The big trade of the past week was Quinn Hughes heading to Minnesota with Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and a first-round pick in 2026 going to Vancouver. It certainly overshadowed Tristan Jarry going to Edmonton with Stuart Skinner (and other pieces) headed to Pittsburgh. The deals result in lots of winners and losers on the respective teams, which should be considered when looking to make a fantasy hockey deal this week.

Best of luck with your trades this week.

TRADE FOR

Dustin Wolf, G, Flames (87% rostered)

Wolf had a tough go of it Tuesday in a loss to the Sharks, but he had won four straight games while giving up six goals on 106 shots, regaining his hold on the top job in Calgary, as Devin Cooley had been threatening his spot. Wolf is 10-13-2 with a pair of shutouts this season, and, save for Tuesday's debacle against San Jose, he has played well of late.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Wolf for Beckett Sennecke. (Sennecke is a highly regarded rookie, but offensive players are a dime a dozen, and if you are able to get a starting NHL goaltender like Wolf, make the deal.)

Zeev Buium, D, Canucks (56% rostered)

Buium gets a big boost in his value after the trade to Vancouver. The just-turned-20-year-old has outstanding offensive skills, and had a goal and an assist in his first game as a Canuck on Sunday. Buium will play for a team that likely won't make the playoffs, and Vancouver will let him play a lot and allow him to make his rookie mistakes without regard to the score.

Buium has four goals and 16 points in 32 games, including 10 points with the man advantage, and should get between 40 and 45 points this season.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Buium and a seventh-round pick for Brent Burns and a third-round pick. (Buium will get huge minutes on the power play while the 40-year-old Burns has averaged 46 seconds of power play time this season and averaged only nine seconds of pp time in his last seven games. Heading into action Tuesday. The only way this trade makes a little bit of sense is if you play the plus/minus category.)

Matt Boldy, RW, Wild (100% rostered)

Boldy has found the back of the net four times in his last six games, plus he has five assists, giving him 19 goals and 38 points across 34 NHL games this season. Boldy has improved his point total in each of his four seasons in the NHL and is looking to smash his 73-point effort in 2024-25, as he is on pace for 92 points this season. He will be helped by the acquisition of Quinn Hughes on the power play.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Boldy, Kyle Connor and Brady Tkachuk for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (This has to be a give-up deal in a dynasty league with Boldy, Connor and Tkachuk on the final years of their contracts and Nugent-Hopkins on a fresh and inexpensive contract. If not, the fantasy manager getting Nugent-Hopkins should look for another hobby.)

TRADE AWAY

Noah Dobson, D, Canadiens (96% rostered)

Dobson has a goal and an assist (both in the same game against the Blues on Dec. 7) in his last 11 games. The offensive thrust that the Canadiens had hoped for has been seen only on occasional nights, as Dobson has four goals and 18 points in 33 contests. He has really stumbled on the power play, as he is averaging a mere 1:30 of ice time, compared to 3:00 last season with the Islanders and 2:59 the year before. Dobson has only two helpers with the man advantage, so perhaps now is the time to deal the 25-year-old in fantasy pools.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Dobson and a second-round pick for Spencer Knight and a seventh-round pick. (Dobson does have some value based on his second-to-last season on Long Island, and Knight has been a star goaltender since he was dealt from Florida to Chicago, ahead of the 2025 trade deadline.)

Auston Matthews, C, Maple Leafs (100% rostered)

Matthews had a strong game Tuesday with the game-tying goal and one assist, but the season has not gone well for the three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner. Matthews really seems to be missing Mitch Marner, who left for Vegas as a UFA during the offseason. He has been better of late with five goals and nine points in his last nine games, but poolies are expecting more than 50 goals and 100 points in a season from Matthews, not 14 goals and 23 points in 27 appearances.

He is a tough player to lose faith in, but perhaps it's time to cut bait. Don't forget that he is headed to the 2026 Olympics, which won't help his cause upon his return to the Maple Leafs lineup.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Matthews for Connor Hellebuyck. (There are so many fantasy managers trading Matthews at this time, and it ranges from Brayden Point to Dylan Larkin to Jack Hughes to Moritz Seider and finally, Hellebuyck. There are so many multiplayer deals as well, as getting rid of Matthews seems like the thing to do ahead of Christmas.)

Gabriel Vilardi, RW, Jets (80% rostered)

Vilardi has been great since Oct. 23, when he had four assists in his first seven games. The talented winger, who benefits from playing alongside Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, has 16 goals and 26 points in 25 games, giving the Jets one of the top lines in the NHL. His previous best was 61 points set last season, and while he will smash that mark if he remains healthy, poolies should be able to get plenty for the first-line winger.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Vilardi for Brayden Point. (Vilardi is having a career year. However, Point has been a star the last three seasons before this one, averaging 89 points per year. He was off to a slow start this season, but he has two goals and five assists in his last four appearances.)

