We're just past the halfway point of the season. Time to evaluate your fantasy lineups and plan ahead. Get those deals done before others swoop in and change your plans.

If you've done well so far, be sure to stay active. And should your rosters still be in a holiday slumber, we're suggesting a few fantasy candidates to help wake them up.

(Rostered rates as of Jan. 9)

Forwards

Matt Duchene, DAL (Yahoo: 44%): Duchene missed almost two months and then struggled to produce upon returning in early December, but he has gotten back on track during the New Year with four points and 10 shots over four games. He skates on the Stars' second power play, though his biggest draw is a primary place alongside Wyatt Johnston and Mikko Rantanen at even-strength. Even if there's no special-teams scoring, Duchene — coming off a 30-goal, 52-assist campaign — can still do some damage.

Justin Sourdif, WSH (Yahoo: 18%): It took three seasons for Sourdif to see his first significant NHL action after being acquired from Florida during the summer, and it looks like the Caps knew what they were doing. He logged minimal minutes in the bottom-six through the opening month or so before Pierre-Luc Dubois' extended absence allowed for a larger role. Sourdif has since recorded seven goals, 10 assists, 45 shots, 30 hits and a plus-15 from 27 outings, highlighted by a hat-trick and two helpers on Monday vs. the Ducks. He left Thursday's practice early, so be sure to check his status before adding him.

Lawson Crouse, UTA (Yahoo: 18%): Crouse has often received fantasy attention throughout his career for his secondary stats, yet has recently seen his coverage rise thanks to a move up beside Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz during five-on-five. And even with a spot on Utah's secondary man-advantage not resulting in anything so far, he's still posted six points, 11 shots and 19 hits while averaging 17:45 of ice time since Dec. 21. Crouse can play anywhere within the lineup where going back to the middle-six wouldn't necessarily hurt his value.

Andre Burakovsky, CHI (Yahoo: 11%): The Blackhawks continue to be without the service of Frank Nazar, while Connor Bedard is set to return Friday vs. the Capitals. But others have picked up the slack as the Blackhawks have scored 31 goals in the last nine contests. Burakovsky has been one of the more prominent contributors the last week by way of a goal on nine shots and five assists, including four PPPs and 17-plus minutes a night. He should continue to skate in the upper-half of the depth chart even after Bedard and Nazar return, and playing with either one will only lead to additional offensive potential.

Christian Dvorak, PHI (Yahoo: 4%): Dvorak is enjoying a career season, as he's already at 26 points, which is only 12 short of his peak. Philly's lead center in all attacking areas has also racked up three goals, eight assists, 39 shots and 117 faceoff wins in 15 games on an 18:27 ice time average and was just rewarded with a five-year extension. It would be nice if Dvorak did something while up a man, though the Flyers continue to struggle on the power play. Regardless of that, he clearly deserves to be selected in way more than 4% of Yahoo! leagues.

Fraser Minten, BOS (Yahoo: 3%): The Leafs barely used Minten before trading him at last season's deadline. A brief stint to close out the season led into a disappointing opening in the fall, as he'd only tally a single goal over 10 outings. Minten then went on a short streak that eventually saw him centering David Pastrnak and then Morgan Geekie at even-strength, where he notched a pair of assists on New Year's Eve immediately followed by a two-goal effort — including his first NHL PPG. Even if that placement disappears, he remains active for shots (56) and hits (89).

Alexandre Texier, MTL (Yahoo: 3%): Montreal snapped up Texier in November after the Blues ended his contract. He quietly crept his way up the lineup as more forwards went missing until he joined Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, which saw him post two assists last Thursday followed by a goal and another two helpers Wednesday. And then on Thursday, Texier went off for a hat-trick on six shots versus the Panthers. This upswing won't last forever, though he seems to have a connection with the dynamic duo. So as long as they're together, Texier is someone to strongly consider.

Alex Turcotte, LAK (Yahoo: 0%): Speaking of front lines without significant personnel, the Kings were missing Anze Kopitar, Corey Perry and Trevor Moore on Wednesday. Some or all of them could return soon, but Turcotte has taken advantage of the vacancies on a unit between Kevin Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko. He hasn't lived up to his fifth-overall pedigree from 2019, yet has delivered a goal, three assists, five shots and 25 faceoff wins across the last three matchups. Act quickly before Turcotte's favorable situation fades away.

Defensemen

Denton Mateychuk, CBJ (Yahoo: 28%): Last week, I apparently said something about Mateychuk probably not being able to maintain his production after Zach Werenski returned. And he's proven me wrong by notching a goal and three assists in four games since his star partner came back despite losing his entire power-play placement. As long as Mateychuk stays alongside Werenski during five-on-five, the offense will keep flowing.

Zayne Parekh, CGY (Yahoo: 17%): Parekh excelled for Canada at the recent WJC by finishing third in scoring at 13 points. He started the season with the Flames and picked up a PPA across 11 appearances, yet his ice time dwindled before he got injured and eventually was loaned out to play in the tournament. Reports are saying Parekh will return to the club, but no set date has been announced. And when that happens, he should be allowed to lead Calgary's man-advantage considering the rebuilding club ranks last in the league with a 13.9% success rate.

Charle-Edouard D'Astous, TB (Yahoo: 1%): After a fairly successful junior career, D'Astous went undrafted while traveling through Scandinavia and to a bunch of minor-league stops before receiving his NHL debut near the end of October. And even though the 27-year-old isn't logging major minutes, he's been able to find the scoresheet enough times – via three goals and 11 assists that includes two PPAs – to go with 41 shots, 53 PIM, 37 hits and 41 blocks. D'Astous may end up being bumped down the depth chart once Ryan McDonagh returns and could give up his power-play duty once Victor Hedman reappears sometime next month, so grab him while he's still productive.

Timothy Liljegren, SJ (Yahoo: 0%): John Klingberg is on IR with a lower-body issue, which has allowed Liljegren to take over as the Sharks' PP2 quarterback. And he's responded by registering two PPAs from the last three contests where he's also supplied another helper, four hits and eight blocks on a 21:28 ice time average. Liljegren looks to be a solid short-term option with the chance for more opportunities. Add him now and release if/when the scoring stops.

Goaltenders

Stuart Skinner, PIT (Yahoo: 41%): While Skinner was a bit shaky in the first three outings after coming over from Edmonton (only saving 59 of 71 shots), he's been solid the last three, winning all of them and only allowing a goal in each. He's been alternating starts with Arturs Silovs, who's also come out on top during his last four appearances. Skinner probably holds the advantage as Pittsburgh's No. 1 due to experience, though could relinquish it to Silovs should he encounter another rough patch.

Philipp Grubauer, SEA (Yahoo: 25%): Grubauer has once again put himself in the fantasy conversation thanks to a scorching two-week run, posting a 1.39 GAA and .960 save percentage while working his way back into a platoon with Joey Daccord. The Kraken have surged up the standings thanks to the duo and face an eight-day road trip where the action will probably be split. Based on Grubauer's recent results and just being named to Germany's Olympic squad, he'll be motivated to continue doing well.

Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Carter Verhaeghe, Gabriel Landeskog, Jared McCann, Cole Perfetti, Nick Schmaltz, Anze Kopitar, Kiefer Sherwood, Brock Nelson, Zach Benson, Tyler Toffoli, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Fantilli, Patrick Kane, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, Brock Boeser, Mikael Granlund, Sean Monahan, Mats Zuccarello, Ryan O'Reilly, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Bobby McMann, Anders Lee, Tyler Bertuzzi, Owen Tippett, Josh Norris, Brayden Schenn, Eeli Tolvanen, Pavel Buchnevich, Alexis Lafreniere, Boone Jenner, Anton Lundell, Ivan Barbashev, Vladimir Tarasenko, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Beckett Sennecke, Jake Neighbours, Jamie Benn, Ryan Hartman, Mikael Backlund, Vasily Podkolzin, Zachary Bolduc, Logan Stankoven, Luke Evangelista, Claude Giroux, Marcus Johansson, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Alex Laferriere, Teuvo Teravainen, Alexander Wennberg, Jake DeBrusk, Chandler Stephenson, Noah Cates, Braeden Bowman, Sean Couturier, Jordan Eberle, Jackson Blake, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Jackson Blake, Anthony Mantha, Blake Coleman, Eetu Luostarinen, Ross Colton, Jack Quinn, Josh Doan, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Mason Marchment, Arseny Gritsyuk, Collin Graf, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Fabian Zetterlund, Oliver Kapanen, Ben Kindel, Emmitt Finnie, Igor Chernyshov, Andrew Copp, Ryan Leonard, Erik Haula, Ryan McLeod, Brock Faber, Drew Doughty, Mattias Ekholm, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, Zeev Buium, Noah Hanifin, Cam Fowler, K'Andre Miller, Jared Spurgeon, Jake McCabe, Artyom Levshunov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ivan Provorov, Hampus Lindholm, Darren Raddysh, Brent Burns, Olen Zellweger, Sam Malinski, Ryan Pulock, Sean Durzi, Radko Gudas, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Damon Severson, Esa Lindell, Mattias Samuelsson, Josh Manson, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Roy, Cam York, Nick Blankenburg, Tony DeAngelo, Jordan Spence, Nate Schmidt, Spencer Knight, Jesper Wallstedt, Brandon Bussi, Jacob Fowler, Yaroslav Askarov, Carter Hart, Jet Greaves, Jake Allen, Jakub Dobes, Tristan Jarry, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Dan Vladar, Casey DeSmith, David Rittich, Connor Ingram, Akira Schmid, Joel Hofer, Jonathan Quick, Kevin Lankinen

Happy New Year! Hope all your resolutions (and fantasy hockey dreams) come true!

The calendar flipping to 2026 also brings the promise of repeat entries, though there won't be any this week. Just the usual batch of 14 new players for you to consider, with none of them above 26% coverage. Enjoy!

