Fantasy Hockey Strategies: Tapping Into NHL’s Top Scoring Lines

By Sean Allen

While individual brilliance is undeniably valuable, a player`s fantasy hockey prospects are often profoundly shaped by the teammates they share the ice with. Even elite talents like Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov benefit immensely from strong line chemistry, highlighting that understanding team dynamics is as crucial as individual skill for accurate fantasy projections.

Imagine a unique fantasy league where instead of drafting individual players, you select entire forward lines or defensive pairings. In this scenario, points are only awarded when all members of a chosen unit are on the ice together at even strength. Although our standard fantasy leagues operate differently, this concept effectively illustrates which lines and pairs are gelling and producing at the outset of the season.

Below, we present a compilation of the top forward lines, ranked by their cumulative fantasy points, specifically accounting for production when all three members are playing together at even strength:

The strategy here is straightforward: integrate players from these high-performing lines into your roster whenever possible. Artturi Lehkonen, still widely available in 60% of leagues, represents an excellent initial target. Sean Monahan (73.0% available) and Andrei Kuzmenko (81.7% available) also offer accessible avenues to tap into these potent offensive units.

The Chicago Blackhawks` line should be broadly available, with all three members also seeing power-play time alongside Connor Bedard.

In more competitive leagues, the fantasy value of players like Justin Brazeau and Anthony Mantha will largely fluctuate with Evgeni Malkin`s often inconsistent but high-ceiling performance.

However, a particularly intriguing pick is Zack Bolduc (C, Montreal Canadiens, available in 40.3% of leagues). His even-strength line, featuring veteran Brendan Gallagher and a healthy Kirby Dach, has consistently accrued fantasy points across all standard categories. Furthermore, when considering all situations, the Canadiens` top power-play unit—composed of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Bolduc—has already garnered 12.8 fantasy points.

This means Bolduc is part of two distinct top-20 fantasy lines early in the season. His presence on the top power-play unit wasn`t a pre-season certainty, with rookie Ivan Demidov also vying for that role. Nevertheless, Bolduc`s proven track record of power-play production, notably late last season with the St. Louis Blues, positions him as a valuable specialist.

For defensive pairings, the analysis differs slightly. While strong chemistry remains beneficial, individual point contributions are generally more modest, and the “trickle-down” effect to less prominent players is less pronounced. For example, Brandon Carlo isn`t a required fantasy roster addition solely because he forms a top-10 defensive duo with Morgan Rielly. Yet, some valuable defensemen for deeper league rosters do emerge:

Nils Lundkvist, Martin Fehervary, Mario Ferraro, and Nikita Zadorov all present strong cases for roster inclusion in deeper fantasy leagues.

Perhaps the most actionable insight here pertains to Shayne Gostisbehere, whose increased ice time and effective partnership with Alexander Nikishin are significantly boosting his overall statistics. While Gostisbehere was often deployed in sheltered 5-on-5 situations by the Hurricanes last season, his current pairing is proving exceptionally productive. Beyond their high fantasy point contribution as a duo, the Hurricanes have scored five goals and allowed only one when this pair is on the ice—the best goal differential in the NHL for any defensive unit.

Gostisbehere is available in 40.7% of leagues, with Nikishin available in 89.5%.

Goalie Notes

Early in the season, drawing firm conclusions about goaltending performance is challenging due to limited data. Beyond a few notable injuries, the overall landscape for netminders remains largely undefined. However, we will continue to track developments using our consistent weekly format.

Colorado Avalanche in four games:

• Scott Wedgewood (Crease share season/week: 100.0%/100.0%, Fantasy points season/week: 19.4/19.4, 50.7% available): Scott Wedgewood has impressed early, demonstrating his ability to contend for playing time. While Mackenzie Blackwood is expected to reclaim the starting role upon his return from injury, Wedgewood retains value in daily lineup formats, likely maintaining around a 35% crease share.

Detroit Red Wings in three games:

• Cam Talbot (Crease share season/week: 79.3%/79.3%, Fantasy points season/week: 10.4/10.4, 90.1% available): The Red Wings` goaltending situation has taken an unexpected turn. Cam Talbot has emerged as a must-roster option overnight, despite John Gibson`s early struggles. The team`s improved performance suggests Talbot could be a valuable asset.
• John Gibson (Crease share season/week: 20.7%/20.7%, Fantasy points season/week: -8.4/-8.4, 76.8% available): Gibson’s start has been awkward, and while it’s too early to definitively dismiss him, Talbot’s strong performance is currently overshadowing his own.