Mark LoMoglio via Getty Images

Don't be afraid to deal a young player, as so many fantasy hockey managers fall in love with a youngster who seems to have come out of nowhere. Most fantasy managers don't give their drafted team a chance to play through a slump, and there usually are plenty of players available who you would have drafted high but are off to slow starts. It's a couple of months into the NHL season, and players like Brayden Point and Cutter Gauthier are at opposite ends, meaning Point is off to a slow start, but is an established star, while Gauthier is off to a great start for the first time in his career.

Best of luck with your trades this week.

TRADE FOR

Brayden Point, C, Lightning (93% rostered)

Point returned to action Monday after missing seven games. While he was held off the scoresheet Monday, Point had a goal and an assist Tuesday in a 6-1 win over Montreal. Point is off to a slow start this season with four goals and 13 points in 23 games. He had 95, 90 and 82 points in each of the last three seasons. While he likely won't hit those heights, Point should get to 70-plus points this season, making him a star the rest of the way.  

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Point and an eighth-round pick for Kevin Lankinen and a sixth-round selection. (If you can make this trade, do it ASAP. Point is a star, while Lankinen is a backup goaltender once Thatcher Demko [lower body] returns to action Thursday.)

Victor Hedman, D, Lightning (97% rostered)

Hedman got hurt again Tuesday and that could hurt his value. The 34-year-old rearguard had 12 assists in 18 games this season but, once he gets healthy, he should quarterback the first power play, where he has had at least 22 points in eight out of the last nine seasons.  

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Hedman and Frank Nazar for Nico Hischier. (Hedman is still a star blueliner and Nazar is a nice forward to have on your team. Hischier is a nice player, but will lose some value once Jack Hughes returns to the New Jersey lineup.)

Tim Stutzle, C, Senators (98% rostered)

Stutzle had a goal and an assist Tuesday, giving the German 12 goals and 26 points in 29 games. He is breaking out of a slump that saw him pick up one assist in his previous five contests.

Stutzle needs to skate with better players than Fabian Zetterlund and Nick Cousins. Stutzle picked up both his points Tuesday on the power play and could get another boost in points if Brady Tkachuk ever returns to his wing in even-strength situations, rather than just on the power play.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Stutzle and a 15th-round pick for Filip Forsberg and a 13th-round pick. (I'm not a huge fan of Forsberg, especially since Nashville is such a poor playing team, and Stutzle is a superior player in my opinion.)

TRADE AWAY

Cutter Gauthier, RW, Ducks (94% rostered)

Gauthier is having a fabulous season with 16 goals and 18 assists in just 30 games. He managed 20 goals and 24 helpers in a full 82-game schedule and has taken a huge step forward this season. I wouldn't trade him in dynasty leagues unless you get an offer you can't refuse, but I would deal him in redraft pools as I don't think he can keep up anywhere close to this pace the rest of the season.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Gauthier for Nikita Kucherov. (The only way this trade makes a semblance of sense is in a keeper league and Kucherov is on a dead contract. Otherwise, a good, young player like Gauthier is no match for a superstar like Kucherov, who has led the NHL in points in each of the last two seasons.)

Dan Vladar, G, Flyers, 48% rostered)

Vladar is having a stellar season to date, posting an 11-5-1 mark with a 2.50 GAA and a .908 save percentage, but he has never been a starting goaltender in the NHL and has had a save percentage above .900 only once in five previous NHL seasons. He will likely hit a wall at some point this season, especially since he is probably headed to the Olympics with Czechia and won't get a two-plus week break from regular-season play.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Vladar for Jesper Wallstedt and Bryan Rust. (While Vladar is having a strong start to the season, Wallstedt has been even better — albeit as a backup goalie with Minnesota. Rust is a strong forward who plays with Sidney Crosby, which spells success for any player, especially one as good as Rust.)

Darren Raddysh, D, Lightning (53% rostered)

Raddysh had a pair of goals Tuesday, giving the defenseman five goals and 20 points in 24 games. That is phenomenal, but with Victor Hedman returning — Raddysh had no points in the first two games of Hedman's return and only scored the pair of goals once Hedman left Tuesday's tilt with an undisclosed injury — Raddysh's value will plummet. That's why you should deal him now, at the height of his fantasy value.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Raddysh and a fifth-round pick for Jake Sanderson and an eighth-round pick. (Raddysh will eventually be just another defenseman this season, while Sanderson is one of the best young blueliners in the NHL.)

