EDGE Stats Targets: Fantasy Hockey Projections for 2025-26

Advanced EDGE data is a huge advantage when you’re trying to separate real breakout value from empty boxscore noise. For 2025-26, a few names jump out as potential league-winners or sneaky category boosters, especially around usage, linemates and award-caliber upside. Let’s break down what those trends mean for your roster decisions right now.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline is that Cale Makar continues to sit in his own tier among defensemen. EDGE metrics show him driving offense in multiple areas while anchoring the top power play for Colorado, which keeps his floor and ceiling as high as any skater in fantasy. In points-heavy formats, he’s one of the few blueliners who can realistically carry you in scoring while still helping in peripherals.

Up front, Ryan Hartman has climbed back onto the top line for the Minnesota Wild, riding shotgun with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. That role historically turns competent finishers into strong fantasy pieces, and EDGE usage data backing his even-strength and power-play deployment suggests this isn’t just a one-game promotion. As long as he sticks there, his scoring and shot volume should follow.

Tomas Hertl is another name to circle. In Vegas, he’s in a favorable offensive environment with strong supporting talent and matchups that can be exploited for scoring bursts. He may not be a set-and-forget star in all formats, but EDGE trends point to stretches where he’s a strong streaming option, especially when the Golden Knights have compact, offense-friendly schedules.

On the awards front, Nathan MacKinnon emerges as a prime Hart Trophy candidate, and Logan Thompson shows up as a Vezina dark horse. For fantasy, that matters less for the hardware and more for what it says about their underlying performance: MacKinnon’s elite production stabilizes the value of teammates like Cale Makar, while Thompson’s rise hints at a potentially secure, high-impact starting role if he maintains that level.

Finally, rookie blueliner Matthew Schaefer is popping in EDGE stats by leading first-year defensemen in goals and pushing into the Calder conversation. That kind of early impact from the back end is rare, and it puts him firmly on the radar for managers in deeper and dynasty formats.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only leagues, you’re chasing pure scoring and power-play exposure, and that’s where Cale Makar is a priority trade target. His role on Colorado’s first unit and his ability to drive offense in multiple situations make him one of the safest high-end assets. If you can use the NHL Trade Analyzer to construct a 2-for-1 that upgrades you to Makar without gutting your forward depth, it’s worth exploring.

Ryan Hartman becomes far more interesting in points-only once he’s stapled to Kaprizov and Zuccarello. Even if he isn’t a natural play-driver, simply being the finisher and complementary piece on that line should translate into goals, assists and plus-minus help. Think of him as a mid-tier scorer with the upside to run hot when that line is rolling.

Tomas Hertl fits best as a matchup-based scorer. When Vegas hits a stretch of weaker defensive opponents or heavy home games, Hertl’s combination of top-six usage and power-play involvement makes him a strong short-term add. Don’t be afraid to cycle him in and out; he’s the type of player who can give you a meaningful bump over a two-week window.

Matthew Schaefer is more of a long-view play in points-only, but his early goal-scoring from the blue line is notable. If he’s already contributing on the power play, he can be a sneaky depth scorer in larger formats and a stash in leagues that reward defensemen heavily.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, Ryan Hartman is the big winner. Top-line deployment on the Minnesota Wild means more opportunities for goals, shots and potentially even some power-play points, while his natural edge in hits and PIM keeps his floor high even when he’s not scoring. He’s the kind of player who can quietly check four or five boxes in a single night.

Cale Makar remains elite in categories as well, not just for points but also for shots, power-play production and decent plus-minus. While he won’t anchor your hits or blocks, his dominance in the scoring categories from a defense slot lets you chase more physical specialists elsewhere.

Tomas Hertl can be a useful streamer when you need a mix of goals, shots and faceoff wins (in formats that count them). He may not be a permanent hold in shallow leagues, but when the Golden Knights’ schedule lines up, he’s a strong plug-and-play who won’t hurt you in most categories.

Logan Thompson’s emergence as a Vezina candidate type in EDGE projections is especially important in goalie-heavy formats. If he’s trending toward a true starter’s workload with strong ratios and wins, that’s the profile that can stabilize your goalie categories. Monitor his usage closely; if he’s clearly the 1A, he’s worth aggressively targeting via trade.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-term formats, Cale Makar is a foundational piece. Elite offensive defensemen with secure roles on a powerhouse top unit are extremely difficult to replace, and his age and trajectory suggest multiple prime seasons still ahead. Overpaying slightly to acquire him in a keeper league can be justified because he solves the position for years.

Matthew Schaefer is the prototypical dynasty watchlist name. Leading rookie defensemen in goals and pushing into the Calder conversation indicates both talent and trust from his coaching staff. If he’s already seeing meaningful minutes, especially on the power play, he’s a strong candidate to stash before his value spikes.

Ryan Hartman is more of a medium-term piece. His value is heavily tied to his spot next to Kaprizov and Zuccarello; if that role sticks, he can be a useful keeper in deeper leagues. If he slides down the lineup, he’s more of a streaming option than a core asset.

Logan Thompson’s potential rise to Vezina-level performance makes him a high-upside dynasty goalie. Starting goalies on strong teams are scarce, and if EDGE data is right about his trajectory, getting in early could lock down your crease for several seasons.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Ryan Hartman – Add in standard and deep categories leagues; top-line role with Kaprizov and Zuccarello gives him multi-cat upside.
Cale Makar – Trade target in all points-heavy formats; elite PP1 usage and category dominance from the blue line.
Tomas Hertl – Short-term stream in points-only; strong environment and matchups make him a great schedule-based scorer.
Matthew Schaefer – Watchlist or stash in dynasty; leading rookie defensemen in goals with Calder buzz hints at long-term upside.
Nathan MacKinnon – Trade target in competitive leagues; Hart Trophy-level production stabilizes your scoring floor and ceiling.
Logan Thompson – Add or buy low in goalie-heavy formats; Vezina-type EDGE profile suggests potential workhorse value.

Fantasy Takeaways

Push hard for Cale Makar in trades; his combination of elite scoring and PP1 time from defense is nearly impossible to replicate.
Ride Ryan Hartman while he’s attached to Kaprizov and Zuccarello on the Minnesota Wild top line, especially in multi-cat leagues.
Use Tomas Hertl as a schedule-driven streamer when Vegas has favorable matchups and heavy offensive weeks.
Stash Matthew Schaefer in dynasty formats; early goal-scoring and Calder chatter from the blue line are strong long-term signals.
Monitor Logan Thompson’s workload closely; if he locks in as a true starter, his projected Vezina-level upside makes him a priority goalie asset.

Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.