Fantasy Hockey Power-Play Tiers: Evan Bouchard, James van Riemsdyk and 2025-26 Edges
Power-play deployment and matchup edges are driving a lot of early fantasy value for 2025-26. Rather than chasing boxscore noise, smart managers are targeting players whose roles and opponents set them up for repeatable success. Two names that jump out right now: Evan Bouchard running the man advantage for the Edmonton Oilers, and James van Riemsdyk thriving on the top unit for the Detroit Red Wings. Let’s break down what’s changed, how to tier these situations, and what it means for your roster decisions across formats.
What’s New & Why It Matters
The biggest shift highlighted here is role-based, not talent-based. Bouchard is locked into the Oilers’ top power-play unit, which is exactly where fantasy managers want him. Against a weak St. Louis penalty kill, his shot and puck-distribution skills translate directly into high-end points-only and categories upside. When an offensive defenseman with strong underlying numbers gets PP1 time on an elite offense, that’s the kind of profile that can swing weekly matchups.
In Detroit, van Riemsdyk has climbed into a premium deployment spot: top line and top power-play. That combination of even-strength and man-advantage minutes with the Red Wings’ best forwards gives him a clear runway to outperform his typical perception. Any time a net-front specialist with finishing touch moves onto PP1, especially against a beatable opponent like Ottawa, you get a short-term spike that can turn into a longer run if the chemistry sticks.
The article also flags the broader landscape: future award contenders and team-level projections. That context matters because it reinforces just how safe true superstars like Connor McDavid are as trade targets, and how emerging prospects such as Macklin Celebrini could evolve into long-term fantasy cornerstones in dynasty formats, even if they’re not yet delivering full redraft value.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In points-only leagues, deployment is king. Bouchard sits in the premium tier of power-play quarterbacks: heavy offensive usage, elite teammates, and a favorable matchup against a poor St. Louis penalty kill. In this format, you’re less worried about peripherals and more about whether he’s on the ice when goals are scored. Given his role on PP1 for Edmonton, he should be treated as a high-end defense option whenever the Oilers face undisciplined or structurally weak penalty-killing teams.
Van Riemsdyk belongs in a strong streaming tier for points-only. Being stapled to Detroit’s top forwards at both even strength and on the first power-play unit raises his floor and ceiling. He’s not the type of winger you build a roster around, but when he’s riding shotgun with the Red Wings’ best and facing a soft matchup like Ottawa, he becomes a plug-and-play scoring piece. In shallow points-only leagues, he’s a priority add while this deployment holds.
At the very top of the points-only pyramid sits McDavid. The analysis of his award candidacy underscores what fantasy managers already know: he’s a foundational asset. If there’s any window to acquire him via trade—perhaps from a frustrated manager overthinking early variance—you should explore it aggressively, using tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to keep your offers realistic but assertive.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-category formats, Bouchard’s value extends beyond raw points. His role on Edmonton’s top unit boosts power-play points, while his shot volume and overall usage help in shots and time-on-ice related categories. He may not be a classic banger in hits and blocks, but the combination of offense and deployment still lands him in a strong tier among offensive defensemen, especially when you can target him for specific weeks with favorable special-teams matchups.
Van Riemsdyk offers a different profile. His net-front style can generate power-play goals, shots from the slot, and the occasional boost in secondary categories like hits from board battles. In categories leagues, he fits in a middle tier of streamable forwards: not a must-start every night, but an excellent plug-in when Detroit has a good schedule or faces weaker defensive teams. His current top-line and PP1 usage means you’re getting access to prime scoring situations without paying a star price.
For managers in deeper categories leagues, understanding how to value PP1 time is crucial. A forward or defenseman who jumps from PP2 to PP1 often sees a meaningful bump in power-play points, shots, and even plus-minus if they’re now sharing the ice with the team’s best players. That’s exactly why both Bouchard and van Riemsdyk are highlighted: they’re clear examples of how role changes can instantly change a player’s tier in your roster hierarchy.
Dynasty / Keeper
Dynasty managers should read these trends with a longer lens. Bouchard, still in his prime years, looks like a long-term fixture on Edmonton’s top unit. That stability is gold in keeper formats: you’re not just banking on this week’s matchup against St. Louis, but on multiple seasons of high-end offensive deployment on one of the league’s most dangerous power plays.
Van Riemsdyk, by contrast, is more of a short-to-medium term piece in dynasty. His current role in Detroit makes him a valuable contributor, but his long-term ceiling is capped relative to younger, ascending talents. In keepers, he’s the type of player you ride while the deployment is strong, then remain willing to move if a rebuilding team is chasing current production.
Macklin Celebrini is the clear dynasty swing. Being mentioned as a future Art Ross candidate for San Jose signals elite upside. Even if his immediate environment isn’t ideal, that kind of talent projection puts him in a high-upside prospect tier: worth stashing in deeper dynasty leagues, and worth monitoring closely in shallower formats for signs of an early breakout. The key is patience; you’re investing in the long-term scoring ceiling more than short-term consistency.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Evan Bouchard – Stream / Strong Start: Lock him into your lineup whenever Edmonton faces weak penalty kills like St. Louis, as his PP1 role can tilt matchups.
- James van Riemsdyk – Add in standard leagues: Top-line and PP1 deployment in Detroit makes him a high-priority pickup while he’s riding with the Red Wings’ best forwards.
- Connor McDavid – Trade target in all formats: Still an elite multi-award candidate and fantasy cornerstone; explore trades if there’s any discount in your league.
- Macklin Celebrini – Dynasty watchlist/stash: Emerging as a potential Art Ross-level talent for San Jose, making him a prime long-term hold in keeper formats.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Prioritize Evan Bouchard as a high-end start when the Oilers face weak penalty kills, leveraging his PP1 role for both points-only and categories value.
- Add James van Riemsdyk where available; his promotion to Detroit’s top line and power-play unit gives him meaningful short-term scoring upside.
- In dynasty leagues, stash or closely monitor Macklin Celebrini as a potential future scoring champion with long-term fantasy star potential.
- Connor McDavid remains a premier trade target across all formats, with award-level real-world value translating directly into fantasy dominance.
- Use power-play deployment and matchup quality as core inputs when setting lineups, not just recent boxscore results.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.