The calendar has moved to December and the NHL schedule has passed the quarter pole. You should be well aware of your fantasy hockey trade needs by now. Don't be afraid to deal a hot player, or pick up someone who is cold as chances are, he will revert back to form.

Best of luck with your trades this week.

TRADE FOR

Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Avalanche (65% rostered)

Nichushkin returned to action Tuesday after missing eight games with a lower-body injury. The talented winger had five goals and seven assists in 17 games before his injury, including one goal and two assists on the power play. He started Tuesday as a third-line winger but he really is a top-six forward and should return to that spot in the near future.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Nichushkin and a seventh-round pick for Brad Marchand and a 12th-round selection. (This is a pretty even trade, but if Nichushkin stays healthy the remainder of the season, he will outperform Marchand.)

Timo Meier, RW, Devils (90% rostered)

Meier has been red-hot of late, as he is on a six-game scoring streak in which he has five goals and eight points. Meier has had a couple of mediocre seasons with the Devils, picking up 53 and 52 points in each of his last two seasons. He is a capable scorer, tallying 35 goals and adding 41 assists in 77 games with the Sharks, back in the 2021-22 campaign. He is showing signs of being able to come close to hitting that mark once again this season, as he has 10 goals and 22 points in 26 games. Meier has five goals and nine points on the power-play this season.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Meier and a 10th-round pick for Jamie Benn and a fourth-round selection. (Meier is a better player right now than Benn and the margin will increase once Jack Hughes returns to the New Jersey lineup.)

DEEP LEAGUES: Brandt Clarke, D, Kings (22% rostered)

Clarke can be had in most leagues via waivers, but if he is not available in your pool, this is a good time to trade for him. Clarke has taken over as the Kings' top blueliner, even before the lower-body injury to Drew Doughty. Clarke was selected eighth overall in 2021 and is currently quarterbacking the top power play. He has three goals and nine assists in 26 games, including a goal and two assists in his last four appearances. At the age of 22, Clarke has plenty of upside.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Clarke, Gabriel Vilardi and Adam Fantilli for Alex Ovechkin, Vince Dunn and Anthony Cirelli. (This is a pretty even trade. I like Ovechkin and Dunn, while Vilardi is on the top line in Winnipeg, and Fantilli is a future star.)

TRADE AWAY

Jesper Wallstedt, G, Wild (69% rostered)

Wallstedt has been absolutely outstanding this season. He is 8-0-2 with a league-leading 1.74 GAA and .944 save percentage. So why trade him? Well, Wallstedt is sharing the net with Filip Gustavsson at this time, and no matter how well Wallstedt is playing (and he has been sensational), he is going to see only limited action compared to top goalies like Igor Shesterkin and Andrei Vasilevskiy. You should be able to score huge in a trade involving Wallstedt at this time.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Wallstedt for Roman Josi. (I saw another trade, straight up for Yaroslav Askarov, and I like both deals. Wallstedt has played well to date, but is still playing only 35-40% of the games. Josi is a star, and Askarov is a better goaltender, in my estimation, and plays more.)

Mitch Marner, RW, Golden Knights (99% rostered)

Marner has played well in his first season with Vegas, but not like he has in the past. Marner has five goals and 25 points in 26 games, the first time in eight years that he has not averaged well over a point a game. Marner had 611 points in 498 games in his last seven seasons in Toronto, averaging 1.23 points per game. His .96 points per game are very good this season, but it's still more than a quarter-point less than poolies have become accustomed to. 

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Marner, Erik Karlsson and J.T. Miller for Jake Guentzel, Troy Terry and Jake Sanderson. (A good trade for both teams, though I really like Guentzel and Sanderson more than Marner and any of the other two players. Terry has been solid this season as well.)

Jason Robertson, RW, Stars (100% rostered)

Robertson has been on fire of late with 13 goals and nine assists in 11 games, heading into action Tuesday. He was held off the scoresheet against the Rangers, but still has 16 goals and 35 points in 27 games. He had one great season, scoring 46 goals and adding 63 assists in 82 games during the 2022-23 campaign, and, while hitting 80 points in each of the last two seasons is great, the time to trade Robertson is now, at the height of his value. He has five goals and 15 points on the power play to date.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Robertson, Frederik Andersen and Seth Jarvis for Jacob Markstrom, William Nylander and Mikko Rantanen. (You're picking up an awful lot for Robertson, and I'm not sure he is even one of the best two in this trade, as Rantanen and Nylander have had better careers.)

