Fantasy hockey team previews: Predictions and selections for each of 32 Teams

Sean Allen of ESPN.com is an award-winning fantasy analyst. In 2008 and 2009 he was honored as Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hockey Writer of the Year. Seanard can be reached on Twitter @seanard, while Victoria Matiash, ESPN Fantasy Contributor since 2010 and part-time anchor at NEWSTALK1010 since 2024, makes her way across to cover this year’s NHL action — where the Florida Panthers aim to defend their Stanley Cup triumph against tough teams like Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers among many more! Would you like closer coverage? Join VictoriA Matiash every Monday evening on Newstalk1010-1010.org where Victoria contributes regularly on sports coverage — she joins him every Monday from 2024-2026! Victoria Matiash brings fantasy hockey coverage! Don’t miss her incredible insight — sign up today as her show airs Fridays! Victoria Matiash can help bring fantasy game action all year-long! Want closer? Join Victoria Matiash every Monday from 2024-2025! Will Florida Panthers aim for victory from opponents including Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers as she brings coverage closer than ever. Want closer than that action? Want televisible? Watch every Saturday Night from 2024-2025 ET until 2024-2024 when Florida Panthers look for glory by defeating Carolina Hurricanes Boston Bruins Colorado Avalanche or Edmonton Oilers come by joining televisibly covering NHL. Want! Wanting NewsTALK1010’s 10/10 from Orlando will bring us all televisibly……. 0600 AM ET…Want to Edmonton Oilers or Edmonton Oilers… Want telecaster… Wante.. Oilers. WANT Start drafting your fantasy hockey league today and follow all the action each night as goals, saves and blocks earn points for your fantasy team as it competes with friends and rivals alike. Signing up now and for free could not be simpler! Our experts have researched every team in the league to bring you all of the details required before beginning drafting. Cutter Gauthier could score 50 to 60 points playing under Leo Carlsson this year, Trevor Zegras is hoping for a successful return after last year’s injury-riddled campaign, while Frank Vatrano could find himself struggling once more to score 37 goals from third line skater position. As young defender Pavel Mintyukov seeks more playing time on extra skater, new captain Radko Gudas provides notable value in leagues which reward hits and blocked shots. Lukas Dostal should start most nights to start 2024-25 while John Gibson recovers from emergency appendectomy surgery. Meanwhile, David Pastrnak stands as an early round fantasy superstar while Charlie McAvoy ranks within the top 20 for defensemen. As Swayman takes control in net, Elias Lindholm could make for an incredible combination with Pastrnak in creating synergies that could reap great dividends for his team and draft board alike. If that occurs, Swayman should become one of your draft’s go-to goalies. Charlie Coyle and Pavel Zacha provide steady fantasy output. Watch 2 minutes 20 seconds to watch Swayman make top saves during 2023-24 NHL season for Boston Bruins; with young forwards emerging on to make an impactful impactful leap forwards could emerge as fantasy contributors? JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn appear to be top candidates on the second line with Dylan Cozens; Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch have proven reliable but could improve on last season. Rasmus Dahlin will lead defense, while Bowen Byram and Owen Power could emerge as starters. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen’s hopes are high after ranking 12th among fantasy goaltenders last season, as Jacob Markstrom settled into New Jersey while rookie Dustin Wolf and Dan Vladar are expected to battle it out for time between Calgary’s nets. Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect an abundance of victories from either club as each club undergoes its own form of rebuilding. Up front, Nazem Kadri remains underrated as an offensive performer with point/game potential while winger Yegor Sharangovich could reach 60 goals with Calgary after coming close during his initial comeback campaign. MacKenzie Weegar may not score 50 goals again this season, but 10 goals and 30 assists are likely in her future, as are numerous hits and blocked shots. Play Fantasy Hockey for FreeLand your own league on ESPN today to start competing for championship glory – get playing now! Sign Up Today
Will Frederik Andersen have another strong season or will Pyotr Kochetkov be enough of an understudy for fantasy selection purposes? Or worse, are their respective careers hindered each other and reduce each others potential? Sebastian Aho can rely on Seth Jarvis, but for maximum impact they need big seasons from Andrei Svechnikov and Martin Necas. Shayne Gostisbehere can offer considerable value on the power play if Brent Burns continues his gradual career decline, while Tyler Bertuzzi should experience one of his most productive campaigns since scoring 62 points in 68 games with Detroit back in 2021-22. Bedard should make another significant stride forward this season after amassing 61 points across 68 games to claim his Calder trophy, promising fantasy managers a point per game from him at least. Seth Jones provides strong fantasy defense value in conventional leagues, while Alec Martinez brings competition that compensates for blocked shots.Up front, Gabriel Landeskog (knee), Artturi Lehkonen (shoulder), and Valeri Nichushkin (suspension). could all make significant differences to how Colorado appears a few months into their season. As all three wingers appear destined to make up Colorado Avalanche’s top six, joining fantasy superstar Nathan MacKinnon, top-10 forward Mikko Rantanen and second-line center Casey Mittelstadt; Nichushkin can provide fantasy points across the board when available. Cale Makar may not be the premier NHL defenseman, but