(Rostered rates as of Jan. 2)

Forwards

Jared McCann, SEA (Yahoo: 27%): I was ready to tout McCann in early December as he had just returned from an extended absence, and then he got hurt again. Let's hope he's back for good considering how much he's achieved for the Kraken since joining during their inaugural campaign. In McCann's second game on Monday, he potted a power-play goal on three shots and was involved in a fight while skating 16:05 of ice time – 4:15 of that up a man. And then Thursday, he grabbed another marker with four pucks on net. Get McCann ASAP, as he should remain heavily involved in all attacking areas. 

Bobby McMann, TOR (Yahoo: 12%): It's that time of the season where we talk about McMann enjoying a productive run. He's been hard to trust overall due to inconsistency but is currently on a seven-game stretch during which he's totaled four goals, three assists, 23 shots and 11 hits. McMann briefly took over for the injured William Nylander on the second line alongside John Tavares and provided a PPG Tuesday as part of Toronto's backup man-advantage while joining Auston Matthews on Thursday. Add McMann now and be ready to drop him when the improved placement ends and/or the points stop.

Brayden Schenn, STL (Yahoo: 11%): Schenn has been significantly off pace in the offensive department at 16 points through 41 contests, yet is rounding into form, recording three points, seven shots and 13 hits from the last five while winning 39 faceoffs centering St. Louis's second even-strength (with previous entries Jimmy Snuggerud and Jake Neighbours) and PP units (PPG on Saturday). As long as he stays within the top-six – or at least beside decent wingers – fantasy opportunities will follow.

Mikael Backlund, CGY (Yahoo: 9%): Speaking of forwards on subpar scoring sides, Backlund has been one of Yahoo's elite performers the last two weeks having notched five goals, four assists and 23 shots on goal on 17:43 of ice time per game. While there's no power-play involvement, he leads the penalty kill and is perfectly positioned at five-on-five in between up-and-comer Matthew Coronato and wily veteran Blake Coleman. That type of output and favorable linemates deserve more coverage for Backlund.

Noah Cates, PHI (Yahoo: 7%): Cates has been posting a bit of everything over the last seven games with three goals, three assists, two PPPs, 10 shots, 10 hits, five blocks and 37 faceoff wins. He's been more offensively reliable in his fourth year within Philly's middle-six and secondary man-advantage (only two off his personal-best of eight PPPs) surrounded by solid wingers (most notably Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett) while averaging just under 17 minutes. C'mon, give Cates a chance.

Collin Graf, SJ (Yahoo: 6%): Graf was brought up last week in the section featuring Igor Chernyshov (was 1%, now 14%) as the pair were riding shotgun with Macklin Celebrini. Graf eventually swapped lines with William Eklund, though that didn't stop him from finding the back of the net in four straight or racking up 11 points, 22 shots, 12 hits and 10 blocks since Dec. 5. And I'm sure Graf won't complain about regularly teaming up with Tyler Toffoli (10 goals, 16 assists) and Alexander Wennberg (7, 19).

Eetu Luostarinen, FLA (Yahoo: 7%): If you haven't been following the Panthers this season, you may be unaware Luostarinen has frequently shared the ice with Sam Reinhart (or Brad Marchand) and Anton Lundell. That's led to him being projected to approach his career-high in points (43 set in 2022-23) as he's already provided 18 with seven coming across the last nine appearances in which he's also tallied 21 shots, 24 hits and 11 blocks. Luostarinen's fantasy value is also boosted by his first ever significant PP role, but that has so far only consisted of one PPG and could be gone after Matthew Tkachuk returns.

Ryan McLeod, BUF (Yahoo: 3%): Please explain how a prominent center on the league's hottest team who's accumulated two goals, six assists and a 17:40 average ice time during the last 10 matchups (all wins for Buffalo) is still available in 97% of Yahoo! leagues. Not to mention the fact McLeod registered 53 points last year while holding places on both special-teams groups. The position is usually deep, and other options will seem more enticing, yet there's nothing wrong with taking a flyer on someone who's already on fire.

Defensemen

Sam Malinski, COL (Yahoo: 16%): The Avs lead the NHL standings by 10 points with an offense averaging 4.05 goals. That type of production will ultimately lead to a couple players boasting elevated stats, including Malinski at three goals, 19 assists, 67 shots and a plus-22 (Colorado also is first in GAA). There's concern for regression as he's well past his career-high in points (15 in 76 games last season) while only logging around 16 minutes per game. Almost anyone on the team should currently be considered for fantasy consumption, so Malinski is at least worth a look.

Jared Spurgeon, MIN (Yahoo: 11%): Spurgeon may not be getting a significant bump from Quinn Hughes' arrival, though the return of frequent partner Jonas Brodin has helped. And while Spurgeon hasn't done anything on Minnesota's second power play the last few weeks, that quintet is solid and supplies scoring potential. Spurgeon has also recorded three points, five shots and eight blocks from his last three outings while locked into a top-four duo and active in all situations.

Damon Severson, CBJ (Yahoo: 3%): Zach Werenski's absence has allowed Denton Mateychuk an increased role – including quarterbacking the Blue Jackets' lead man-advantage – and he's taken advantage of the promotion by tallying a goal and four assists (one PPA) across five appearances. Severson has also received a bit more ice time during that stretch, where he's gone on to post six points – two of those PPAs – alongside 10 shots. Mateychuk may see a drop off after Werenski comes back, though Severson should maintain steady output.

Pavel Mintyukov, ANA (Yahoo: 1%): Mintyukov endured a few healthy scratches but has been more regularly involved of late thanks to improved all-around play and with Radko Gudas out. And if we go back to Dec. 15, he's chipped in with three goals, an assist, 10 shots and 19 blocks. Mintyukov has also reappeared on Anaheim's backup power play, where he notched his first PPP of the year on Wednesday. Monitor his progress to see if he can consistently stick in the lineup before adding him.

Goaltenders

Connor Ingram, EDM (Yahoo: 17%): Despite allowing six goals on Wednesday, Ingram remains a decent fantasy option while Tristan Jarry is sidelined. After all, Ingram started four of the Oilers' last six outings and won the first two. There will be short-term competition from Calvin Pickard, though his season stats aren't promising (3.69 GAA, .874 save percentage across 14 appearances). Ingram should keep getting work on a lethal scoring team whose next 10 opponents all rank in the bottom-half of the NHL in goals per game.

Kevin Lankinen, VAN (Yahoo: 7%): Thatcher Demko is Vancouver's clear No. 1 netminder, yet we're all familiar with his injury history. And while he made 92 saves during the last three starts, he also gave up 13 goals. Lankinen's overall line (3.41/.885) doesn't inspire confidence, but he's come out on top in his most recent two matchups – both via the shootout where he stopped all 10 shots (!!!). Let's not forget he also registered 51 outings last year while Demko was out, making him one of the league's best backups who can still be used for streaming purposes (such as Friday vs. Seattle or Saturday vs. Boston).

Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Carter Verhaeghe, Gabriel Landeskog, Cole Perfetti, Nick Schmaltz, Anze Kopitar, Kiefer Sherwood, Brock Nelson, Zach Benson, Tyler Toffoli, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Fantilli, Patrick Kane, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, Brock Boeser, Mikael Granlund, Sean Monahan, Mats Zuccarello, Ryan O'Reilly, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Anders Lee, Tyler Bertuzzi, Owen Tippett, Josh Norris, Eeli Tolvanen, Pavel Buchnevich, Alexis Lafreniere, Boone Jenner, Anton Lundell, Ivan Barbashev, Vladimir Tarasenko, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Beckett Sennecke, Jake Neighbours, Jamie Benn, Ryan Hartman, Vasily Podkolzin, Zachary Bolduc, Logan Stankoven, Luke Evangelista, Claude Giroux, Marcus Johansson, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Alex Laferriere, Teuvo Teravainen, Alexander Wennberg, Jake DeBrusk, Chandler Stephenson, Braeden Bowman, Sean Couturier, Jordan Eberle, Jackson Blake, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Jackson Blake, Anthony Mantha, Blake Coleman, Ross Colton, Jack Quinn, Josh Doan, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Mason Marchment, Arseny Gritsyuk, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Fabian Zetterlund, Oliver Kapanen, Ben Kindel, Emmitt Finnie, Igor Chernyshov, Andrew Copp, Ryan Leonard, Erik Haula, Matthew Wood, Brock Faber, Drew Doughty, Mattias Ekholm, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, Zeev Buium, Noah Hanifin, Cam Fowler, K'Andre Miller, Jake McCabe, Artyom Levshunov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ivan Provorov, Hampus Lindholm, Darren Raddysh, Brent Burns, Olen Zellweger, John Klingberg, Ryan Pulock, Sean Durzi, Radko Gudas, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Esa Lindell, Mattias Samuelsson, Josh Manson, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Roy, Cam York, Nick Blankenburg, Tony DeAngelo, Jordan Spence, Nate Schmidt, Spencer Knight, Jesper Wallstedt, Brandon Bussi, Jacob Fowler, Yaroslav Askarov, Carter Hart, Jet Greaves, Jake Allen, Jakub Dobes, Tristan Jarry, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Dan Vladar, Casey DeSmith, David Rittich, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid, Joel Hofer, Jonathan Quick

'Tis the season to catch a break
Hope you added Jackson Blake
Time to ignore all the haters
And avoid most St. Louis skaters
If you're looking to improve your rosters
Don't take on any fantasy impostors
Should your playoff chances start to wallow
Read the player picks that follow

(Rostered rates as of Dec. 26)

Forwards

Eeli Tolvanen, SEA (Yahoo: 25%): The Kraken haven't been the most reliable scoring team, though they've improved of late with at least three goals in eight of the last 11 games. Tolvanen has done well over this stretch by notching 11 points — including four on the power play — alongside 20 shots, 29 hits and 12 blocks on an 18:04 average ice time. This type of production doesn't seem sustainable, yet there's promise in a steady offensive role and a 9.3 shooting percentage significantly below his career average.