The NHL is closing in on completing 25% of the season, as five teams have already played 21 games. You should have a good idea as to your fantasy hockey needs in the trade market, be it a goalie, defenseman or forward, or perhaps multiple players.

Here are some players for whom you could deal and trade elsewhere.

TRADE FOR

Roman Josi, D, Predators (92% rostered)

A top-notch defenseman is hard to find in fantasy hockey, especially in a trade. Josi has been out of action with an upper-body injury since Oct. 23 and is expected back in the lineup shortly. It's better to grab someone of Josi's quality a week early, when fantasy managers are still unaware.

Josi had a reasonable season in 2024-25, tallying nine goals and 29 assists in 53 games, including 17 points on the power play. He had 240 points in 229 games over the three previous seasons, and though he has only one goal and four assists in eight games this season, look for Josi to average close to, or better than, a point a game the rest of the way.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Josi for Brayden Point. (This is a pretty even trade, but I find that defensemen are more valuable than forwards, as there are plenty of good forwards.)

Ivan Demidov, RW, Canadiens (64% rostered)

There have been high hopes heaped upon Demidov since he was selected fifth overall in 2024. He has four goals and 14 points in 19 games this season, but has been slumping of late with only two helpers in his last six games. If you can find someone willing to deal the budding Russian star, make the deal, as Demidov has 80- to 90-point potential, possibly as soon as this season.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Demidov and Joey Daccord for Jakob Chychrun. (I wouldn't trade Demidov straight up for Chychrun; to also get Daccord makes this deal a steal in my opinion.)

Yaroslav Askarov, G, Sharks (54% rostered)

Askarov got off to a horrible start this season, allowing 28 goals on 180 shots (.844 save percentage), going 1-4-1. There were some concerns that the 23-year-old would be sent to AHL San Jose, but Askarov suddenly turned things around and has given up only eight goals on 197 shots in his last six games, going 5-1-0.

He is the Sharks' top goalie and will be a major reason why they finally make the playoffs, be it this season or next. He was outstanding again Tuesday, stopping 24 of 26 Utah shots in a 3-2 overtime win. He is 6-5-1 with a 2.99 GAA and .907 save percentage. 

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Askarov for Jakub Dobes (There is a huge difference between Askarov and Dobes. Askarov has been outstanding of late and will be the Sharks' No. 1 goaltender by Christmas, if he is not so already. Dobes has played well, but is the backup in Montreal.)

TRADE AWAY

Brad Marchand, LW, Panthers (90% rostered)

Marchand is off to a tremendous start with 13 goals and 10 assists in just 18 games. But Marchand has not averaged a point per game since the 2021-22 campaign when, at the age of 33, he had 32 goals and 48 assists in 70 games with the Bruins. He is now 37 and he shouldn't be expected to carry the load for the Panthers.

He will lose some time, possibly on the first power play, when Matthew Tkachuk returns to action next month. Marchand is a pesky player, just not a point-per-game talent anymore.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Marchand and Artturi Lehkonen plus a fifth- and 15th-round pick for Ian Cole and Brayden Point, plus a ninth- and 12th-round pick. (Try to get as much as you can for the 37-year-old winger. Point is great value for Marchand and Lehkonen.)

Bo Horvat, C, Islanders (91% rostered)

Horvat saw his eight-game point streak (six goals and six assists) come to an end Sunday in Colorado. He has been on fire with 13 goals and 11 assists in 20 games this season but he has never scored at this pace in his NHL career. His best season was in 2022-23 when he tallied 38 goals and 70 points in 79 games, split between the Islanders and Vancouver.

Horvat is seeing a career high 4:09 of power-play time this season, which likely will lessen as the season goes on. Horvat is a nice player who is off to a hot start, and it is doubtful he will be able to maintain it.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: (Horvat and Jared McCann for Matthew Tkachuk. (This trade is going to pay huge dividends in a month when Tkachuk returns. Horvat is a good scorer, but players like McCann can still be found on the waiver wire. Tkachuk is a star.)

Tom Wilson, RW, Capitals (91% rostered)

Wilson leads the Capitals in goals with nine and points with 18. Who would have predicted that? He is seeing a career high 19:28 of ice time, as well as a career high in power-play time at 3:10. Wilson's best season was last year, when he managed 33 goals and 32 assists, both being the best in his career. The 31-year-old could manage another career best, but he is scoring at a 19.6% clip and that will be hard to maintain.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Wilson for Tage Thompson. (Wilson is valuable in multicategories, but Thompson is a better scorer.)

There are quite a number of young players near the top of the NHL scoring race. Macklin Celebrini is only 19 and tied for second in NHL scoring, along with 20-year-old Leo Carlsson. Connor Bedard, who is also 20, has 25 points and trails Celebrini and Carlson by only one point. It's a good time to play fantasy hockey.

