Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: A Trio Ducks and a Returning Defenseman Worth Adding

Hey folks. We're back with another look at the fantasy hockey waiver wire, and there are some interesting names worth keeping an eye on this week. Whether you're looking for an established forward who can provide an offensive boost, a young defenseman with plenty of upside, or a veteran who is quietly putting together an excellent season, there are options available that could help your fantasy roster.

Finding players in favorable situations before their fantasy value takes off can make a big difference, especially this early in the season. Sometimes it's about grabbing a player coming off an injury before he gets back into his usual rhythm, while other times it's about recognizing an opportunity before the rest of your league catches on.

With injuries, changing line combinations and young players looking to establish themselves, there are always opportunities to find value on the waiver wire. We've got a little bit of everything this week, so let's take a look at four players who deserve some attention, what they're bringing to the table and why they could be worth adding to your roster. Let's dive in.

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Troy Terry - Anaheim Ducks

Terry is finally set to make his season debut Wednesday night after recovering from offseason hip surgery, and this is a player fantasy managers should be looking to add before he gets back into his usual rhythm. Terry is one of the offensive drivers on this Ducks team, and his return adds another layer of depth and scoring to a lineup that is already starting to find its stride. Anaheim has been rolling offensively, and getting one of its most consistent offensive players back should only help keep that momentum going.

Terry has always been somewhat underrated in fantasy leagues, but he's a sneaky near point-per-game producer when healthy. He finished last season with 57 points in just 61 games, showing exactly what he can bring when he's in the lineup. He may need a little time to get back up to game speed, but the offensive ability is certainly there.

I expect him to start his season on the third line and second powerplay unit, but despite his deployment to start, I expect him to still produce despite his ice time; over the next few weeks, I expect him to start clawing his way up the lineup.

Fantasy outlook: This is a player I would be targeting immediately. Don't wait for him to put up a couple of points before making your move, because by then someone else in your league may have already scooped him up. Terry has the potential to be a significant addition to your roster for the remainder of the season, so get him added now before it's too late.

Tristan Luneau - Anaheim Ducks

Next in the flock is Luneau, a young defenseman who has been a little streaky with his production but is certainly someone you should be riding while he's hot. Luneau is currently riding an eight-game point streak and has started to establish himself as a regular contributor on the Ducks' back end. He's seeing time on both the powerplay and penalty kill, giving him some additional opportunities to contribute across different situations.

With Terry returning to the lineup and joining the Ducks' powerplay, I like Luneau's chances of maintaining his current production for the time being. Anaheim has been scoring goals in bunches lately, and there is plenty of offensive upside throughout this lineup. Luneau is benefiting from that success and continues to get opportunities to produce.

Fantasy outlook: Luneau is still widely available in most fantasy leagues, making him an easy pickup if you're looking for some help on defense. He may not be someone you want to hold onto through every cold stretch, but right now there's no reason not to take advantage of his hot streak. Ride the production while it's there, especially with his powerplay opportunities and the Ducks' offence rolling.

Mikael Granlund - Anaheim Ducks

Granlund finishes off our Flying V trio and is another interesting forward to target, especially with the way he's being deployed in Anaheim right now. He's skating between Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke on the second line while also holding down a spot on the top powerplay unit.

That's an excellent situation for a veteran forward, particularly on a team that has been absolutely rolling offensively. Granlund has been a big part of that success and is getting plenty of opportunities to produce alongside some of Anaheim's emerging offensive stars.

Granlund has always had trouble staying healthy, but when he's in the lineup, he's a sneaky near point-per-game producer. He's already sitting at 20 points through 17 games this season, including 11 powerplay points. With Terry returning to the lineup and Anaheim's offensive stars really starting to click, I anticipate this team putting together a nice stretch of high production. Granlund is in a great position to benefit from that offensive surge.

Fantasy outlook: Granlund is still available in plenty of shallower leagues, and I think he's worth adding before his current production gets more attention. His combination of second-line deployment, top powerplay minutes and talented linemates should provide an excellent return for fantasy managers willing to take a chance on him. If he's sitting on your waiver wire, I'd be making the move.

Alexander Nikishin - Carolina Hurricanes

Nikishin is finally back in Carolina after a lengthy contract dispute that saw him miss training camp and the first 18 games of the season. The restricted free agent saga included trade rumors and a request to move on from the Hurricanes, but the two sides eventually came to an agreement on a one-year, $3M AAV contract. 

Nikishin wasted little time making an impression in his return, recording a goal and an assist in his first game back. For those fantasy managers who held onto him through the entire ordeal, this was a pretty stellar IR hold.

Nikishin should be a solid mid-tier defenseman for the remainder of the season, and I really like his situation in Carolina. He's skating alongside Shayne Gostisbehere and getting some time on the second powerplay unit, which should help ease him back into the lineup while providing opportunities to contribute offensively. 

Carolina has a strong system in place, and with its goaltending looking as good as it has, Nikishin should have plenty of opportunities to thrive. He may need some time to shake off the rust after missing so much hockey, but his rookie season showed us what he's capable of, both offensively and physically.

Fantasy outlook: Don't expect Nikishin to consistently put up multi-point performances, but he's a very appealing option who can provide a nice combination of offensive production and peripheral statistics. His pairing with Gostisbehere and second powerplay opportunities should help insulate his return and give him a chance to find his game without being asked to carry the offense. If you held him through the contract mess, enjoy the reward. If he's somehow still available, he's absolutely worth adding.