Training Camp Line Shifts: Fantasy Winners, Losers, and Moves to Make Now

Training camp is where coaches tip their hands on usage, and that makes this the prime time to spot deployment winners and losers. The latest news touches every position: a suspended workhorse goalie, veteran wingers in new spots, and young forwards getting prime top-line looks. Here’s how to react in-season or in late-preseason leagues, with concrete moves for fantasy managers across formats.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The biggest shake-up comes in goal. Connor Hellebuyck is suspended and has a trade request hanging over him, which throws his short-term availability and team context into doubt. For a goalie who normally anchors fantasy ratios and volume, this uncertainty dings his profile and forces managers to rethink how aggressively they invest in him and how much goalie depth they need behind him.

Up front, there are several clear deployment winners:

Chris Kreider is skating on the Montreal Canadiens' top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, instantly reviving his scoring and power-play upside in a high-leverage role.
Quinton Byfield has been elevated to top-line center duties with the Los Angeles Kings, flanked by Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe, giving him elite linemates and a path to a breakout.
Ilya Protas is lining up for the Washington Capitals with his brother Aliaksei and Jordan Kyrou, a quietly valuable development for dynasty managers hunting long-term upside.
Mason Marchment is riding shotgun on the San Jose Sharks' top line with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, putting him in position to benefit from two offensive catalysts.

These are not marginal shifts; they define who will see top offensive minutes and first crack at premium power-play roles as the season opens. That’s exactly where fantasy value is created—and lost.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, deployment is almost everything, and training camp line combinations are early indicators of who the coaching staff trusts to drive offense.

Chris Kreider is one of the biggest winners. A top-line role with Suzuki and Caufield on the Montreal Canadiens means steady exposure to the team’s best playmaker and finisher. Even if Kreider’s own shot volume isn’t elite, he’s historically excelled at finishing chances in tight and on the power play. If he rides shotgun on the top unit as well, he moves from fringe or forgotten to a lineup-locked wing in all but the shallowest leagues.

Quinton Byfield becomes a potential points-only gem. Centering Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe on the Los Angeles Kings turbocharges both his floor and ceiling. Panarin can inflate anyone’s assist totals, while Kempe’s finishing supports Byfield’s primary assists and plus-minus in leagues that count it. If Byfield holds this role into the season, he has the profile of a mid-tier fantasy center with true breakout potential.

Mason Marchment is a pure situation play. The San Jose Sharks may not be a juggernaut, but being attached to Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith means Marchment could be the third piece on a line that produces a disproportionate share of the team’s offense. In points-only, that makes him a strong complementary scorer with spikes when that line catches fire.

Ilya Protas is more of a slow-burn asset in points-only formats. His placement with Aliaksei Protas and Jordan Kyrou on the Washington Capitals suggests the organization wants to see what he can do with offensive linemates. That doesn’t guarantee big early numbers, but it’s exactly the environment where a young player can grow into a reliable secondary scorer over the course of the season.

Connor Hellebuyck is the key loser in pure points leagues that count goalie wins and shutouts. His suspension and unresolved trade situation with the Winnipeg Jets raises questions about games played, support in front of him, and stability. His long-term talent remains elite, but lost volume or a chaotic team situation can drag down his counting stats.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-cat leagues, these same moves have slightly different angles.

Kreider’s top-line slot in Montreal doesn’t just mean points; he’s historically contributed solid shot volume and is a threat on the power play. Hits can be a secondary strength for him, so a secure role with Suzuki and Caufield makes him a rare winger who can contribute in goals, shots, and some physical categories. In bangers formats, he moves from streamer territory to a strong everyday option.

Byfield’s rise in Los Angeles is even more valuable in multi-category leagues. Top-line centers often carry heavy minutes, which means more chances for shots, faceoffs (if counted), and even hits. If he leans into a power-forward style between Panarin and Kempe, he could become a well-rounded category contributor rather than just a pure points play.

Marchment’s fantasy profile is tailor-made for bangers. Even if his point totals fluctuate on a young Sharks team, playing with Celebrini and Smith should keep his offense afloat while his physical game—hits, occasional PIM, and net-front presence—gives him a high peripheral floor. In deeper bangers leagues, that combination can be worth hanging onto through cold spells.

Protas is more speculative in multi-cat but could eventually offer a bit of everything if his role solidifies. For now, the primary value is in his opportunity; if he starts to push into power-play usage or show consistent shot volume, he quickly becomes more than a simple stash.

Hellebuyck remains capable of elite ratios when he’s on the ice, but uncertainty about starts can force managers to chase volume with more volatile goalies. That can hurt category totals in wins and saves, and even push managers into riskier matchups. Consider him a high-upside, high-risk piece until his situation settles.

Dynasty / Keeper

Dynasty and keeper leagues should treat this training camp news as a roadmap for long-term investment.

Byfield is the clear centerpiece. Being entrusted with top-line responsibilities and elite wingers at his age is a tremendous signal of the Kings’ belief in his trajectory. In keeper setups he becomes a cornerstone target; even if early-season production is uneven, the role suggests sustained usage in scoring situations for years.

Protas is a quieter but important storyline. Washington giving him a meaningful role with Jordan Kyrou and Aliaksei Protas implies they see him as part of their offensive future. In dynasty leagues, he’s the sort of patient stash who may lag in value in shallow redraft but could blossom into a top-six fixture with power-play exposure down the line.

Marchment is more of a medium-term asset—older than the true prospects but now tethered to the Sharks’ emerging core in Celebrini and Smith. His value in keepers hinges on how long he maintains that top-line role. If he sticks for a full season, he can be a multi-year complementary scorer, especially in deeper formats.

Hellebuyck is tricky in longer-term leagues. His talent and track record still scream long-term asset, but any lingering suspension or protracted trade saga lowers his short-range utility. Contending dynasty teams may try to buy low via the NHL Trade Analyzer, banking on a resolution that lands him in a strong environment, while rebuilding teams might simply ride out the volatility.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Chris Kreider – Add (all but shallow): Top-line deployment with Suzuki and Caufield in Montreal gives him immediate scoring and power-play upside.
Quinton Byfield – Add / Trade target (standard and deep): Elevated to top-line center with Panarin and Kempe, he has clear breakout potential across formats.
Mason Marchment – Short-term stream / Add (deep): Riding shotgun with Celebrini and Smith on San Jose’s top line makes him a high-upside streamer with bangers appeal.
Ilya Protas – Watchlist / Stash (dynasty): Meaningful role with Jordan Kyrou and Aliaksei Protas in Washington hints at long-term top-six upside.
Connor Hellebuyck – Hold / Discount trade target: Suspension and trade request create risk, but his elite talent makes him worth targeting at a reduced cost.

Fantasy Takeaways

Connor Hellebuyck’s suspension and trade request lower his immediate reliability; treat him as a high-variance asset and adjust your goalie depth accordingly.
Chris Kreider’s promotion to Montreal’s top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield turns him into a must-roster winger in most leagues.
Quinton Byfield centering Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe signals a potential breakout season; be aggressive in acquiring him before the production fully arrives.
Ilya Protas’ deployment with Jordan Kyrou and Aliaksei Protas makes him a priority stash in keeper and dynasty formats.
Mason Marchment’s spot alongside Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith in San Jose positions him as a strong sleeper in both points and bangers leagues.

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