Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Targets: Post-Olympic Surge and Quiet Category Climbers

Hey folks. The waiver wire feels different coming out of the Olympic break. Confidence swings, fresh roles, and renewed energy can flip fantasy value quickly, and there are a few players right now taking full advantage. One netminder returns from a dominant international showing looking locked in, while a proven scorer wasted no time reminding managers what he can do.

Beyond that headline pop, there are also two forwards quietly stacking category coverage and trending upward in ways that do not always jump off the page at first glance. If you are looking to squeeze value out of the wire before your leaguemates catch on, this is the window to act.

Let's dive into today's most trending added waiver wire adds.

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Dylan Holloway - St. Louis Blues

Holloway wasted absolutely no time making up for lost time. Coming off an ankle injury that had essentially wiped out his season since mid-December, he exploded for a four-point night in a 5-1 win over the Seattle Kraken, scoring a hat trick and adding an assist. He opened the scoring in the first, struck again early in the second, and sealed it with an empty netter late. That kind of return performance does more than just fill a box score - it injects confidence into both the player and the lineup.

And the bigger picture here matters. The Blues looked sharper, faster, and more connected than they have in weeks coming out of the Olympic break. If that energy carries over, Holloway could benefit even if he technically remains in a bottom six role. He brings shot volume and physicality to the table, so even when the scoring cools - and it likely will - he is not a zero in category leagues.

So what do we actually do with this? In shallow standard leagues, I am not rushing to crown him a must add based on one eruption. But in deeper formats and especially bangers leagues, this is exactly the type of player I am willing to scoop up while the rest of the league shrugs at the bottom six TOI risk.

If the minutes tick up even slightly or he sticks on a more favorable line coming out of this performance, there is short-term upside to ride. At worst, you get shots and hits. At best, you caught a heater before everyone else noticed.

Holloway has 11 goals, 10 assists, and three powerplay points in 35 games played as a forward. He also has 84 shots on goal, 91 hits, and 27 blocked shots.

Pierre-Luc Dubois - Washington Capitals

PLD is another name quietly reappearing on the fantasy radar, and the timing could not be better. Since returning from the Olympic break, he has already added a three-point night to his ledger, reminding managers that when he is healthy and engaged, the skillset is still very much there. Injuries have limited his overall presence this season, but this is the healthiest and most involved he has looked in months.

What makes this even more interesting is the deployment. PLD is currently slotted into a top six role, centering a line between Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson. That is not a placeholder assignment - that is a prime opportunity on a winning team that generates offense. Playing between two impactful, high-end wingers gives him both finishing support and physical presence on the flanks, and that combination can insulate him while still allowing him to drive play through the middle.

This is the type of situation sharp managers try to get ahead of. The season-long numbers may not jump off the page because of the missed time, but role and health matter more right now than what happened in November. If he sticks in that top six spot and continues to see meaningful minutes, there is legitimate upside here. In competitive leagues, I would rather grab him now and see where this goes than wait for another multi-point outing to make him the obvious add.

Dubois has three goals, two assists, and one powerplay point in nine games played as a forward. He also has 18 shots on goal, eight hits, and six blocked shots.

Chris Kreider - Anaheim Ducks

Kreider is not a name most managers immediately associate with the Ducks, but maybe that is exactly why he is such an intriguing waiver option right now. Anaheim is starting to get healthier - most notably with Leo Carlsson back in the lineup - and the team has shown signs of life again offensively. Kreider, meanwhile, is still working to fully settle into his top six role, but the opportunity is there and so is the production.

Since the Olympic break, he has three points in two games, including a two-assist effort in a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers. More importantly, this is not just a random spike. He has quietly revitalized his offense with steady top six minutes and powerplay time, already surpassing last season's point total despite playing fewer games. That tells you the role is real and the coaching staff is leaning on him.

From a fantasy perspective, this is the type of secondary scoring piece that can stabilize your depth. He is not going to carry your roster, but he does not need to. If Anaheim continues trending upward as they get healthier, Kreider can ride that momentum in a consistent offensive role. In competitive leagues where managers tend to chase flash over fit, he is sitting there as a practical add, especially if you need goals and powerplay exposure without paying a trade premium.

Kreider has 20 goals, 13 assists, and 11 powerplay points in 52 games played as a forward. He also has 100 shots on goal, 45 hits, and 17 blocked shots.

Jordan Binnington - St. Louis Blues

Binner is one of the more fascinating post-Olympic storylines from a fantasy perspective. He delivered a strong showing for Team Canada on the international stage, looking composed, confident, and technically sharp against elite competition. When the lights are brightest, he has shown before that he can elevate his game, and this tournament was another reminder that the talent level is still very high.

Now the question shifts back to St. Louis. His underlying numbers this season have been uneven, and the Blues simply do not provide the same defensive insulation that a best-on-best roster does at events like the Olympics or the Four Nations Face-Off. That said, the Blues have come out of the break with noticeable jump and structure, and if that team play stabilizes even slightly, it could give Binnington a platform to build on this momentum.

He is slated to return to NHL action Saturday night against Olympic gold medalist Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils, which is not exactly a soft landing spot. But this is where the risk vs. reward conversation gets interesting. Binner has always been a rhythm goaltender; when he is locked in, he can string together strong stretches that win you weeks. When he is off, it can unravel quickly. 

If you need goaltending upside and are willing to live with volatility, this is the type of swing that can pay off. Coming off a high profile international performance and returning to a Blues team that looks energized, there is a path here for him to ride that confidence wave back into meaningful fantasy relevance.

Binnington has eight wins in 30 games started as a goaltender. He also has an .864 save percentage, 3.65 goals against average, and one shutout.