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

This week’s waiver wire is all about squeezing maximum value out of favorable schedules. A few hot skaters and an emerging goalie have both strong roles and enough games to swing tight matchups. Below, we’ll group recommendations by what your roster needs most — scoring, power-play exposure, peripherals, or short-week streaming — so you can attack categories instead of just chasing names.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The common thread among this week’s top options is opportunity plus schedule. Mats Zuccarello is locked into a prime role for the Minnesota Wild, riding his chemistry with their top star and benefiting from a four-game slate that should feature heavy power-play usage. That combination of deployment and volume makes him one of the best short-term adds for managers chasing assists and man-advantage production.

On the West Coast, Chris Kreider is driving offense on the Anaheim Ducks top line. Anaheim’s upcoming schedule leans on road games, but the key for fantasy is simply that Kreider is playing big minutes with scoring responsibility and firing pucks on net. For managers needing goals and shots, that’s exactly the profile to target.

In goal, Joel Hofer has pushed himself into starting territory for the St. Louis Blues. He’s on a winning run and the Blues’ upcoming slate sets him up for multiple starts, making him a strong streaming option in leagues where every save and win matters.

Rounding out the skater options, Jamie Benn continues to offer classic multi-category value for the Dallas Stars, mixing offensive contribution with hits and power-play usage. Meanwhile, Viktor Arvidsson has found a groove on the second line for the Boston Bruins, riding a scoring surge and high shot volume that can stabilize your wing production for the week.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

If you’re in a points-only setup, lean hardest into Zuccarello and Arvidsson. Zuccarello’s top-line, top-unit power-play role gives him the highest assist and power-play point ceiling of this group, especially with four games on the schedule. His playmaking and exposure to elite talent make him a plug-and-play option wherever he’s available.

Arvidsson’s value comes from volume and consistency. Slotted as a second-line winger in Boston, he’s in a scoring-friendly environment and currently converting his frequent shots into goals. Even if the finishing cools slightly, his role suggests steady point output across the week, particularly in leagues that reward goals more heavily than assists.

Kreider is the third key name for points-only leagues. As Anaheim’s top-line finisher, he’s in position to pile up goals when the Ducks’ offense clicks. His fantasy profile is more streaky than Zuccarello’s, but with a full slate of games and prime deployment, he’s a strong short-term boost if you need raw point totals.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category formats, Benn jumps to the front of the line. His ability to contribute in hits while still seeing power-play time for Dallas makes him a rare forward who can help in both the physical and scoring categories. If your league counts hits and power-play points, he’s one of the more valuable widely available options.

Kreider also shines in categories leagues thanks to his shot volume. Even when he isn’t scoring, he can keep your SOG totals competitive, and any hot streak will translate into quick gains in goals. Managers chasing shots, goals, and possibly some secondary stats like plus-minus should prioritize him.

Arvidsson fits a similar mold, with his current scoring surge and frequent shooting making him a strong add for goals and SOG. While he doesn’t bring the same physical edge as Benn, his offensive focus on a strong Boston team can help you win offensive categories in a busy week.

On the goaltending side, Hofer is a classic categories streamer. With the Blues giving him a favorable run of starts, he’s positioned to rack up saves and has a good chance to chip in wins. If your goalie starts are capped, target the games where St. Louis faces weaker opposition and roll him out there; if not, you can simply ride his volume for the week.

Dynasty / Keeper

Most of these recommendations are schedule-driven and best suited to redraft formats, but there are still dynasty angles to consider. Hofer is the clearest long-term piece: an emerging starter on a major franchise with recent success. Even if you’re only streaming him now, this is a good window to evaluate whether he’s worth a more permanent spot in deeper keeper formats.

Arvidsson and Kreider are more established veterans whose value in dynasty is tied to your contention window. If you’re chasing a title this season, both are perfectly acceptable short-term acquisitions, especially if they can be obtained cheaply via waivers or minor trades. Use tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to gauge whether flipping a future asset for their current production makes sense.

Zuccarello and Benn are similar veteran win-now pieces. Their long-term value is limited by age, but their current roles — Zuccarello’s on Minnesota’s top unit and Benn’s in a multi-category role for Dallas — make them ideal for contenders needing an extra push this year. Rebuilders should focus more on monitoring Hofer’s progression than investing heavily in these older skaters.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Mats Zuccarello – Add (standard/shallow): Top-line, PP1 role in Minnesota plus a four-game week makes him a premium source of assists and power-play points.
Chris Kreider – Add (standard): Anaheim’s top-line finisher with strong shot volume and a busy schedule, ideal if you need goals and SOG.
Viktor Arvidsson – Add (standard/deep): Second-line scorer in Boston riding a hot streak and firing often, stabilizing your wing scoring for the week.
Jamie Benn – Add (bangers): Versatile Dallas forward who can help in hits, power-play points, and secondary scoring across a full slate.
Joel Hofer – Short-term stream (categories): Emerging St. Louis starter with a favorable schedule for multiple starts, boosting saves and win potential.

Fantasy Takeaways

If you need pure scoring and power-play juice, prioritize Zuccarello and Arvidsson, who combine strong roles with busy schedules.
For goals and shot volume, Kreider is a prime target thanks to his top-line usage in Anaheim and willingness to shoot.
Managers in bangers formats should look closely at Benn, whose mix of hits and power-play usage makes him a rare multi-cat contributor.
Hofer is one of the better short-term goalie streams this week, with recent form and a favorable slate lining up for multiple productive starts.
Contending dynasty teams can use this schedule window to buy short-term production from veterans, while also evaluating Hofer as a longer-term asset.

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