NHL Fantasy Hockey Week 13 Waiver Wire Pickups: Jonathan Huberdeau Ready to Turn Season Around
Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report. The NHL season is in full swing, so we must 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
Jason Dickinson - Chicago Blackhawks - Centre
The Chicago Blackhawks have NINE players on IR and are rostering an AHL lineup on most nights, so why would we target players on the team? Simple; opportunity. There are a ton of players who are going to get expanded roles and play a ton and Jason Dickinson is one of those guys. He’s played over 21 minutes in the last two games and has produced a goal and an assist. Chicago will be trailing in most games, so Dickinson will be counted on to provide some offence. He’s 7% owned in Yahoo! leagues and could be a nice solution for a fantasy team desperate for some offence.
Jonathan Huberdeau - Calgary Flames - Winger
Don’t look now but Jonathan Huberdeau has five points in as many games and is back to seeing a ton of ice time. We know the veteran forward has skill, but he has been unable to find any consistency since being traded to Calgary. Is five points a massive accomplishment? No, but considering how poorly he’s played this season, his confidence could rise and that could lead to him having a strong second half. If he’s on the waiver wire, there’s nothing wrong with taking a risk and seeing what he can do in the upcoming weeks.
Gustav Nyqvist - Nashville Predators - Winger
We’ve talked about Gustav Nyqvist before, but the message didn’t hit home. He has 32 points in 40 games this season and is currently riding an eight-game point streak. He’s playing on the top power play unit and regularly plays over 18 minutes a night. Despite all that, he’s only 33% owned in Yahoo! leagues. More people own Jonathan Hubderdeau than Nyqvist and that is mind-boggling. The Nashville winger isn’t a well-known name, but the man is putting in the work and most people are sleeping on him. I do not want to write about him again, so make sure you add him to your fantasy team if he’s available. I want to see his ownership at 60-70% in the next few weeks.
Hampus Lindholm - Boston Bruins - Defence
Hampus Lindholm has 12 assists this season, six of which have come in the last four games. He may not be the player he once was, but the veteran defenceman is red hot and plays on a very good hockey team. He’s playing a decent amount of minutes and can provide your fantasy team with a healthy amount of blocked shots. His ownership is over 50%, but there’s a good chance he’s on the waiver wire in shallow leagues. He’s a good short-term option for a team that needs help on the blue line.
Devon Levi - Buffalo Sabres - Goalie
Devon Levi had a rough start to his season, but he may be turning things around. We know it’s tough for a rookie goalie to have success in the NHL, but he has been very solid over the last month, posting a 5-2-1 record with a 2.72 GAA and a .909 SV%. It’s nothing spectacular, but the Sabres haven’t done much to help him. We know the kid is the future and that he can be the difference maker for his team. If he can put together a solid second half, no one will remember what he did in the first few months of the season. If he’s on the waiver wire and you need a goalie, take a risk and scoop him up.
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.