Montreal Canadiens in three games:

• Sam Montembeault (Crease share season/week: 66.3%/66.3%, Fantasy points season/week: 2.4/2.4, 19.8% available): This goaltending duo has enjoyed a rock-solid start to the season.
• Jakub Dobes (Crease share season/week: 33.6%/33.6%, Fantasy points season/week: 8.0/8.0, 94.2% available): Dobes continues to deliver strong performances whenever called upon. It will be important to monitor how starts are divided in the coming weeks; if Dobes` share consistently rises above 40%, he becomes a more attractive pickup.

Utah Mammoth in three games:

• Karel Vejmelka (Crease share season/week: 66.9%/66.9%, Fantasy points season/week: 5.0/5.0, 65.7% available): With Vitek Vanecek having already played on Monday, Karel Vejmelka is poised to potentially start all three of the Mammoth’s remaining games this week. Facing opponents like the Flames, Sharks, and Bruins could significantly alter his availability percentage from its current level.
• Vitek Vanecek (Crease share season/week: 33.1%/33.1%, Fantasy points season/week: -1.8/-1.8, 99.0% available): Vanecek’s initial outings this season have been challenging.

Power-Play Notes

• Leo Carlsson, C, Anaheim Ducks (available in 76.7%): Carlsson is a central figure in the Ducks` offensive attack, holding a prime role on their power-play unit. Anaheim has been aggressively generating shots on their opponents so far this season.
• Sean Monahan, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (available in 73.0%): Monahan is helping to drive the Blue Jackets` top power-play unit, logging significant ice time (3:24 per game) with the man advantage. This, combined with his top-line role at 5-on-5, solidifies his case as a strong early-season waiver wire addition.
• Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks (available in 80.0%): Chicago`s top power-play unit has struggled to generate shots on goal, managing only five shots in over 11 minutes of power-play time. If their performance doesn`t improve soon, Rinzel is the most likely candidate to be swapped out for a fresh look, with Artyom Levshunov and power-play specialist Matt Grzelcyk waiting in the wings.
• David Tomasek, RW, Edmonton Oilers (available in 99.3%): While Tomasek may not have a substantial 5-on-5 role, his consistent presence on Edmonton`s highly productive first power-play unit offers potential fantasy value. This unit has already scored two goals through two games and is generating numerous scoring chances.
• Anton Lundell, LW, Florida Panthers (available in 34.1%): Lundell is a crucial addition across all fantasy formats, having recorded three power-play points in four games. The Panthers` second power-play unit, where Lundell plays, has been exceptionally effective, surprisingly outscoring the first unit in less than half the ice time.
• Zeev Buium, D, Minnesota Wild (available in 62.9%): With two additional power-play goals on Monday, the Wild`s top unit has now amassed six for the season (with a seventh coming when Marco Rossi filled in for Vladimir Tarasenko). This group is incredibly productive, making Buium a must-roster player based solely on his power-play contributions.
• Dougie Hamilton, D, New Jersey Devils (available in 14.9%): Following an adjustment to their power-play units, the Devils swapped Dawson Mercer and Luke Hughes off the first unit, replacing them with Timo Meier and Dougie Hamilton on Monday. This change immediately yielded results, with the top unit scoring its first goal with the man advantage.
• Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning (available in 79.1%): Bjorkstrand remains a fixture on the Lightning`s first power-play unit, an apparent effort to boost its offensive punch, while Brandon Hagel skates with the second group. His fantasy value would be significantly enhanced if he could secure a top-six role at 5-on-5.

Droppable Players to Monitor

It`s still too early in the campaign for definitive `must-drop` decisions, and players experiencing slow starts may still rebound. However, another week or two of consistently weak production will necessitate making difficult choices. In the interim, here are a few names and early ice-time trends worth monitoring closely:

• Frank Vatrano, RW, Anaheim Ducks (rostered in 76.5%): 12:14 TOI per game, 1.2 FPPG
• Adam Fantilli, C, Columbus Blue Jackets (rostered in 95.3%): 15:40 TOI per game, 1.6 FPPG
• Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche (rostered in 68.3%): 13:51 TOI per game, 0.5 FPPG
• Ivan Demidov, RW, Montreal Canadiens (rostered in 49.3%): 13:15 TOI per game, 0.4 FPPG
• Matvei Michkov, RW, Philadelphia Flyers (rostered in 87.3%): 14:25 TOI per game, 0.1 FPPG
• Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks (rostered in 97.6%): 15:57 TOI per game, 1.5 FPPG

Elias Pettersson`s ice time falling below 16 minutes per game is particularly noteworthy and will warrant close observation in the coming weeks.