Ryan Hartman, MIN (Yahoo: 22%): The Quinn Hughes effect continues to spread its way through the Minnesota lineup, where Hartman has been one of the more noticeable beneficiaries with four goals and two assists over six contests. And while he doesn't join the star defender while up a man, he's still potted two PPGs during that time and now centers Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello at even strength. Hartman carries further fantasy appeal from a steady flow of shots (18 in the last six) and decent amount of hits and blocks.

Alex Laferriere, LA (Yahoo: 15%): There's not a lot to like about L.A.'s offense as the Kings are tied for the lowest average output (at 2.50 with the aforementioned Blues) and rank 31st on the power play. Selecting one of their players may seem like a terrible fantasy decision, but someone like Laferriere is doing as much as he can to boost his stats. Even though he hasn't found the scoresheet in any of the last three outings, 12 pucks have been directed on net to go with nine hits. Laferriere has also recently taken on more responsibility as part of the first line and man-advantage. He's active and favorably placed, so the points should eventually come.

Anthony Mantha, PIT (Yahoo: 13%): Mantha has been one of the NHL's better low-key offseason additions having already registered 11 goals and 12 assists following a campaign in Calgary that was decimated by injury. His biggest current asset is a spot on the Pens' lead power play (with six points there overall) joining Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson. Mantha may eventually be replaced on that group by Ben Kindel (or Evgeni Malkin, whenever he returns), yet covers that role for now and supplies sufficient stats in a couple categories.

Mason Marchment, CBJ (Yahoo: 12%): In case you missed it, Marchment came over from Seattle last week. There may not be much to get excited about that transaction at first glance, yet he's already potted three goals — two of those while up a man — across two games with seven shots while logging just under 36 minutes. Marchment also skates with Adam Fantilli and Kirill Marchenko during five-on-five, and let's not forget he combined for 100 points the previous two years, albeit on a more lethal Dallas attack. Monitor his situation to see if he remains in a decent place after the break before picking him up.

Emmitt Finnie, DET (Yahoo: 12%): Finnie probably won't win the Calder Trophy, but he's done plenty so far as a rookie to prove many scouts wrong. The 201st selection from the 2023 NHL Draft has racked up 19 points, 71 shots and 61 hits while mainly sharing the ice with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. And just as Finnie endures a brief downturn, he gets right out of it with his latest two-week totals covering three goals, two assists, three PPPs and 13 shots on 18:08 per game.

Fabian Zetterlund, OTT (Yahoo: 12%): Zetterlund didn't do much during the first month, though he's since shown more consistency. The last four matchups have been particularly plentiful by way of six points — three on the power play — 12 shots, and seven hits as part of a trio next to Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk and backup man-advantage featuring Claude Giroux and Thomas Chabot. If Zetterlund can stay active, he deserves more coverage.

Igor Chernyshov, SJ (Yahoo: 1%): While Collin Graf (8%) is earning enough publicity excelling alongside Macklin Celebrini, let's not forget the forward on the other side. Since being drafted in 2024, Chernyshov dominated the OHL and AHL, totaling 30 goals and 49 assists across 50 appearances. That led to a promotion on Dec. 15, and he's since recorded a point in his first three games with the Sharks alongside nine shots. Take a chance on Chernyshov for as long as he's in the top-six and while Will Smith (upper-body, week-to-week) is sidelined.

Defensemen

Noah Hanifin, VGK (Yahoo: 51%): Shea Theodore is set to be out for at least another month. His absence has allowed Hanifin to take over as Vegas's lead offensive defender running the point on PP1, and he's responded by producing five assists — four of the man-advantage variety — in four games, supplemented by 13 shots, four hits and six blocks while averaging 24:39 of ice time. This is too good of a fantasy opportunity to ignore. Get him before others beat you to it.

Mattias Samuelsson, BUF (Yahoo: 17%): Regression is probably coming for Samuelsson. After all, he's already achieved a career-high 15 points to go with an elevated 10.9 shooting percentage. On the other hand, Samuelsson is paired at even-strength with Rasmus Dahlin notching 72 blocks and a plus-12 logging 22:35 per game. The chances will continue as part of the top duo, so be ready to throw him back if he moves off that group and/or when the scoring significantly drops off.

Jamie Drysdale, PHI (Yahoo: 6%): Drysdale has been unlucky throughout his career when it comes to injuries, though that hasn't happened yet this year. He's the latest Philly blueliner to quarterback a top power play after Cam York and Travis Sanheim got their turns and registered both of his PPPs from the last three outings with seven points during his last 11 overall. Drysdale is this widely available in Yahoo! leagues as his fantasy contributions are almost exclusively offense-dependent, but he'll work if you're looking for a defender who hypothetically has better odds of producing while up a man — even if the Flyers have struggled there.

Ryker Evans, SEA (Yahoo: 1%): Brandon Montour underwent hand surgery and won't be back until at least mid-January. Vince Dunn was forced out of Monday's contest with no recent update provided regarding his status. That leaves Evans as Seattle's de facto No. 1 attacking defenseman, a job he's previously filled and succeeded in. We've already alluded to the Kraken's weak offense, but their power play is above-average and the other four players on the lead unit have combined for 33 power play points. Look for Evans and company to take advantage of a vulnerable Canucks' penalty kill during two of their next four matchups.

Goaltenders

Jet Greaves, CBJ (Yahoo: 42%): Greaves alternated starts with Elvis Merzlikins for the first four weeks of the season. The former has since made 15 appearances, posting a 2.45 GAA and .912 save percentage, while the latter has slumped to a 5.02/.840 line in only seven outings. Greaves also hasn't allowed more than three goals since Nov. 28. Expect him to continue outpacing Merzlikins as Columbus's top netminder and grab some wins behind a decent offense.

Jacob Fowler, MTL (Yahoo: 28%): Sam Montembeault couldn't follow up on a promising campaign and was subsequently demoted. Jakub Dobes has been brilliant at times, yet too inconsistent overall. The time came for Fowler to earn his opportunity, and he hasn't disappointed so far via a 3-1-1 record, 2.40 GAA, and .918 save percentage highlighted by a shutout over Pittsburgh. Add him as soon as possible. And if the Habs ultimately decide to limit his workload or possibly return him to the AHL, he's at least worth a spot as a streamer or someone to stash.

Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Carter Verhaeghe, Gabriel Landeskog, Cole Perfetti, Nick Schmaltz, Anze Kopitar, Kiefer Sherwood, Brock Nelson, Zach Benson, Tyler Toffoli, Jonathan Huberdeau, Adam Fantilli, Patrick Kane, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, Brock Boeser, Mikael Granlund, Sean Monahan, Mats Zuccarello, Ryan O'Reilly, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Anders Lee, Tyler Bertuzzi, Owen Tippett, Josh Norris, Pavel Buchnevich, Alexis Lafreniere, Boone Jenner, Anton Lundell, Ivan Barbashev, Vladimir Tarasenko, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Beckett Sennecke, Jake Neighbours, Jamie Benn, Vasily Podkolzin, Zachary Bolduc, Logan Stankoven, Luke Evangelista, Claude Giroux, Marcus Johansson, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Teuvo Teravainen, Alexander Wennberg, Jake DeBrusk, Chandler Stephenson, Braeden Bowman, Sean Couturier, Jordan Eberle, Jackson Blake, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Jackson Blake, Blake Coleman, Ross Colton, Jack Quinn, Josh Doan, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Arseny Gritsyuk, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Oliver Kapanen, Ben Kindel, Andrew Copp, Ryan Leonard, Erik Haula, Matthew Wood, Brock Faber, Drew Doughty, Mattias Ekholm, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, Zeev Buium, Cam Fowler, K'Andre Miller, Jake McCabe, Artyom Levshunov, Vladislav Gavrikov, Ivan Provorov, Hampus Lindholm, Darren Raddysh, Brent Burns, Olen Zellweger, John Klingberg, Ryan Pulock, Sean Durzi, Radko Gudas, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Esa Lindell, Josh Manson, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Matt Roy, Cam York, Nick Blankenburg, Tony DeAngelo, Jordan Spence, Nate Schmidt, Pyotr Kochetkov, Spencer Knight, Jesper Wallstedt, Brandon Bussi, Jakub Dobes, Yaroslav Askarov, Carter Hart, Jake Allen, Tristan Jarry, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Dan Vladar, Casey DeSmith, David Rittich, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid, Joel Hofer, Jonathan Quick

A slow start in fantasy hockey isn't the end of the world. It's also not the time to feel sorry about your squad. Go out there and shake things up. You may be leading or near the top of your league, but don't sit back and relax. Tweak lineups based on weekly/daily considerations. And always be looking out for the next upwardly trending players, like any of the 14 listed below.

(Rostered rates as of Dec. 12)

Forwards

Gabriel Landeskog, COL (Yahoo: 42%): Landeskog was mentioned last week in relation to Colorado's second line and is now being featured for carrying significant upside despite disappointing recent results. And even though he didn't manage a point over four games, he scored on Thursday and has fired 16 shots on net during the last five on a 16:58 ice time average while part of an elite top power play. Be patient with Landeskog, as he missed the previous three seasons, while he's retained his offensive skills and is surrounded by excellent teammates.

Sean Monahan, CBJ (Yahoo: 31%): Inconsistency has left Monahan with less scoring than usual, yet he's turned it around over the last two weeks via three goals, four assists, 11 shots, eight blocks and 68 faceoff wins across 19 minutes as the Blue Jackets' No. 1 center. He's also been a frequent participant on the lead man-advantage and has notched three PPAs during that stretch. There's always a chance Monahan falls back into another slump, though there's enough talent up front for Columbus to help him out.

