Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Young Must-Add Elite Players Flying Off Rosters

Hey folks. The fantasy hockey waiver wire is already starting to heat up, and some players are making it very clear that they belong on fantasy rosters. Whether it is an injury opening up an elite role, a young player earning powerplay time or a goaltender suddenly taking control of a crease, opportunity can change a player's fantasy value very quickly.

This first week as teams play their first couple games we have five players who are doing exactly that. Some of these names were players I was already watching before the season, while others have come out of nowhere and forced their way onto the fantasy radar. The common thread is opportunity, and more importantly, these players are actually producing with the opportunities they have been given.

If they are still sitting on your waiver wire, I wouldn't wait around to see if everyone else notices. Let's dive in and take a look at five must add players who are flying off fantasy hockey rosters right now. 

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Vasily Podkolzin - Edmonton Oilers

Podkolzin is probably the easiest player on this list to explain because the opportunity was sitting right in front of him and he has taken full advantage of it. With Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman both dealing with injuries, Podkolzin has been moved into a premium role alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, as he bounces between the two. He has also taken Nugent-Hopkins' spot on the top powerplay unit, giving him exactly the kind of deployment we want to see from a fantasy waiver wire target.

And the best part is that Podkolzin isn't simply riding the opportunity. He is producing. Through two games, he has three goals and an assist, including three powerplay points, while averaging more than 18 minutes per game. He has also fired double digit shots on goal and is hitting, giving him some nice peripheral value on top of the scoring. The Oilers are currently rolling with Podkolzin on the top line, and with both Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins still out, there is no reason to believe that opportunity is disappearing anytime soon.

Fantasy outlook: This is exactly what I want to see from a player who suddenly finds himself in an elite situation. Podkolzin is one of the most added players in fantasy hockey right now, and deservedly so. We talked about him in the injury piece because he was benefiting from the injuries to Hyman and Nugent-Hopkins, but now he's actually producing like a player who belongs in this role. I would be adding him everywhere I can. There is some obvious risk that his deployment changes when Edmonton gets healthy, but you don't worry about that right now. Ride the opportunity, ride the production and see where this takes him.

Luca Cagnoni - San Jose Sharks

Cagnoni has come out of nowhere and immediately put himself on the fantasy radar. The 21-year-old defensemen made the Sharks out of training camp after spending most of last season in the AHL, and then opened his NHL season by scoring the overtime winner against Florida. He also picked up an assist, giving him two points in his NHL debut while playing more than 21 minutes. Even more importantly for fantasy managers, Cagnoni was quarterbacking San Jose's top powerplay and finished with more than five minutes of powerplay time.

That powerplay role is what really has my attention. Cagnoni was already viewed as an offensive defensemen who could eventually help the Sharks on the man advantage, and San Jose has now given him the opportunity right away. He is playing on the ice and on the man advantage with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith on the top unit, which is about as good of an environment as you could ask for from a young defensemen trying to establish himself. There is some risk here because he is young and unproven, however his play so far has afforded him some leash. Cagnoni's top powerplay role is not necessarily guaranteed all season, but you don't worry about that after what we have seen so far.

Fantasy outlook: Cagnoni is a must add for me right now, especially in leagues that give you five or more defensemen. I'm not saying he's suddenly going to become a 60 point defensemen, but top powerplay time with Celebrini and Smith is simply too good to ignore. The Sharks clearly see something in him, and he just rewarded them with a two point debut and an overtime winner. Add him now and see if this role sticks. If it does, Cagnoni could go from a player nobody drafted to one of the better young fantasy defensemen available on the waiver wire.

JJ Peterka - Boston Bruins

Peterka is quickly becoming one of my favorite adds in fantasy hockey, and this is exactly why I loved him as a breakout candidate coming into the season. I've drafted him in a couple of my leagues late, and was even laughed at in one of the drafts - but after scoring in two consecutive games, who is laughing now?

