Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: David Perron leads pickups to target this week

Working the waiver wire is a crucial part of any championship fantasy hockey season. Finding players to work into your lineup every single week who can add points to your total is the No. 1 way you can control the outcome of your matchup. In this article every week, I’ll be going over players at every position and at different levels of rostership so that you can fill out your fantasy squad with the best players available in your league. Let’s dig in.

Forwards

Rostered in 41-50% of Leagues: David Perron, RW - DET (45% rostered)

David Perron has had an underwhelming first season in Detroit, as the 34-year-old winger has paced for just 52 points. That mark would be his lowest since 2016-17, but Perron has been showing some signs of life of late. Perron has fired two or more shots in seven straight games and averaged 3.33 shots over his past four. He’s also currently skating on the Red Wings’ top line and top power-play unit alongside star center Dylan Larkin, meaning the Wings are putting him in a position to put up some points. Lastly, Detroit is the only team to play five games this week, so if you need a right winger then Perron is going to get five cracks to put some points on the board for you where everyone else you might add will get four at most.

Honourable Mentions: Reilly Smith, LW/RW - VGK (43%) & Mikael Backlund, C - CGY (41%)

Rostered in 31-40% of Leagues: J.T. Compher, C/RW - COL (35% rostered)

Compher has been one of the hottest players in the league of late, registering three straight multi-point games before failing to register a point in Saturday’s 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames. Compher has played at least 19 minutes in 13 straight games for the Avalanche, and the Avs have an enticing schedule this week with four games and three of those on off-nights. As long as Compher maintains his current deployment alongside star winger Mikko Rantanen on the second line, he’ll be relevant for fantasy. There’s also the possibility that Compher becomes a season-long hold for your roster as the Avalanche have the best schedule during the fantasy playoffs.

Honourable Mentions: Seth Jarvis, LW/RW - CAR (32%) & Nick Schmaltz, C/RW - ARI (35%)

Rostered in 21-30% of Leagues: Tyler Bertuzzi, LW/RW - DET (25% rostered)

I might actually be more interested in Bertuzzi than his aforementioned linemate Perron, as Bertuzzi has five points in his last five games to go with 14 shots, five hits and four blocks. Bertuzzi shares top-line and top power play duties with Perron, and obviously benefits from the same five-game schedule this week. One thing that Bertuzzi has going for him that Perron lacks is a long history of chemistry with Dylan Larkin, making him the least likely candidate to be demoted off the top line should the Wings continue to lose games. Bertuzzi paced for 75 points last year; while I’m not expecting him to do that again I don’t think a 65-point pace for the rest of the season is unreasonable if he can maintain his current deployment.

Honourable Mentions: Anthony Duclair, RW - FLA (24%) & David Krejci, C - BOS (28%)

Rostered in 0-20% of Leagues: Victor Olofsson, RW - BUF (14% rostered)

Olofsson may be a tough sell as he’s goalless in 10 straight with only three shots to his name over the past five games, but let me try. Top-line right winger Alex Tuch has been labeled as week-to-week with a lower-body injury, opening up a spot on the top line and top power-play unit. Olofsson was the immediate replacement on the first power play while rookie Jack Quinn got the even-strength promotion. I’m banking on Olofsson’s increased usage to be the jumpstart his game needs at the moment. After all, in the 12 games prior to this 10-game slump, Olofsson fired 10 goals; he may not be consistent but he’s prone to monstrous hot streaks. With the bump in deployment, now may be the time to jump on Olofsson in your deep leagues.

Honourable Mentions: Anthony Beauvillier, LW/RW - VAN (13%) & Josh Anderson, RW - MTL (7%)