Tiered Fantasy Hockey Outlook: Kurashev, Celebrini and Blue-Line Targets

This piece zeroes in on a small but important group of fantasy-relevant skaters whose roles and trajectories can swing leagues. From emerging forwards on the San Jose Sharks to value defensemen in Toronto, Vegas and Calgary, these players sit in different tiers of reliability and upside. Let’s break down what’s changed in their usage, how to value them across formats, and where they fit in your rest-of-season plans.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline up front is opportunity. Philipp Kurashev has climbed into a top-line role with the Sharks and is riding a scoring streak while still seeing secondary power-play time. Top-line deployment on a rebuilding team often means heavy minutes and plenty of offensive freedom, even if the supporting cast is volatile. For fantasy managers, that combination of role and recent production pushes him firmly into the must-roster conversation in many leagues.

On the back end, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has settled in as a top-four option with the Toronto Maple Leafs, contributing steady assists and working on the second power-play unit. He’s not the high-end producer he once was, but his current point streak and offensive usage make him a strong streaming option whenever Toronto’s schedule lines up favorably.

Shea Theodore is heating up offensively again for the Vegas Golden Knights, driving play with his shot volume and puck-carrying. Even without explicit top power-play billing in the summary, his profile remains that of a high-event defenseman who can swing matchups in leagues that count shots and offensive categories.

In Calgary, Rasmus Andersson continues to anchor the blue line as a top-four defender with primary power-play duties. His multipoint stretches and consistent usage on the first unit make him more than just a streamer; he’s a reliable hold in most formats that reward defense scoring and power-play production.

Finally, Macklin Celebrini looms as a high-upside centerpiece for the Sharks. He’s already being discussed as a contender for major awards, which underscores both his talent and the expectation that he’ll be a focal point of the offense. For fantasy, that means huge long-term upside and the potential for a breakout that arrives sooner than expected.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In pure scoring formats, Kurashev belongs in a mid-tier forward group with clear upward mobility. Top-line minutes plus exposure to high-scoring linemates give him a strong floor for assists and secondary scoring, with the recent hot streak hinting at a higher ceiling if he can maintain his role. He’s not a set-and-forget star, but he’s above the typical streamer tier and should be treated as a regular starter while the deployment holds.

Ekman-Larsson fits into a support tier of defensemen who can quietly pile up assists. On Toronto’s second power-play unit and in a top-four role, he’s unlikely to carry a team, but he’s an ideal plug-in when you need a short-term boost in points from the blue line. In points-only leagues with limited defense slots, he’s more of a matchup-based play; in deeper setups, he can stick as your third or fourth defenseman.

Theodore’s offensive profile places him a tier above the typical streamer. His shot generation and recent production suggest he can flirt with top-25 defenseman value in points formats when healthy and rolling. He’s the type of player who can string together multi-point weeks, so benching him during a heater is risky; he should be locked into lineups unless you’re absolutely loaded on the back end.

Andersson, with his first-unit power-play role in Calgary, is a steady mid-to-upper tier option among defensemen. He may not have Theodore’s explosive peaks, but his combination of even-strength and power-play usage supports reliable assist totals with occasional spikes. In points-only leagues, he’s a strong hold and a reasonable trade target if his manager underestimates the value of consistent power-play time.

Celebrini is a special case. In redraft points-only formats, he starts in a watchlist tier: massive upside but still unproven at the NHL level. However, the fact that he’s already being mentioned in award conversations hints at a potential leap into a high-end scoring tier sooner rather than later. If your league rewards proactive moves and has generous benches, stashing him before the breakout can pay off.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, Kurashev’s value depends heavily on whether he can supplement his points with shots and special-teams production. The summary emphasizes his scoring streak and top-line role, which are great for goals and assists but don’t guarantee strong peripherals. Consider him a scoring-focused winger: valuable in leagues that emphasize offense, but less so if you need heavy hits or blocks from your depth forwards.

