MORE FANTASY COVERAGE
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Anaheim Ducks: Wing Chris Kreider, acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers during the offseason, has opened training camp in the Ducks’ top six with center Leo Carlsson and wing Troy Terry. Forward Mikael Granlund, who signed with Anaheim during the offseason after spending last season with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, is starting at center on a line with wings Cutter Gauthier and Alex Killorn. Kreider (ADP: 170.0) and Granlund (ADP: 182.8) are potential fantasy draft bargains with a change of scenery.
Buffalo Sabres: Wing Zach Benson has opened training camp on the top line with elite goal-scorer Tage Thompson and center Josh Norris. Benson, who is going undrafted on average in fantasy, has breakout potential and could see extended top-six usage after the Sabres traded JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth during the offseason. Norris, a bounce-back candidate, also is being undrafted on average in fantasy. It’s worth noting wing Alex Tuch (undisclosed) and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (lower body) are day to day.
Carolina Hurricanes: Rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin has opened training camp on the top pair with veteran Shayne Gostisbehere. It’s worth noting forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who signed with the Hurricanes during the offseason, is playing on the top line with Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis and also the first power play with Aho, Jarvis, Andrei Svechnikov and Gostisbehere (ADP: 128.7). Ehlers is worth prioritizing in fantasy drafts inside the top 100 overall (90.8). Nikishin, meanwhile, has the highest fantasy ADP (105.8) among rookie defensemen, ahead of Zayne Parekh of the Calgary Flames (139.3) and Zeev Buium of the Minnesota Wild (143.5).
Colorado Avalanche: Forward Gabriel Landeskog is healthy for training camp and skating on the second line with center Brock Nelson and wing Artturi Lehkonen; Landeskog had four points (one goal, three assists) in five games during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs after returning from a long-term knee injury. It’s worth noting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood (undisclosed) is week to week but is hopeful for the start of the season. Backup Scott Wedgewood (ADP: 187.5) is worth rostering in fantasy, especially as a handcuff after taking Blackwood (26.9) in the early rounds.
Edmonton Oilers: Wing Zach Hyman (wrist) will not be available for the start of the season but is targeting Nov. 1 for his return. Elite forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are expected to play on the same line to begin this season, and wing Trent Frederic is expected to see time on that unit in the preseason. Frederic is not being drafted on average in fantasy and has deep sleeper potential in late round or off the waiver wire.
Florida Panthers: Elite wing Matthew Tkachuk will miss the start of the season because of a lower-body injury and likely is out until December. Tkachuk (ADP: 45.5) is worth selecting in mid-to-late rounds and stashing on injured reserve. Panthers center Aleksander Barkov was helped off the ice on Thursday favoring his right leg. Barkov’s fantasy ADP was 55.8 prior to the injury.
Montreal Canadiens: Center Kirby Dach (knee surgery) has been skating with Ivan Demidov and Patrik Laine at training camp. Demidov (ADP: 132.8) is the frontrunner for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year and worth reaching for anytime outside the top 100 in redraft leagues. Laine (ADP: 170.3) is a bounce-back candidate; Dach is a deep sleeper going undrafted on average in fantasy.
New Jersey Devils: Elite center Jack Hughes (shoulder surgery) is taking part in training camp and skating on a line with wings Jesper Bratt and offseason addition Evgenii Dadonov. Hughes is being drafted among the top 20 overall players in fantasy (ADP: 19.0), while Dadonov is a deep sleeper going undrafted on average.
New York Islanders: Defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, had an assist, five shots on goal and played 24:39 in his preseason debut against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday. Wings Maxim Shabanov (rookie) and Jonathan Drouin are skating on the top line with center Bo Horvat. Both Shabanov and Drouin are deep sleepers that are going undrafted on average in fantasy. Horvat, who is healthy after sustaining an ankle injury during the 2025 IIHF World Championship, is a potential draft bargain (ADP: 150.2). Wing Anders Lee (upper body) is expected to be out 1-2 weeks.
New York Rangers: Forward Mika Zibanejad said he will start the season at wing on a line with center J.T. Miller and wing Alexis Lafreniere; Miller and Zibanejad factored on the same goal 15 times in 32 games after Miller was acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks last season. Zibanejad is a fantasy bounce-back candidate attainable outside the top 100 overall (ADP: 134.5).
Ottawa Senators: Wing Drake Batherson (upper body) is expected to be out for two weeks and uncertain for the start of the season. Wing Fabian Zetterlund took Batherson’s spot at right wing on the second line at practice with center Dylan Cozens and wing David Perron. Zetterlund, who has scored 43 goals over the past two seasons combined, is a fantasy breakout candidate who’s going undrafted on average.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Rookie wing Ville Koivunen has opened training camp in a top-six role and is currently skating on the second line with center Evgeni Malkin. Koivunen, who had seven assists in eight games last season, is going undrafted on average in fantasy. It’s worth noting rookie forward Rutger McGroarty (upper body) is out indefinitely, while veteran defenseman Kris Letang (heart surgery) is taking part in training camp.
San Jose Sharks: Forward Will Smith said he’ll mostly play wing this season, which could mean more exposure to elite center Macklin Celebrini and/or touted rookie Michael Misa, the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Misa played 17:40 in his preseason debut against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday and was on the ice for two of the Sharks three goals skating at center on mostly the second line with wing Tyler Toffoli. Smith’s fantasy ADP is 173.3, while Misa is being selected at 190.0 on average. Rookie defenseman Sam Dickinson, who’s skating on the first power play with Celebrini, Smith, Toffoli and William Eklund, has a fantasy ADP of 189.0.
St. Louis Blues: Defenseman Logan Mailloux, acquired in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens during the offseason, had one assist and played 25:29 against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. The 22-year-old has five points (two goals, three assists) in eight NHL games over the past two seasons with the Canadiens. Mailloux, who could see time on the Blues second power play, is a rookie to watch and is going undrafted on average.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Forward Matias Maccelli, acquired in a trade with Utah during the offseason, has opened training camp on the top line with elite center Auston Matthews and wing Matthew Knies. Maccelli, who is going undrafted on average in fantasy, has bounce-back appeal upon joining the Maple Leafs considering his strong assist (40) and point (57) totals with the Arizona Coyotes in 2023-24.
Utah Mammoth: Forward JJ Peterka, acquired in a trade with Buffalo during the offseason, has opened training camp on the top line with center Logan Cooley and wing Dylan Guenther. Peterka, who has an ADP of 126.3, should be considered a full-fledged breakout candidate after he set NHL career highs in points (68) and assists (41) in 77 games with the Sabres last season. UPDATE: Cooley is day to day with an undisclosed injury, and Barrett Hayton is filling in on the top line. Hayton, a fantasy breakout candidate who’s going undrafted on average in fantasy, was tied for eighth in high-danger shots on goal (93) last season, per NHL EDGE stats.