Fantasy Hockey Tiers: Streaming Value From Kurashev and Key Defensemen
NHL EDGE trends are shining a light on a few under-the-radar fantasy options who can plug immediate holes in your lineup. Rather than chasing names, smart managers should target roles: top-line forwards and power-play quarterbacks who are quietly piling up opportunities. Philipp Kurashev and a trio of offensive defensemen headline this week’s tiered breakdown for short-term streaming and rest-of-season upside.
What’s New & Why It Matters
The latest EDGE-driven analysis highlights four players whose usage and underlying chances are outpacing their typical fantasy reputation. Philipp Kurashev has landed on the top line for the San Jose Sharks with secondary power-play deployment, giving him exposure to the team’s best finishers. That combination of even-strength volume and man-advantage touches is exactly what you want in a streaming winger.
On the blue line, three offensive-minded defensemen are trending up. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is driving a point streak for the Toronto Maple Leafs, helped by favorable offensive-zone starts and a steady PP2 role. Shea Theodore remains a major shooting threat for the Vegas Golden Knights, generating power-play value even though the team often runs five forwards on its top unit. Meanwhile, Rasmus Andersson continues to log heavy minutes for the Calgary Flames, including PP1 time, with strong shot metrics and overall workload.
For fantasy managers, these deployment trends matter more than name value. Top-line and top-pair roles, plus consistent power-play usage, create bankable volume in shots, touches, and scoring chances. That’s the foundation for short-term streaming and potential rest-of-season holds if the production sticks.
Fantasy Implications
Points-Only
In pure scoring formats, Kurashev is the most interesting immediate add. Top-line minutes on San Jose with PP2 work mean he’s on the ice whenever the team’s best offensive players are pushing the pace. Even if the Sharks are not an elite offense, a winger stapled to their top scorers can ride hot streaks and provide short bursts of multi-point upside. Treat him as a high-variance streamer who can be cycled in when the schedule is favorable.
Ekman-Larsson’s value in points-only leagues comes from his steady involvement in Toronto’s attack. A defenseman who can chip in regular assists and occasional goals while benefitting from offensive-zone deployments is a strong depth option. He’s particularly useful if your league starts multiple defensemen and you need a reliable third or fourth blueliner who won’t disappear from the scoresheet for long stretches.
Theodore and Andersson both offer higher ceilings from the back end. Theodore’s shot-first mentality and power-play touches give him strong multi-point game potential, especially when Vegas is rolling offensively. Even if he’s technically on PP2, his skill set allows him to capitalize on any extra time or injuries ahead of him. Andersson, as a top-pair and PP1 defender, has the most stable role of the group. Heavy minutes plus primary power-play exposure make him a strong candidate to outperform his typical perception in points-only formats, especially if Calgary’s offense finds any rhythm.
Categories / Bangers
In multi-category and banger formats, the blue-liners become even more appealing. Ekman-Larsson can contribute across several categories: assists, shots, and peripheral stats tied to his deployment. He’s not just a one-category specialist; his steady usage in the offensive zone means consistent shot attempts and involvement in scoring plays.
Theodore is a premium streaming option for managers chasing shots on goal and power-play points. Even with five forwards often deployed on the top unit, his presence on the second unit still yields meaningful man-advantage time. When Vegas leans on him in offensive situations, he can deliver spikes in SOG and PPP, making him ideal for weekly matchups where you’re narrowly behind in those categories.
Andersson’s profile is built on volume. High total skating distance and strong shot metrics translate into a steady stream of counting stats: shots, blocks, and potentially hits depending on league scoring. Add in PP1 usage, and he becomes a multi-category anchor who can stabilize your blue line. In leagues that reward time on ice or a broad mix of peripherals, he’s closer to an every-week starter than a pure streamer.
Kurashev is more format-dependent. In categories leagues that heavily reward shots and power-play points, his value climbs, especially during hot streaks. However, he’s less likely than the defensemen to help in banger stats like hits and blocks. Consider him a scoring-category streamer rather than a full banger contributor.
Dynasty / Keeper
In dynasty and keeper formats, the main question is sustainability of role. Kurashev’s top-line and PP2 deployment in San Jose is encouraging, but managers should view it as a proof-of-concept rather than a long-term guarantee. If he continues to convert high-danger chances and build chemistry with the Sharks’ core scorers, he can grow into a mid-tier keeper. For now, he’s more of a speculative stash in deeper dynasties than a must-hold in shallow keeper setups.
Ekman-Larsson is firmly in the veteran phase of his career. His value in dynasty lies in short-term production rather than long-term growth. Contending teams that need reliable depth scoring from the blue line can lean on him, but rebuilding squads should prioritize younger options with clearer multi-year upside.
Theodore and Andersson sit in the sweet spot for dynasty: established enough to be trusted, but still with room to sustain or slightly elevate their roles. Theodore’s offensive toolkit and shot volume make him a long-term asset whenever he’s deployed in offensive situations. If Vegas ever shifts back to a more traditional power-play setup, his ceiling rises further. Andersson’s heavy usage and PP1 role in Calgary suggest that, barring major roster changes, he’ll remain a central piece of their blue line. In dynasty, both are strong targets if managers in your league still view them as mere streamers rather than core defensemen.
Who to Add / Stream / Watch
- Philipp Kurashev – Add/Short-term stream (shallow to standard): Top-line winger with PP2 time in San Jose, offering immediate scoring and shots upside when the schedule lines up.
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Stream (standard): Offensive defenseman on Toronto’s PP2 with favorable offensive-zone usage, ideal for short bursts of assists and secondary scoring.
- Shea Theodore – Add/Stream (standard to deep): High shot volume and power-play involvement in Vegas make him a strong multi-category contributor from the blue line.
- Rasmus Andersson – Add (standard to deep): Top-pair, PP1 workhorse in Calgary whose shot metrics and heavy minutes support a stable floor across categories.
Fantasy Takeaways
- Kurashev’s combination of top-line deployment and power-play time in San Jose makes him a strong short-term scoring streamer with the potential to stick if the production continues.
- Ekman-Larsson’s point streak and offensive-zone starts for Toronto position him as a reliable depth defenseman for assists and secondary scoring in most formats.
- Theodore’s shot volume and power-play role in Vegas give him significant upside in categories leagues, especially for managers chasing SOG and PPP.
- Andersson’s heavy minutes, strong shot metrics, and PP1 usage in Calgary make him a multi-category asset who can graduate from streamer to every-week starter.
- Leaning on NHL EDGE trends to identify role-driven breakouts like these can give you a consistent edge on the waiver wire and in weekly streaming decisions.
Source: NHL.com. See the original for full details.