Mark Jankowski, Roman Kantserov and Olen Zellweger Lead the NHL Waiver Wire After a 16-Game Tuesday

Tuesday's 16-game slate produced a handful of waiver-wire names worth acting on before the weekend. Mark Jankowski scored in his fifth straight game for Carolina, rookie Roman Kantserov scored twice on Chicago's top line in Connor Bedard's season debut, and Olen Zellweger scored both Buffalo goals while playing a career-high 25:49 with Rasmus Dahlin out. Washington's Boone Jenner and Florida backup Akira Schmid round out the list.

Here is who to add, why, and how long the opportunity is likely to last.

The short list

Mark Jankowski, Hurricanes

Jankowski's empty-netter in Carolina's 4-2 win over Washington extended his goal streak to five games, and the Hurricanes have now won six straight. He went undrafted in most fantasy leagues: preseason outlooks had him as a fourth-liner with limited scoring upside. What changed is opportunity. Captain Jordan Staal is out one to two months with a torn calf muscle, and Jankowski moved up to a third-line role and onto the second power-play unit.

The opportunity may grow. Taylor Hall left Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury and did not return, and Hall was on that same second power-play unit. If Hall misses time, Carolina's options to fill his minutes include promoting from within, and Jankowski has earned the first look. He is a short-term add for deep leagues and formats that reward goals and hits, not a long-term hold. Expect him to cool off, but ride the role while Carolina's injury list is this long.

Roman Kantserov, Blackhawks

The rookie winger was the biggest beneficiary of Bedard's return. Chicago put Kantserov on its top line with Bedard and Patrick Kane, and he responded with two goals in a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh. The first was a power-play one-timer from the slot off a Bedard touch pass; the second was a backdoor tap-in set up by defenseman Artyom Levshunov. He had also scored in Saturday's loss to Carolina.

This is the most important add on the list for season-long value. A top-line role next to Bedard has already come with power-play chances, and Bedard was only playing his first game back from offseason shoulder surgery. The caveat is Chicago itself: the Blackhawks are 2-5-0, and their plus-minus profile will hurt in leagues that count it. In points leagues, Kantserov should be rostered everywhere Bedard is going to be a top-line center, which is everywhere.

Olen Zellweger, Sabres

Buffalo lost 4-3 in a shootout at Montreal, but Zellweger was the story. He scored early in the first on a point shot that deflected in, then tied the game at 3-3 early in the third with another point shot through traffic. His 25:49 of ice time was a career high, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves to get Buffalo a point.

The context is Dahlin. Buffalo's top defenseman missed the game with an upper-body injury, and coach Lindy Ruff called him doubtful for Thursday's game in Toronto. Owen Power has stepped into the top role on the blue line, but Zellweger is absorbing heavy even-strength minutes and generating shots. He is a speculative add for multi-category leagues that count shots and blocks, with a clear expiration date: when Dahlin returns, Zellweger's minutes will fall back. Grab him for the next two or three games, not for the month.

Deeper adds: Boone Jenner and Akira Schmid

Jenner signed a four-year deal with Washington on July 1, and the move is paying off early. He opened the scoring on Tuesday in Carolina, his third straight game with a goal, and NHL.com's fantasy coverage had already flagged him earlier this week as rostered in only a small share of leagues. He recorded a shot on goal in each of his first five games.

Jenner's appeal is category coverage: goals, shots and hits from a player who does not need power-play time to be useful. His injury history is the main risk, and his power-play usage fell sharply last season in Columbus. He fits best in deeper banger leagues rather than standard points formats. Washington is 3-3-0, and Ryan Leonard's four-game point streak suggests the Capitals' middle six is producing even in losses.

In goal, Schmid made 24 saves in his first start for Florida, a 7-3 win in Columbus powered by a Brady Tkachuk hat trick and five assists from Matthew Tkachuk. He is in the net because Jacob Markstrom tightened up and left Monday's game in Buffalo after one period, and the Panthers listed him as day-to-day. Florida hosts Vancouver on Thursday, and the starter has not been announced.

Schmid's .893 save percentage in Vegas last season is a reason to treat him as a streamer rather than a hold. But backup goalies on high-scoring teams win games, and Florida went 4-for-6 on the power play on Tuesday. If he is confirmed for Thursday, he is a sensible spot start.

The Verdexed angle

Prioritize by role, not by Tuesday's box score. Kantserov has the most durable opportunity because his role depends on Bedard being healthy, not on someone else being hurt. Jankowski and Zellweger are injury replacements with obvious end dates, which makes them excellent short-term plays and poor long-term holds. Jenner is a deep-league category piece. Schmid is a matchup start.

In weekly-lock leagues, the order is Kantserov first, then Jankowski for managers chasing goals, then Zellweger if Dahlin is officially ruled out for Thursday. In daily leagues, check the morning skate before starting Zellweger or Schmid, since both depend on another player's status. For game-by-game context on the teams these players face, Verdexed's NHL probabilities live at /nhl/predictions.

What's next

Thursday is the next decision point for most of this list. Buffalo plays in Toronto with Dahlin doubtful, Florida hosts Vancouver with Markstrom's status unsettled, and Carolina does not play again until Saturday in Winnipeg, by which point Hall's injury should be clearer. Chicago's top line will get its second look together this week, which is the best test of whether Kantserov's breakout has staying power.

Add the long-term piece now, stream the injury replacements while they last, and revisit the list after the weekend when Dahlin, Markstrom and Hall each have updated statuses.