Here are some players whom you could deal for and trade elsewhere.

TRADE FOR

Jordan Kyrou, C, Blues (71% rostered)

Kyrou was a healthy scratch on November 6 in Buffalo, as St. Louis head coach Jim Montgomery wanted to send a message to the team. Kyrou subsequently picked up a goal on four shots on net Saturday and while he was held without a point Tuesday, he has five goals and four assists in 16 appearances. Kyrou has had 70 or more points in three of his last four seasons and had 67 in the only year he failed to reach the 70-point mark. You won't have to give up a lot at this time to get Kyrou.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market:Kyrou for Jonathan Huberdeau. (Huberdeau is not the offensive player that Kyrou is. Kyrou has slumped most of this season, while Huberdeau has been in a funk for the last three-plus seasons.)

Jake Oettinger, G, Stars (100% rostered)

Oettinger has won two straight games after slumping from Oct. 18 to Nov. 6 when he was 2-3-2. The 26-year-old netminder is 7-3-2 with a 2.89 GAA and an .896 save percentage. While his peripherals certainly don't stand out, Oettinger has won at least 30 games in each of his last four seasons and is well on his way to doing so again. Oettinger has never had a save percentage under .905 over a full season (with a high of .919) and is a strong buy candidate at this time.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market:Oettinger and Ryan McDonagh for Cam Talbot and Anton Forsberg. (There is a huge difference between Oettinger and Talbot and Forsberg; Oettinger is going to the 2026 Olympics while the other two will be on vacation.)

TRADE AWAY

Leo Carlsson, C, Ducks (86% rostered)

This is no slight on Carlsson, who is off to an amazing start with 11 goals and 15 assists in only 16 games. This is only for a redraft league, as I would not trade Carlsson in a dynasty league. Carlsson is going to be great, if he is not so already, but you can get quite a lot for the 20-year-old, who is currently tied for second in NHL scoring behind only Nathan MacKinnon. Carlsson's career high in points is 45, set last season in 76 regular-season games.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market:Carlsson for David Pastrnak, Dylan Strome and Quinn Hughes. (This is one crazy trade. You could take out Strome and Hughes — or even Pastrnak and Strome — and this is a great trade for Carlsson. All three are outright robbery.)

John Tavares, C, Maple Leafs (95% rostered)

Tavares is off to a great start with nine goals and 21 points in 17 games. The 35-year-old had averaged close to a point per game as a Maple Leaf before last season (354 points in 360 regular-season games), but dropped to only 65 points in 80 games last season. His numbers could be skewed, as he has played 12 of his 17 games at home, posting 17 points at home, while only scoring once with three assists in five road contests. Get what you can for Tavares as his value is expected to drop for the remainder of the season.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market:Tavares for Josh Morrissey. (A good trade for both teams, especially if one team is short on good defensemen.)

Miro Heiskanen, D, Stars (96% rostered)

Heiskanen has been red-hot of late with one goal and 10 assists in his last five appearances, giving the blueliner three goals and 16 points in 17 games. He had only 25 points in 50 injury-riddled games last season, and while he had 73 points in 2022-23 and 54 points the following year, he has never picked up more than 36 points in his other six seasons. Heiskanen is capable of another big season, but if you find his trade value is too good to pass up, deal him quickly.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market:Heiskanen for Sam Reinhart and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. (I like this trade as I think Reinhart will explode in the second half of the season, especially once Matthew Tkachuk returns to action with the Panthers.)

As the NHL enters its second month of action this week, there should be plenty of trade talk in your fantasy hockey pools. Here are some players whom you could deal for and trade elsewhere.

TRADE FOR

Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Hurricanes (47% rostered)

Svechnikov got off to a terrible start with no points in his first eight games. He has two goals and an assist in his last four games, as he has moved back to the top line. Svechnikov has yet to pick up a point in eight road games, but he does have two goals and three points in four home contests. Svechnikov has had some very good seasons since entering the league at the tender age of 18. He should be a 55- to 70-point player this season, barring any injuries.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Svechnikov for Mathew Barzal. (Barzal for Svechnikov is a pretty even deal at this stage of their NHL careers.)

Aaron Ekblad, D, Panthers (73% rostered)

Ekblad has a goal and two assists in 13 games this season. He managed 33 points in 56 contests last season and is now averaging 3:17 on the power play. Ekblad is a solid defenseman and should get 35 to 40 points this season, as long as he doesn't suffer a long-term injury or get suspended. The Panthers will be better once they get back Matthew Tkachuk, hopefully in six weeks.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Ekblad for Neal Pionk. (Pionk is an ordinary fantasy defenseman for the Jets. He has only two assists in 13 games this season and has hit the 40-plus mark only once in his nine-year NHL career.)

