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 an overview of this fantasy hockey season!

Fantasy Hockey Player Outlook

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)

Brent Burns, D, Colorado Avalanche, Rostered-57.7%

            Veteran defender Brent Burns has found a new lease on life in Colorado. With eight points already on the year, combined with his high shot volume, Burns has become a relevant fantasy option once again. In larger leagues, he’s worth a pickup in free agency.

Simon Nemec, D, New Jersey Devils, Rostered-8.7%

            Former second overall pick Simon Nemec has struggled to find his footing in the NHL thus far. However, injuries on the back end for the Devils have given him an opportunity on the team’s top pair. Nemec has taken this opportunity and run with it early on. He’s coming off a hat-trick against the Blackhawks and has 12 points in 17 games overall. As a result, expect his ownership to skyrocket.

Young Players to Build Off (Young players off to hot starts)

Matthew Wood, RW, Nashville Predators, Rostered-9.3%

The Nashville Predators offense has been nonexistent over the last two seasons. Despite this, rookie Matthew Wood has been finding success early on. He has 10 points in only 11 games to begin his career. He is currently on the third line and the second power-play unit. However, with his teammates struggling, Wood could move up the lineup with continued success.

Beckett Sennecke, RW, Anaheim Ducks, Rostered-12.2%

            To begin the year, it was unclear whether rookie Beckett Sennecke would be a mainstay on the team this season. However, he has been a vital part of the Ducks top six early on. Moreover, he has thrust himself into Calder discussions. In larger leagues, he has become a relevant fantasy option.

Buy-Now Players (You should trade for these players as soon as possible)

Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks, Rostered-87.2%

            The youth movement is in full effect in Anaheim, and Leo Carlsson is at the forefront of that. He finds himself amongst the league leaders in the NHL in only his third season. With 26 points already on the year, he has become a valuable fantasy player. Managers should attempt to trade for him now before he becomes an untouchable. If you own Carlsson, especially in a keeper league, hold onto him at all costs.

Brad Marchand, LW, Florida Panthers, Rostered-91.7%

            With all the injuries that the Florida Panthers have faced early on, veteran forward Brad Marchand has been carrying the load offensively. Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov are still without a certain timetable for their return, and this bodes well for Marchand, who is currently among the league leaders in goals. Managers should look at trading for him as soon as possible.

Steer Clear (Players you should avoid in fantasy leagues, or trade immediately if you own them)

Frank Nazar, C, Chicago Blackhawks, Rostered-58.9%

            Frank Nazar had a blistering hot start to his 2025-26 season and has been one of the main reasons for the Blackhawks success early on. However, he has cooled off considerably in recent games. He had been held pointless in his last five, before missing the most recent two contests with an injury. Nazar has come back down to earth and the Hawks as a whole will likely follow suit. Managers should extract any value they can out of Nazar in the short-term.

Carter Verhaeghe, LW, Florida Panthers, Rostered-68.9%

            Without his running mate Aleksander Barkov centering him, Carter Verhaeghe has struggled to find the offense we have come to expect from him. He has just two goals and eight points thus far. Verhaeghe isn’t a player who drives his own offense like Marchand. Without Barkov, don’t expect his production to return to his usual form. Owners should trade him away as soon as possible.

NHL Team Outlooks

Analyzing the upcoming week’s schedule and looking 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 NHL team outlook for the upcoming week.

*Note: This week’s analysis runs from Nov 14-20. The weekly fantasy matchup runs from Nov 17-23. Teams that play more games during the week/matchup often gain favor in the schedule analysis.

Matchup Favorites (These teams will pay dividends in the coming games.)

Anaheim Ducks

          The Ducks have been flying high and find themselves amongst the top teams in the league. The youth movement coupled with new coaching has them surprising everyone early on. Expect them to keep riding the momentum during their upcoming homestand.

Detroit Red Wings

          The Red Wings have had an inconsistent start to the year and as a result, find themselves just outside the playoff picture. They have a favorable schedule during their upcoming homestand and have a golden opportunity to improve their position in the standings.

Utah Mammoth

          The Mammoth have been reeling a bit since their hot start to the season. However, they have a chance to turn things around during their upcoming games. Expect the Mammoth to return to their early-season form and pay dividends in the coming games.

Matchup Killers (Avoid players from these teams at all costs in the upcoming games.)

Nashville Predators

          The Predators have struggled over the last two seasons to find anything offensively. Many of their players have become less than reliable fantasy options. With only two games against the high-flying Penguins upcoming, avoid the Predators at all costs.

Ottawa Senators

          The Senators have found themselves in the top three of the Atlantic Division despite a poor start to their year. However, they don’t have much opportunity to improve upon their standing due to a very thin upcoming schedule.

Philadelphia Flyers

          The Flyers have performed above expectations as they currently sit in a wild card position. However, they face a big upcoming test as they head into Dallas to take on the Stars. This could be the beginning of the Flyers slow descent back down the standings.

*For more hockey and fantasy coverage, follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @Cdesjardins67