Blake Coleman, CGY (Yahoo: 30%): It's usually not a good idea to recommend a player from a club that's struggled to score, but Coleman makes the cut as he's proficient in other areas. The 54 points from two years ago were more of an outlier, as he's usually situated in the mid-to-high 30s alongside a sufficient supply of shots and hits. Coleman's haul through his last nine outings is fairly familiar as he's recorded a shorthanded goal, four assists, 20 shots, 15 PIM and 22 hits. He's set to continue his production as Calgary faces a couple of vulnerable defensive sides (Sharks, Oilers twice, Bruins) before the end of 2025.

Jake Neighbours, STL (Yahoo: 15%): Neighbours is similar to Coleman in that he's on an anemic attack and is decent over a couple of categories. The difference is poolies clearly forgot about him after he missed nearly a month with a leg injury. And it's not like Neighbours has been tearing it up since returning, with six points in 12 contests, though the 32 hits during that time and two goals on Saturday are encouraging. Plus, he got bumped up to join Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich on the top trio and man-advantage. That type of arrangement for him could lead to stats more resembling the player who posted 46 points last season.

Luke Evangelista, NSH (Yahoo: 6%): I haven't closely followed the Preds of late, so let's just say it was shocking to find out Evangelista leads the team with 19 assists. He may skate on the backup power play, yet has already surpassed his PPP count of five from last season (he has seven). Evangelista has also reeled off two goals, 11 helpers and 20 shots from the last nine games. Grab him now, and you can always throw him back if/when Nashville reverts to not scoring.

Andrew Copp, DET (Yahoo: 3%): I added Copp this week in the RotoWire Staff Keeper Hockey League after noticing he was centering Detroit's second line between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane while producing five PPPs on a solid backup unit. The veteran also had a four-game point run snapped on Thursday and recently received a major minutes boost. Monitor Copp's situation to see if his position/role changes before bringing him aboard.

Alexander Wennberg, SJ (Yahoo: 2%): A place in the top-six and lead man-advantage. After all that and a 20:30 average ice time entering Thursday, Wennberg had only accumulated 15 points. And then he broke out that night by contributing on all three San Jose markers — including potting the OT winner while being the only Sharks' forward to log more than 22 minutes. Wennberg isn't going to regularly produce performances like this but he should be a relatively reliable fantasy player.

Ryan Greene, CHI (Yahoo: 1%): Greene may be more of a deep-format recommendation since the Blackhawks have been known to swap out Connor Bedard's left-sided linemate, yet Greene has generally stuck with the star. The first-year forward has also averaged 18:21 of ice time since Oct. 30, a clear sign he's being trusted. Put your faith in Greene, even if it's only short-term.

Defensemen

Drew Doughty, LA (Yahoo: 50%): Doughty isn't the prolific point producer he once was, while injuries have affected him the last two seasons, but even at 36, he's still someone who can contribute and is under consideration for Canada's upcoming Olympic squad. He returned to the lineup last Thursday, notched two assists on Saturday and has regained his place as the point man on L.A.'s top power play (albeit on a 31st-ranked unit). As long as Doughty stays healthy and continues in prime placement, he needs to be on more fantasy rosters.

Vladislav Gavrikov, NYR (Yahoo: 11%): While Gavrikov is more known for his defensive attributes, he's recently displayed more of an offensive flair by way of seven points from 10 games in addition to 11 shots, 16 blocks, and nine hits on 24:48 per game. He also received his first extensive look on the second man-advantage on Wednesday with the Rangers opting for a first group consisting of five forwards. Gavrikov may not do anything there, though he should see more attacking chances with Adam Fox sidelined and not slated to return until late December at the earliest.

Ivan Provorov, CBJ (Yahoo: 11%): It's amazing to realize Provorov has been playing in the league for a decade and is still only 28. Since joining Columbus, he's registered consecutive 30-plus point campaigns. And even slightly behind that pace, Provorov has chipped in with a goal on 12 shots and three assists — two of those PPAs — alongside 10 blocks and six hits while logging 27:40 (!!) of ice time across the last six appearances, while joining Zach Werenski at even-strength. That looks like the resume of a defender who shouldn't be available in roughly seven of eight Yahoo! leagues.

Ryan Pulock, NYI (Yahoo: 5%): Pulock has quietly racked up 15 assists — six coming since Nov. 28 — thanks to a regular five-on-five gig beside Matthew Schaefer. This type of scoring run doesn't seem sustainable as he hasn't exceeded 26 points in a season since 2019-20, but it is entirely reasonable playing with the super rookie. If Pulock sticks with Schaefer, expect at least 30. And even if that doesn't hold, he's still the Isles' lead on the right side and reliable in a few secondary categories.

Goaltenders

Brandon Bussi, CAR (Yahoo: 36%): Pyotr Kochetkov and Frederik Andersen both missed time due to injury, which allowed Bussi to get his first taste of NHL action following three-plus AHL seasons. And he's taken advantage of the opportunity by going 10-1-0, starting five of Carolina's last seven games and winning all of them — including one shutout — while posting a 1.36 GAA and .930 save percentage. Even with the other goalies available, Bussi has done enough to continue getting work and the opportunity to pick up additional victories on a team leading the league in average shots allowed.

Jonathan Quick, NYR (Yahoo: 9%): Igor Shesterkin has been solid the last couple weeks with a 5-2-1 record alongside a 2.38/.919 line, and, of course, there's no questioning his place as the Rangers' No. 1 netminder. Quick has been stellar so far in a much smaller sample size (1.86, .937), yet hasn't given up more than three goals during any of his seven appearances. And with the club listing two back-to-backs over the next nine days, the soon-to-be 40-year-old is guaranteed to face a couple of weaker offensive opponents (probably two of three from Vancouver, Philly and Nashville).

Eight-plus weeks of action has left us sufficient data to assess NHL player projections. It probably doesn't need to be said that other factors should also be considered. While you may have a few favorites and/or a gut feeling about someone, the tangible indicators — such as trends, line combos and updates — provide a clearer path to fantasy hockey success.

And now that you're completely confused, let's list some laced-up live wires to lift your fantasy hockey lineups.

(Rostered rates as of Dec. 5)

Forwards

Tyler Toffoli, SJ (Yahoo: 43%): Toffoli is part of one of the league's most exciting lines alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, while joining the pair on the Sharks' top power play. He's notched seven points and 14 shots in his last six games, highlighted by two goals, two assists and five pucks on net Monday versus Utah.

A tough upcoming stretch of five straight road matchups awaits San Jose starting Friday, but this trio will be able to rack up some scoring. So there's no reason Toffoli should still be under 50%.

Josh Norris, BUF (Yahoo: 35%): Norris came into the season projected as Buffalo's 1C during all attacking situations. He then missed almost two months after suffering an upper-body injury on Opening Night before returning Monday. Norris slotted right back into those prime placements, where he immediately picked up two goals on three shots to go with an assist. He hasn't had the greatest of luck staying healthy throughout his career, though he is a must-add if he can keep producing and string together at least 10 consecutive appearances.

Ivan Barbashev, VGK (Yahoo: 34%): Not much in the way of power-play minutes for Barbashev, but I'm sure he won't complain about skating beside Jack Eichel at even-strength or the 22 points overall — nine of those being goals. Regression seems inevitable for a 21.4 shooting percentage, yet that mark was 20.7 last year and has been at least 20% three other times. Barbashev holds additional value via 43 hits, though you're ultimately selecting him for his offensive qualities and star linemate.

Jamie Benn, DAL (Yahoo: 26%): A collapsed lung during preseason forced Benn out for seven weeks. He's still being eased into the lineup nine games in (12:49 ice time average), yet has already accumulated three goals, five assists, 11 shots and 19 hits. Benn also participates on Dallas' secondary man-advantage while currently on the right side of a five-on-five unit with Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz. Expect him to continue progressing as long as he doesn't encounter any setbacks. Just don't expect big numbers. 

Ross Colton, COL (Yahoo: 20%): Colorado's second line has been hot the last couple of outings. Gabriel Landeskog (49%) and Brock Nelson (42%) may be grabbing the headlines, but Colton's cumulative cross-category contributions can't be ignored. We're talking about 14 points, 63 shots, 70 hits and a plus-8 on a modest 13:26 ice time per game. You're still getting decent value by taking either of the two aforementioned teammates, though Colton could be the steal you've been looking for.

Sean Couturier, PHI (Yahoo: 6%): Speaking of under appreciated bargains, all Couturier has done this season is deliver four goals and 12 assists — with six of those points coming from the last eight contests — in addition to 10 shots, 10 hits, six blocks and 70 faceoff wins (57.4%).

He's also flanked by Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett at even-strength while regularly registering 19-plus minute efforts. The only thing missing from Couturier's portfolio is power-play scoring, although all that other output should suffice.

Erik Haula, NSH (Yahoo: 3%): The Preds recently shuffled up their forward groups to spark their attack, and it seems to have worked, as they have a combined 19 goals over the last five matchups. Haula is now centering Filip Forsberg and Jonathan Marchessault at five-on-five, and doing well on the second man-advantage, having already recorded six PPPs. Nashville usually doesn't yield many favorable fantasy targets up front, but Haula is someone who can provide solid stats and comes at a significant discount.

Oliver Kapanen, MTL (Yahoo: 2%): Poolies are still sleeping on Kapanen despite the rave reviews and excellent returns (8G, 6A) for someone who hadn't previously played in the NHL. From finding the back of the net in four of his first seven appearances to potting another marker Wednesday (that was set up by Ivan Demidov) on a whopping 20:07 of ice time, the 22-year-old is exceeding expectations. Kapanen still has ways to go in his development, but there's enough right now to take a chance on him.

Defensemen

Radko Gudas, ANA (Yahoo: 27%): While Gudas is 35 and taking on less ice time, he's still as physical as ever. In the two-plus weeks since returning from an 11-game absence, he's dished out 34 hits and blocked 20 shots.

The Ducks don't really need Gudas for offensive contributions, as they're set from the rest of their blueliners, though his 18 pucks on net over the most recent stretch are encouraging (and slightly surprising) and could eventually lead to a couple goals going in.