Alexandar Georgiev remains an invaluable asset to his managers by performing frequently and effectively for one of the better Western Conference teams. Georgiev remains one of the top-10 fantasy goaltenders, barring any surprises by young Justus Annunen who may claim more starts than predicted. While potential scoring stars can be found throughout his lineup, Zach Werenski remains the central fantasy focus. Boone Jenner, Kirill Marchenko, Ivan Provorov, Kent Johnson, Adam Fantilli, Sean Monahan and Yegor Chinakhov all possess potential this season to bring rewards; but perhaps only two or three may stand out amongst this elite lineup. Fantilli and Marchenko stand out, but drafteeing anyone other than Werenski comes with risk. Wyatt Johnston should experience another jump once settled alongside center Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson at equal strength with the extra skater on board. After recording 32 goals and 33 assists during his second season alone, 21-year-old Taylor can certainly reach point/game pace. Logan Stankoven should be considered for deeper fantasy leagues, while Thomas Harley can be obtained once Miro Heiskanen has been taken out. After an uneven first few months, Jake Oettinger turned it on in the final month to secure an undefeated regular season record with an outstanding save percentage and goals-against average (GAA) totaling 1.54. Fantasy hockey has returned! Find your league and learn how to dominate! Projections | Goalie depth chart* Rankings | Draft kit* Best team name suggestions and sign-up for free today.
Red Wings fans should prepare themselves for unexpected outcomes – both positive and negative. Alex DeBrincat, Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko and Lucas Raymond may experience varied results; Dylan Larkin provides stability that could give DeBrincat and Raymond an advantage in value betting. On defense, Moritz Seider stands out as a star player; Simon Edvinsson offers tremendous fantasy potential while Erik Gustafsson could become an effective power-play specialist. Goaltender Cam Talbot may be worth selecting early, but keep in mind he struggled in the second half last season. Should Jeff Skinner earn one of Leon Draisaitl’s wings like expected, expect another stellar campaign similar to when he put up 35 goals and 47 assists for Buffalo Sabres just two seasons ago. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was once a key cog on Connor McDavid’s top unit; now looking forward to an improved year after slumping down from last season’s record total of 104 points, hoping for another 55 goals from Zach Hyman but at 40+ it seems more reasonable. Evan Bouchard remains one of the top-10 scoring league defensemen while Stuart Skinner may – following an outstanding postseason performance – earn some additional fantasy consideration. Once all other options have been exhausted, Edmonton may turn their focus more toward its own No. 31 defenseman as their top performer in Edmonton is gone. One should act quickly to secure their spot as captain for fantasy points competition in Year 1. Seven players on last season’s Stanley Cup Champions finished among the Top 200 Fantasy Point Scorers; therefore it would not be unreasonable to expect continued performance from Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart as elite performers this season. Carter Verhaeghe and Sergei Bobrovsky should also be considered daily fantasy selections on your rosters, while Sam Bennett offers significant value with Gustav Forsling and Aaron Ekblad providing potential upside on defense. Adam Boqvist could emerge as a sleeper if he secures power-play time, making his presence on your team one to watch! Kick starting your league has never been simpler! Simply decide upon your league size, select keepers and invite friends – then begin playing right away! Register free today and become your team’s commissioner! With Drew Doughty out with an ankle fracture for several months now, rookie Brandt Clarke has skyrocketed up the fantasy rankings as his substitution on Sacramento Kings’ top power play unit. After amassing 46 points across 50 AHL Ontario Reign games this past season, 21-year-old Adrian Kempe will finally embark on his inaugural NHL campaign. A healthy Adrian Kempe can easily score 35-40 goals; team captain Anze Kopitar remains among fantasy hockey’s premier performers. Quinton Byfield should expand upon his 20 goals and 35 assists total last season while Darcy Kuemper may find more success with an improved defensive system than what Washington provided him. Kirill Kaprizov stands as an equal fantasy performer to any NHLer. Average scoring average: 2.9 per game in ESPN Standard competition, the Wild winger finished fifth overall for fantasy managers’ satisfaction after MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, McDavid and Nikita Kucherov in terms of value-for-dollar fantasy scoring potential. Mats Zuccarello – often underestimated – earned himself 51 assists and 33 power-play goals over 69 games last season alongside Kaprizov. Joel Eriksson Ek, as part of his second-line center duties, can score while also competing and winning faceoffs with linemate Matt Boldy who may reach double figures in point/game production this season. Sophomore defender Brock Faber will serve as captain of the club’s top power play after amassing 47 points during his initial full NHL campaign. Kirill Kaprizov scored against Chicago Blackhawks while Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky could make up one of the league’s premier lines this year. Mike Matheson may find his value diminish if Lane Hutson or another prospect emerges, yet Kaiden Guhle’s fantasy value should remain secure. Also don’t overlook Kirby Dach’s potential after missing nearly all of last season. Finally, will Steven Stamkos score another 40 goals from Nashville? How will Jonathan Marchessault fare in 2023-24 after potting 42 goals? Perhaps we can expect some depletion of these impressive totals? Tommy Novak should not be overlooked as an attractive fantasy performer should he become part of what would likely become an exciting second scoring line. Roman Josi is one of the premier fantasy defenders and top five goaltender Juuse Saros is poised to lead Tennessee into an offensive age that should see 48 goals and 46 assists from Filip Forsberg — leading him into Tennessee as an offensive threat with 48 goals and 46 assists for last season alone! If all goes according to plan for Tennessee’s Devils franchise under new coach Sheldon Keefe’s reign, four or six players could make up its top 50 or 100 fantasy point scorers – an indicator of tremendous potential that awaits Sheldon Keefe in Tennessee’s roster! Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier will lead their offense into battle this season while Dougie Hamilton remains healthy on defense. Jacob Markstrom provides reliable goaltending to ensure victory on more occasions. Luke Hughes will attempt to establish himself alongside Hamilton once fully recovered; Noah Dobson finished 17th overall for fantasy points last season and there are 10 Islanders returning among the Top 250 (only Dallas Stars have more). Brock Nelson, Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal provide reliable value, while Kyle Palmieri, Anders Lee Alexander Romanov Ryan Pulock Pageau Jean Gabriel Pageau are often included as variable lineup options. It will be important to see whether Ilya Sorokin continues his mediocre campaign or not! Are You Still Confident In Pekka Rinne As a Goaltender, Or Worried About His Recent Back Surgery?Editor’s Picks1 Related The Rangers made themselves famous through their powerful power play last season, making Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider and Adam Fox fantasy superstars. Igor Shesterkin is an elite goaltender capable of becoming one of the premier fantasy assets. No need to fret over Jacob Trouba’s “down” season as his counting stats remain invaluable; Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller each experienced breakthrough seasons last season and look to expand upon them this coming campaign. Follow reclamation winger Reilly Smith if he makes it back into the top six, while Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stutzle continue their fantasy dominance while Drake Batherson remains reliable but may face questions regarding his ability. Jake Sanderson may take advantage of an opening against Thomas Chabot but can he take full advantage of such an opportunity? Linus Ullmark won’t face off against the Bruins this time around, but are his team the Senators adequate? What are Josh Norris and Shane Pinto expected to achieve after less than 50 games played last season? Will Claude Giroux continue his decline at 37? Sanderson and Ullmark stand out among these uncertainties with high ceilings; four Flyers finished last season between 80th and 100th place for fantasy points; but with top rookie Matvei Michkov now joining, can any break into the elite league? Expect lineup adjustments that put Michkov in position for success, which might benefit Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Tyson Foerster Morgan Frost or Sean Couturier, but not necessarily all four at the same time. Draft your favorite players. Cam York and Jamie Drysdale both provide fantasy upside on defense while Travis Sanheim can add stability. Looking for something of a challenge? Try picking Cam York. Join an ESPN+ league and compete against some of the finest fantasy players! Sidney Crosby landed amongst the Top 50 of fantasy players last season; but more players could join her ranks this time around! Erik Karlsson could quickly return to elite status with improved power-play performance and Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin could become reliable starters, while Kris Letang still kept himself fantasy relevant with counting stats from reduced roles. Anthony Beauvillier, Kevin Hayes, and Rutger McGroarty represent rising talents with sleeper potential. Goaltending remains in doubt as Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic could both find value. Macklin Celebrini remains an attractive target in both dynasty and keeper leagues due to his potential 60+ point season debut in the NHL. Celebrini should be included as one of your top selections in any redraft league of larger size this season, alongside fellow rookie, second-line center Will Smith, as well as newly acquired Shark Tyler Toffoli, expected to compete on both No.1 line and power play units with Celebrini. As a fantasy sleeper, Jake Walman should not be ignored in deeper leagues where extra skater production matters. Additionally, Matty Beniers may make up ground after suffering through an ineffective sophomore campaign following winning his Calder Trophy award last season (2022-23) Jared McCann should reach 60 points without issue this season after recording 40 in 2017. Brandon Montour, on the other hand, takes over leading his new squad’s power play unit as its leader. Florida export Jordan Binnington stands out as an impressive fantasy performer on an otherwise-co-op team that operates by committee. After enjoying an uptick following three-year slump, Binnington returned as top-10 fantasy total in conventional ESPN Fantasy leagues this past season – much to his manager’s delight! Question is, can he repeat that success in an extremely tough Central Division? But beyond their top line of Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Jake Neighbours – their value diminishing in order – Pavel Buchnevich and Brayden Schenn provide enough production in deeper competition to matter; Colton Parayko led all defenders with 218 blocked shots last season! Physical defensemen also help contribute to scoring! Your league should run according to your specifications – choose its size, customize scoring rules and set custom rules so it suits you as an enjoyable fantasy hockey experience! Create your free custom league!
