Welcome back to another year of fantasy with Dobber Hockey! With the NHL season underway, this also means fantasy managers are in the midst of their league season.
Whether you are scanning the waiver wire for possible adds, or scouring the trade market, we have the information you need. Managers, let’s take a look at this fantasy hockey season!
Fantasy Hockey Player Outlook
Taking a look at which players you should be targeting in your league’s fantasy season. Who can be had on the waiver wire, and who should you avoid picking up? Take a look at our fantasy hockey players’ outlook for the upcoming week.
*Note: All stats are courtesy of ESPN Fantasy Hockey.
Early Season Adds (Claim these players on the waiver wire)
Matty Beniers, C, Seattle Kraken, Rostered-19%
Seattle Kraken centerman and second overall pick Matty Beniers is coming off a disappointing couple of campaigns. Beniers won the Calder as rookie of the year back in 2022-23 after notching 57 points but has disappointed since. With three points in his first four games this season, he may be worth the gamble on waivers. He is rostered in only one-fifth of fantasy leagues and could provide sneaky value for managers.
Aliaksei Protas, RW, Washington Capitals, Rostered-53%
After bursting on the scene last season, it’s surprising to see the lack of ownership for Protas early on. He is coming off a 30-goal campaign and already has five points in his first four games this season. He should find similar success this year in a top-six role for the Capitals. If he is available on the waiver wire, managers should be rushing to claim him.
Young Players to Build Off (Young players starting off hot)
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues, Rostered-22%
Snuggerud is a dark horse for the Calder Trophy this season. Not only does he have immense goal-scoring potential, but he is also being given a prominent role early on for St. Louis. He found himself on the Blues’ top line alongside Robert Thomas early on, as well as being a fixture on the number one power play unit. The Blues have juggled their lines, but Snuggerud should still be well surrounded by talented forwards at five on five. His goal-scoring potential makes him worthy of a waiver claim in larger league formats.
Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders, Rostered-61%
The 2025 first overall pick, Matthew Schaefer, has come out of the gate hot for the Islanders. He has already registered his first professional goal, as well as adding three assists in his first four contests. He is already the Islanders best defenseman, and is being used as such. His ownership has skyrocketed since the start of the season, and if he is still available, managers should claim him immediately. Schaefer will be one of the rookies who surpasses the nine-game mark and will be in Calder contention.
Buy-Now Players (You should trade for these players as soon as possible)
Zachary Bolduc, LW, Montreal Canadiens, Rostered-63%
Quebec native Zachary Bolduc is off to a hot start for his hometown team. The sophomore forward was acquired by the Canadiens this offseason after a strong rookie campaign. He has immediately been given top-six minutes and is on a loaded Canadiens top power-play unit. He scored in each of his first three contests and added an assist. Fantasy managers are taking notice of Bolduc’s hot start, so now is the time to buy some stock in the young forward.
Anton Lundell, C, Florida Panthers, Rostered-73%
Panthers forward Anton Lundell has been the team’s third-line center for several seasons, simply due to the depth ahead of him. However, Florida’s captain and MVP, Aleksander Barkov, is out for the season. This has thrust Lundell into a top-six center role. While nobody can replace Barkov, Lundell is in line for a monster breakout campaign in his absence. With Sam Bennett struggling out of the gate, we may see Lundell on the top line and top power play sooner rather than later.
Steer Clear (Players you should avoid in fantasy leagues, or trade immediately if you own them)
Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche, Rostered-64%
Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has missed three straight seasons with an injury that seemed likely to end his career. Despite this, he came into last year’s playoffs and was one of the team’s most productive players. Some rust was to be expected, but after his playoff success, he seemed like a solid bet to hit the ground running this season. However, Landeskog was held pointless through the team’s first four contests before registering an assist on Thursday night. He doesn’t play on the Avalanche’s top line and doesn’t receive much time on the man advantage. Fantasy managers should sell their stock in Landeskog while they still can.
Brock Faber, D, Minnesota Wild, Rostered-88%
Brock Faber may be a surprising addition to this list, however, his appearance is not without reason. Faber has been held pointless in his team’s first four contests. He registered a career high of 47 points last season but has now found himself off both power-play units. Rookie Zeev Buium has taken over that role and is showing no signs of slowing down after his hot start. While managers shouldn’t drop Faber, trading him before his stock drops further would be the smart bet.
