EDGE Stats Targets: Batherson, Tarasenko and More Fantasy Hockey Values
Advanced tracking and EDGE metrics are making it easier to spot fantasy hockey value before box scores catch up. For 2025-26, several forwards stand out for their high-danger chances, power-play usage and sneaky matchup edges. Let’s break down what the underlying numbers say about Drake Batherson, Vladimir Tarasenko, Josh Doan and Oliver Bjorkstrand, and how you should react in different fantasy formats.
What’s New & Why It Matters
EDGE stats highlight a few key trends that traditional counting numbers can miss. Batherson is driving a ton of offense for the Ottawa Senators, especially in dangerous areas and with strong offensive zone time. That combination, plus a top-six role and first power-play usage, screams sustainable production rather than a fluke heater.
Tarasenko’s profile with the Minnesota Wild is more matchup-driven. His history of producing against the Columbus Blue Jackets, combined with top-six and PP1 deployment, makes him a classic schedule-based streamer rather than a must-hold in all leagues.
In Buffalo, Josh Doan is emerging as a potential top-line, PP1 winger whose power-play contributions and high-danger shot volume hint at a breakout trajectory. He’s not yet a universal add, but the ingredients are there for a rapid rise if the deployment sticks.
Bjorkstrand’s situation with the Tampa Bay Lightning is a textbook regression case. He’s firing plenty of pucks and living on the top power play, but a low shooting percentage has capped his surface stats. Managers willing to bet on the volume and role rather than recent box scores could be rewarded as percentages normalize.
Layered on top of these micro trends, the EDGE-based projections for league awards reinforce that elite talents like Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and Cale Makar remain the gold standard. They frame the ceiling of what true superstars look like, while players like Batherson, Tarasenko, Doan and Bjorkstrand offer value plays a tier or two below.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In pure scoring leagues, Batherson is the clear priority. His combination of high-danger goals, heavy offensive zone usage and PP1 time on Ottawa’s top six gives him a strong floor with legitimate upside. If he’s somehow on waivers, he’s an automatic add; if he’s on your roster bubble, treat him as a hold with room to grow.
Doan is the more speculative but exciting points-only piece. A top-line, PP1 role in Buffalo paired with strong power-play production and dangerous shot locations is exactly the profile that can turn into a 60+ point breakout if things click. In standard-sized leagues, he’s a watchlist or bench stash; in deeper formats, he’s worth a proactive add before the breakout becomes obvious.
Bjorkstrand’s value in points-only hinges on whether you believe in regression. The EDGE data suggests his shot volume and power-play presence should eventually translate into more goals and assists than he’s currently posting. That makes him a smart buy-low or waiver add if your league mates are impatient.
Tarasenko, meanwhile, is more of a streaming weapon. His history of producing against Columbus and continued top-six, PP1 deployment in Minnesota make him a strong short-term points play when the schedule lines up, but he’s not as compelling as a rest-of-season hold in shallow formats.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-cat leagues, the calculus shifts slightly. Batherson remains highly valuable thanks to his scoring base and power-play usage; any extra shots, PPP and secondary stats are gravy on top of his offensive profile. He’s the kind of player who can help you win goals, assists and power-play points while not hurting you elsewhere.
Bjorkstrand gains extra appeal in categories formats because of his shot volume. Even when the puck isn’t going in, he can help in SOG and PPP simply by virtue of being heavily involved on Tampa Bay’s man advantage. If your league rewards volume, he’s a strong stream with a path to becoming a hold once the shooting percentage rebounds.
Tarasenko’s value spikes when you can time his hot matchups. Short bursts of goals, shots and power-play production against favorable opponents like Columbus can swing weekly matchups. Think of him as a targeted missile: deploy when the schedule and opponent align, then churn the roster spot when they don’t.
Doan is more format-dependent. If your league counts shots and power-play points, his profile becomes much more interesting. The high-danger shot metrics suggest his goals could come in bunches, and early PP1 production in Buffalo can give him sneaky category juice. In leagues that heavily weight hits and blocks, he’s less of a priority unless he adds more physicality to his game.
Dynasty / Keeper
Dynasty managers should zero in on Doan. A top-line, PP1 role at his stage of development, combined with promising power-play and high-danger shot indicators, is exactly what you want to stash. Even if the production is inconsistent in the short term, the underlying role and EDGE stats suggest he has the tools to grow into a long-term top-six scorer.
Batherson is more of a known quantity, but that doesn’t mean he’s fully priced in. His offensive zone time and high-danger scoring profile indicate he can sustain strong production through his prime years. In keepers, he’s a solid building block who can anchor your wing for several seasons without costing elite-tier assets.
Bjorkstrand is a classic buy-low in dynasty if managers in your league are overly focused on recent shooting luck. His shot volume and power-play deployment in Tampa Bay should keep him fantasy-relevant for years, even if he never becomes a true star. He’s a good target for contending teams that need depth scoring.
Tarasenko, by contrast, is more of a short-term piece in dynasty. His matchup-driven value and age profile make him better suited to win-now teams looking for streaming upside rather than rebuilding squads seeking long-term cornerstones.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Drake Batherson – Add (standard and deep): Top-six, PP1 role in Ottawa with strong high-danger and offensive zone metrics makes him a must-roster scorer.
- Josh Doan – Watchlist / Add (deep & dynasty): Emerging top-line, PP1 winger in Buffalo with promising power-play production and dangerous shot volume.
- Oliver Bjorkstrand – Short-term stream / Buy-low: Heavy shot volume and PP1 usage in Tampa Bay suggest positive regression is coming as his shooting percentage normalizes.
- Vladimir Tarasenko – Short-term stream: Top-six, PP1 deployment in Minnesota plus a strong track record versus Columbus make him a matchup-based weapon.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Prioritize Batherson as a rest-of-season add or hold; his EDGE profile supports sustainable top-six, PP1 production.
- Use Tarasenko as a schedule-driven streamer, especially in weeks with favorable matchups like Columbus.
- Stash or closely monitor Doan in dynasty and deeper leagues; his role and power-play metrics hint at a breakout.
- Target Bjorkstrand where available as a volume shooter on Tampa Bay’s PP1 with strong regression upside.
- Leverage tools like EDGE stats and the NHL Trade Analyzer to spot buy-low opportunities before your league catches up.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.