No matter how excellent we draft or how often we fleece our fellow general managers in trades, we often find ourselves scouring the waiver wire for help.

This year appears to be worse than usual, at least so far. Not only do we have to deal with injuries, but Covid protocols are also forcing many players out of lineups.

In one one-year Yahoo league, I already have Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Max Domi, Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele and Mike Smith on the IR. We’re less than three weeks into the season, and my team is already down five players who can fill the center position and a top goalie.

I know I’m not alone in this predicament. Below are 10 waiver-wire players who can help your fantasy team. These players were rostered in less than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Sunday. Depending on your pool’s settings and how deep your league is, not all the players listed may be free agents, but they are available in the majority of leagues

10. Nicolas Deslauriers, 1 percent rostered

This pickup would only be if you’re desperate for hits, but Deslauriers is the best bet for you. The 30-year-old Ducks forward was tied for third in hits, totalling 25 in his first six games. He’s never going to help you in offensive categories, but he might also provide PIM if your league counts that. He only has five PIM on the season, but Deslauriers had five fights last season and 14 the year before. He only has one so far this year, but you have to expect more are coming.

9. Lucas Raymond, 12 percent

Even before Sunday night’s hat trick, Raymond should have been on your watch list. He’s on the top line in Detroit at both five-on-five and on the power play. In six games, the 19-year-old Raymond has four goals and seven points to go along with 16 shots and two power-play points. He leads all rookies in goals and points and is second in shots.

8. Cam Fowler, 12 percent

After scoring 40 points as a rookie in 2010-11, Fowler never again reached that mark. It took a while for fantasy hockey general managers to realize he’s not someone worth rostering. After all, not only does he fail to reach 40 points, but he doesn’t shoot, hit, block shots, get PIM or produce on the power play. However, he’s off to a hot start this season with four points in six games. He’s worth a quick pickup, but don’t be scared to drop him as soon as he cools down.

7. Josh Morrisey, 35 percent

I will never figure out the Jets’ power-play units, as each year the quarterback on the top power-play line rotates between Morrisey and Neal Pionk. This year is Pionk’s turn. However, Morrisey is still delivering for those who have him rostered. In five games, he has two goals, three points, seven shots, two power-play goals, eight PIM, four blocked shots and is a plus-seven. He’s not dominating any one category, but he’s contributing across the board.

6. Michael Bunting, 22 percent

With the Leafs’ poor start, there’s no guarantee that Bunting remains in his plum spot as a top-six forward. After all, it’s a lot easier for a coach to demote a 26-year-old rookie making less than $1 million than anyone else in the top-six. However, for now, Bunting is playing with John Tavares and William Nylander. There are a lot worse options on the waiver wire. Although he has only three points in six games, he does have 16 shots and 11 hits.

5. Craig Anderson, 12 percent

The Sabres are one of the early surprises of the season, but don’t be shocked to see it continue for a little while longer. Down Goes Brown at the Athletic pointed out the Sabres’ soft schedule before the season began, and so far, the team has taken advantage of mediocre opponents. Buffalo's next six games are against the Lightning, Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Kraken and Red Wings. Anderson is 2-1 with a 2.01 GAA and a .933 SV%. He should have a few more wins coming in the next two weeks.

4. Evan Rodrigues, 5 percent

It’s surprising Rodrigues is unowned in so many leagues, considering that there’s still no specific timetable on when Sidney Crosby might return to the lineup. Even without Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and a host of other players, the Pens players are finding a way to win. In five games, Rodrigues has five points, 17 shots, nine hits and 22 faceoff wins while getting top power-play time. He may not stay in this role for long, but Pittsburgh is a team that rewards players for doing well (Bryan Rust is the most recent example).

3. Evan Bouchard, 17 percent

Bouchard’s stock took a tumble this offseason. Once projected to be the team’s top offensive dman of the future, the re-signing of Tyson Barrie and the trade of Duncan Keith, to go along with the emergence of Darnell Nurse, has pushed Bouchard into more of a defensive role. Lately, he’s been playing with Nurse at five-on-five and piling up a ton of minutes, which is helping Bouchard in the peripheral categories. He has three points in five games to go with a plus-five, 14 shots and 11 blocked shots. He’s now averaging more than 20 minutes a night, and is on the top penalty-killing unit, a good sign he is earning the trust of the coach.

2. Anthony Duclair, 28 percent

Duclair originally started the season down the lineup, but he’s been moved to a top-six role in the past few games, playing alongside Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe. This is due to the slow start of Sam Reinhart, who has been demoted to the third line. Duclair is still receiving little power-play time, but he does have three goals in five games.

1. Mats Zuccarello, 39 percent

People are already catching on to this one. On Saturday, he was rostered in 19 percent of leagues. Sunday night, that was up to 39 percent. The 34-year-old Wild veteran has quietly continued to be fantasy relevant into his mid-30s. Only once in his previous eight seasons did he fail to put up a 50-point pace, and he’s reached at least a 60-point pace in five of those seasons. This year, he has six points (including two power-play points) in five games while playing on a line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov.  At this point, he’s someone who could pick up and keep on your roster the rest of the season.