Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report: Streams for Week 1

This week’s fantasy hockey waiver wire report has two clear teams to target and one team to skip. Week one of the season always feels disjointed. It is a short week, which results in unbalanced schedules for rosters. It’s a big reason why some pools have begun merging week one and week two into a single larger matchup.

Here, we’ll cover the games from Monday to Sunday each week.

When you search the waiver wire, you want to identify the players on teams that play the most games that week.

More importantly, you want players who play the majority of their games on ‘off-nights’ – or slow nights. There are typically two to three nights a week where your roster is full. A waiver pickup is going to sit those nights out. Avoid that if you can.

Four Game Week:

New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks

One Game Week:

Ottawa Senators. 

Best Off-Night Schedule:

New York Rangers (4), Vancouver Canucks (3), Vegas Golden Knights (3)

Worst Off-Night Schedule:

Ottawa Senators (0) 

All season, I’ll identify the teams that offer the best and worst schedules that week so you don’t have to.

Waiver Wire Steams for Week 1

Jake DeBrusk (LW/RW, Vancouver Canucks) Rostered: 42%

DeBrusk gives you three games on off-nights this week and dual-wing eligibility. That added flexibility might sneak him into your lineup on the one busy night Vancouver plays. He’s a steady, if unspectacular, producer. Add in nearly three shots and a hit per game last season, and DeBrusk can contribute across several categories over a short streaming period.

Reason(s) to Add: Top line, first power-play unit, three off-night games

Oliver Bjorkstrand (LW/RW, New York Rangers) Rostered: 18%

All four of Bjorkstrand’s games fall on nights he fits into your lineup. The last time Bjorkstrand received top-six minutes over a full season was in 2023-24 with the Seattle Kraken. That year, he produced 59 points. He’s starting this season on the Rangers’ top line alongside J.T. Miller (C) and Pavel Dorofeyev (RW), and on the second power-play unit. His 32-point season on a deeper Tampa Bay Lightning team last year leaves room for considerable upside. He also had 85 hits last year, a nice bonus for those in banger leagues.

Reason(s) to Add: Top line, second power-play unit, four off-night games

Jack Roslovic (RW, Toronto Maple Leafs) Rostered: 38%

Roslovic offers unique value, even if it will be short-lived. The trade for Kirill Marchenko may have changed things for Roslovic considerably, and not for the better. With doubts about Marchenko being able to get into the Leafs’ lineup for opening night, the door is wide open. Roslovic was set to ride shotgun on the top line with Auston Matthews (C) and also on the first power-play unit. At least for opening night, Roslovic looks to remain on that first unit. As it stands, he’s still on the Leafs’ top line. With three games at home this week (Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators), the Matthews line should see favorable matchups all week.

Reason(s) to Add: Top line, top power-play unit, three home games