Welcome to Week 6 of FantasyPros’ NHL fantasy hockey waiver wire advice!

As a reminder, this piece aims to highlight players rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues. Players rostered in more than 50% of leagues are fairly easy to identify but it’s the low-rostered players that are key in deep leagues while some up-and-coming fantasy contributors fall below the threshold.

Let’s dive in and check out some names to consider for Week 6 and beyond!

Week 6 Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Advice

Rosterships courtesy of ESPN

Sam Bennett (C, LW – FLA): 37.8% rostered

This one could be a little bit falsified: Bennett is currently rostered in just 37.8% of ESPN leagues but his true ownership is likely much higher as he is just one game removed from his second injured reserve stint of the season.

Nonetheless, this is a guy who needs to be targeted if he is on your waiver wire. The feisty pivot will skate as the Florida Panthers’ second-line center at even strength while he could eventually get some looks on the club’s top power-play unit. His even-strength ice time alongside Matthew Tkachuk is a major boon to his fantasy hockey value.

It’s been a nice change of scenery for the 27-year-old since his move from Calgary to Florida. He notched 16 goals and 40 points across 63 games last season but he also contributed 193 shots on goal, 150 hits, 54 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating. That is some hefty cross-category production in just 63 contests.

This is exactly the type of player who can push quality fantasy hockey teams over the top and into championship territory.

Pavel Zacha (C – BOS): 23.7% rostered

Skating on a line with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak on the Boston Bruins’ top line? Sign me up. Add in some top-unit power play time and this is an absolute no-brainer.

We knew Zacha would be for an increased role down the middle for Boston this season after the respective retirements of long-time Bruins centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci. Indeed, the 26-year-old has seen an increased role but has also made good on it. He has notched five goals and 10 points in 14 games after a career-year that saw him tally 21 goals and 57 points across 82 games last season, his first with the Bruins.

He hasn’t historically shot the puck a ton with just 131 shots in 82 games last season and has a modest 28 shots in 14 games this season. However, not only is that a 164-shot pace, which would be another career-high, but his 19:35 of average ice time is a major increase from his 16:03 mark from last season. That will lead to an increased shot total.

Obviously, Zacha could not be in a better spot to succeed. Grab him now before the secret is out.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C – CAR): 44.6% rostered

It’s important to keep in mind that Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi is still just 23 years old despite skating in his sixth NHL season. It seems like he has been around forever but his prime years are technically not even close.

He began to show his offensive potential last season when he shattered career-highs with 18 goals and 43 points across 82 games. He is off to a fine start this season with six goals and 13 points in 15 games and is seeing an increased role as the club’s second-line center. Kotkaniemi’s 15:20 of average ice time per game is easily a career-high as well and he’s seeing second-unit power play time as part of that workload.

Carolina is a team that consistently juggles its lines. As a result, we don’t know exactly who will line up with the Finnish pivot on a regular basis. But for now, he’s skating alongside Martin Necas and Michael Bunting.

Kotkaniemi is clearly a player on the rise. He is on pace to once again post career-highs across the board and we want to be there when it happens.

Oliver Bjorkstrand (RW – SEA): 19.3% rostered

Bjorkstrand was a borderline fantasy asset last season and he continues to be worthy of consideration this time around.

There are far worse options at just 19.3% rostered. He tallied six goals and 12 points in 16 games but he has also contributed five power-play points as a member of the Seattle Kraken’s second power-play unit. This is a team that uses its two power-play groups rather evenly, meaning Bjorkstand will certainly continue to get looks on the man advantage.

His 17.6% shooting rate is likely to dip and his 34 shots in 16 contests is nothing to write home about. However, Bjorkstrand’s 16:39 average ice time is a nice bump from a 15:37 mark in his first season in Seattle in 2022, and his 13 hits are solid.

While this may not be a player that is going to push your roster over the top, he’s certainly doing more than enough to be a waiver-wire consideration as he aims for his fifth consecutive non-COVID 20-goal season in 2023-24.

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