This article is part of our NHL Waiver Wire series.
We're getting down to crunch time in fantasy hockey. Your league trade deadlines probably will be coming up at some point during the next few weeks (with the NHL's version on Mar. 6).
If you're in contention to cash and carry enough resources, be bold. Target players you want now, even if it means giving up future talent. But be careful not to dump too many assets or you could end up being short for the stretch drive.
For those looking ahead, stock up on prospects. Acquiring the right cheaper keepers in auction leagues can prove to be wise options. Try to get as much as you can for elite performers.
If deals aren't your thing, there's always the free-agent route. And by some coincidence, we've listed 14 of them below.
(Rostered rates as of Jan. 30)
Forwards
Anthony Cirelli, TB (Yahoo: 42%): Since Brayden Point got hurt, Cirelli has operated as the Bolts' top even-strength center and just had a four-game scoring streak snapped during which he totaled three goals, four assists and five shots. And it isn't like this upswing is a recent occurrence, as he had been excelling before Point's injury with 10 points during 11 outings. The only drawbacks for Cirelli could be a lack of lead power-play time or Point possibly returning the next week, though Cirelli should be solid in any scenario.
Mason Marchment, CLS (Yahoo: 40%): Marchment was first featured here soon after coming over from Seattle in December, where he'd go on a hot run, producing five goals and two assists from his opening seven appearances before being sidelined for two weeks. In his second game back on Saturday, he went off for a hat-trick and another helper. Marchment remains beside Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli for five-on-five with the added bonus of now teaming up with the pair on the Blue Jackets' first PP.
Josh Doan, BUF (Yahoo: 28%): All of Doan's hard work has (literally) paid off via a seven-year contract extension. He's been offensively reliable since joining Buffalo and recently concluded a 16-day stretch in which he registered 10 points, 13 shots, 11 PIM and 13 hits on 17 minutes a night. Doan's coverage numbers should be much higher as he holds a spot on the top man-advantage within a club that's already potted at least four goals during a game 11 times this month.
Claude Giroux, OTT (Yahoo: 26%): Giroux should easily be able to exceed his 50-point haul from last season as he sits at 37 with 10 of those during the last 14 games in addition to 25 shots and 17 hits on a 17:06 average. This latest run mainly coincides with him regularly getting to skate alongside Tim Stutzle during all attacking situations. And even if Giroux slips down the depth chart, each of the top three trios have performed well enough throughout the campaign to counteract any potential slump.
Corey Perry, LA (Yahoo: 7%): I had been hesitant to recommend Perry earlier on as his fantasy output in LA mainly centered around power-play production (11 of 26 points), though that has shifted of late thanks to him receiving additional ice time and an improved even-strength role. He's also found the scoresheet during 10 of the last 11 contests. There's always the risk Perry will start to slump on a bottom-five offense, but he is currently set to provide sufficient counting stats.
Marco Kasper, DET (Yahoo: 6%): Like a couple of the aforementioned forwards, Kasper has benefited from a promotion to the lead line, having notched two goals, four assists, 17 shots and 17 hits across the last seven appearances. The Red Wings have used a few wingers on the left side next to Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond this season, with most of them seeing a significant fantasy bump. Even if Kasper eventually reverts to the middle-six, he'll still be able to help in a few categories.
Connor Zary, CGY (Yahoo: 2%): Yegor Sharangovich was brought up last week as one of the exceptions on a Calgary club set to dismantle their lineup by the trade deadline. Zary is similar in that he's within the top-six and is playing well – seven points and 23 shots from 10 outings – though he is probably safe from being dealt as a key piece of the Flames' future plans. Whether he moves elsewhere, there's enough upside in his game to take a chance.
Simon Holmstrom, NYI (Yahoo: 1%): Consistency has been an issue for Holmstrom during his fourth NHL campaign. It probably hasn't helped that the 2019 first-rounder has bounced around the Isles' roster, but he looks to be in favorable form by way of seven goals, seven assists, 25 shots and a plus-12 since Dec. 20 – highlighted by a three-point effort on Wednesday consisting of two PPAs. Ride the wave with Holmstrom and see where it takes you.
Defensemen
Thomas Chabot, OTT (Yahoo: 55%): Jake Sanderson may be Ottawa's prime producing defender, but there's nothing wrong with Chabot. He's not accumulating power-play points like in previous seasons and he missed a chunk of time due to injury, yet he has picked up the pace of late by notching seven points in his last eight games to go with 16 shots and 17 blocks. As long as Chabot stays healthy, he's good to get more scoring and plenty of ice time on a top-10 attack.
Filip Hronek, VAN (Yahoo: 54%): Reaching again slightly over the 50-percent mark to discuss someone who could see a significant boost. Zeev Buium took a puck to the face on Sunday and is slated to return after the Olympic break, which has allowed Hronek to take over as the Canucks' top PP QB, and he immediately capitalized on that unit Tuesday by finding the back of the net. Including that marker, he's posted two goals, three assists, nine shots, seven hits and eight blocks from the last six outings while averaging 26:02 (!!). Even on a weak Vancouver offense, expect Hronek to keep racking up the stats.
