NHL Fantasy Waiver Wire 2026–27: Top Pickups by Position

The NHL fantasy waiver wire is role- and category-dependent

NHL.com’s 2026–27 top-10 waiver list separates forwards, defensemen, and goalies and includes roster rates and category details. It is a current-season candidate list, not a universal ranking for every fantasy platform. A player who contributes hits, blocks, shots, and power-play points can be more useful in a multi-category league than in a points-only format. A goalie’s wins and save percentage depend on starts, team defense, and workload. Before adding anyone, decide which categories or lineup slot your roster needs and whether the player is available in your league.

The roster percentages in the table come from NHL.com’s article and should be read as source-specific snapshots. They do not guarantee a player is available in your Yahoo, ESPN, Fantrax, or private league. The source may update or reorder its list as the season progresses; this page keeps the November 7 capture clearly dated. For each player, verify current team, line, power-play unit, injury status, and recent ice time. A role note from one date should not be treated as a permanent depth-chart fact.

Forward targets: production plus deployment

NHL.com lists Jordan Kyrou at 41% rostered, with 11 points in 13 games, four power-play points, 22 shots, four hits, and six blocks in its capture. The article places him on a line with Dylan Strome and Alex Tuch and on the first power-play unit. Those details give managers more than a point total: they show the source’s view of his deployment and category coverage. The line and power-play placement are particularly important to confirm, because a role change can shift the value even if a recent scoring streak continues.

Emmitt Finnie is listed at 20% rostered, with 10 points in 14 games and a first-line and first-power-play role in the source’s snapshot. NHL.com also includes his shot, hit, and block totals and selected NHL EDGE skating metrics. Kent Johnson is listed at 18% with 12 points in 12 games and a top-line role; the source emphasizes his scoring locations and offensive deployment. These are distinct profiles: one may help across peripheral categories, while another’s value may lean more heavily on scoring and power-play opportunity.

Low-rostered upside: Gridin, Lekkerimaki, and Catton

Matvei Gridin appears at 17% rostered with 10 points in 14 games and five power-play points. NHL.com notes his first-unit power-play role and lists shots, hits, blocks, and skating metrics. Jonathan Lekkerimaki appears at 14% with 13 points in 16 games, five power-play points, and a first-unit role in the same source. Berkly Catton is listed at only 5% rostered; NHL.com cites an 11-point total in 14 games and a six-game point streak at the time of capture. A streak helps explain why a player is on the list, but it should not be extrapolated as a future scoring rate.

Managers in deeper leagues may prefer a low-rostered player with a clear power-play assignment and a multi-category floor, while shallow leagues may need immediate production. Check whether the player is in a top-six role, whether the power-play unit remains intact, and whether the team’s schedule gives enough games in your matchup period. If the player’s value depends on a streak or a recent promotion, treat the add as a short-term test. The roster percentage alone is not evidence of long-term upside; it is a signal to check your own league’s waiver pool.

Defensemen: compare power-play access and blocks

NHL.com lists Tristan Luneau at 7% rostered and Jamie Drysdale at 6%. The article reports Luneau with nine points, two power-play points, 15 shots, three hits, and 18 blocks in 14 games. Drysdale is credited with six points, two power-play points, 21 shots, seven hits, and 27 blocks in 16 games, and the source notes his ice time and first-unit power-play placement. A defenseman’s fantasy value often depends on a mix of points, blocks, shots, and special-teams opportunity; check the league’s scoring before comparing them with a forward.

Drysdale’s ice-time note can make him more attractive to managers who need a defenseman with a substantial role, while Luneau’s profile may appeal to leagues rewarding blocks and scoring. Neither source snapshot guarantees future point production. Confirm the current pairing and power-play unit, then compare the player with the best defenseman available in your league. If the roster has limited defense slots, the player should have enough category utility to justify displacing an existing starter rather than simply adding a familiar name.

