Welcome back to another NHL season. You've done the research, drafted your players, and are ready to dominate in fantasy. But you'll undoubtedly require reinforcements the next few months to bolster your squads – and the odds say you've already lost at least one player to injury/demotion/suspension.
And that's where the Waiver Wire comes in. The intention of this column is to discuss players who aren't on everyone's radar, yet are still worthy of consideration based on placement, production and/or potential. Every week, we'll cover those available in no more than 50 percent of Yahoo! Leagues – though there will be exceptions.
It may be tough to properly evaluate waiver options with only three days' worth of regular-season data, but we'll give it our best shot.
(Rostered rates as of Oct. 10)
Forwards
Will Cuylle, NYR (Yahoo: 45%): The aforementioned three Ps (placement, production, potential) are optimized when they click at the same time. And that combo could soon be coming together for Cuylle due to his spot on the first line (and second power play) and hit contributions combined with the opportunity to pick up plenty of points. He also ended last season on a five-game scoring streak with 20 goals and 25 assists overall while averaging almost two shots and recording three PPPs and two SHGs. Keep an eye on Cuylle's progress, as he hasn't yet found the scoresheet, but don't wait too long.
Andrei Kuzmenko, LA (Yahoo: 30%): Kuzmenko went scoreless over his first seven
Welcome back to another NHL season. You've done the research, drafted your players, and are ready to dominate in fantasy. But you'll undoubtedly require reinforcements the next few months to bolster your squads – and the odds say you've already lost at least one player to injury/demotion/suspension.
And that's where the Waiver Wire comes in. The intention of this column is to discuss players who aren't on everyone's radar, yet are still worthy of consideration based on placement, production and/or potential. Every week, we'll cover those available in no more than 50 percent of Yahoo! Leagues – though there will be exceptions.
It may be tough to properly evaluate waiver options with only three days' worth of regular-season data, but we'll give it our best shot.
(Rostered rates as of Oct. 10)
Forwards
Will Cuylle, NYR (Yahoo: 45%): The aforementioned three Ps (placement, production, potential) are optimized when they click at the same time. And that combo could soon be coming together for Cuylle due to his spot on the first line (and second power play) and hit contributions combined with the opportunity to pick up plenty of points. He also ended last season on a five-game scoring streak with 20 goals and 25 assists overall while averaging almost two shots and recording three PPPs and two SHGs. Keep an eye on Cuylle's progress, as he hasn't yet found the scoresheet, but don't wait too long.
Andrei Kuzmenko, LA (Yahoo: 30%): Kuzmenko went scoreless over his first seven games after coming over from Philly back in March, yet concluded the campaign – including the playoffs – by going off for 23 points, nine PPPs and 39 shots across 21 contests. The club brought him back on a one-year deal and reunited him with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe on the lead line and top man-advantage. Kuzmenko paid immediate dividends on Wednesday notching a PPG, assist, two shots and two hits. Add him ASAP.
Jake DeBrusk, VAN (Yahoo: 29%): You know what you're getting with DeBrusk: a high-volume shooter who's fairly adept around the net. The Canucks may be projected to finish middle of the pack, though their No. 1 PP is loaded. And DeBrusk will earn some points on that unit (posted a career-high 19 last year). Also getting to join forces with Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser at even-strength should further enhance his profile.
Marco Rossi, MIN (Yahoo: 27%): Following two straight seasons covering all 82 games, Rossi is ready to take the next step. He may be on Minnesota's second man-advantage, but centers Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy at five-on-five. And anyone with above-average talent who regularly skates with that dynamic duo shouldn't be available in roughly three of every four Yahoo! leagues.
Leo Carlsson, ANH (Yahoo: 21%): The last two-and-a-half months of 2024-25 were highly productive for Carlsson, as he accumulated 11 goals, 18 assists and 54 shots while centering the top trio and power play. He's primed to carry over that momentum due to similar roles and elevated ice time. On a top-nine mix of promising youngsters and wily veterans, this may be the year Carlsson makes good on his draft pedigree.