Mike Matheson, MON (Yahoo: 48%): It's only been two years since Matheson recorded 28 PPPs. That number was cut to 10 when Lane Hutson appeared on the scene, and that's completely disappeared since Noah Dobson arrived during the offseason. That hasn't stopped Matheson from getting points elsewhere, as he's supplied nine over 11 contests – including an assist in each of the last six – to go with 20 shots and 17 blocks on 23:58 a night. And even though the man-advantage gig is gone, he's paired with Dobson at even-strength as part of a lethal Montreal scoring side.
Kris Letang, PIT (Yahoo: 37%): Letang may be turning 39 in April, yet he's still logging major minutes and contributing across various areas. He's also well ahead of last season's 30 points. He only needs five to equal that mark, with 17 of those coming during the last 28 games where he's also tallied four PPAs, 47 shots, 41 hits and 35 blocks. That type of output and placement should get Letang on more rosters.
Goaltenders
Alex Lyon, BUF (Yahoo: 35%): Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen left Thursday's matchup with an undisclosed injury and is reported to be out for at least one week. Colten Ellis filled in for UPL that night and will operate as Buffalo's No. 2. That makes Lyon the lead, which probably would've been the case even if Luukkonen was available considering Lyon's won his last 10 appearances alongside a 1.94 GAA and .933 save percentage. In the meantime, Lyon should get the bulk of the starts with Ellis covering one of the upcoming back-to-backs Monday/Tuesday at either Florida or Tampa.
Joonas Korpisalo, BOS (Yahoo: 8%): Korpisalo struggled the first few months by posting a 3.60/.882 line across 15 appearances. Jeremy Swayman would then take on the next four outings before Korpisalo would begin a run that's seen him go 4-0-1 with a 1.89 GAA and .937 save percentage in 2026 with the duo mainly alternating. He probably won't take over the Bruins' top role, but he makes for a serviceable fantasy addition based on recent form and/or as a handcuff for anyone who already has Swayman.
Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Carter Verhaeghe, Gabriel Landeskog, Elias Lindholm, Jared McCann, Cole Perfetti, Nick Schmaltz, Anze Kopitar, Mats Zuccarello, Kiefer Sherwood, Brock Nelson, Zach Benson, Tyler Toffoli, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Fantilli, Patrick Kane, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, Brock Boeser, Mikael Granlund, Sean Monahan, Ryan O'Reilly, William Eklund, Jordan Kyrou, Jason Zucker, Will Cuylle, Bobby McMann, Anders Lee, Tyler Bertuzzi, Owen Tippett, Matty Beniers, Anthony Duclair, Brayden Schenn, Eeli Tolvanen, Pavel Buchnevich, Alexis Lafreniere, Boone Jenner, Anton Lundell, Ivan Barbashev, Vladimir Tarasenko, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Beckett Sennecke, Connor McMichael, Christian Dvorak, Jake Neighbours, Yegor Sharangovich, Jamie Benn, Ryan Hartman, Mikael Backlund, Vasily Podkolzin, Matt Duchene, Zachary Bolduc, Logan Stankoven, Luke Evangelista, Jack McBain, Jonathan Toews, Alexandre Texier, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Alex Laferriere, Teuvo Teravainen, Alexander Wennberg, Jake DeBrusk, Lawson Crouse, Charlie Coyle, Chandler Stephenson, Noah Cates, Ethen Frank, Braeden Bowman, Sean Couturier, Jordan Eberle, Jackson Blake, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Anthony Mantha, Ridly Greig, Justin Sourdif, Kaapo Kakko, Eetu Luostarinen, Ross Colton, Jack Quinn, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Arseny Gritsyuk, Collin Graf, Matias Maccelli, James van Riemsdyk, Matthew Coronato, Fabian Zetterlund, Oliver Kapanen, Ben Kindel, Andre Burakovsky, Emmitt Finnie, Igor Chernyshov, Andrew Copp, Ryan Leonard, Fraser Minten, Erik Haula, Ryan McLeod, Brock Faber, Drew Doughty, Mattias Ekholm, Brandt Clarke, Travis Sanheim, Rasmus Andersson, Zeev Buium, Noah Hanifin, Cam Fowler, Jake Walman, K'Andre Miller, Jared Spurgeon, Jake McCabe, Artyom Levshunov, Charle-Edouard D'Astous, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ivan Provorov, Hampus Lindholm, Darren Raddysh, Brent Burns, John Klingberg, Olen Zellweger, Sam Malinski, Ryan Pulock, Sean Durzi, Radko Gudas, J.J. Moser, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Alexandre Carrier, Damon Severson, Esa Lindell, Mattias Samuelsson, Josh Manson, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, John Marino, Matt Roy, Cam York, Nick Blankenburg, Tony DeAngelo, Uvis Balinskis, Nate Schmidt, Spencer Knight, Jesper Wallstedt, Brandon Bussi, Stuart Skinner, Yaroslav Askarov, Carter Hart, Jet Greaves, Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, Tristan Jarry, Philipp Grubauer, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Dan Vladar, Casey DeSmith, Alex Nedeljkovic, David Rittich, Connor Ingram, Akira Schmid, Joel Hofer, Anton Forsberg, Jonathan Quick, Kevin Lankinen