After being acquired from Utah, Boston immediately gave him the opportunity we wanted to see, and he is now skating on the top line with Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak. Through two games, Peterka has already scored twice, including the overtime winner against Winnipeg, and he has looked every bit like the player Boston hoped they were getting when they gave up two first round picks for him.

The deployment is what makes this so interesting for fantasy managers. Peterka isn't simply riding a hot shooting streak. He is playing with Pastrnak at even strength and has also been given a prominent role on Boston's top powerplay, where he operates on the opposite side of Pastrnak. That gives him an opportunity to benefit from all the attention opposing penalty kills have to give Boston's superstar while also creating his own chances. Peterka has scored at least 25 goals in each of his last three seasons, so there is plenty of evidence that the scoring ability is real.

Fantasy outlook: I was already telling people to keep an eye on Peterka before the season, but now the secret is starting to get out. If he is still sitting on your waiver wire, I would be adding him immediately. The combination of top line minutes, Pastrnak, top powerplay deployment and his own goal scoring ability gives him a legitimate chance to blow past the production he was putting up in Utah. This is exactly the type of player you want to grab before the rest of your league catches up.

Cole Hutson - Washington Capitals

Hutson is another player who went undrafted in a lot of leagues and is already showing fantasy managers why I liked him coming into the season. The 20 year old defensemen made his NHL debut late last season after putting up 80 points in 74 games over two seasons at Boston University, and Washington clearly saw enough to give him a legitimate opportunity right away. Hutson has moved into the Capitals NHL defensive rotation and is getting powerplay opportunities on a Washington unit that has plenty of offensive talent.

The powerplay deployment is what really interests me here. Hutson is currently on the second unit with Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou, and that is hardly a group I would consider a consolation prize. While that may sound like the top unit, it's not - but I believe he will be usurping Jakob Chychrun at some point this year and that's what I am banking on. He is producing now, but that's just an added bonus.

Fantasy outlook: This is another low risk, high reward player for me. Hutson went undrafted in a lot of leagues because managers weren't sure how quickly his offensive game would translate to the NHL, but he's already showing that he belongs. He scored in Washington's season opener against Carolina, and I'm not waiting around to see if this turns into something before adding him. If he's available in your league, I would add him now. The ceiling is too high for a young offensive defensemen getting this kind of opportunity, and even if his role isn't completely locked in yet, there is very little downside to seeing how far this takes him.

Arturs Silovs - Pittsburgh Penguins

Silovs is quickly becoming one of the fantasy waiver wire goalies to grab right now. He opened the season with a 19-save shutout in Pittsburgh's 7-0 win over Philadelphia, and now he has been given consecutive starts to begin the season. That tells me Kyle Dubas and the Penguins are not in a rush to throw rookie Sergei Murashov into the crease. Murashov has plenty of upside and could eventually become Pittsburgh's long-term number one, but the organization appears comfortable letting Silovs handle the workload while he is winning games.

That is a completely different fantasy situation than what many managers expected coming into the season. Silovs had an inconsistent 2025-26 campaign, but he also showed flashes of being a legitimate NHL starter and entered this season as the likely primary option. The Pens also have a pretty good reason to see what Silovs can do. He is only 25, has already shown he can perform in big moments, and the Penguins believe there is still another level to his game. Murashov may be the future, but there is no reason to rush that future if Silovs keeps giving them quality starts.

Fantasy outlook: Silovs is a must add for me right now, especially in leagues where goalie volume matters. I would much rather grab him before the rest of the league realizes Pittsburgh may be giving him a legitimate starter's workload. If he keeps winning, there is no reason for the Penguins to suddenly cut his starts in half just to get Murashov experience. This could be exactly the kind of waiver wire goalie who goes from an afterthought to a weekly starter before fantasy managers realize what happened. Again, if your league has default settings and punishes goaltending - I would steer clear here because I don't anticipate him picking up a lot of wins despite his perfect start.