Assuming Andrei Vasilevskiy makes a timely recovery after surgery, the Bolts could feature three top-25 fantasy players – Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point and Vasilevskiy himself. Victor Hedman will lead their dangerous power play unit while Jake Guentzel falls just outside this range. Brandon Hagel and Cam Atkinson provide potential upside for fantasy scoring while Anthony Cirelli and Nicholas Paul can rely on lower-tier reliability as low-end contributors. Notably, Toronto Leafs could become one of only a few teams where five skaters reach 200 fantasy points at any one time making them extremely top heavy in this respect. Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly are the only players guaranteed early draft consideration. However, they could provide significant additional value: Matthew Knies can aim for top-line minutes; Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe may increase their physical play to increase totals while Joseph Woll or Anthony Stolarz could seize their chance in net. Meanwhile in Arizona Clayton Keller has quietly averaged nearly one point/game these past three seasons with several counting with extra skater. Logan Cooley is one of the team’s premier fantasy performers and also likes to get shots on goal. Now entering his second year with the organization, Cooley hopes to up his game after scoring 20 goals and 24 assists as a rookie last season. Former Lightning forward Mikhail Sergachev now serves as their No. 1. Sean Durzi will now no longer hold down the No. 1 fantasy defenseman position or power play role; in its place could come Connor Ingram. Connor Ingram could make for an ideal No. 1. Utah could end up winning more games than many anticipate and Arturs Silovs may become one of the top three goaltenders for deeper leagues if that scenario materializes. Unfortunately, Thatcher Demko suffered an extensive knee injury which has restricted his availability thus far in 2024-25, meaning Arturs Silovs now serves as one of the more competitive Western squads between the pipes. Fantasy managers need to keep an open mind as 23-year-old Dmitri Silovs remains relatively unknown and could either quickly emerge as an asset, or struggle. Should Silovs struggle early on, Kevin Lankinen might see more action right away as Silovs may need assistance to perform properly. Jake DeBrusk should experience an outstanding season playing alongside Elias Pettersson for fantasy points this year, while multi-dimensional forward J.T. Miller should enjoy success scoring goals as well. Miller and Hughes bring tremendous fantasy value to any roster in ESPN Standard leagues, especially for keeper leagues. Jake DeBrusk seals Canucks win with empty net goalRemember when Victor Olofsson would score for the Sabres? Well it hasn’t happened for some time. Jack Eichel will soon provide him with an opportunity to unleash his full creative potential as team captain. Tomas Hertl is ready to step into his full role as a five-on-five and power play scorer, following an early taste last season where he collected four points in six contests with just one playoff goal. Noah Hanifin should see significant minutes with an extra skater while veteran Alex Pietrangelo excels at fantasy competitions that incorporate blocked shots scoring categories as part of scoring categories. Goaltending tandem Adin Hill and Ilya Samsonov hope to steal as many starts from each other as possible. Fantasy watchers should pay special attention to Washington Capitals retooling around Alex Ovechkin, including John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy who were all top 100 fantasy players during last season. Dylan Strome has proven a solid partner to Alexander Ovechkin as Ovechkin’s pivot, while Tom Wilson continues his productive ways. Pierre-Luc Dubois, Andrew Mangiapane and (perhaps Jakub Vrana) seek to recapture past form. Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson could make for solid goaltenders on this team; though their combined efforts might limit each other’s value. Kyle Connor can often score 40 goals when healthy while Mark Scheifele remains one of the league’s premier fantasy centers. Gabriel Vilardi may surpass 70 points for the first time ever if fully fit, while Cole Perfetti seems ready to step it up on Winnipeg’s second line and power play; both deserve spots in deeper fantasy leagues. Josh Morrissey remains one of the Jets top 10 defenseman defenders before legit fantasy superstar, Connor Hellebuyck.