NHL EDGE Leaders: Fantasy Winners, Losers and What To Do Now

NHL EDGE data gives us an on-ice view of who is actually tilting the ice, not just who got lucky bounces last week. The 2025-26 leaders in skating speed, hardest shot, high-danger goals and high-danger save percentage spotlight players whose deployment and skill sets can swing fantasy matchups. Let’s translate those tracking numbers into real adds, trade targets and watchlist stashes.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The EDGE leaderboards highlight five key fantasy-relevant profiles:

Jake Sanderson is the fastest defenseman in the league by top speed, which usually correlates with controlled exits, entries and the ability to jump into the rush. That’s deployment-friendly for power-play and offensive-zone starts.
Connor McDavid unsurprisingly tops forwards in top speed. The big takeaway isn’t that he’s good – we know that – but that his physical tools remain fully intact, supporting his continued usage as the centerpiece of the Edmonton Oilers’ attack.
Morgan Geekie owns the league’s hardest recorded shot, a skill that can entrench him in shooting roles on the Boston Bruins, especially on the power play and in offensive-zone deployments.
Tyler Bertuzzi is among the leaders in high-danger goals, which tells us where he operates: right in the dirty areas. That profile tends to be deployment-proof, especially on a Chicago Blackhawks team hungry for net-front scoring.
Ilya Sorokin leads in high-danger save percentage, reinforcing his status as a true difference-maker in net for the New York Islanders rather than a goalie riding system luck.

None of these names are total surprises, but EDGE data sharpens the picture of how they are being used and which skills coaching staffs are leveraging. That’s how you identify deployment winners (players whose roles are likely to expand or stabilize) and potential losers (teammates stuck in lower-leverage minutes).

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, raw scoring is everything, but EDGE context helps you gauge sustainability and upside:

Connor McDavid – still the top-tier anchor: His league-best speed among forwards underlines why he continues to generate separation at will. For managers, this supports viewing him as the safest high-end offensive centerpiece in fantasy. If anything, it gives you confidence to pay appropriately in a blockbuster using the NHL Trade Analyzer if your league allows big-name deals.
Jake Sanderson – lurking breakout candidate: Being the fastest defenseman suggests the Ottawa Senators can lean on him for puck-moving and offensive-zone transition. That profile fits a top-pair, top power-play role. If he’s not fully deployed there yet, this is the kind of underlying signal that often precedes a run of points when the coaching staff fully hands him the keys.
Morgan Geekie – shooting role equals sneaky scoring: A hardest-shot leader on the Boston Bruins is not just a trivia item. It hints that when the Bruins draw up one-timers on the man advantage or offensive-zone plays, Geekie is a candidate to be the trigger man. In deeper points-only leagues, that can translate into spikes of goals even if his assist totals remain modest.
Tyler Bertuzzi – high-danger goals are bankable: Leading the way in goals from prime scoring areas tells us Bertuzzi is living in the crease area for the Chicago Blackhawks. That’s where coaches put players they trust, especially alongside elite playmakers. His finishing from these spots suggests his goal totals can hold up even if overall shooting volume isn’t elite.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, the EDGE leaders really start separating winners and losers:

Jake Sanderson as a multi-cat blue-liner: Speed from the back end leads to transition, carry-ins and the ability to close gaps. That often correlates with strong shot volume, blocked shots from aggressive defensive play, and decent hit totals as he steps up with confidence. In leagues that track advanced skating metrics or time on ice, he’s a prototypical ascending categories defenseman.
Morgan Geekie’s shot power = category juice: If Geekie is being deployed to unleash that heavy shot, expect healthy shots-on-goal numbers and potential boosts in power-play goals and even game-winners. In leagues that reward any form of shot-based production, he’s more than just a depth forward.
Tyler Bertuzzi as a bangers stud: A high volume of high-danger goals usually comes with hits, net-front scrums and penalty minutes. On a rebuilding Chicago roster, Bertuzzi’s willingness to occupy the crease and battle in traffic makes him a quintessential bangers asset who can contribute in goals, power-play points, hits and PIM.
Ilya Sorokin’s high-danger excellence: Leading in high-danger save percentage means Sorokin is not just benefiting from structure; he’s erasing prime chances. For categories leagues, that underpins strong save percentage and gives him a chance to outperform goalies with similar workloads but weaker shot quality against.

Dynasty / Keeper

In long-view formats, EDGE profiles help distinguish fleeting hot streaks from foundational skills:

Jake Sanderson’s dynasty arrow is up: Elite speed on the back end is a long-term building block. As the Senators mature, Sanderson projects as a cornerstone puck-mover with high minutes and sustained power-play usage. That makes him a strong hold and even an acquisition target in dynasty if managers in your league are slow to react.
Morgan Geekie as a late-bloomer swing: Hardest shot titles imply a skill that ages reasonably well. If the Bruins continue to give him offensive roles, he can grow into a 20+ goal threat in the medium term. In keeper formats, he’s a low-cost gamble who could evolve from streamer status to permanent roster fixture.
Tyler Bertuzzi’s style ages with deployment, not speed: His game is built on positioning, hands in tight and net-front leverage. That tends to be more durable than pure speed as players age. In dynasty, his value will follow whichever line and power-play units he rides with in Chicago, but the underlying profile supports ongoing multi-cat relevance.
Ilya Sorokin as a franchise goalie: Dominating high-danger shots is a skill hallmark of true franchise netminders. In keeper formats, this is reassurance that even if team results swing, Sorokin’s personal performance should keep him near the top tier of fantasy goalies for years.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Jake Sanderson – Watchlist / Add in deep leagues: Fastest defenseman with clear breakout tools; stash where 4+ D are started in hopes of expanded Ottawa power-play usage.
Connor McDavid – Trade target in any format: EDGE speed data confirms he’s still an unmatched engine; use the NHL Trade Analyzer to weigh Godfather offers rather than selling low.
Morgan Geekie – Add / Short-term stream: Hardest-shot leader on the Boston Bruins makes him a strong stream when Boston has heavy schedules, especially in shots and goals categories.
Tyler Bertuzzi – Trade target in bangers: High-danger goal volume plus net-front role on Chicago make him worth targeting in multi-cat leagues where his grit stats shine.
Ilya Sorokin – Hold firm: High-danger save dominance means you ride out any short-term wobble; he’s the kind of goalie who can single-handedly win ratios.

Fantasy Takeaways

Jake Sanderson’s elite speed signals a potential deployment bump in Ottawa, making him a prime watchlist defenseman with breakout upside.
Connor McDavid’s EDGE profile confirms his unchanged, elite offensive environment – treat any buy window as a rare opportunity, not a reason to panic.
Morgan Geekie’s hardest-shot crown suggests Boston will keep him in shooting roles, giving him real value as a shots and goals specialist.
Tyler Bertuzzi’s high-danger scoring for Chicago cements his status as a multi-cat force around the crease and a strong bangers trade target.
Ilya Sorokin’s performance on high-danger shots makes him a safe long-term hold and a foundation piece for ratios in categories leagues.

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