NHL Team Outlooks
Let’s analyze the upcoming week’s schedule and looki at which NHL teams are expected to have a strong week and who will be in tough. Which teams’ players should you be buying stock in, and which teams should you avoid at all costs? Take a peek at the outlook for the upcoming week.
*Note: This week’s analysis runs from October 17-23. The weekly Fantasy Matchup runs from Oct 20-26. Teams that play more games during the week/matchup often gain favor in the schedule analysis.
Favorites of the Week (These teams will pay dividends in the coming games. Friday-Thursday)
Utah Mammoth
The Mammoth have had a respectable start to their season, going 2-2 thus far. However, the next seven days is an opportunity for them to leapfrog some teams in the standings. They find themselves on a three game homestand before heading to St. Louis to play their fourth game. They play host to Boston, San Jose, and Colorado. Despite Boston’s strong start, on paper this should be a favorable matchup for the Mammoth. Utah should pay dividends for managers in the coming games.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks are off to a modest start to their 2025-26 campaign, posting a 2-2 record over their first four contests. Expect their fortunes to change this week, however. The Canucks take off on a four-game road trip over the next seven days. However, three of these contests come against weaker teams in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Nashville. Furthermore, Vancouver won’t face any back to backs. The next few games should give them an opportunity to vault up the standings. Fantasy managers should capitalize on the Canucks weaker schedule.
Expected to Struggle (Avoid players on these teams in the coming games at all costs. Friday-Thursday)
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus will only play twice in the next seven days, both games coming against tough opponents. They play host to the Tampa Bay Lightning before heading on the road to Dallas to take on the Stars. None of this bodes well for the struggling Blue Jackets. Furthermore, it doesn’t bode well for fantasy mangers who have stock in the team this week.
Vegas Golden Knights
Much like Columbus, the Golden Knights only play two games during the next seven days. They will face both the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche. Both these clubs have started off the season very differently. Colorado is atop the NHL standings boasting a 4-0-1 record, while Calgary has fallen to 1-4 on the year. There is still some fantasy upside for the Knights, as both contests are at home, and the Flames have been struggling. However, with only two games on the slate, it makes them an unreliable fantasy option in the coming days.
Teams to Target in Weekly Matchups (Players on these squads will be productive in your weekly matchup. Monday-Sunday)
New Jersey Devils
The Devils have started this season on a hot note, going 3-1 with wins over Columbus, Florida, and Tampa Bay. They should pay dividends for fantasy managers in their weekly matchups as they play four games, including three at home. They face some tough matchups in Toronto, Minnesota, and Colorado, but they also play host to the struggling San Jose Sharks. New Jersey won’t have to endure any back-to-backs, so their top guns should still be productive during this stretch, despite the fierce competition.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have four games themselves during their upcoming week. While they do have to go on the road to face the Devils, they should be favored in their other three matchups. They face both San Jose and the New York Rangers, as well as Utah. The Wild power play has been firing on all cylinders to begin the year. Expect Minnesota’s star players to continue to dominate during this weekly matchup.
Teams to Avoid in Weekly Matchups (Players on these squads will ruin your weekly matchup. Monday-Sunday)
Chicago Blackhawks
While the Blackhawks have been more competitive to begin the year, their overall roster hasn’t improved much. As a result, they’re still expected to be amongst the bottom teams in the NHL. They currently hold a respectable 2-2-1 record through their first five games. However, this week looks to be a tough one for Chicago in fantasy. They play only two games, one at home and one on the road. They will be facing the Lightning and the Los Angeles Kings, two much deeper rosters, and the Blackhawks have very few relevant fantasy options to begin with. With only two games on the card during the weekly matchup, steer clear of Chicago as a whole.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are one of the NHL’s top teams and will be looking to challenge for the Presidents’ Trophy. However, they play three road games during this stretch. All three will be against top contenders in Vegas, Colorado, and Dallas. Carolina would be lucky to come out with a win or two during this tough stretch. This is a rare time when fantasy managers should be avoiding the Hurricanes in their matchups.
Relative Schedule and Best/Worst Bets for October 17-23
Relative Schedule and Best/Worst Bets for October 20-26
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