Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Brandsegg-Nygard and D'Astous Potential Gems

Hey folks. We're back post-Halloween with another waiver wire edition, and there are a few interesting names worth keeping an eye on as the NHL season starts to take shape. Whether you're looking for some additional scoring, physical production, help on the blueline, or a potential solution between the pipes, this week's list has a little something for everyone.

We'll look at an emerging Detroit rookie who is making an impact in multiple fantasy categories, a Tampa Bay defensemen quietly putting together some offensive production, a Calgary winger who is heating up, and an Edmonton goaltender who could have an opportunity to take advantage of a changing situation in the crease.

Not every waiver wire pickup is going to turn into a season-long keeper, but finding the right players before their production takes off can make a significant difference over the course of a fantasy season. The same can be said for picking up a player to take advantage of increased playtime due to injury.

Let's dive in and look at these timely pickups and potential gems.

Want to take your fantasy hockey analysis further? EDGE+ members can now chat with our AI Expert, ask follow-up questions, and dive deeper into player breakdowns with longer conversations. 

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard - Detroit Red Wings

Brandsegg-Nygard is quickly becoming one of the more intriguing fantasy options to emerge this season, and I think he could be a season-long gem. He's contributing offensively while also bringing a physical element that can be extremely valuable in fantasy hockey. He's not afraid to throw his weight around, and he's hitting just about everything that moves.

What makes him particularly appealing is that he doesn't need to score every night to provide fantasy value. His combination of offensive upside and significant hit totals makes him an excellent target in banger leagues, where he can help across multiple categories. He's already showing that he can be more than just a rookie with some offensive upside.

Another interesting wrinkle in this is the absence of former captain Dylan Larkin, who is currently serving a suspension. This obviously creates some room up front, and Brandsegg-Nygard is taking advantage by securing a top six role while seeing time on the second powerplay unit. Once Larkin is traded, I will be interested to see how that impacts his deployment.

Fantasy outlook: If he's still available in your league, I'd grab him before it's too late. I see some similarities to Kiefer Sherwood here, and Brandsegg-Nygard could turn into a season-long steal for fantasy managers who get ahead of the curve. I wouldn't be surprised if we're looking back at this as one of the better waiver wire pickups of the season.

Charle-Edouard D'Astous - Tampa Bay Lightning

D'Astous is an intriguing pickup who has seemingly come out of nowhere to establish himself as a dependable option on Tampa Bay's blueline. He's been incredibly balanced and steady, contributing offensively while also providing some solid peripheral numbers. For a player who wasn't on many fantasy managers' radar coming into the season, he's certainly worth a closer look.

What I like about D'Astous is the variety of categories he can contribute in. He's chipping in offensively while adding a decent amount of hits and blocked shots, giving him value beyond just his point production. He's also an interesting name to keep an eye on in dynasty leagues, as there's potential for him to develop into a useful fantasy defenseman.

Fantasy outlook: What's even more intriguing is that D'Astous is currently quarterbacking Tampa Bay's top powerplay unit. That gives him an opportunity to take another step offensively and makes him an appealing addition in both redraft and dynasty formats. If he's available, I'd be taking a serious look, particularly if you need help on the blueline.

Matt Coronato - Calgary Flames

Coronato is finally seemingly producing at the level he was projected to when he first arrived in the NHL, and he's playing a significant offensive role in Calgary. The last couple of seasons have been a bit of a letdown, and Flames fans have been patiently waiting for that breakout season to materialize. It looks like we may finally be seeing the beginning of one.

His recent production has been encouraging, and he's showing that he can be a legitimate offensive contributor rather than just a player with potential. Calgary needs players to step up offensively, and Coronato appears to be embracing that responsibility. It's about time we started seeing this kind of production from him.

Fantasy outlook: While I'm certainly buying into what Coronato is doing right now, I wouldn't overpay just yet. We need to see a little more before declaring this a legitimate breakout rather than an extended hot streak. That said, all signs are pointing in the right direction, and I'd absolutely be looking to add him off waivers or make a reasonable trade offer before his value climbs any higher.

Tristan Jarry - Edmonton Oilers

Jarry has now made four consecutive starts and is coming off back-to-back shutouts. He's getting an extended opportunity thanks to injuries to Frederik Andersen and Devon Levi, and he's making the most of it. Levi is likely to take back over the starting role once healthy, but for now, Jarry is giving Edmonton exactly what they need between the pipes.

Head coach Mike Babcock is clearly leaning on Jarry, and he's responding with some excellent performances. There are shades of his early Pittsburgh days here, when Jarry looked like a legitimate starting goaltender and was capable of putting together some impressive stretches. Babcock's accountability-focused coaching style also appears to be helping Edmonton tighten things up defensively, which is making Jarry an even more appealing fantasy option.

Fantasy outlook: Ride Jarry for as long as he's getting the starts. The situation could change once Levi and Andersen return, so I wouldn't treat him as a guaranteed season-long starter. However, he's producing at an excellent rate right now, and if you're looking for goaltending help, there's no reason to wait around. Take advantage of the opportunity while it's there.