pieces. Landeskog’s return to form is a major positive for managers who can contend this year; his established role on a high-powered Avalanche team makes him a strong short-to-medium term asset. Zuccarello’s value is similar: he’s a reliable producer while he’s stapled to Kaprizov on PP1, but his long-term outlook is more about squeezing value in the present than building around him for years.

Bussi is a classic dynasty goalie swing. A strong run as Carolina’s starter is encouraging, but goalie value is notoriously volatile. In keeper and dynasty leagues, he’s worth adding where available, then reassessing as the Hurricanes’ crease picture evolves. If he holds the job, you’ve landed a starting goalie on a strong team at a discount; if not, he’s still a useful short-term streamer.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Gabriel Landeskog (Add – Scoring & PP exposure): Top-six winger with PP1 time in Colorado, back to driving offense and ideal if you need goals and power-play production in a busy week.
Mats Zuccarello (Add – Assists & PPP): Locked into the Wild’s top line and first power play, he’s a high-floor source of assists and man-advantage points when Minnesota has a strong schedule.
Brandon Bussi (Add – Goaltending depth): Currently starting for Carolina and coming off a shutout, he’s a prime target when the Hurricanes have multiple games and favorable matchups.
Beckett Sennecke (Add/Watch – Upside scoring): Riding a point streak in Anaheim’s top six, he’s a great upside play in deeper leagues, especially when the Ducks have four-game weeks.

Fantasy Takeaways

Landeskog is a priority add in scoring leagues thanks to his renewed offensive form and PP1 role on a high-octane Avalanche team.
Zuccarello should be scooped up in assist-heavy and power-play focused formats, particularly when the Wild have a dense game schedule.
Bussi offers immediate help in wins and ratios as Carolina’s starter and is worth adding wherever you need goalie stability.
Sennecke is a strong dynasty and deep-league target, with his top-six role and point streak hinting at long-term upside.
Use your schedule grid: prioritize these adds in weeks where Colorado, Minnesota, Carolina, and Anaheim play extra games or have favorable off-night slates.

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