NHL Fantasy Hockey Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickups: Josh Norris Red Hot For Senators
Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report. The NHL season is in full swing, which means we need to start looking at the waiver wire. This part of the year is critical to be able to claim players that might have been missed in drafts. Some of these players will help you win a championship, so make sure you aren’t asleep at the helm of your fantasy team. Let’s take a look at some players worth targeting this week.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups
Josh Norris - Ottawa Senators - Centre
Josh Norris has scored a goal in FIVE straight games and is showing no signs of slowing down. He has 12 goals in 26 games this season, which is pretty elite. Despite all that success, he’s at 35% ownership on Yahoo!. He’s not going to keep this pace up all year, but with a new bench boss and some confidence, there’s no reason why he can’t be a point-per-game player in the second half of the season. He’s a great addition for fantasy teams looking for an offensive boost.
Yegor Sharangovich - Calgary Flames - Winger
The Calgary Flames are desperate for any kind of offence and Yegor Shrangovich is getting a chance to show management that he can be part of the solution. The former Devil is skating on the top line and top power play unit and is already up to 21 points on the year. The Flames as a team are #NotGood, so his upside will be limited, but Jonathan Huberdeau is not that guy, so Sharangovich will get the chance to run with this opportunity for as long as he wants. Another great player worth adding in all formats.
Nicholas Paul - Tampa Bay Lightning - Winger/Centre
We’ve talked about Nicholas Paul before but the message went unnoticed. The man is skating on the top line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov and on the top power play unit. He’s also seeing over 20 minutes a night in some games. The volume here is elite with Paul, so why is he just 22% owned? There is no reason for this. Tampa Bay needs some depth players to show up and Paul is doing exactly that. As long as he’s getting a look on the top line, he deserves to be on a fantasy hockey roster.
Marcus Pettersson - Pittsburgh Penguins - Defence
With all the talk of Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang, it’s easy to forget about Marcus Pettersson. He’s not going to blow you away with his offensive production, but he does have four points in the last three games and is also capable of getting a few shots on goal, throwing his weight around and blocking shots. He’s not going to win you a fantasy hockey championship, but he certainly won’t hurt your chances. He’s a nice addition in deeper category format league.
James Reimer - Detroit Red Wings - Goalie
Do I think James Reimer is a great addition this week? Absolutely not, but here are the facts:
-Alex Lyon: IR
-Ville Husso: Hurt and not very good
-Michael Hutchinson: AHL goalie.
At this point, if you’re healthy, you’re going to get a chance to start for the Detroit Red Wings. James Remier can be serviceable, but you can’t roll him out every week. The good news is, he’s going to get a chance to play and his numbers are not the worst on the team. He’s a veteran goalie who can help a fantasy team that is desperate for a goalie who is breathing.
All stats provided by NHL.com
Player News
Dolphins signed No. 13 overall pick DT Kenneth Grant to a four-year contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Grant will sign his contract today. The former Michigan defensive tackle is expected to fill a major void left by Christian Wilkins, who left for the Raiders in the 2024 offseason. Grant totaled 32 tackles, three sacks, and seven TFLs in his final season at Michigan and excelled at stopping the run while also generating 27 pressures in his final season, per PFF.
Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.