The NHL season is in full swing and that means so is fantasy hockey! It’s a long grind to get to the playoffs, and an even tougher challenge to win it all. Like every year, injuries are going to happen to key players, which means we need to be active on the waiver wire. The waiver wire can help you win a championship, so it’s important to add the right players at the right time. Let’s take a look at which players are worth looking adding for the upcoming week.

 

Ty Rattie - Edmonton Oilers - Winger

The rule here is very simple-- add any player who is playing on the top line with McDavid and Draisailt. It’s been a carousel of players playing next to those two, and once again, it’s Ty Rattie’s turn. McDavid makes every player that he plays with so much better, so if you can stay up to date with who’s skating on the top line with him, you’ll find some wingers on the waiver wire who suddenly have value.There’s a 100% chance that Rattie doesn’t stick on that top line for long, but as long as he’s there, he’s worth a roster spot.

Ilya Kovalchuk - Los Angeles Kings - Winger

It’s really been an up and down season for the veteran forward. Kovalchuk isn’t the player he once was, but he still has an NHL shot that can help him score goals. Since returning from injury, the Russian forward has collected three points (2G, 1A) in four games. What’s most important here is that he’s skating on the second line and top power play unit. As long as Kovalchuk continues to see top power play exposure and top six minutes, he’s worth a roster spot. He’s 48% owned on Yahoo!, so you can probably still find him on the waiver wire in most leagues.

Josh Ho-Sang - New York Islanders - Winger

With Jordan Eberle out with an upper-body injury, Josh Ho-Sang is going to get a chance to play on the top line for the Islanders. We don’t know how long Eberle is going to be out, but he was placed on IR and the team hasn’t given an update on his status. Ho-Sang has only played seven games this season, but he’s never really gotten the opportunity to play on a regular basis. This is his chance. If the 22-year-old sticks on the top line, he’s worth a roster spot in deeper leagues.

Erik Gustafsson - Chicago Blackhawks - Defence

If you had Erik Gustafsson as the Chicago defenceman with the most points at this point in the season, you can collect your prize money. The 26-year-old defenceman has already set career highs in goals (8), assists (13), points (21) and he’s playing on the top power play unit, ahead of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. He’s been a nice surprise for Chicago. Gustafsson is only 21% owned on Yahoo!, so he’s still very much available. He’s no longer just a short-term solution for a team that need a defenceman, he’s being a player you can keep on your roster for the long haul. As long as he keeps getting the opportunity to play, he’s going to continue to rack up the points. Addhim now if you see he’s available on the waiver wire.

Josh Morrissey - Winnipeg Jets - Defence

Dustin Byfuglien suffered an ankle injury on Saturday night and the word out of Winnipeg is it wasn’t a minor injury. Should he missed an extended period of time, Josh Morrissey would once again be the the player to replace him. We talked about Morrissey earlier this year when he filled in for Byfuglien, and we are talking about him again. The 23-year-old defenceman should take over as the top defenseman on the power play unit, and he should see a boost in ice time. At 66% ownership, Morrissey is going to be hard to find on the waiver wire. If you do find him, he’s a must add. Don’t wait for the Byfuglien news to break, because at that point, it will be too late.

Michael McNiven - Montreal Canadiens- Goalie

It’s only a matter of time before Michael McNiven gets his first NHL start. Antti Niemi has allowed three or more goals in all ten of his starts this season. He gave up six goals in his last start against the Tampa Bay Lightning. There is no reason for Niemi to be in the NHL right now. McNiven is likely to get his first NHL start Monday night against Dallas, and with Carey Price still out with a lower-body injury, the rookie should get more than just one start. McNiven is a short-term solution for a team in need of a goalie.