Week one waiver wire wisdom

Every year, valuable fantasy hockey goaltenders emerge from the waiver wire. Last season, Scott Wedgewood went from the waivers to a top ten fantasy hockey goalie. We also saw Dan Vladar and Jakub Dobeš, who were both undrafted in most leagues, put up 29 wins each along with respectable numbers. This year will be no different. There will be plenty of value up for grabs. Will you get to them first? Finding these waiver-wire gems requires managers to be willing to roll the dice on streaming a goalie. Let’s look at a few goalies who might be a good target to stream in week one.

Target: Dustin Wolf

Is Wolf a talented goalie with high upside? Yes. Does he have untapped potential? Yes. Is he a season-long target for managers? Likely not. Should he be a target for managers in week one? Absolutely. The Calgary Flames are in a rebuilding phase, which could limit Wolf’s win potential over the course of the season. That being said, could the Flames get off to a hot start, led by Wolf? The schedule for week one is in their favour. Calgary opens the season at home against the Seattle Kraken on October first, followed by a weekend road trip where they face the Canucks and the Kraken back-to-back. Both the Kraken and the Canucks lack firepower, and could be contained by the young Calgary defense. There is a realistic chance Wolf could give you two strong starts and potentially pick up a win or two. Despite being a seventh-round pick in 2019 who is often pegged as an undersized goalie, Wolf has consistently exceeded expectations since entering the Flames organization. The risk to targeting Wolf is how his team’s performance could limit his value. But with the way the schedule worked out for week one, take a chance on him, and don’t be surprised if he goes on a run early in the campaign.

Target: Joseph Woll

Is there a better nickname for an active goalie in hockey than The Brick Woll? There were times in Toronto where Joseph Woll looked like he was their goalie of the future. Injuries held him back, and ultimately the Leafs went a different direction. However, Woll is a player to keep an eye on. If not for his play, at least for his style points. If you haven’t seen it yet, have a look at his new fiery Flyers helmet featuring Balrog. It might be the coolest-looking helmet in hockey right now. The helmet is great, but the real reason to watch Woll is opportunity. Vladar suffered an upper-body injury in a preseason game, and is day-to-day. Woll is coming off a 28 save shutout in a preseason game versus the Bruins on September 24. Philadelphia plays three games in week one. With the injury to Vladar, and Woll looking like he is in good form, he could be the starting goalie for two out of the three. Woll’s value is dependent on Vladar’s health, so monitor Philadelphia’s goalie situation closely. The Flyers are an exciting young team that could take a step forward this year. Don’t sleep on their goalies.

Target: Devon Levi

There might not be a more interesting goalie to target in week one than Devon Levi. Freddie Andersen is starting the year injured, and he hasn’t played more than 35 regular season games in a single season since 2021-22. Tristan Jarry struggled in his first season in Edmonton, with a 3.86 goals against average and .858 save percentage across 19 games played. Enter Devon Levi. Do you remember when Levi looked like the best up-and-coming goalie prospect? Things went south. However, at 24 years old, it certainly is not too late to change the course of his career. It might take him some time to earn Mike Babcock’s trust, but with the lack of success from Jarry, and the injury-prone Andersen, there is real potential for Levi to get a chance at the starter role right out of the gate. Keep in mind, Levi is a talented player whose only NHL experience was on a struggling Buffalo Sabres team. What will he look like with a little more support in front of him? Jarry could end up being the guy who is trusted to start the year. However, with the Oilers slated to play three games in the first week of the season, Levi is a goalie that might be worth gambling on, especially if Jarry struggles early on.

Avoid: Linus Ullmark

It was a difficult summer for Ottawa Senators fans. The departure of Brady Tkachuk will sting for some time. There is still plenty of young talent on the team, with players like Jake Sanderson and Tim Stutzle entering their prime. Ullmark could provide good value throughout the campaign. However, Ottawa kicks off week one with only one scheduled game. They play against their division rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs on October third, in Toronto. The Leafs have been percolating, just waiting to show the league that they can be right back in the contender’s conversation. This isn't a reflection of Ullmark's season-long value. With Ottawa only playing once in Week one, and that game coming on the road against Auston Matthews and new-look Toronto Maple Leafs, there are likely better streaming options available.

Whatever happens in week one, remember, it’s just the beginning. Don’t make any rash moves. Don’t be quick to drop players who are off to slow starts. And always buy-low and sell-high if you’re thinking of making a trade. All the best on your fantasy hockey year. Let the games begin!