Esa Lindell, DAL (Yahoo: 24%): Lindell had been logging major minutes even before Thomas Harley was sidelined in the middle of November. And the 25:21 ice time average with a goal, four assists, 13 shots, 26 blocks and plus-10 represents a productive and well-balanced haul. Lindell's two helpers on Wednesday are probably an outlier based on recent output, but he still carries enough fantasy upside on a strong Dallas attack to deserve more coverage.

Matt Roy, WAS (Yahoo: 13%): It was quite the night Wednesday for Roy, as he went off for three assists, two shots and four blocks. Don't expect that offensive explosion to regularly happen, as he usually tops out in the mid-20 point range, though getting to skate next to Jakob Chychrun at even-strength can't hurt in enhancing those numbers. And even if the scoring drops off, Roy remains reliable elsewhere while holding down a lead shorthanded role.

Jordan Spence, OTT (Yahoo: 2%): When Spence was acquired from the Kings in June, it was assumed he'd get more chances with his new team (at least that's what I thought when I protected him in the RotoWire Staff Keeper Hockey League). He did notch three assists during his second game and another one next time out, yet that was surrounded by numerous healthy scratches.

So it wasn't until November when Spence finally established full-time status and built chemistry alongside Thomas Chabot. Chabot's injury may have deprived Spence of a veteran partner, but it allowed the 24-year-old to earn some time on Ottawa's second power play. That hasn't resulted in any points, though he's bound to get some, as he's offensively gifted and gaining confidence.

Goaltenders

Carter Hart, VGK (Yahoo: 37%): Hart made his Vegas debut on Tuesday and earned the win over the Blackhawks by stopping 27 of 30 shots (with another three in the shootout). Akira Schmid has been decent handling most of the starts, as Adin Hill went on IR at the end of October (2.49 GAA, .896 save percentage across 11 appearances), but Hart will probably earn enough action behind a defense that's one of the best at limiting pucks on net and a fairly potent attack.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, BUF (Yahoo: 26%): Another week, another goalie rumored to be headed to the Oilers. Luukkonen endured his share of struggles the last few years on a consistently weak Buffalo back line, yet still covers a major workload and has posted a 2.30 GAA since Nov. 1 — including only one goal versus Carolina and Winnipeg. Colten Ellis has provided brief moments of excellence, while Alex Lyon has fallen off following a hot start, leaving UPL as the No. 1 on a club whose offense has recently been boosted by the return of a few forwards.

Give thanks to your fantasy hockey teams. And to all of your players. Even if some are struggling, they're probably trying their hardest. Don't be the one holding the short end of the wishbone. Grab a couple of recruits to boost your squad. Here are a few suggestions:

(Rostered rates as of Nov. 28)

Forwards

Carter Verhaeghe, FLA (Yahoo: 52%): Verhaeghe's goal production significantly dipped last season, going from 42 and 34 points to 20, as his shooting percentage was abnormally low (8.3) while he was still busy in getting pucks on net (242) and power-play scoring (16 PPPs). He's only found the back of the net four times (paired with a 7.5 percentage), though half of those have come over the last two games to go with three assists, six shots and three hits.

Verhaeghe is well-positioned within the Florida roster and looks to be on the upswing of a scoring run, so you may want to add him as soon as possible.

Adam Fantilli, CBJ (Yahoo: 50%): Let's go with another forward around 50% covered who should be much higher. Fantilli centers the first line and joins Zach Werenski at the point on the Blue Jackets' top PP. He's racked up 12 points and 38 shots from his last 13 contests. And even though Fantilli has only notched two PPPs (both goals), he's way too skilled and involved in advanced attacking areas to still be this available. Get him before someone else does.

Anthony Cirelli, TB (Yahoo: 37%): Cirelli may be a two-time Stanley Cup champ and someone who's played his entire career in Tampa, but he often gets overlooked in fantasy. He's coming off a personal-best of 59 points and is already up to 17 across 19 appearances this season. Since returning from a lower-body issue last week, Cirelli has recorded two goals, four assists, nine shots and a plus-7. As long as he can stay healthy, he offers tremendous value.

Brock Nelson, COL (Yahoo: 37%): Similar to most of the previous eight campaigns with the Islanders, Nelson won't be the focal pivot in Colorado when Nathan MacKinnon is available. He struggled to find the scoresheet during the first 16 matchups (3G, 2A) before going on a five-game point streak that netted three goals, four assists, 12 shots and 50 faceoff wins.

Being the second center on a club boasting the league's top offense has its advantages, so picking up Nelson should work in most fantasy formats.

Owen Tippett, PHI (Yahoo: 30%): If we were ranking modern power forwards, Tippett's name would probably be high up on that list. The Flyers haven't been great providers of offensive selections in recent years, though a few have become popular based on elevated production and/or category needs. Tippett hasn't been particularly reliable overall, yet has gone off for eight points, 12 shots and 11 hits over the last six contests. As a member of the lead line and power play (Philly still underwhelms while up a man) who's also a solid cross-category contributor, he's bound to find his way onto more Yahoo Fantasy rosters.

Braeden Bowman, VGK (Yahoo: 18%): I almost added Bowman in the RotoWire Staff Keeper Hockey League at the beginning of last week, but ultimately decided a defenseman was a greater need. As it turns out, no one bid for him. So, of course, everyone was on him Monday, and I was one of many who missed out. Not a bad NHL debut so far for Bowman, as he's tallied at least one point in six of eight appearances (seven total) alongside 18 shots on a 17:09 average ice time — including 3:30 on the man-advantage where he's potted two PPGs.

Bowman's got a pretty sweet gig skating next to Jack Eichel, which continued into Wednesday when Mark Stone came back. The prime placement may not last long and that 22.2 shooting percentage will regress, though this scorching stretch is ultimately too enticing.

Beckett Sennecke, ANH (Yahoo: 14%): Most of you have probably seen Sennecke's stunned reaction after he was selected third overall at the 2024 Draft. Know what isn't shocking? The fact that he's been able to make an immediate impact on a lethal Anaheim frontline. The odd lull is to be expected for someone who won't turn 20 until January, yet Sennecke has pushed through and up the depth chart via four goals, eight assists, 24 shots, 11 hits and a plus-8 this month. While we're not going to extrapolate this output over the season, I think it's safe to say he's a keeper.

Jack Quinn, BUF (Yahoo: 2%): Too many zeros on Quinn's nightly log may scare away most fantasy participants, yet he's gotten back on track the last seven days by registering three goals, two helpers and 11 shots while averaging 18:29 of ice time. A place in the Sabres' top-six and first power play qualifies Quinn as a favorable short-term option who's probably worth more of a chance than a lot of other fantasy forwards.

Defensemen

Mattias Ekholm, EDM (Yahoo: 45%): The Oilers have been inconsistent all season while allowing 47 goals in their last 10 games (and still winning four since they scored 31). Despite being known as a defensive presence, Ekholm managed to average 35 points the previous four seasons while skating major minutes.

The two goals and eight assists so far may be slightly behind pace, but he's also generated 51 shots and 48 blocks. Ekholm gets plenty of combined work on the lead penalty kill, second power play and teaming up with Evan Bouchard at even-strength with the duo doing much better in recent matchups.

Simon Nemec, NJ (Yahoo: 31%): Nemec didn't see much time with the parent club last year after 60 appearances as a rookie. And the 2022 second overall selection didn't waste any time by producing seven assists from his first nine outings. The scoring hasn't been flowing otherwise for Nemec, yet he's proven clutch twice with OT GWGs — the earlier one coming as part of his first career hat-trick. He's primed to be a big part of New Jersey's future blueline alongside Luke Hughes while already doing enough right now to deserve more fantasy attention.

Olen Zellweger, ANH (Yahoo: 13%): It's been fun to watch Zellweger develop from his WHL days and two WJC gold medals to become a full-time NHLer. The many healthy scratches during last year are a distant memory and he's been regularly paired with Jacob Trouba during five-on-five while on the Ducks' backup man-advantage.

Zellweger has turned those opportunities into eight points — including two PPPs — 49 shots, a plus-10 and 27 blocks. Expect his offensive numbers to increase as he eventually takes on more ice time.

Nate Schmidt, UTA (Yahoo: 2%): Schmidt's season started with eight consecutive scoreless efforts, which isn't surprising considering low recent totals. He's gone on to register a goal, nine assists, 22 shots, a plus-9 and 19 hits within Utah's top-four, second power play and first PK. Schmidt is also just under 21 minutes overall, 1:37 of that while up a man (though hasn't yet notched any PPPs). Based on all those responsibilities, he's at least worth a flyer.

Goaltenders

Tristan Jarry, PIT (Yahoo: 34%): Jarry started the season by recording wins in five of his first six games and was then sidelined for most of November with a lower-body injury. He returned on Wednesday and picked up another victory while stopping 29 of 31 shots versus Buffalo.

Jarry had been alternating starts with Arturs Silovs before getting hurt, but the veteran may receive more action based on better stats and reports of him being targeted for a trade by the Oilers. And even if he doesn't get moved, his fantasy profile is already trending in the right direction.

Casey DeSmith, DAL (Yahoo: 19%): DeSmith has been superb over his last seven appearances, as he hasn't allowed more than three goals while posting a 5-0-2 record, 1.80 GAA and .933 save percentage. Jake Oettinger endured a couple poor performances, though he's looked solid of late and there are definitely no questions about him retaining the No. 1 role. At the same time, DeSmith should be in line to earn more work behind a top-10 defense.

Your fantasy hockey team can get hot at any time. And no matter its strength, there will be lulls. The key is to not dwell on either situation and focus on the long-term plan while preparing for upcoming events. But if you really want to grab hold of lightning in a bottle, perhaps one or more of the following selections will be of service.