Ekman-Larsson is a classic assists and power-play peripherals streamer. His current point streak and offensive deployment in Toronto make him a strong short-term add when you’re chasing assists, power-play points, or simply trying to win the defense scoring battle in a given week. He’s less appealing in formats where hits and blocks dominate, as his value is primarily tied to offense.

Theodore is a multi-cat asset. His shot volume and offensive involvement for Vegas give him value in goals, assists, shots on goal and power-play categories. Even if he doesn’t rack up many hits or penalty minutes, his ability to fill multiple offensive categories from the blue line makes him a high-impact play in standard categories leagues.

Andersson brings a balanced category profile: steady points, power-play involvement and enough overall usage to contribute across the board. He may not dominate any single category, but he rarely leaves you with empty nights. In leagues with separate defense scoring or bonus weighting for power-play production, he jumps a tier and becomes a near must-roster option.

Celebrini’s category outlook is more speculative but tantalizing. As a projected top-line center with award-level upside, he could eventually become a multi-category force, especially if he logs heavy minutes and power-play time in San Jose. For now, treat him as a stash whose ceiling includes strong contributions in goals, assists, shots and power-play categories once he’s fully established.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty managers should view Kurashev as a useful but not foundational piece. His current top-line role and production are encouraging, but the long-term question is whether he remains a core part of the Sharks’ offense as the roster evolves around Celebrini. In deep keeper formats, he’s worth holding while the opportunity is there, with the understanding that his value could fluctuate as San Jose adds more talent.

Ekman-Larsson is primarily a short-term asset in dynasty. His current run in Toronto is helpful, but his age and role suggest limited long-term upside. Contending teams can ride his production while it lasts; rebuilding squads should be looking to flip him for futures if possible.

Theodore remains a strong dynasty defenseman thanks to his offensive skill set and role on a competitive Vegas team. Even with occasional inconsistency, players who can drive offense from the blue line tend to age well in fantasy terms. He belongs in a high tier of keeper defensemen, especially in leagues that reward shots and power-play production.

Andersson is a quietly valuable dynasty piece. As long as he holds Calgary’s top power-play job, he offers stable year-over-year production with room for incremental growth if the Flames’ offense improves. He’s the kind of player who can anchor your second pairing in dynasty builds without costing elite assets to acquire.

Celebrini is the crown jewel in this group for dynasty formats. A projected top-line center with legitimate award buzz, he should be treated as a franchise cornerstone. Even if there are early growing pains, his long-term ceiling sits in the elite tier of fantasy forwards, and proactive managers should be willing to pay a premium to acquire or hold him.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Philipp Kurashev – Add (standard leagues): Top-line role in San Jose plus a current scoring streak make him a strong forward add while the deployment lasts.
Rasmus Andersson – Add (standard and deep leagues): Locked into Calgary’s PP1 with consistent point production, he’s a reliable every-week defense option.
Shea Theodore – Short-term stream / Hold (depending on depth): Heating up offensively with strong shot volume, he can swing matchups from the blue line.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Short-term stream: On a point streak in Toronto and useful when you need a temporary boost in assists and power-play production.
Macklin Celebrini – Watchlist / Stash (dynasty and deep redraft): High-upside, award-caliber talent who could emerge as San Jose’s offensive centerpiece sooner than expected.

Fantasy Takeaways

Kurashev’s combination of top-line minutes and recent production in San Jose elevates him from streamer to viable rest-of-season roster piece in many formats.
Ekman-Larsson is best used as a targeted assists and power-play streamer, especially when Toronto has a dense game schedule.
Theodore’s offensive surge and shot volume make him a high-impact multi-category defenseman who should rarely leave active lineups.
Andersson’s PP1 role in Calgary underpins steady defense scoring, making him a strong add and hold in both points-only and categories leagues.
Celebrini is a priority stash in dynasty leagues thanks to his award-level upside and projected top-line center role with the Sharks.

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