Sam Montembeault, G, Canadiens (65% rostered)

Montembeault is off to a horrible start with a 3.67 GAA and an awful .839 save percentage heading into action Wednesday. He gave up three goals on the first six shots (though two of the three were scored on a five-versus-three power play for the Flyers) and then was terrific, stopping 35 of 36 shots in a shootout loss. He is still at a 3.67 GAA and improved his save percentage to .855. Montembeault is 3-4-1, and it appears that he has turned the corner and should be a good deal from here on in.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Montembeault, Mathew Barzal, Quinn Hughes and Jet Greaves for Frederik Andersen Alex Lyon, Miro Heiskanen and Trevor Zegras. (I like this trade, as Montembeault and Greaves should give solid goaltending, while Hughes is a top-two defenseman in fantasy.)

TRADE AWAY

Dylan Larkin, C, Red Wings (97% rostered)

Larkin has always been a solid center for the Red Wings. Starting his career as a 19-year-old after being selected 15th overall in 2014, he has had three seasons with 70-plus points and a couple of 69-point seasons, but he has never been as good as this season, scoring eight times while adding 10 assists in only 13 games. That's a 114-point pace if he remains healthy all season. It is highly unlikely he will come close to this pace, and while he could set a career high, it's best to deal him from a position of strength.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Larkin for Auston Matthews. (That's an awful lot to get for Larkin. Matthews has won the Rocket Richard Trophy on three occasions, and though he is off to a slow start — for him — Matthews is still a top-10 talent in the NHL.)

Dawson Mercer, RW, Devils (64% rostered)

Mercer came into the NHL as a 19-year-old and had two good seasons. He has slumped the last two campaigns with only 33 and 36 points, respectively, while playing 82 regular-season games in each campaign. Now, at the age of 24, Mercer is off to a great start with eight goals and six helpers in 13 games, including three power-play goals and two shorthanded. He still sees third-line minutes in five-on-five situations, making it difficult to project Mercer continuing at this scoring pace.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Mercer and Sean Monahan for Jake Guentzel. (Guentzel is a star, and giving up Mercer and Monahan doesn't seem like a lot at this time.)

Matthew Knies, LW, Maple Leafs (94% rostered)

Knies is playing well enough that he should get plenty of consideration for Team USA at the upcoming Olympic Games. He plays alongside Auston Matthews in Toronto, which should help him Olympics-wise, as Matthews will play in the Olympics and the two have plenty of camaraderie. The reason Knies is a good trade candidate is that if he does make the Olympic team, he likely will slump after the event, and if he doesn't make it, chances are that he won't be playing well leading up to the tournament.

Knies is off to an excellent start with four goals and 12 assists in 13 games. After this week, the Maple Leafs will have played 12 of their 16 games at home, which does not bode well for the rest of the season, as he has only two assists in four road games thus far.

Example of a completed deal from the Yahoo Trade Market: Knies and Trevor Zegras for Nazem Kadri, Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley. (I really like the Utah pair of Guenther and Cooley, and think they will easily outscore Knies and Zegras — never mind that Kadri is also part of the deal.)

Brian Babineau via Getty Images

It's nearing the end of summer, and you need your hockey fix. The Stanley Cup Playoffs ended in June, and while the NHL Draft took place in late June and free agency after that in July, there hasn't been a lot of news in the hockey world. Everyone is back in school or at work, and the hockey season is just around the corner. Training camps will start in the third week of September, and fantasy hockey drafts have already been taking place.

Understanding Fantasy Hockey Draft Strategies

There is no better day in the year than draft day. It's an adult version of Christmas. It's tough falling asleep the night before, and you look forward to the day for weeks. Each player you pick is like a present; some turn out to be a 10-speed bike you ride with joy for a decade, while others are like the ugly sweater you get from your aunt. 

There are two basic ways to draft in fantasy hockey. There is the snake/serpentine draft where participants select players in order by round. The even rounds are the reverse order of the odd, meaning that if you pick first overall, you select last in Round 2 and then first again in Round 3. That order continues back and forth as the draft "snakes" down the board.

[Join or create a fantasy hockey league for the 2025-26 NHL season]

There is also the salary cap-style draft. In this method, each team gets an amount of money (let's say $260) and must purchase all their player's services in one-dollar increments until they fill out their roster. You cannot spend more than the limit, so at a certain stage in the draft, you need to have at least the same amount of dollars remaining as players required. Therefore, if you need eight players to fill out the rest of your roster, you must still have at least eight dollars remaining. This is a fun way to play since it's possible to get any player(s) you desire, as all you have to do is outbid everyone for their services.

