Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Picks – Week 21 (2026)

Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire Picks – Week 21 (Mar 16–Mar 22, 2026)

Welcome to Playoff Week 1.

Now the only thing that matters is this:

Can your waiver add actually get into your lineup?

This is not the week to save moves, hold fringe depth, or chase a “nice schedule” that turns into bench waste.

Playoff Rule #1 — Stop saving moves

If your playoffs start this week, unused adds are wasted adds.

There is no prize for being clever next week if you lose this matchup first.

Use your adds. Chase starts. Win the schedule.

The schedule reality (what actually matters)

There are 56 NHL games in Week 21.

Off-nights (maximum leverage)

These are the slates where streaming has the most value:

Mon (Mar 16): 5 games
Wed (Mar 18): 6 games
Fri (Mar 20): 5 games

These are the nights where lineup flexibility actually exists.

Heavy nights (bench-clog risk)

These are the slates where your “4-game streamer” can still rot on the bench:

Tue (Mar 17): 9 games
Thu (Mar 19): 11 games
Sat (Mar 21): 11 games
Sun (Mar 22): 9 games

Sunday is still usable in some formats, but this week the true leverage comes from Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The only thing we’re chasing: startable volume

Tier 0 — The week-winning schedule edge

Calgary (CGY) — 4 games, with 3 on off-nights

CGY schedule

Mon @ DET
Wed vs STL
Fri vs FLA
Sun vs TBL

Calgary Flames Player Targets

The Flames are not a strong team overall, but they do have several players who can provide category help.

Blake Coleman (C/LW/RW)
Coleman is averaging almost 0.5 points per game, with just shy of 2.5 shots, 2.5 hits, and around 0.6 PIM per night. He can also chip in the occasional shorthanded point.

Mikael Backlund (C)
Backlund is producing over 0.5 points per game with just shy of 2.5 shots per night.

Adam Klapka (RW)
Klapka is a banger league specialist, averaging almost 4 hits per game with over 1.5 PIM.

Colorado (COL) — 4 games, with 3 on off-nights

COL schedule

Mon vs PIT
Wed vs DAL
Fri @ CHI
Sun @ WSH

Colorado Avalanche Player Targets

Valeri Nichushkin (LW/RW)
Averaging around 0.7 points per game with over 2 shots per night.

Brent Burns (D)
Producing almost 0.5 points per game with 2+ shots and 1.2 blocks per night.

Josh Manson (D)
A multi-category contributor with 0.4+ points, 2.3 hits, and 1.3 blocks per night.

Devon Toews (D)
Provides shots and blocks, averaging nearly 2 shots and 1.2 blocks per game.

Gabriel Landeskog (LW/RW)
Currently injured, but if he returns he could provide 0.6+ PPG, 2 shots, and top power-play deployment.

Ross Colton (C/LW)
Also currently hurt, but averages 2+ shots and 2+ hits when active.

Tier 1 — Strong four-game teams

Carolina Hurricanes (CAR)

CAR schedule

Tue @ CBJ
Wed vs PIT
Fri @ TOR
Sun @ PIT

Carolina Player Targets

Alexander Nikishin (D)
Deployment can be an issue at times, but has serious upside. Averaging 0.4 points, 1.5 shots, 1.5 hits, and 1 block per game.

K’Andre Miller (D)
Producing 0.5+ points, 1.5 shots, 1.5 hits, and 1 block per game.

Sean Walker (D)
A strong peripherals defenseman with shots, hits, and blocks.

Dallas Stars (DAL)

DAL schedule

Mon vs UTA
Wed @ COL
Sat @ MIN
Sun vs VGK

Dallas Player Targets

Esa Lindell (D)
A blocks specialist, averaging 2.3 blocks per game.

Jamie Benn (C/LW/RW)
Currently on a heater with ~0.7 points per game and can muck it up with the best of them.

Lian Bichsel (D)
Strong banger value with 3+ hits per game, he will also provide the odd block while putting up some PIMS.

Tyler Myers (D)
Deployment with his new squad is yet to be solidified. However he is a proven category filler with floors for shots, hits, and blocks.

New York Rangers (NYR)

For as bad as the Rangers have been this season, we cannot ignore how elite their playoff schedule is. Not only are they lined up great this week but they play 4 off nights in playoff week 2 as well.

NYR schedule

Mon vs LAK
Wed vs NJD
Thu @ CBJ
Sun vs WPG

Rangers Player Targets

Will Cuylle (LW/RW)
An elite banger streamer with 3.5 hits per game. He is also providing 0.5 PPG and just shy of 2 shots. Depending on your settings and league size he may be a premium add for the next 2 weeks.

Alexis Lafrenière (LW/RW)
Averaging ~0.65 PPG with increasing power-play deployment since the Panarin trade.

