Week seven in fantasy hockey is starting, and some players are emerging as must-own players in many leagues. Finding players on the waiver wire is essential to winning a fantasy hockey, and for replacing injured players, either for the short-team or long run. Let’s take a look at which players you should be targeting on the waiver wire this week.

Alex Galchenyuk | Montreal Canadiens | Yahoo! Ownership- 44%

 Galchenyuk being owned in only 44% of Yahoo! leagues is a crime.  The 20-year-old Milwaukee native has 13 points (5G, 8A) in 19 games, with a plus-2 rating and 44 shots on goal (SOG). The third overall pick in 2012 is expected to breakout this season in Montreal, and although it hasn’t happened yet, the kid has way too much talent for that not to happen. He may not have any powerplay points, but the Canadiens have been terrible on the powerplay, and with addition of Sergi Gonchar, expect Galchenyuk to start putting up even more points on Montreal’s second powerplay unit.

Who I’d drop for him: Brad Richards (48%), Jonathan Drouin (59%), Jarome Iginla (78%)

Zemgus Girgensons | Buffalo Sabres | Yahoo! Ownership- 4%

 Some fantasy owner’s may not believe it, but there is finally a Buffalo Sabre worth adding from the waiver wire. The 20 year-old has ten points (6A, 4A) in 19 games with a plus-3 rating and 40 (SOG). Expectations shouldn’t be high for any Buffalo player right now, but Girgensons is definitely the safest player to add from the bunch. The 14^th overall pick in 2012 is skating on the top line with Matt Moulson and Tyler Ennis, and although Buffalo may not score very many goals this year, he’s definitely worth adding in deeper leagues and could provide very good fantasy value.

Who I’d drop for him: Brandon Dubinsky (60%), Alexander Semin (46%), Jonathan Huberdeau (33%)

Mike Hoffman | Ottawa Senators | Yahoo! Ownership- 6%

 Hoffman is slowly becoming a name fantasy owners are going to see quite a bit. The 24-year-old has eight points (7G, 1A) in 14 games, along with a plus-8 rating and 38 SOG. Of those seven goals, two of them are game winning goals (GWG). It might be limited success, but for fantasy owners who are starting to see injuries pile up, Hoffman is a great short-term fix to that problem. If he continues to score goals and play well, the Kitchener Ontario native will find himself moving up the depth charts and provide very good fantasy value to owners who took the flyer on him early.

Who I’d drop for him: Chris Stewart (9%), Justin Abdelkader (32%), Ales Hemsky (25%)

Boone Jenner | Columbus Blue Jackets | Yahoo! Ownership- 8%

 Jenner is a bit of a risky pick up, but could be a player who helps fantasy owners stay alive while they wait for star players to come back from injuries. The 21-year old has put up five assists in six games, with a munis-1 rating and 15 SOG. Those numbers aren’t going to attract many to add him, but Jenner is coming back from a broken hand to start the season, and is playing on the teams second line with Scott Hartnell and Cam Atkinson. The Blue Jackets are so beat up with injuries, the 37^thoverall pick in 2011 will have lots of time to show management he can produce at a high level in the NHL and that he should play on the teams first two lines. It’s a long shot for now, but it just might be worth it.

Who I’d drop for him: Cody Hodgson (10%), Craig Smith (18%), Steve Downie (28%)

Players to Watch:

It’s still early in the season, but these players should be on the rise/decline in the next few weeks

Trending Up:

 Aaron Ekblad | Florida Panthers | Yahoo! Ownership- 29%

 David Desharnais | Montreal Canadiens | 14%

 Tyler Ennis | Buffalo Sabres | 7%

 Trending Down:

 Nail Yakupov | Edmonton Oilers | 40%

 Alex Goligoski | Dallas Stars | 68%

 Christian Ehrhoff  | Pittsburgh Penguins | 75%