The waiver wire is a great way to add hidden gems and overlooked players to your fantasy hockey club. This remains true whether you plan to have them as short-term or long-term parts of your fantasy hockey roster. Now that we are roughly two months into the season, we better understand which waiver-wire defensemen are worth snagging. As a result, here are three waiver-wire defensemen worth adding to your roster in Week 9.
Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Defensemen to Consider for Week 9
Simon Nemec, New Jersey Devils
With Dougie Hamilton out indefinitely, Simon Nemec was recently called up by the New Jersey Devils. The 2022 second-overall pick made his NHL debut on Dec. 1 against the San Jose Sharks, and it’s fair to call it a success. The Devils’ top prospect posted two assists and showed immense confidence with the puck. Because of this, he’s a waiver-wire defenseman to add to your fantasy hockey roster immediately.
Nemec had some struggles defensively in his first NHL game, but that is expected. However, one should not ignore his marvelous play offensively and with the puck. The 19-year-old already looks NHL-ready, and he should continue to improve as he gains more experience. This is why he’s exactly the kind of waiver-wire addition to bring in.
Jake Walman, Detroit Red Wings
Jake Walman is an underrated defenseman who hockey fans need to watch more. The 27-year-old has emerged as a key defenseman for the Red Wings due to his steady defensive play. However, he also has seen a sudden spike in offense as of late. He has one goal and three assists over his last two games while sporting a plus-4 rating. Thus, he’s a waiver-wire defenseman to consider right now.
While Red Wings fans know Walman’s value, fans outside of Detroit may overlook him. Due to this, it is certainly possible that he is still available in your fantasy league. With the way he is playing right now, he is absolutely a waiver-wire candidate who should be picked up. Besides his increased offense, he is also excellent defensively, as his plus-10 for the season shows.
Tyler Myers, Vancouver Canucks
Tyler Myers was the subject of trade rumors all offseason. Yet, the Vancouver Canucks must be happy that they kept him around. The veteran defenseman is having a nice bounce-back season. In 25 games on the year, he has two goals, 12 points, and a plus-11 rating. He has been far more reliable defensively while also making a difference offensively. Therefore, he is another waiver-wire target.
The promising thing about Myers is that he is maintaining his strong play as of late. Over his last nine games, he has six assists and a plus-1 rating. This is solid production from the 6-foot-8 defensive defenseman, and it’s exactly why he’s a waiver-wire candidate in Week 9.
Nevertheless, fantasy hockey managers have some solid waiver-wire defensemen to consider in Week 9. Nemec, Walman, and Myers have all been playing well, and it will be fun to see how they perform from here.