Vladislav Gavrikov (D)
Offers blocks and points support.

Braden Schneider (D)
Provides hits and blocks with solid shot volume.

Pittsburgh Penguins (PIT)

PIT schedule

Mon @ COL
Wed @ CAR
Sat vs WPG
Sun vs CAR

Penguins Player Targets

Rickard Rakell (C/LW/RW)
Averaging ~0.7 PPG with nearly 3 shots per night. A Sidney Crosby return could give him a boost as well.

Anthony Mantha (LW/RW)
Producing 0.75 PPG and just shy of 2 shots

Kris Letang (D)
Still contributing shots, hits, and blocks with point upside.

Connor Clifton (D)
A close eye must be kept on this one as he has been in and out of the lineup this season. When playing he is a strong peripheral defenseman averaging almost 4 hits and over 1.5 blocks.

Utah Mammoth (UTA)

UTA schedule

Mon @ DAL
Thu @ VGK
Fri vs ANA
Sun vs LAK

Utah Player Targets

JJ Peterka (LW/RW)
Peterka is averaging around 0.6 points per game this season with just shy of two shots per night, making him a solid offensive streamer in deeper leagues.

Lawson Crouse (LW/RW)
Crouse provides a strong multi-category floor, averaging about 0.5 points per game, 1.7 shots, and 2.5 hits per night, giving him real value in leagues that reward peripherals.

Jack McBain (C/LW)
McBain is a classic banger-league specialist, averaging over 0.3 points per game, almost 1 PIM per night, just shy of 1.5 shots, and nearly 3.5 hits per game.

Sean Durzi (D)
Durzi continues to provide steady offense from the blue line, averaging about 0.5 points per game with almost a penalty minute per night, 1.5+ shots, and around 1.5 blocks per game.

Ian Cole (D)
Cole remains a blocks specialist, averaging just shy of 0.3 points per game while contributing nearly 2 blocks per night.

Tier 2 — The playoff streamer special

New Jersey Devils (NJD)

NJD schedule

Mon vs BOS
Wed @ NYR
Fri @ WSH

Devils Player Targets

Dawson Mercer (C/RW)
Mercer is averaging around 0.5 points per game with just shy of two shots per night, making him a steady offensive streaming option.

Simon Nemec (D)
Nemec is averaging over 0.4 points per game while contributing over 1.5 shots and just shy of 1.5 blocks per night, giving him balanced category value.

Brenden Dillon (D)
Dillon provides strong peripherals, averaging almost 2.5 hits, over 1 block, and just shy of 1 PIM per game.

Anaheim Ducks (ANA)

ANA schedule

Wed vs PHI
Fri @ UTA
Sun vs BUF

Ducks Player Targets

Jacob Trouba (D)
Trouba is averaging just shy of 0.5 points per game with over 2 shots, 1.7 hits, and 1.8 blocks per night, giving him strong multi-category value.

Beckett Sennecke (RW)
Sennecke is producing just shy of 0.8 points per game while averaging 2.3 shots and 1.2 hits per night.

Mason McTavish (C)
McTavish is averaging over 0.5 points per game with just shy of 2 shots and over a hit per night, making him a balanced category contributor.

Chris Kreider (LW)
Kreider is averaging almost 0.7 points per game with just shy of 2 shots and nearly a hit per night.

Mikael Granlund (C/LW/RW)
Granlund is producing just shy of 0.7 points per game while averaging around 2 shots per night.

Radko Gudas (D)
Gudas is a must-own defenseman in banger leagues, averaging over 0.25 points per game, 0.6 PIM, over 1 shot, 3 hits per night, and 1.5+ blocks per game.

Washington Capitals (WSH)

WSH schedule

Wed vs OTT
Fri vs NJD
Sun vs COL

Capitals Player Targets

Pierre-Luc Dubois (C/LW)
Dubois is averaging around 0.5 points per game with 1.8 shots per night, and could see a deployment bump this week.

Ryan Leonard (RW)
Leonard is producing over 0.5 points per game with just shy of 2 shots and nearly 1.5 hits per night.

Rasmus Sandin (D)
Sandin is averaging 1.25 shots, 1.2 hits, and 1.7 blocks per game this season.

Martin Fehérváry (D)
Fehérváry contributes strong defensive peripherals with just shy of a shot, almost 1.5 hits, and over 2 blocks per night.

Matt Roy (D)
Roy averages 1.3 shots, 1.5 hits, and just shy of 2 blocks per game, providing strong depth-category coverage.

Playoff Preview Reminder

If your playoffs have started, make sure you also read the full playoff breakdown here:

https://www.4thlinefantasy.com/blog/fantasy-hockey-playoff-preview-2026

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