Frank Nazar, CHI (Yahoo: 20%): A quarter of a season was enough for Nazar to prove he didn't belong in the minors. While the initial NHL returns were muted, the rookie capped off the campaign by tallying nine points across eight outings while starring on both special-teams groups. Fast forward to Tuesday's opener, where Nazar collected a goal and assist on 20:14 – 5:10 of that from PP/SH duty. He's a lock for 40-plus points and could easily reach 50 – or even 60 – if he keeps receiving major minutes.
Matias Maccelli, TOR (Yahoo: 16%): Maccelli is currently occupying the right wing spot next to Auston Matthews previously held by Mitch Marner. We're obviously not comparing the two, but the opportunity of playing with one of the league's most dynamic centers should entice many poolies. And let's not forget Maccelli is only two seasons removed for a 57-point effort in Arizona (right after one with 49). There's always a chance he falls out of favor or moves down the depth chart, though he's currently in a favorable position and found the back of the net on Wednesday.
Zachary Bolduc, MON (Yahoo: 12%): Consistency wasn't Bolduc's specialty last year with St. Louis since he went large stretches of minimal scoring bookended by hot runs. If there was anything predictable, it was his willingness to fire pucks on net (120 shots) and physically punish opponents (108 hits). Now with the Habs, Bolduc is getting a shot to skate with the big boys on the lead PP and a place in the top-six where he's provided a goal in each of the first two contests. Considering the potential upside and skilled teammates, there's no shame in taking a flyer on him.
Defensemen
Brandt Clarke, LA (Yahoo: 21%): As Clarke was also here during the opening week last season, it's safe to assume the subsequent results weren't as encouraging as expected. While his 33 overall points represent a decent haul, only nine came from the final 31 games from 15 minutes a night. Clarke is already taking on more ice time and potted a goal Wednesday while sharing PP2 with Drew Doughty. As long as his shifts remain plentiful and his performances don't dip, he'll net you somewhere in the 35 to 40 point range.
Travis Sanheim, PHI (Yahoo: 20%): Sanheim quietly posted a career-high 44 points during 2023-24 despite a minor PP role, though that number decreased to 30 in a similar workload. As someone who averaged 22:55 the last four campaigns while rarely missing a contest, he'll supply enough shots and blocks alongside a healthy sprinkling of hits. Sanheim may not reach previous scoring levels but he's reliable. And that's a quality often overlooked in fantasy.
Philip Broberg, STL (Yahoo: 12%): Many have been touting Broberg for bigger things this season, and with good reason. After all, he registered eight goals and 21 assists through 68 outings on a 20-plus minute average. Broberg is still only 24, yet should be firmly entrenched in the Blues' top-four while continuing his offensive ascent and notching sufficient secondary stats.
Simon Edvinsson, DET (Yahoo: 9%): Edvinsson has all the tools to become an elite blueliner, and he'll aim to show more of that during his second full season. He's coming off 31 points, 86 shots, 67 PIM, 86 hits, 144 blocks and a plus-12 on limited PP duty. So if that situation increases, Edvinsson's value will follow in the same direction as a key part of Detroit's current core and potentially bright future.
Goaltenders
Spencer Knight, CHI (Yahoo: 34%): If the March trade with Florida and recent $17.5-million contract didn't clue us in, Knight should be Chicago's primary netminder. And he fared pretty well in defeat on Tuesday by making 34 saves against his former club. Knight's going to face a lot of pucks behind a defense that finished 30th in shots allowed and he'll lose his fair share of games, but will often provide a sufficient fantasy floor.
Charlie Lindgren, WAS (Yahoo: 11%): Despite subpar stats last year (2.73 GAA, .904 SV percentage) and Logan Thompson (31-6-6, 2.49 GAA) finishing fourth in Vezina voting, Lindgren still managed 20 wins and 39 regular-season appearances. With Thompson covering Wednesday's opener and a back-to-back on Saturday/Sunday, expect Lindgren to handle the first matchup at the Islanders (as opposed to the trip to Broadway). As the Caps don't want to overburden Thompson, we'll probably see Lindgren enough times this season to make him a viable fantasy contributor.