Essential Fantasy Hockey Categories

A big decision to make will be what categories your pool will use. If this is your first time playing fantasy hockey, don't use too many categories, as it will become complicated, first trying to draft and then actually playing.

Understanding Roto and Head-to-Head Fantasy Formats

The first way is a roto-style pool in which you play different categories and get points according to where you are ranked in each category.

One league that I'm in, we play nine categories which include: Forward goals, defensemen goals, assists, power-play goals, plus/minus, shots on goal and penalty minutes for the skaters and wins and goals-against-average for goaltenders. We use 13 forwards, six defensemen and three goaltenders on our active roster and an eight-man bench. There are 12 teams and we are ranked accordingly in each category, with the team leading the category getting 12 points, the team in second place getting 11 and on and on down to the last-place team getting a solitary point. All the points in every category are added up, and the overall standings are posted. It doesn't matter if you lead a category by one or 100, you still get 12 points.

Another way to play fantasy hockey is head-to-head. This is the method used regularly in Yahoo leagues. Every week you play a different team. You are allocated points for goals, assists, etc., and the team that accumulates the most points each week is the winner. Teams with the best records at the end of the season go to the playoffs, and there is an eventual winner.

Tips for Successful Fantasy Hockey Draft Day

Okay, you've decided how you're going to play. Now, it's draft day. You're sitting in front of the computer playing in a Yahoo league, looking over your research while mulling over who to draft, or you're sitting in a room with the rest of your league, waiting for the first pick.

In regular drafts where each person makes a pick, I like to take one goalie and two defensemen early if possible because of the lack of depth in those positions. Goaltenders tend to go really early in drafts, much like running backs in football pools, and you're really scrambling if you wait. Of course, if everyone has the same idea, a lot of excellent forwards are available much later than they should be.

The center position is usually very deep, and you can always get good players late in the draft by waiting to take that position. Fill out your other slots earlier, and you will have a good team.

Be aware of what the fantasy managers around you need and have already taken. If you're drafting in the second or second-to-last position, the person next to you will get two picks in a row. If they have already filled out their goaltending slots and you need a goaltender, you can pick another position first and still get the goaltender without a worry on the way back. If you do it the other way around, they may take the player that you wanted.

When you are in an in-person draft, look for other participants' tendencies. While this won't necessarily be apparent for first-timers in a league, after a couple of years, you realize who likes to spend money, who will hang around and look for bargains late, etc. Also, keep in mind who is in the bidding for your players, as it will be easier to make a trade with them later in the season. You know that they already like the player.

Mastering Daily Fantasy Hockey Contests

Daily fantasy contests are one-day leagues that give fantasy players a quick fix, as the contest is over by the end of the night. Daily contests are all the rage now, and when playing, I tend to take all three members of a line against a weak opponent. Look for good bargains, especially on the blueline, and make sure your goaltender is playing that night. Most contests have a 7 p.m. E.T. close, so you are taking a chance with players (and especially goaltenders with West Coast start times. Check out Yahoo's daily fantasy games, it's a great way to play.

Optimizing Your Fantasy Hockey Lineup Throughout the Season

The draft is now over, and the season has started. Keep an eye on the schedule at all times, as you can gain a huge advantage over your opponents. The New York Rangers (the week of Dec. 15-21), Carolina (Dec. 29-Jan. 4), Edmonton (Jan. 12-18) and Pittsburgh (March 30-April 5) all play five games in their respective weeks, with the Penguins perhaps the most valuable as they play five games during the fantasy hockey playoffs. There will be plenty of columns to read on Yahoo and RotoWire weekly to help you plan your week and help out with waiver-wire pickups.

The most important thing is to have fun. So, enjoy!

Jonathan Kozub via Getty Images

Here are the season-ending fantasy hockey awards. It is so easy to argue whether some choices could go elsewhere, but that's the beauty of these awards. All stats are through the end of the season.

Fantasy Hockey MVP: Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets

This was a very tight race as Nathan MacKinnon, Nikita Kucherov and Leon Draisaitl all deserved consideration. There are not many times a goaltender is considered the top fantasy choice, but Hellebuyck's season was so superior, it could not be overlooked. He led the NHL in wins with 47, goals-against-average (2.00), shutouts with eight and tied for the league lead in games played with 63. He finished second to Anthony Stolarz in save percentage, only .001 behind Stolarz's .926. Had I selected a forward, it is likely I would have picked Leon Draisaitl, who led the NHL in goals with 51.

