Fantasy Hockey 2025-26: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 1

Finding an edge in fantasy hockey often comes down to maximizing your man games — and targeting players with favourable matchups. Our Fantasy Hockey Strength of Schedule tool helps you do precisely that.

Each week, we evaluate every NHL team’s upcoming slate using three key factors:

• Games Played: More games mean more opportunities for fantasy points.
• Strength of Schedule (SOS): Based on opponent difficulty, the higher the score, the easier the matchups.
• Light Nights: Nights with eight or fewer NHL games, when it’s easier to fit extra players into your active lineup.

By combining these three components, the tool highlights which teams — and streamers — are best positioned for fantasy success this week.

Week 1 Strength of Schedule

Week 1 Streaming Targets

New York Rangers

The Rangers boast the best streaming schedule of Week 1. They’re the only team in the NHL opening the season with four games, and one of just three teams that play twice on Light Nights — giving them a clear edge for early lineup flexibility.

That said, viable streaming options are limited. You may need to dig deeper into the depth chart with names like Conor Sheary (if he signs) or Brett Berard (if he cracks the roster). Still, these are fringe pickups — only worth considering if you have an open roster spot. It’s probably not worth dropping a drafted player for a short-term boost this early in the season.

Will Cuylle (LW/RW) – 43% Rostered

Cuylle is likely rostered in every banger format. However, he’s still available in many standard leagues, and he’s exactly the type of Week 1 streamer who could evolve into a season-long hold.

After J.T. Miller was acquired from Vancouver last season, Cuylle saw extended time alongside Miller and Mika Zibanejad, a trio that produced 3.7 GF/60 and 31.1 SCF/60, both strong offensive rates. Cuylle closed the year with 18 points in his final 28 games (a 53-point pace), laying a strong foundation for the 2025-26 season.

If he’s somehow still available in your banger league, he’s an instant add. Cuylle piled up 300+ hits last season while averaging just over 15 minutes per game — a number that should climb as his role expands.

Alexis Lafrenière (LW/RW) – 28% Rostered

Lafrenière bounced around the Rangers’ lineup during the preseason but ultimately landed back with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, the same trio he spent over 70% of his 5v5 minutes with last season. That line was excellent by the numbers, posting 3.3 GF/60 and 3.1 xGF/60, yet Lafrenière’s individual production remained modest.

As a result, he’s still available in over 70% of leagues to start the season. Like Cuylle, Lafrenière profiles as a high-upside Week 1 streamer who could quickly become a long-term hold if the offence clicks early.

Washington Capitals

The Capitals have the second-best streaming schedule this week, as one of three teams featuring two light-night games. Like the Rangers, there aren’t many strong streaming options, unless you’re in shallower leagues, where Pierre-Luc Dubois (57%) or Aliaksei Protas (62%) would be worth a look if available.

Connor McMichael (LW) – 27% Rostered

McMichael could be the top streaming option for Week 1 if he can recapture last year’s early-season form. He opened 2024-25 with 19 points (12G / 7A) in his first 16 games, making him one of the hottest early pickups in Fantasy Hockey. He cooled off afterward, posting 38 points (14G / 24A) over his final 66 games, a 47-point pace that’s likely a more realistic baseline going forward.

Now reunited with Dubois and Tom Wilson, McMichael is positioned for another strong start. That trio produced an elite 4.1 GF/60 and 3.2 xGF/60 across nearly 400 5v5 minutes last season.

Ryan Leonard (RW) – 11% Rostered

Leonard turned pro after his sophomore season at Boston College, where he tallied 30 goals and 19 assists (49 points) in 37 games. He managed just one goal and one assist across 17 games with the Capitals (regular season + playoffs), but impressed in the preseason with two goals and an assist in three games. Leonard brings sneaky streaming value in banger leagues, averaging 8.3 hits per 60 minutes last year.

Los Angeles Kings

After the Rangers and Capitals, the Kings are the only other team with two light-night games this week, both coming early (Tuesday and Wednesday). That makes them a perfect short-term streaming target if you want to grab a quick boost and move on later in the week. The only issue with Los Angeles is their light-night matchups. They’ll face Colorado at home on opening night and are in Vegas for game two.

Andrei Kuzmenko (LW/RW) – 19% Rostered

I’ve mentioned Kuzmenko as a strong streaming option throughout the preseason, and you’ll get a chance to test that theory right away. He finished last year red-hot, posting 17 points (5G, 12A) in his final 15 regular-season games, plus six points (3G, 3A) in six playoff contests.

While he’s unlikely to sustain the 20.5 SH% he carried during that stretch, Kuzmenko is set up for success again on a line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, and skating on PP1 to start the season.

Alex Laferriere (RW) – 13% Rostered

Laferriere is dealing with a minor injury, so confirm he’s in the Kings’ opening-night lineup before making a move. If he’s active, he’s expected to rejoin Quinton Byfield and Kevin Fiala, while also seeing PP2 deployment. That trio dominated last season, posting 3.5 GF/60 (76.9 GF%) at 5v5.

Laferriere closed out 2024-25 strong with 10 points (4G, 6A) in his final 14 games, averaging 3.0 shots and 1.6 hits per game. If he’s healthy, he offers a solid floor with sneaky upside to start the year.

One-Game Streams

With Thursday and Saturday packed and no games on Friday, streaming options are extremely limited this week. There are, however, a few one-game streams worth considering.

Florida Panthers

The Panthers have a great matchup on Wednesday vs. the Blackhawks. With Aleksander Barkov out for the year, Anton Lundell (23% rostered) could emerge as a long-term fantasy asset, he’s available in 77% of leagues. After missing time in the preseason, Lundell was back at practice Monday and is expected to open the season on a line with Sam Reinhart and Eetu Luostarinen, plus time on PP2.

Speaking of Luostarinen (1%), he should see an expanded role with all the injuries in Florida. While his offensive ceiling has been limited to this point, his banger value (2.3 hits per game last year) makes him a sneaky early-season add in those formats.

Mackie Samoskevich (5%) is a deeper-league dart throw. He’s currently outside the top-6 and on PP2 but draws a favourable matchup this week.

Other One-Game Streamers Who Could Stick

(Ordered by roster percentage)

• Ryan Donato (CHI – C/LW/RW – 29%)
• Ivan Barbashev (VGK – LW – 27%)
• Evgeni Malkin (PIT – C/LW – 21%)
• Matt Coronato (CGY – RW – 19%)
• Matias Maccelli (TOR – LW – 14%)
• Frank Nazar (CHI – C – 12%)
• Trent Frederic (EDM – C/LW/RW – 11%)
• Zack Bolduc (MTL – RW – 9%)
• Ville Koivunen (PIT – RW – 3%)
• Bobby McMann (TOR – LW – 3%)