(Rostered rates as of Nov. 21)

Forwards

Mats Zuccarello, MIN (Yahoo: 27%): Like Perfetti, Zuccarello has probably gone under the radar due to missing most of the campaign. And all he's done during the six outings since coming back is register a goal and five assists, averaging 18:48 — 4:30 of that up a man while collecting two PPAs.

It's ridiculous to think Zuccarello could be available in three of every four Yahoo leagues as he continues to participate with Kirill Kaprizov on the lead line and PP. Do your job in boosting his coverage.

Patrick Kane, DET (Yahoo: 39%): You know what you're getting with Kane in fantasy, as it mainly revolves around scoring and shooting. The newly minted 37-year-old hasn't changed his ways, with three goals, six assists and 34 shots in only 12 games. This includes six power-play points, with three of those coming over the last five. And it's not as if Kane is taking it easy at his advanced age, as he is logging 17-plus minutes a night. There may be injury concerns considering a recent two-week absence, but that much offensive involvement is too hard to ignore.

Cole Perfetti, WPG (Yahoo: 37%): Some poolies may have forgotten about Perfetti since he only made his season debut 12 days ago. Even though he missed 14 contests, he seamlessly slid right back onto Winnipeg's second line and top PP – where he potted a goal on Saturday. Perfetti is a talented forward in a favorable position on a strong attack who qualifies at all three positions on Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey. Sounds like someone you might want to add right away.

Logan Stankoven, CAR (Yahoo: 29%): The results (5G, 6A) may not be outstanding, but Stankoven is still finding his groove during his first full year with Carolina. And that's good to hear for a player who hasn't come anywhere near his junior/AHL output. Stankoven gets to center the second unit and backup man-advantage while generally being consistent at directing pucks on net (six last time out). If he can remain in the top six, there's a decent chance of him reaching 50 points and 200 shots.

Tyler Seguin, DAL (Yahoo: 24%): Joining forces with two of the league's hottest skaters is pretty much guaranteed to skyrocket your fantasy production. That's been happening for Seguin the last six games by way of three goals, three assists, seven shots and a plus-7 next to Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz.

The only drawback in this arrangement is that they only play together at even-strength, with the duo covering the top man-advantage while Seguin is on the second unit. Monitor his situation and see if he gets switched to another trio or possibly promoted to Dallas's main PP.

Claude Giroux, OTT (Yahoo: 17%): Giroux continues to defy the odds into his mid-30s as a reliable offensive contributor. The 50 points from last year marked his lowest full-season haul since 2009-10, yet he's back to reliving his glory days with four goals, 10 assists and 40 shots as a member of the Sens' third line and – most importantly – lead power play (four PPPs). Brady Tkachuk is bound to unseat someone on that group upon returning, and Giroux is the most likely casualty. Even if that occurs, he'll still hold enough value on a deep Ottawa attack.

Jonathan Drouin, NYI (Yahoo: 14%): We conclude our four-part series of trendy veterans with Drouin. He's been snake-bitten by injuries only to revive his career in Colorado … and get hurt again. The Isles swooped in and signed Drouin to a two-year deal, where he's repaid their generosity by reeling off 14 points – three of them PPPs – and a place alongside Mathew Barzal in all scoring situations. There's a chance he gets sidelined, but there's too much going for him right now to remain 86 percent available.

Isak Rosen, BUF (Yahoo: 1%): With a couple of prominent Sabres (Zach Benson, Jason Zucker) projected back in the lineup soon, Rosen may be more of an add-and-stash transaction. But you can't fault anyone for wanting to click on his name, as he's accumulated three goals and three assists across nine NHL appearances, right after five and seven from eight in the AHL. The 2021 first-rounder has been a fine addition to the Sabres' first power play (two PPPs), though that placement will probably be taken by one of the aforementioned returnees. There's no harm in grabbing Rosen now in case he stays in an elevated role.

Defensemen

Devon Toews, COL (Yahoo: 56%): We're reaching past the 50% threshold for a defender who combined for 201 points the last four seasons and started the current campaign with nine scoreless efforts. Toews has since turned it around by notching seven assists over 11 games to go with 11 shots and 18 blocks on a 23:11 average. No offense has materialized as of yet on the second power play, though he maintains a significant shorthanded role while carrying significant even-strength upside alongside Cale Makar.

Cam Fowler, STL (Yahoo: 38%): Fowler mainly struggled early on, yet has come on of late (five assists from eight) and has totaled five PPPs mainly as a member of the Blues' top unit. And like Toews, he's logging major minutes while in a solid five-on-five pairing next to Justin Faulk.

St. Louis may be anemic offensively (27th at 2.75 goals per game), but there's hope, as Fowler is part of a power play that's still strong, and a veteran core that's previously succeeded and should eventually improve.

Mason Lohrei, BOS (Yahoo: 6%): With Charlie McAvoy out indefinitely after undergoing facial surgery, others will need to pick up the offensive slack. Hampus Lindholm has already moved up to PP1 and delivered two assists there on Wednesday. Lohrei may get some time on that group after notching 16 PPPs last year as a fill-in for McAvoy during an extended absence, but for now, he's on the backup unit. He recently endured a stretch of five straight scratches, though he has since looked better by recording four points (two of those PPAs) across six contests.

Darren Raddysh, TB (Yahoo: 5%): Raddysh performed well the last two seasons, having produced 70 points to go with a stable spot on the man-advantage, yet he went scoreless through most of October and November. He moved up to the first power play after Victor Hedman (undisclosed) was sidelined and broke out Tuesday by supplying a pair of PPAs with another helper and four shots on Thursday. And even when the star Swede returns, Raddysh should at least retain fantasy value as a secondary scoring option.

Goaltenders

Jesper Wallstedt, MIN (Yahoo: 40%): Marc-Andre Fleury's retirement has allowed Wallstedt to earn a larger NHL role after he was mainly stuck in the minors since being drafted 20th overall in 2021. He's responded by posting a 2.20 GAA and .926 save percentage in seven games featuring back-to-back shutouts and a heroic performance on Wednesday that saw him stop 42 of 45 shots versus Carolina.

Filip Gustavsson isn't going anywhere after signing a five-year extension with decent recent stats (2.33/.909 over five outings), but there's at least room for Wallstedt to earn more action the rest of the way.

Arturs Silovs, PIT (Yahoo: 35%): While Sergei Murashov has impressed, he'll probably be sent down once Tristan Jarry is ready to return. And let's not forget about Silovs since the surprise summer trade that's seen him register a 2.44/.917 line through 10 appearances, with four of his six losses coming in OT/shootout. Jarry is set to come back in the next week or so, though Silovs should be Pittsburgh's No. 1 during an upcoming four-game stretch against bottom-half offensive sides (Columbus, Buffalo, Minnesota, Seattle) with the opportunity to pick up a few wins.

Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Victor Olofsson, Nick Schmaltz, Anze Kopitar, Kiefer Sherwood, Zach Benson, Jonathan Huberdeau, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, Brock Boeser, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Tyler Bertuzzi, Pavel Buchnevich, Marco Rossi, Alexis Lafreniere, Anton Lundell, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Marcus Johansson, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Teuvo Teravainen, Jake DeBrusk, Jordan Eberle, Jackson Blake, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Kyle Palmieri, Jimmy Snuggerud, Josh Doan, Arseny Gritsyuk, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Ben Kindel, Barrett Hayton, Ryan Leonard, Matthew Wood, Brock Faber, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, K'Andre Miller, Jake McCabe, Artyom Levshunov, Hampus Lindholm, Brent Burns, John Klingberg, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Cam York, Nick Blankenburg, Spencer Knight, Jakub Dobes, Yaroslav Askarov, Jake Allen, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Dan Vladar, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid

Every team has played at least 16 games, making it easier to evaluate them and what direction they seem to be headed. Injuries, slumps and other unknown factors will undoubtedly alter any projections, but short-team data still can be used to make fantasy hockey decisions.

And while you're contemplating your next moves, here are a few players who may be able to immediately boost your lineups.

(Rostered rates as of Nov. 14)

Forwards

Anze Kopitar, LA (Yahoo: 41%): Kopitar already has announced this will be his final season, so you know he'll want to go out on a high. Don't expect anything near his peak of 92 points, but something in the 60-70 range will work. And while the nine so far is behind pace compared to recent years, Kopitar is still prominently placed in all attacking situations with major minutes (not many other 38-year-olds are averaging 18:35) to be a regular scorer and fantasy contributor. Get him back over 50% since that's where he belongs.

Brock Boeser, VAN (Yahoo: 39%): Other than a 73-point breakout, Boeser usually ended up in the high-40s/low-50s — though a couple campaigns were affected by injury. There shouldn't be any worry about his power-play production considering he has 144 combined PPPs across eight previous seasons while he maintained a place on Vancouver's top unit. Despite Boeser being knocked down to the second 5-on-5 line, no one should have a problem with five goals, four assists and 22 shots from his last nine outings.

Pavel Buchnevich, STL (Yahoo: 27%): If I told you three years ago who the first three NHL waiver wire entries would be on Nov. 14, 2025, you probably would've called me crazy. I mean, there's no way three firmly established scorers could be below 50% rostered. And yet, here we are. At least with Buchnevich, a clear lack of output is the reason he's available in nearly three of every four Yahoo leagues. He only has two goals with 31 shots on goal, so that 6.3 shooting percentage should eventually increase based on his double-digit marks during every campaign (and nothing lower than 13.0 since 2019-20). Further hope for improvement comes from Buchnevich regularly skating alongside Robert Thomas.

Marcus Johansson, MIN (Yahoo: 23%): Johansson reaching 1,000 NHL regular-season games on Sunday was special, yet it probably hid the fact his scoring streak (5G, 6A) extended to nine that evening. While that run would end next time out, he could start another one teaming up with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy at even strength and sneaking onto one of Minnesota's man-advantages. Enjoy Johansson's upswing for however long it lasts, or add and trade him before the clock strikes midnight.