Hellebuyck was the best goaltender from start to finish. Andrei Vasilevskiy and Jake Oettinger put together high-end seasons, but nothing like what we saw from Hellebuyck, who should easily take home the Vezina Trophy this season.

Sleeper of the Year: Pierre-Luc Dubois, Washington Capitals

Dubois had a horrible 2023-24 campaign, scoring 16 times and adding 24 assists in 82 regular-season games with Los Angeles. He was dealt in the offseason to Washington, where he had a career high 65 points, as well as 76 PIM and 13 points on the power play. Teammate Logan Thompson led most of the season for this award, but he slumped late (the fantasy playoffs for many), finishing 0-2-1, allowing 13 goals on 59 shots before suffering an upper-body injury April 2 and missing the final seven games of the season.

Fantasy Hockey Bust of the Year: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews didn't have a bad season, just not one you would expect from a top five pick in fantasy pools. Matthews was spectacular last season with 69 goals and 38 assists in 81 games. This season he was held back by an upper-body injury that cost him 15 games. He had only 33 goals in 67 games, a huge drop from last season. He was red-hot through portions of the season, but that did not make up for his draft position.

Another bust was Roman Josi, who had nine goals and 38 points in 53 games before missing the final 25 contests with an upper-body injury. He had 85 points last season and was likely a second or third-round selection in most drafts.

MVD: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Makar beat out Zach Werenski of the Blue Jackets for the top spot. Makar had his second straight 90-point season, picking up 30 goals for the first time in his career, while managing 62 assists. Makar was a force on the power play with 35 points and fired 246 shots on net, also a career high. He beat out Werenski, who was spectacular this season, tallying 23 goals and 59 assists, both career bests. Makar is the top defenseman in the NHL, while Werenski is a top-three blueliner, along with Quinn Hughes.

Rookie(s) of the Year: Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens/Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

Another tough category, as Hutson and Wolf were the two best rookies, with Macklin Celebrini and Matvei Michkov close behind. Hutson was fabulous throughout the season, tallying six goals and adding an NHL-record tying 60 assists for a rookie defenseman (along with Larry Murphy of the Kings back in 1980-81). Hutson had one five-game scoreless drought in the season, but that followed a nine-game scoring streak in which he had 13 points.

Wolf was outstanding as he gave the low-scoring Flames (29th in the NHL, averaging 2.69 goals per game) every opportunity to make the playoffs as they fell just short, tying St. Louis for the second wild-card spot but losing out on regulation wins. Wolf was 29-16-8 with three shutouts, a 2.64 GAA and a .910 save percentage in 53 games.

Waiver Wire Pickup of the Year: Aliaksei Protas, Washington Capitals

Anyone who took Protas in their regular draft (even the deepest ones) must have had a crystal ball, as Protas managed only six goals and 23 assists over 78 games with the Capitals in 2023-24. He was outstanding in 2024-25, scoring 30 times while adding 36 assists, despite picking up only one point on the power play. He was a plus-40, third-best in the NHL, and at the age of 24, he has a bright future with Washington.

As mentioned earlier, teammate Pierre-Luc Dubois also deserves a shoutout as he went from a 40-point player (and lost in Los Angeles) to 66 points with the Capitals.

Dynasty Stash for 2024-25: Yaroslav Askarov, San Jose Sharks

There are not too many goaltenders who are good year after year, as Connor Hellebuyck, Andrei Vasilevskiy and Igor Shesterkin usually seem to be the top three. Askarov is the Sharks' goaltender of the future. He was drafted 11th overall in 2020 by Nashville and dealt to San Jose last offseason. He spent most of the season with AHL San Jose, going 11-9-1 with a 2.45 GAA and a .923 save percentage. At the NHL level, Askarov was 4-6-2 with a 3.10 GAA and a .896 save percentage, but he tantalized many with his outstanding play under tough circumstances with the lowly Sharks. San Jose is an up-and-coming team, and Askarov is expected to play a major role in 2025-26.

My Best Fantasy Pick: Dustin Wolf, Calgary Flames

I selected Wolf in the 12th round, and he was instrumental in getting me to the semifinals. As mentioned above, Wolf had an outstanding rookie campaign and should be a top 10 pick among goaltenders next season.

My Worst Fantasy Pick: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers

I picked Nugent-Hopkins in the sixth round, figuring he could return to close to the 104-point effort in 2022-23, rather than his 67-point performance last season. I was wrong. Nugent-Hopkins took a further dip in the points race with only 20 goals and 49 points in 78 games. At the age of 33 next season, Nugent-Hopkins may no longer be fantasy-worthy in shallow pools.