NHL Fantasy Hockey Week 8 Waiver Wire: Sam Montembeault to the Rescue
Welcome to another edition of the Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Report. The only way to win a championship in any fantasy league is to be active on the waiver wire. If you aren’t checking the wire at least once a week, then you’re doing it wrong. Each week, we’ll look at some players that you should be adding to your watch list, or adding right away. Let’s take a look at who we are keeping an eye on for this week.
NHL Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Pickups Week 8
Nils Hoglander - Vancouver Canucks - Winger
Nils Hoglander is a kid with a ton of skill, but he has four points on the season and is playing just over 11 minutes per game. So why is he an option this week? Well, he’s found his way onto the top line with Bo Horvat and J.T. Miller-- arguably the two best offensive players on the team-- so Hoglander has a chance to at least pick up some cheap points. He’s also going to see more ice time, so everything is pointing up for him to produce.
Taylor Raddysh - Chicago Blackhawks - Winger
A lot of us avoid players on bad teams because we don’t expect them to score, but that’s a recipe for disaster. Chicago is a terrible team, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t players worth targeting. Taylor Raddysh is playing over 17 minutes per game over the last five and has now scored goals in back-to-back games. He’s not a long-term solution, but he’s free across every site and won’t hurt your fantasy team.
J.T. Compher - Colorado Avalanche - Centre/Winger
I don’t love J.T. Compher, but we can’t argue that he isn’t getting his chance to prove he can produce. Compher is skating on the third line but is seeing time on the top power play unit and has played over 19 minutes in the last three games. That is some serious ice time for a player with one goal on the season. He’s more of a depth player for fantasy managers, but maybe he moves up into the second centre spot and starts to play with some better players. I like him as a flyer pickup if you have the extra bench spot open.
Sam Montembeault - Montreal Canadiens - Goalie
Jake Allen was expected to be the “starting” goalie for the Montreal Canadiens this season, but he has struggled lately and that has opened the door for Sam Montembeault. The Canadiens have a difficult schedule this week, but Montembeault has been very good and he’s at least earned the right to be on a fantasy hockey team. He’s going to cool off at some point, but for now, he’s an option to consider.
Jakob Chychrun - Arizona Coyotes - Defence
Maybe Jakob Chychrun is still on your waiver wire and no one has noticed that he is back in the lineup. Chychrun is a talented, young defenceman who is likely to have a new home before the end of the season. We know that he can shoot the puck, but he can also rack up some points and block some shots. He’s 61% owned in Yahoo! leagues, but I would still check to see if he isn’t still available.
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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.