Fantasy Hockey Projections: EDGE Standouts and Award-Level Upside for 2025-26
Advanced stats and award races are already shaping the 2025-26 fantasy landscape. With stars pushing for major hardware and emerging names stepping into bigger roles, managers need to react quickly. Using projection-style insights similar to EDGE data, we’ll break down what Jason Robertson, Arseny Gritsyuk, Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini and the top award hopefuls mean for your roster decisions right now.
What’s New & Why It Matters
The biggest shift is usage. Jason Robertson is driving play with a heavy diet of high-danger chances and prime power-play touches, which supports a top-tier scoring projection even if his finishing cools at times. That underlying shot quality keeps his fantasy floor high in any scoring format.
In New Jersey, Arseny Gritsyuk is the classic "opportunity spike" case. With Jack Hughes sidelined, Gritsyuk has vaulted into a top-line role and is seeing power-play deployment. That combination of even-strength minutes with skilled linemates plus man-advantage work is exactly what turns a fringe name into a viable fantasy asset, especially in deeper and dynasty leagues.
On the West Coast, Will Smith is emerging as a focal point for the San Jose Sharks attack. His profile is built on volume: frequent shot attempts, consistent involvement in offense, and a growing role. That kind of usage supports strong projections even on a weaker team because the puck is always running through him.
Then there’s Macklin Celebrini, who already sits near the top of the league scoring race. His chemistry with Smith and his ability to pile up points at even strength and on the power play put him in the conversation with Hart and Art Ross contenders like Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid from a pure talent and production standpoint. For fantasy, that means true cornerstone upside.
On the awards side, MacKinnon and McDavid are pacing the Hart and Art Ross discussions, while Cale Makar and Logan Thompson headline Norris and Vezina chatter. Award-level seasons usually correlate with elite fantasy outcomes: heavy minutes, top power-play usage, and long leashes through slumps. Leaning into those profiles is a proven way to stabilize the top of your roster.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In points-only formats, you’re chasing ceiling and stability. Robertson’s combination of high-danger shot generation and prime power-play role gives him both. Even if his shooting percentage regresses, the sheer volume of quality looks keeps him firmly in the upper tier of fantasy wingers.
Gritsyuk’s promotion in New Jersey is especially important in points-only leagues that reward pure scoring. As long as he’s riding shotgun in a top-line role and seeing power-play time, he’s a viable mid-tier scorer with upside. The key is monitoring whether his deployment sticks once Hughes returns; if he stays in the top six, he can hold value beyond a short-term spike.
Will Smith’s value is tied to usage and chemistry. Playing a central role in the Sharks’ offense and meshing with elite talent like Celebrini means his projection is more than just empty volume. If San Jose continues to lean on that duo in all offensive situations, Smith can sustain strong assist and goal totals despite team-level struggles.
Macklin Celebrini is the crown jewel in points-only. Ranking near the top of the league in scoring with strong synergy alongside Smith puts him in the same fantasy conversation as Hart and Art Ross names like Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. If there’s any window to acquire him via trade, you should explore it aggressively, using tools like the NHL Trade Analyzer to balance risk and cost.
On defense and in goal, award candidates like Cale Makar and Logan Thompson project as category leaders in their roles. Makar’s Norris-caliber profile means heavy involvement in goals and assists from the blue line, while Thompson’s Vezina-level trajectory suggests strong win and rate stats. In points-only leagues that count goalie points or wins, that kind of reliability is gold.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-cat formats, Robertson’s shot volume is a cheat code. High-danger chances usually come with plenty of shots on goal, and his power-play usage boosts power-play points. Even if he’s not a huge hitter, the combination of goals, assists, SOG and PPP keeps him among the most valuable wingers.
Will Smith is a prototypical categories streamer. His consistent shot generation and goal-scoring threat make him ideal when you’re chasing SOG, goals, and potentially power-play points. On lighter schedule nights, stacking Smith with Celebrini can swing offensive categories in your favor.
Gritsyuk’s value in bangers leagues is more situational. His primary appeal is scoring and power-play exposure rather than heavy hits or PIM. That makes him more of a specialist add when you need points and PPP from a depth forward spot rather than a full-category contributor.
For goalies, a Vezina-level projection for Logan Thompson implies strong ratios and solid win potential. In categories formats that count save percentage and goals-against, that profile is extremely valuable, especially if he’s getting a true workhorse share of starts.
Dynasty / Keeper
In dynasty, opportunity plus talent is everything. Gritsyuk’s current run with top-line and power-play deployment in New Jersey is exactly the type of breakout window you want to buy into before his value fully catches up. Even if his role dips slightly when Hughes returns, he’s shown he can handle premium minutes, which bodes well long term.
Will Smith is a foundational dynasty piece. High shot volume, central role in the offense, and strong chemistry with Celebrini suggest he’ll be a core contributor for years. Short-term inconsistency is acceptable when the long-term trajectory points toward top-six, PP1 usage.
Macklin Celebrini is already performing like a franchise fantasy asset. Ranking near the top of the league in points this early in his career, with clear synergy on his line and on the power play, makes him a player you build around in keepers and dynasty. Overpaying a bit now can be justified if your contention window spans multiple seasons.
On the elite side, players like MacKinnon, McDavid, Makar and Thompson remain dynasty anchors. Award-level seasons reinforce that their usage and roles are secure, which lowers long-term risk and makes them safe centerpieces for multi-year contention windows.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Jason Robertson – Trade target (all formats): Elite shot quality and power-play role make him worth paying up for if an impatient manager is selling.
- Arseny Gritsyuk – Add (deep & dynasty): Top-line and power-play deployment in New Jersey give him real scoring and PPP upside while Hughes is out.
- Will Smith – Short-term stream (categories): High shot volume and growing role in the Sharks’ offense make him ideal when you need goals and SOG.
- Macklin Celebrini – Trade target (points-only & keeper): Near-league-leading production and strong chemistry with Smith make him a true cornerstone scorer.
- Logan Thompson – Add or buy low (standard leagues): Vezina-level trajectory suggests strong win and ratio potential if his workload holds.
- Cale Makar – Premium trade target (all formats): Norris-caliber profile with heavy PP1 usage gives you rare, elite production from the blue line.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Lean into Jason Robertson’s high-danger shot profile and power-play role as a stabilizing elite winger in all scoring formats.
- Treat Arseny Gritsyuk as a priority add in deeper and dynasty leagues while he holds top-line and power-play usage in New Jersey.
- Use Will Smith as a flexible streamer for goals, shots, and offensive categories, especially when the Sharks have favorable schedules.
- Target Macklin Celebrini aggressively in trades; his early scoring pace and chemistry with Smith point to sustained, elite production.
- Anchor your roster with award-level candidates like MacKinnon, McDavid, Makar and Thompson, whose heavy usage supports top-tier fantasy outcomes.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.