Kyle Palmieri, NYI (Yahoo: 21%): Palmieri usually finds his way into this column every year due to erratic offense. He's currently riding the wave with five goals, eight assists and a whopping 47 shots on 19:11 a night – including almost four minutes on the power play. And yet, Palmieri has room to grow as he's comfortably below his standard shooting percentages (10.6 vs. 13.1 to 14.2 the last three campaigns). Let's not project him for some unreachable total, and let's just believe there will be more consistency on the first trio/PP for him to become a regular fantasy provider.

Jackson Blake, CAR (Yahoo: 11%): It's good to see Blake excel in his sophomore season, as he was already trending up during the latter portion of 2024-25. He's already racked up 12 points and 43 shots operating in the top-six and averaging 2:22 with the extra man. The future's bright for Blake in Carolina after he signed a long-term extension in July, so grab him while his stock still has room to skyrocket.

Matthew Wood, NSH (Yahoo: 8%): Speaking of promising youngsters, Wood has quickly adapted to the pros after he was sidelined for a few weeks. The 15th pick from 2023 recorded a goal during two AHL contests before jumping up to Nashville and creating a sensation, most notably supplying a hat-trick on six shots Monday — two of those markers of the PPG variety. Monitor Wood's situation the next few matchups to see if he can keep receiving decent minutes.

Arseny Gritsyuk, NJ (Yahoo: 2%): Following a few successful years in the KHL and an eye-opening preseason, there was plenty of buzz about Gritsyuk for Calder consideration. While some of that talk has disappeared after he didn't score in five straight, things may be looking up, thanks to Gritsyuk joining Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer on the lead line Wednesday and logging 20:39. While that may be only temporary, and a steady PP role would be nice, Gritsyuk offers enough skill, shots and scoring potential to work well with others.

Defensemen

K'Andre Miller, CAR (Yahoo: 37%): After five solid seasons on Broadway, Miller cashed out with a sizable sign-and-trade contract that landed him in Carolina. He may have missed six games after suffering a lower-body injury, but he has more than exceeded expectations by notching eight points, 24 shots, 14 PIM, 12 blocks and nine hits on 23:11 per game with significant roles on both special-teams units. Miller is leading the Canes' blueline and should continue operating as a prominent cross-category producer even when Jaccob Slavin returns.

Artyom Levshunov, CHI (Yahoo: 20%): Sam Rinzel initially handled PP1 quarterbacking duties, though that spot was ultimately destined for Levshunov – who's delivered there via four PPAs over the last four contests. He's still only 20 with mediocre-at-best output for shots, hits and blocks, though that man-advantage placement alongside Connor Bedard combined with his pedigree should be enough to get him on more fantasy rosters.

Nick Blankenburg, NSH (Yahoo: 4%): Roman Josi (lower-body) hasn't been in action since Oct. 23 and won't be playing for the Preds during their weekend double-dip against Pittsburgh in Sweden. That's left a large hole on the blueline, including one on the main power play. Blankenburg has stepped into that opportunity and has registered six points (and 12 shots) across six appearances, two of those coming while up a man. It's still uncertain when Josi will be back, so you should try to max out on Blankenburg for as long as he's in a favorable position.

Hampus Lindholm, BOS (Yahoo: 3%): Lindholm was absent for most of October before returning a couple weeks ago and going right into a seven-game run that saw him tally a goal, four assists, 12 shots, eight PIM and seven blocks. He's receiving his usual elevated ice time while holding down a spot on PP2 and a lead place on the penalty kill. The Bruins may not be the most consistent scoring side, but Lindholm has been reliable in fantasy for most of his career and is least worth a flyer.

Goaltenders

Yaroslav Askarov, SJ (Yahoo: 37%): It's been a long road for Askarov from debuting in the KHL at 17 to becoming Nashville's 2020 first-round pick to requesting a trade before last season. The Sharks acquired him to be their future No. 1, where he went on to produce modest — yet encouraging — returns. Askarov struggled to start this campaign by posting a 4.69 GAA and .844 save percentage through six appearances, but he has been dominant with a 1.19/.965 line from the last five while going 4-1-0 (the lone loss coming Thursday where he only allowed one goal). He should maintain decent numbers behind an exciting offense and improved defense that will allow him to earn more wins.

Dan Vladar, PHI (Yahoo: 39%): Raise your hand if you thought Vladar would currently be a top-five goalie for GAA and SV%. While that wouldn't have seemed plausible, it's even more absurd that he'd already be able to pick up six victories for a Flyers team that wasn't expected to do much. Samuel Ersson has been decent the last couple weeks (2-0-1, 2.49), yet it's Vladar who's receiving the bulk of the starts. He may eventually regress as the season progresses, though he's currently Philly's lead and performing well.

Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Victor Olofsson, Nick Schmaltz, Kiefer Sherwood, Zach Benson, Jonathan Huberdeau, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Tyler Bertuzzi, Marco Rossi, Alexis Lafreniere, Anton Lundell, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Teuvo Teravainen, Jake DeBrusk, Jordan Eberle, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Jimmy Snuggerud, Josh Doan, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Ben Kindel, Barrett Hayton, Ryan Leonard, Brock Faber, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, Jake McCabe, Brent Burns, John Klingberg, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Cam York, Spencer Knight, Jakub Dobes, Alex Lyon, Jake Allen, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid

During a recent three-game homestand, the Ducks outscored their opponents 16-6 with seven goals against the two-time defending champs, only giving up one to a high-powered Devils offense and putting five past a Detroit side hovering around the top of the Atlantic Division. And then they casually dropped seven in Dallas on Thursday.

Basically, Anaheim is full of promising forwards ripe for fantasy hockey selection. And who knows? You may see one of them below … along with 13 candidates from other clubs.

(Rostered rates as of Nov. 7)

Forwards

Will Smith, SJ (Yahoo: 45%): Smith did relatively well as a rookie, with 45 points as he finished sixth in Calder voting while not primarily playing alongside fellow freshman Macklin Celebrini. The duo has combined much more this season, and Smith has reaped the rewards by recording five goals, eight assists and 28 shots on an 18:04 ice time average. The Sharks may still be suspect on the defensive end, but they're a top-10 offense and any of their available first-line/power-play performers should be added ASAP.

Chris Kreider, ANA (Yahoo: 37%): Last season marked Kreider's lowest full-season scoring output at 30 points and only seven PPPs after he reached double-digits the previous eight campaigns. Moving to Anaheim has rejuvenated the 34-year-old, as he's already chipped in with nine goals — five of those while up a man — to go with 27 shots on both top attacking units. The 33.3 shooting percentage will obviously regress, though Kreider is set for a bounce-back year as long as he remains in prime placement and stays healthy enough.

Evander Kane, VAN (Yahoo: 30%): Kane found his way back to his hometown and has recently made a mark after an inconsistent start, with all three of his goals coming in his last two appearances and a whopping 10 shots coming versus Chicago on Wednesday. He's currently within the Canucks' top-six and skates on their second power play while totaling 44 pucks on net, 31 hits and 28 PIM. Kane will be fine if he keeps firing shots and doesn't drop to the lower half of the depth chart.

Alexis Lafreniere, NYR (Yahoo: 18%): The Rangers sit last in the league with 2.21 goals per game. None of their regular scorers are above a 10.0 shooting percentage, and Lafreniere is the worst of those who've actually found the back of the net at 3.1. So why is he here? Because he's supplied five assists and has been unlucky in producing only one goal when advanced metrics say his expected tally should be at least three. That's not to say Lafreniere will instantly turn it around, yet it's a sign things are bound to improve.

Jack Roslovic, EDM (Yahoo: 15%): Getting to play on Edmonton's elite power play can do wonders for your fantasy résumé. Roslovic joined the team after the first week and didn't really get going until Oct. 26 by delivering his first goal and second assist. He recently joined the top man-advantage and is up to three straight contests with a PPP. That last part is likely to end once Zach Hyman comes back, but there's a chance Roslovic will be next to either Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl at 5-on-5 as he complements their skills. And if that doesn't end up working out, you might as well add him to see what he can do now. 

Tyler Bertuzzi, CHI (Yahoo: 15%): Bertuzzi doubled his goal count on Wednesday by registering a hat trick. He was relatively reliable the previous four seasons with a 45-point average and has so far accumulated 10 points alongside 27 shots and 15 hits. Bertuzzi is also part of the Blackhawks' lead power play, where he's posted three PPGs and a PPA. That's unbelievable production from someone available in almost one out of eight Yahoo leagues.

Ben Kindel, PIT (Yahoo: 6%): Injuries to Rickard Rakell and Justin Brazeau have allowed Kindel to jump up the roster to join Sidney Crosby on the first line and man-advantage. That's quite the accelerated advancement for a player who was drafted 11th overall less than five months ago. During the last two games, Kindel has recorded two goals, two assists, three PPPs and seven shots on a combined 43:11. And with the two aforementioned absences projected to continue into December, this is an opportunity you need to pounce on right away. 

Morgan Frost, CGY (Yahoo: 6%): Calgary players often get overlooked, as the team has been horrendous at scoring the last couple years, yet there's value lurking somewhere on that roster. And you don't have to dig deep to find Frost, as he's currently centering the second line while slotting in on the top PP. Frost has points from six of the last eight games, some shots, a few hits and blocks, a bunch of faceoff wins and some decent linemates at just under 16 minutes per matchup, so why not take a chance?

Defensemen

Rasmus Andersson, CGY (Yahoo: 45%): Andersson's fantasy stock took a hit the last two seasons, with him scoring a combined 70 points (compared to 99 the previous two) and with the offensive emergence of MacKenzie Weegar. Andersson is still logging nearly 24 minutes a night with regular special-teams roles and solid contributions in multiple areas. And over the last five games, he has produced three assists — one of those a PPA — 10 shots and nine blocks. He has a chance to maintain that scoring run, as the Flames potted five goals against Columbus on Wednesday and are set to face three bottom-five defenses (Wild, Sharks, Blues) over the next week.

