The 2023-24 regular season is here, which means that fantasy hockey has started. Fantasy hockey managers now have their rosters set, but as we all know, sometimes changes are needed. The waiver wire is a great tool for this, as you add steals who were overlooked in drafts. The first week of the season provided us with some notable waiver-wire defensemen to consider. Let’s discuss three of them now.
Waiver-Wire Defensemen to Consider for Week 2
Filip Hronek
Filip Hronek started the season off with a bang for the Vancouver Canucks. In the 8-1 blowout win over the Edmonton Oilers, Hronek potted two assists. It was a strong performance from the right-shot defenseman, and he naturally grabbed the attention of fantasy managers because of it. With Quinn Hughes being the Canucks’ star defenseman, Hronek can sometimes be overlooked. However, his first game may be an indicator that he is ready to take that next step as an offensive defenseman. Thus, he needs to be watched closely.
At this point of his career, Hronek is a serviceable top-four defenseman. He took a step forward last season, posting nine goals and 39 points in 64 games split between the Detroit Red Wings and Canucks. It was a solid year for him, but his first game may be an indicator that he is ready to be a 50-point defenseman. Thus, if he is still available in your fantasy hockey league, scoop him up quickly as a waiver-wire pickup.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
While Oliver Ekman-Larsson was held off the scoresheet in his first game of the season, he needs to be watched closely on the waiver wire. The former star defenseman struggled last season with the Canucks. Due to this, many fantasy managers opted to avoid him. However, he showed promise in his first two games. With that, the change of scenery should be what he needs to bounce back in 2023-24.
Ekman-Larsson has the potential to succeed with the Panthers. They have a strong offense, led by Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, and Carter Verhaeghe. With that, he is playing bigger minutes due to Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour out long-term. Thus, if OEL is still available, don’t hesitate to claim him as a waiver-wire addition.
Jonas Siegenthaler
Don’t sleep on Jonas Siegenthaler. Although he is not an offensive defenseman, he had a marvelous opening night for the New Jersey Devils. The 6-foot-2, left-shot defenseman posted a three-assist night and played a huge role in their win. He was smart with the puck and showed off his great passing skills. However, he was also remarkably sound with his defensive play and showed why he’s a real top-four defenseman. Thus, he’s another waive-wire candidate to look at.
Siegenthaler set new career highs in goals (four), assists (17), and points (21), but he could crush those numbers this year. Due to this, consider him as a waiver-wire addition, even if he isn’t the flashiest of players.
Nevertheless, the first week of action was a lot of fun to watch. It will be fun to see how these week two waiver-wire defensemen perform from here.