Stanley Cup Playoffs Fantasy Tiers: Benson, Newhook, Marner and More

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are in full swing, and playoff pools and daily contests are all about reacting faster than your league-mates. With deployment and hot streaks shifting every game, understanding which skaters truly matter right now is critical. Let’s break the key forwards into actionable fantasy tiers and translate their real-life roles into winning playoff strategy.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest development is the emergence of Zach Benson as a legitimate top-six and power-play threat for the Buffalo Sabres. He’s locked into a second-line role with first-unit power-play exposure, and he’s already turned that into steady playoff production. In short formats, that combination of role and recent form is gold.

In Vegas, William Karlsson has seen his responsibilities grow. He’s operating as a top-six center for the Vegas Golden Knights, logging more minutes and driving play effectively. His chemistry with Mitch Marner raises his ceiling, especially in leagues that reward assists and all-around stat lines.

The Montreal Canadiens offer two of the most interesting playoff risers. Alex Newhook is leading Montreal in goals and shots on goal in their current series, while Cole Caufield continues to fire pucks from everywhere, driving elite shot volume even when the goals come in bunches. Newhook’s surge and Caufield’s underlying shot profile both matter for short- and long-term fantasy value.

Finally, Marner’s steady playoff point production makes him one of the safest high-end forwards in this group. In any format that rewards raw scoring, he’s the centerpiece you want to build around, and he’s a prime candidate to pursue via trade in formats that allow in-playoff moves.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only playoff formats, you’re chasing pure scoring and power-play opportunity. That pushes Marner and Benson into the top tier. Marner’s track record as a consistent point producer in the postseason, combined with top-line and top power-play usage, makes him a foundational piece for any playoff roster. If your league allows mid-playoff trading, use the NHL Trade Analyzer to see what it takes to acquire him without gutting your depth.

Benson’s second-line role and PP1 time for Buffalo give him a strong floor and sneaky ceiling. Even if his team doesn’t go as deep as some contenders, his per-game output can offset fewer total games. In smaller playoff pools, he’s the kind of mid-tier name that can separate you from opponents who are still chasing only superstars.

Newhook belongs in the next tier down but is rapidly closing the gap. Leading Montreal in goals and shots in the series signals that the offense is flowing through him at even strength. If he maintains that usage, he’s a must-start in any format that counts goals heavily. Karlsson, meanwhile, is more of a complementary scorer: valuable if you need a steady stream of assists and secondary points, but not quite at the must-start level unless your league is deep.

Caufield is the trickiest call in pure scoring formats. His shot volume suggests a breakout stretch could come at any time, but if your pool is shallow and you can only roster a limited number of forwards, he’s more of a matchup-based start or bench stash until the puck luck turns.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category and bangers formats, the calculus changes. Newhook’s combination of goals and heavy shot volume is exactly what you want; he’s not just scoring, he’s driving attempts. That profile makes him a priority add or hold, especially if your league rewards shots on goal and goal-scoring more than assists.

Karlsson becomes more interesting here as well. His increased ice time and top-six role for Vegas mean more opportunities for shots, faceoff wins (if your platform counts them), and peripheral stats. As a streaming option, he’s ideal when Vegas has a dense playoff schedule or favorable matchups.

Benson’s value in categories leagues is tied to his power-play production. If your scoring system gives weight to power-play points, he jumps into the must-start conversation. Without special-teams bonuses, he’s still useful, but his edge over a volume shooter like Newhook narrows.

Caufield’s shot volume is his main selling point. Even when he’s not scoring, he can help you win the shots category on his own. In leagues that count shots, he’s a strong hold; in formats that don’t, his value is more streak-dependent. Marner remains elite in categories leagues thanks to his across-the-board contributions—points, power-play production, and strong assist totals—making him a multi-cat anchor.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty and keeper managers, this playoff run is a valuable data point rather than the whole story. Benson’s emergence as a second-line winger with PP1 exposure at his age is a major green flag. Playoff success against top competition often foreshadows a future leap in regular-season production, so he should be treated as a long-term building block rather than a short-term rental.

Caufield’s profile screams long-term upside. High shot volume and proven goal-scoring ability are the traits you want to bet on in dynasty. Even if this particular playoff run is streaky, his underlying style of play supports sustained top-line production over multiple seasons. He’s a classic buy-high or hold-tight asset in keeper formats.

Newhook’s breakout is more of a value shift. Leading Montreal in goals and shots in a playoff series suggests he may be carving out a permanent top-six role with offensive responsibility. In dynasty, that moves him from speculative depth to legitimate core piece, especially in leagues that reward goals and shots more heavily than assists.

Marner is already established as a top-tier fantasy winger, and this playoff performance simply reinforces that status. If anything, his reliability in high-pressure games should give you confidence to pay full price in long-term formats. Karlsson, while older and more of a known quantity, remains a useful depth piece in deep dynasty leagues, particularly if your format rewards his two-way minutes and peripheral stats.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Zach Benson – Add/Start (all formats): Locked into a second-line, PP1 role for Buffalo and already producing; strong per-game upside in any playoff pool.
Mitch Marner – Trade target / Build-around: Consistent playoff point producer with top-line usage; worth paying up for if your league allows in-playoff trades.
Alex Newhook – Add (categories & points): Leading Montreal in goals and shots this series, giving him a high ceiling in goal-heavy and shot-heavy formats.
William Karlsson – Short-term stream: Elevated minutes and top-six deployment in Vegas make him a strong streamer when the Golden Knights have multiple games.
Cole Caufield – Watchlist / situational start: Elite shot volume keeps him one hot streak away from swinging a playoff matchup; stash where you can.

Fantasy Takeaways

Benson’s combination of second-line usage and PP1 time makes him a clear start in points-only and a strong play in categories leagues that reward power-play production.
Karlsson is best viewed as a high-upside streamer in multi-cat formats, with his increased ice time and chemistry with Marner boosting his short-term value.
Newhook’s team-leading goals and shot volume cement him as a priority add in bangers and categories formats, with upside in points-only if his scoring pace holds.
Caufield’s shot-heavy profile makes him a prime dynasty hold and a playoff watchlist staple, ready to be activated when the goals start to follow the volume.
Marner is a premier trade target in any format that allows in-playoff moves, offering one of the safest scoring floors among available playoff forwards.

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