NHL Power Rankings: Fantasy hockey pickups for all 32...

Match Overview

The NHL regular season continues at a rapid pace, with shifting top-six line combinations and special teams power-play reassignments altering player valuations across fantasy hockey leagues.

Fantasy managers seeking deep-league upgrades, injury replacements, or streaming options must evaluate concrete usage metrics, including Average Time On Ice (ATOI), Power-Play Points (PPP), and Shots On Goal (SOG).

Below is the definitive data-backed waiver pickup for all 32 NHL teams, categorized by division to maximize roster efficiency and fantasy standings impact.

Key Stats & Facts

• League Average Scoring: Teams are averaging 3.12 goals per game, with power-play conversions at 21.4%.
• Shooting Volume Target: Players averaging 2.5+ SOG per game yield a 34% higher fantasy conversion rate over a three-week window.
• Ice Time Threshold: Top waiver wire priority is given to players logging over 16:00 ATOI or holding top-unit power-play (PP1) status.
• Special Teams Conversion: Top-10 NHL power-play units score at a 24.8% clip, driving primary fantasy value via PP1 deployments.

Player Spotlight & Standings Impact

Atlantic Division

• Boston Bruins: Morgan Geekie (C/RW) – 15G, 12A, 15:42 ATOI. Currently skating on L1 alongside David Pastrnak, boosting his 5v5 point production rate.
• Buffalo Sabres: JJ Peterka (LW/RW) – 20G, 18A, 163 SOG. High-volume shooter generating top-six 5v5 goal scoring metrics.
• Detroit Red Wings: Patrick Kane (RW) – 14G, 22A in 35 GP. Quarterbacking PP1 with an 18:15 ATOI, offering elite power-play point upside.
• Florida Panthers: Anton Lundell (C) – 8G, 21A, +14 rating. Sees increased usage and high defensive zone start transitions into secondary scoring.
• Montreal Canadiens: Juraj Slafkovsky (LW) – 13G, 18A, 105 Hits. Locked into L1 and PP1, providing dual-category production in goals and physical stats.
• Ottawa Senators: Shane Pinto (C) – 7G, 10A in 22 GP, 54.2 FO%. Delivers high faceoff win totals paired with steady second-line center production.
• Tampa Bay Lightning: Darren Raddysh (D) – 5G, 19A, 88 Blocked Shots. Securing D1 minutes with consistent peripheral stats in blocks and shots.
• Toronto Maple Leafs: Bobby McMann (LW) – 11G, 7A, 82 Hits. High-efficiency scoring winger posting a 14.8% shooting percentage in middle-six deployment.

Metropolitan Division

• Carolina Hurricanes: Jack Drury (C) – 8G, 14A, 52.8 FO%. Consistent third-line value with upside in faceoff-heavy fantasy formats.
• Columbus Blue Jackets: Kirill Marchenko (RW) – 17G, 15A, 132 SOG. Leads team in 5v5 goal rate and maintains high SOG volume.
• New Jersey Devils: Simon Nemec (D) – 3G, 14A, 20:12 ATOI. Logging heavy blue-line minutes with consistent blocked shots and assist floor.
• New York Islanders: Kyle MacLean (C) – 4G, 5A, 61 Hits. Solid category streamer for hits and faceoff percentage.
• New York Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere (LW/RW) – 17G, 19A, 148 SOG. Career-high 5v5 point rate playing alongside Artemi Panarin.
• Philadelphia Flyers: Tyson Foerster (C/RW) – 16G, 9A, 102 SOG. Top-six winger offering immediate goal-scoring value with heavy shot counts.
• Pittsburgh Penguins: Valtteri Puustinen (RW) – 4G, 12A, 52 SOG. Operating on PP2 with a stable 14:10 ATOI.
• Washington Capitals: Hendrix Lapierre (C) – 7G, 8A, 51.4 FO%. Centering the second line with elevated offensive zone usage.

Central Division

• Utah Hockey Club: Dylan Guenther (RW) – 11G, 11A in 30 GP, 72 SOG. High-end trigger man with elite PP1 placement.
• Chicago Blackhawks: Philipp Kurashev (C/LW) – 14G, 28A, 19:05 ATOI. Primary benefactor skating on Connor Bedard’s top line.
• Colorado Avalanche: Jonathan Drouin (LW/RW) – 12G, 26A, 14 PPP. Locked into PP1 and top-line deployment alongside Nathan MacKinnon.
• Dallas Stars: Logan Stankoven (C/RW) – 5G, 8A in 12 GP, 31 SOG. Instant top-six impact with a high 15:45 ATOI for a rookie.
• Minnesota Wild: Marco Rossi (C) – 17G, 18A, 50.1 FO%. Top-six center offering multi-category value in goals and faceoff wins.
• Nashville Predators: Luke Evangelista (RW) – 13G, 19A, 118 SOG. Middle-six playmaker experiencing increased power-play time.
• St. Louis Blues: Jake Neighbours (LW/RW) – 22G, 8A, 102 Hits. Exceptional net-front power-play scoring option with heavy hit totals.
• Winnipeg Jets: Gabriel Vilardi (C/RW) – 16G, 15A in 47 GP, 8 PPP. Top-unit net-front operator delivering elite power-play efficiency.

Pacific Division

• Anaheim Ducks: Pavel Mintyukov (D) – 4G, 22A, 18:40 ATOI. High-upside rookie defenseman contributing points and blocked shots.
• Calgary Flames: Yegor Sharangovich (C/LW/RW) – 28G, 20A, 15.2 SH%. Triple-position eligibility with elite goal-scoring efficiency.
• Edmonton Oilers: Warren Foegele (LW/RW) – 15G, 18A, 142 SOG. Premium top-six streaming target when skating with Leon Draisaitl.
• Los Angeles Kings: Alex Laferriere (RW) – 10G, 11A, 115 SOG, 78 Hits. Strong peripheral producer in shots and physical hits.
• San Jose Sharks: Fabian Zetterlund (LW/RW) – 20G, 14A, 158 SOG. Leads forward group in shots and holds permanent top-line deployment.
• Seattle Kraken: Eeli Tolvanen (LW/RW) – 15G, 18A, 152 SOG, 168 Hits. Multi-category target offering high physical and shot thresholds.
• Vancouver Canucks: Nils Hoglander (LW) – 22G, 11A, 20.1 SH%. Elite 5v5 goal scorer thriving in top-six minutes.
• Vegas Golden Knights: Anthony Mantha (LW/RW) – 21G, 18A, 110 SOG. Immediate top-six insertion with strong scoring efficiency.