Jake McCabe, TOR (Yahoo: 17%): Offense hasn't been McCabe's calling card throughout his career, as he's never exceeded 28 points in any season, making his current 6-in-6 streak a rare occurrence. That's not surprising considering the Leafs have scored 25 times during that span, though it's unlikely he can keep this going. As a top-four defender who leads the shorthanded unit and has posted two goals, six assists, 17 hits, 31 blocks and a plus-10, McCabe should be able to supply sufficient fantasy stats even without finding the scoresheet.

John Klingberg, SJ (Yahoo: 8%): Long gone are the days when Klingberg would be good for at least 40 points, as he's getting fewer opportunities and more health issues in his 30s. He missed six contests with a lower-body injury for his new club before returning last week. Klingberg has since regained his spot on the Sharks' lead PP and registered a goal there on Wednesday in addition to an even-strength assist. Based on all the talent within that group, he could pick up plenty of points.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, DET (Yahoo: 3%): Sandin-Pellikka has been a regular during his NHL debut and has notched three assists — two of those PPAs — from his last five outings. Due to lighter ice times, he probably makes for a better stash candidate as someone who'll eventually receive more work. The 2023 first-rounder should still be someone to monitor as he's offensively talented and projected as part of the Red Wings' future blueline.

Goaltenders

John Gibson, DET (Yahoo: 31%): Gibson was acquired by Detroit in the summer to bolster a goaltending setup that hasn't really had a true No. 1 recently. His injury history may be long, but there's hope, with him coming off a decent — albeit absence-filled — campaign. Gibson has already faced a couple bumps, though he has out-started Cam Talbot and looked impressive Tuesday during a 1-0 defeat at Vegas. With the Red Wings hosting nine of the next 11 games, both netminders can be recommended for short-term usage.

David Rittich, NYI (Yahoo: 6%): Ilya Sorokin won't be ceding the Isles' top job anytime soon even with an underwhelming 3.33 GAA and .879 save percentage, yet Rittich may have done enough to deserve more opportunities. He's only made four appearances with his new club, though three of those were wins with only two goals allowed in each. Rittich has also proven at various stops that he can be a decent fill-in when necessary. The team has a back-to-back Friday/Saturday where it's been announced he'll cover the opener at home against Minnesota before presumably getting additional work on the seven-game road trip.

Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Victor Olofsson, Nick Schmaltz, Kiefer Sherwood, Zach Benson, Jonathan Huberdeau, Dawson Mercer, Andrei Kuzmenko, Troy Terry, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Marco Rossi, Anton Lundell, Conor Garland, Mackie Samoskevich, Teuvo Teravainen, Jake DeBrusk, Jordan Eberle, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Jimmy Snuggerud, Josh Doan, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Barrett Hayton, Ryan Leonard, Brock Faber, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Sam Rinzel, Brent Burns, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Cam York, Spencer Knight, Jakub Dobes, Alex Lyon, Jake Allen, Cam Talbot, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid

Overreactions are easy to make early in the fantasy hockey season. Some of your usual scorers aren't scoring. A couple of your players are already on injured reserve. You've lost your first weekly head-to-head and are projected to go 0-2.

But you can't drop proven performers after only a few games. Be patient. Give them time.

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If you're still thinking about your (hopefully) temporary woes, here are a few readily available NHLers who can help right away.

Forwards

Elias Lindholm, BOS (Yahoo: 49%): Following two disappointing seasons, Lindholm is set to get back on track as Boston's undisputed No. 1 center at both even-strength and on the power play. He's rarely been injured throughout his career and will regularly get to skate with David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie, so somewhere in the 50-60 point range looks to be a solid baseline. Lindholm may often face the opposition's best defenders due to the Bruins' thin depth chart up front, but you can't go wrong with sufficient scoring, a bunch of hits and a lot of faceoff wins.

Nick Schmaltz, UTA (Yahoo: 33%): When you think of consistency, think of Schmaltz. After all, he's managed to score 58, 59, 61 and 63 points his last four seasons. Schmaltz also leads the top line during all scoring situations while providing plenty of shots on goal and averaging between 18-19 minutes per game. He's also set up three of Utah's eight goals on an attack that should improve with the recent addition of JJ Peterka.

William Eklund, SJ (Yahoo: 31%): It's way too early to get excited, but the Sharks have potted 10 goals in the first three games (let's ignore the 16 they've conceded). And, surprisingly, only two have come from the four forwards on the first man-advantage. Eklund can claim one of those (Tyler Toffoli's the other) alongside an assist, six shots and an average of 18:29 ice time per game — including almost four PP minutes. Based on recent production and current placement, it's entirely possible he exceeds his 58 points from last season. 

Teuvo Teravainen, CHI (Yahoo: 28%): Frank Nazar was discussed last week, and he's already up to six points. One of his linemates boasts the same number, and it's not Todd Bertuzzi. Teravainen has also notched two PPPs after 24 upon his 2024-25 return to Chicago. He won't give you much else in terms of counting stats, though the offense should suffice. The Blackhawks' second line deserves more love (Nazar's coverage has more than doubled since being mentioned), so be sure to click on Teravainen's name and reap the benefits.

Jimmy Snuggerud, STL (Yahoo: 21%): Snuggerud carried over his NCAA success into a solid stint with the Blues to close out last season. And he seems to have continued that momentum via a two-goal, six-shot effort Monday at Vancouver. Snuggerud has also fit seamlessly in on St. Louis' lead power play, where he's tallied two points. As his minutes and responsibilities increase, so should his fantasy profile.

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Matthew Coronato, CGY (Yahoo: 19%): After finishing 29th in offense, the Flames keep struggling to find the back of the net with only nine goals. But Coronato can't be blamed for this dry spell, as he's fired home two markers in addition to 10 shots. The former first-rounder is usually centered by Nazem Kadri, with the duo finding significant success while up a man (39 combined PPPs last year). Watch for Coronato to eclipse the 50-point plateau.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, TB (Yahoo: 10%): It's not often you'll find a bottom-half, 5-on-5 forward here. At the same time, being on an elite man-advantage counts for a lot in fantasy. Bjorkstrand is coming off four consecutive double-digit PPP hauls across Columbus, Seattle and Tampa Bay. He's teamed up with former Kraken teammate Yanni Gourde but gets most of his good looks on the No. 1 power play and struck for a PPG during the opener. Bjorkstrand's place on that quintet seems tenuous with Brandon Hagel currently on the other group, but he's there heading into Friday's contest at Detroit.

Zach Benson, BUF (Yahoo: 7%): If you weren't watching hockey on Wednesday, you may have not heard about Benson's season debut. After not being available for the opening three matchups, the 13th pick from 2023 dished out four assists — including one on each special teams unit — on a line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. While that performance came against an Ottawa side that's already surrendered 22 goals, Benson was already projected to skate on the top trio before getting hurt. With the Sabres facing a few tougher defenses the next couple weeks, monitor his progress before adding him.

Defensemen

Brent Burns, COL (Yahoo: 32%): Burns isn't logging as much ice time compared to his prime years, yet the 40-year-old hasn't lost his offensive instincts. And like with his time in Carolina, he's not being asked to lead the blueline with the Avs. At just over a 20-minute average, Burns has produced three assists, 13 shots and eight blocks while joining Devon Toews on the second power play, where he's supplied a PPA. As long as he stays in the top-four and man-advantage, he should deliver around 30 points and 200 shots on goal. 

Justin Faulk, STL (Yahoo: 23%): Faulk is another long-time defender whose scoring stats have declined while still providing enough to be fantasy-worthy. He may only have one assist so far, though no one is going to complain about the seven shots, nine hits and 10 blocks on 23:31 per game. And that lone helper came Saturday on a solid Blues' second PP. Faulk is generally consistent, which should be enough to get him on more rosters.

Dmitry Orlov, SJ (Yahoo: 14%): It's been a quick turnaround of teams for Orlov the last few seasons, yet he's fit in well at every stop. And things are similar in San Jose, as he's part of a veteran group that balances their promising youngsters. What's different is a power-play spot that could increase if Orlov was to move up to the Sharks' top PP with John Klingberg hurt, but he'll still be in a favorable position based on output (three assists, five shots, seven hits) and significant minutes (22:19 average).

Sean Walker, CAR (Yahoo: 1%): It's hard to understand how Walker remains available in 99% of Yahoo leagues. Maybe it's because he's never topped 29 points in any season or registered his only offensive contribution so far with a goal on Tuesday. Some fantasy formats use smaller rosters and/or less teams, but anyone who's averaged 2:22 while up a man playing on the lead pair during both even-strength and shorthanded should be up for more consideration. And Walker could accumulate more stats, as projected regular partner Jaccob Slavin is slated to return soon.

Goaltenders

Cam Talbot, DET (Yahoo: 35%): Talbot may have been the Red Wings' predominant starter during 2024-25, but John Gibson was clearly brought in over the summer to be the No. 1. The latter struggled during his Detroit debut and was pulled in less than two periods after allowing five goals. Talbot has since started the last three games and won each contest while only giving up a combined six goals on 84 shots. Even with Gibson set to face Tampa Bay on Friday, expect Talbot to operate as the lead netminder until he falters or is forced out of the lineup.

Alex Lyon, BUF (Yahoo: 7%): Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been sidelined the last month due to a lower-body injury, leaving Lyon as Buffalo's top goalie and Colten Ellis (no NHL appearances since being drafted in 2019) the backup. And despite Lyon letting in nine goals over the last three outings, he made 94 saves while picking up his first win of the year versus the Sens on Wednesday. UPL will probably be eased into the rotation upon returning, which means Lyon should continue to carry a substantial short-term workload.

Players to consider from past columns: Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Andrei Kuzmenko, Will Cuylle, Zachary Bolduc, Marco Rossi, Jake DeBrusk, Matias Maccelli, Brandt Clarke, Travis Sanheim, Philip Broberg, Simon Edvinsson, Spencer Knight, Charlie Lindgren