Goalies: starts and team context are essential

NHL.com lists Anthony Stolarz at 41% rostered and reports a 5–1–0 record with a .910 save percentage in six games at the time of capture. The article compares that with Sergei Bobrovsky’s record and save percentage, then notes Stolarz’s selected save-location metrics. Matt Tomkins is listed at 20%, with the source describing his season debut as a 27-save win. These are small samples. A goalie’s short-run numbers can move quickly, and fantasy value depends on whether he will receive starts, the team’s defense, and your league’s scoring for wins, saves, goals against, and shutouts.

The article separately calls Tristan Jarry a must-add goalie at 42% rostered. That is NHL.com’s label in this capture, not a universal instruction. Before spending a claim, check the latest goalie rotation, injury news, and whether the goalie is expected to start. A backup with a strong single game can be a useful short-term add but an unreliable weekly starter. In leagues with limited goalie starts, avoid using a roster slot on a player who may not play enough to meet the minimum or maximize your matchup.

Choose the add for your format and weekly schedule

In points leagues, total scoring contributions may outweigh a player’s peripheral categories, depending on the platform. In category leagues, a winger who adds shots, hits, and blocks can help even without a multi-point game. Head-to-head managers should also compare the number of games in the matchup period and whether a player has a back-to-back or an off-night that fits the active lineup. A four-game player with lower per-game value can sometimes add more total volume than a strong player with fewer games, but only if he is actually in the lineup.

A streaming add should not be confused with a season-long hold. If you add a player for a busy schedule, write down the period and the condition for keeping him afterward. If the role fades or the next schedule is light, reassess rather than letting the temporary add occupy a valuable bench spot. If the player is an emerging prospect such as a low-rostered forward, a longer hold may be justified only when the role, power-play use, and production persist. The article’s roster rates identify names; your league rules determine the move.

A practical add, drop, and reassessment process

First identify your need: scoring, power-play points, shots, hits, blocks, a defense slot, or a goalie start. Next check NHL.com’s cited list and your platform’s current available players. Then verify the source’s role notes against the latest lineup and injury information. Compare the add with the player you would drop, including future schedule and upside. Finally, set a review date after the next few games. This prevents an add based on one hot streak from becoming a permanent roster decision without new evidence.

For goalies, the process should include a likely-start check close to puck drop. For skaters, check line and power-play placement, not just last game’s points. For all positions, record the source date and be explicit about uncertainty. NHL.com’s list is the most direct evidence used here, but it is still a snapshot, not a projection engine. No roster percentage or skating percentile can guarantee a fantasy result. Make the move only when the player’s current role and your category needs justify the roster cost.

For a separate basketball waiver snapshot, see NBA fantasy waiver pickups.

NHL.com waiver examples captured November 7

Statistics, roles, and roster rates below are attributed to NHL.com’s 2026–27 article and may have changed.

Six steps before an NHL waiver claim

1. Identify the category or lineup slot your roster needs rather than chasing the lowest roster rate.
2. Check the player’s availability and roster percentage on your own fantasy platform.
3. Verify current line, power-play unit, injury status, and recent ice time.
4. For goalies, confirm the likely starter and the league’s minimum-start rules.
5. Count games in your matchup period and compare the schedule benefit with the drop cost.
6. Set a reassessment date and remove a short-term streamer if the role or schedule no longer fits.

Sources and evidence boundary

NHL.com list captured November 7, 2026. Statistics, roster rates, line assignments, and power-play roles are dated snapshots and may change after a game or lineup update.

• NHL.com 2026–27 fantasy hockey waiver wire — Captured November 7, 2026. Player rates, stat lines, deployment, and NHL EDGE notes are attributed to this article.
• NHL.com fantasy projections for 2026–27 — Use as a separate projections reference and confirm its date and format assumptions.
• NHL.com projected lineups — Line and roster projections can change; confirm current deployment before acting.
• NHL official schedule — Use the current schedule for games in your fantasy matchup period.

Uncertainty and responsible use

This list preserves NHL.com’s November 7 snapshot. Confirm current line deployment, goalie starts, injuries, and your platform’s availability before making a claim.

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