Fantasy Hockey Projections and Insights for 2025-26
The 2025-26 NHL season is well underway, and with it comes a fresh wave of advanced analytics, player projections, and award races that can make or break your fantasy hockey campaign. Leveraging NHL EDGE stats and award predictions, we break down the latest trends and highlight the skaters and teams poised to deliver the biggest fantasy impact in the weeks ahead.
What’s New & Why It Matters
Several key players are surging thanks to expanded roles, favorable matchups, and eye-popping underlying numbers. Nikolaj Ehlers has been on a tear, buoyed by a spike in shot attempts and offensive zone usage. Filip Forsberg is primed for a productive stretch, especially with a soft matchup against Pittsburgh. On the blue line, Erik Karlsson is showing renewed assist potential, while Carolina Hurricanes skaters are set to exploit a porous Vancouver defense in upcoming games. Nathan MacKinnon’s MVP-caliber form has also put him at the center of both the Hart and Richard Trophy discussions, a boon for dynasty league managers.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In points-only formats, Ehlers is a must-roster forward. His recent surge in scoring and elevated shot volume are supported by consistent top-six deployment and power-play time. Forsberg, facing a leaky Penguins squad, is a strong play for managers looking to capitalize on immediate matchup-based upside. Carolina’s favorable schedule against Vancouver, a team surrendering high shot and goal totals, provides a streaming edge for their top-six forwards and power-play specialists.
Categories / Bangers
For category leagues, Seth Jarvis stands out thanks to his blend of shot generation, offensive zone starts, and physical play. Ehlers’ high shot totals and Forsberg’s expected uptick in goals and assists make them valuable multi-category contributors. Don’t overlook Carolina’s depth forwards and defensemen for streaming hits and blocks, especially in weeks with a compressed schedule.
Dynasty / Keeper
Nathan MacKinnon remains a premier dynasty asset, with his elite production, top-line deployment, and award candidacy enhancing his long-term outlook. Ehlers, still in his prime, is a worthwhile hold or trade target for managers building for both the present and future. Forsberg’s contract stability and offensive consistency also make him a reliable keeper option. For those stashing defensemen, Karlsson’s resurgence in assist generation could extend his fantasy relevance for another season or two, especially if Pittsburgh’s power play continues to click.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Nikolaj Ehlers (Add/Watch, Points-Only): Riding a scoring streak, high shot volume, and stable top-six role.
- Filip Forsberg (Add, Categories): Poised for a breakout with a favorable matchup against Pittsburgh.
- Seth Jarvis (Stream, Bangers): Offers a strong mix of shots, offensive zone time, and physical play for category leagues.
- Erik Karlsson (Watch, Points/Assists): Showing renewed assist upside, especially in games vs. Nashville.
- Carolina Hurricanes skaters (Stream, Schedule Play): Multiple players can be streamed vs. Vancouver’s weak defense.
- Nathan MacKinnon (Trade Target, Dynasty): Elite long-term value, MVP and Rocket Richard frontrunner.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Ehlers’ offensive surge is no fluke—his underlying metrics and usage support a continued run of production, especially in points-only leagues.
- Forsberg is a high-upside play for both short-term streams and longer-term adds, with a strong matchup and sustained shooting volume.
- Jarvis is an ideal streamer for managers needing shots and hits, while Karlsson’s assist potential is quietly rebounding.
- MacKinnon’s award-level play makes him a foundational dynasty piece; consider aggressive trade offers if you’re rebuilding or consolidating talent.
- Take advantage of Carolina’s schedule—stream their forwards and defensemen against Vancouver for a boost in goals and shots.
- Monitor power-play usage and deployment closely; PP1 time remains a key driver of breakout potential, as detailed in our power play value guide.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.