What We Learned in Week 1 of Fantasy Hockey
After six days of category-filling performances, exciting surprises, and team-altering disappointments, we’ve compiled a quick list of fantasy nuggets from around the NHL after Week 1. Many of these trends will change as the season progresses, but they’re worth noting as we head into Week 2 of the fantasy hockey season.
THE GOOD
You Own a Piece of Edmonton’s Top Six
Connor McDavid (9) and Evan Bouchard (8) lead the NHL in points, while Vasily Podkolzin has been an impressive standout with five points, 13 SOG, and 13 hits in three games.
Luca Cagnoni’s Breakout is REAL
Cagnoni scored the overtime winner in San Jose’s opener and has two points and six SOG through two games. A spot on PP1 looks like a great fit for the emerging defenseman.
Pittsburgh Likes to Score
The Penguins opened their season with 13 goals in two games and have already provided us with some excellent waiver-wire options, including Ben Kindel and Tommy Novak.
Utah’s Power Play is LEGIT
Operating at 66.7% through three games, the Mammoth have looked unstoppable with the man advantage through the first week. Utah currently has five players producing at a point-per-game pace or better: Dylan Guenther, Clayton Keller, Nick Schmaltz, Mikhail Sergachev, and Logan Cooley.
The Canucks are Providing Useful Fantasy Options
Vancouver led the NHL in Week 1 scoring with 19 goals, fueled by a resurgence from Elias Pettersson. The forward led the NHL in hits (18) while ranking third in points (6).
New addition Paul Cotter is scoring at a goal-per-game pace, Filip Hronek has more assists (5) than games played, and the trio of Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, and Linus Karlsson are all producing at a point-per-game pace through four games.
A Shutout a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
We’ve already had seven shutouts this season, with at least one recorded every day through Saturday. Jacob Markstrom, Dylan Garand, Joel Hofer, Karel Vejmelka, Ilya Sorokin, Jeremy Swayman, and Arturs Silovs are among the goalies who have already posted one.
Luneau’s Eye-Popping Deal = Eye-Popping Minutes!
After just 14 career NHL games, Tristan Luneau surprised the hockey world by signing a six-year, $43.2 million contract ($7.2M AAV) before Anaheim’s opener. He followed it up by averaging 26:47 TOI while skating on Anaheim’s top power-play unit and picked up an assist in the opener. He’s quickly working his way onto the fantasy radar.
Mackenzie Blackwood is Colorado’s Starting Goalie
Blackwood started each of Colorado’s first two games and posted a 2-0-0 record. Scott Wedgewood owners (45.0 ADP) were left wondering what they did to piss off the goalie gods after not getting a single appearance from their drafted G1 in Week 1.
Top “Risky” Goalies are Paying Off
Jesper Wallstedt has posted a 2-0-0 record with a 1.01 GAA and .957 SV%, rewarding fantasy owners who took a chance on the netminder at a 58.0 Yahoo ADP. So far, he’s looking like a legitimate top-eight fantasy netminder.
Jeremy Swayman went 2-0-0 with a 1.47 GAA and .947 SV% through two starts. He looks primed to reward fantasy owners who took a chance on him at a 59.0 ADP.
Igor Shesterkin earned Player of the Week honours after posting a 2-1-0 record with a 1.67 GAA and .947 SV%.
Stars Will Be Stars
The NHL’s top 10 in scoring includes Connor McDavid (9), Evan Bouchard (8), Jack Eichel (6), Nathan MacKinnon (5), Kyle Connor (5), and Macklin Celebrini (5). The best players are playing like the best players.
THE BAD
Edmonton’s Goaltenders
Despite not losing in regulation and starting the season 2-0-1, Edmonton’s goaltending has been ugly through three games.
Devon Levi: 2-0-0 | 4.02 GAA | .810 SV% | 8 GA
Tristan Jarry: 0-0-1 | 5.85 GAA | .739 SV% | 6 GA
Chicago Without Bedard is Hurting Kantserov
The Blackhawks have scored only five goals through three games (1.67 per game), leading to underwhelming starts for several fantasy hopefuls.
Roman Kantserov, in particular, has yet to record a point and has just one SOG despite averaging 17:30 TOI. It’s been a tough start to his NHL career for the 2025-26 KHL goal-scoring leader, although he has at least provided some value in the hits category (5).
Rick Tocchet Limits Martone, Creating a Fantasy-Owner Nightmare
Porter Martone had an average Yahoo ADP of 64.0, yet some fantasy owners are already considering dropping the rookie after a difficult three-game start. Martone has yet to record a point while averaging just 12:31 TOI.
Florida’s Power Play Looked Hurt, Then It Got Hurt
Three games into the season, the Panthers sit at the bottom of the league in power-play percentage with an abysmal 5.9% conversion rate.
Florida’s top unit took another hit on Saturday when the team announced Aleksander Barkov (57.0 ADP) would miss 2-3 months with a lower-body injury.
Los Angeles’ Penalty Kill is LOST
It may only be two games, but Los Angeles has killed just 28.6% of the power plays it has faced. At this point, it’s power-play point night for any of your fantasy assets facing the Kings.
Dallas CANNOT Score!
Miro Heiskanen is the only Stars player with a goal through two games. The offensively stacked squad was left looking for answers in Week 1 after starting 0-2-0 while scoring just one goal.
Everything in Detroit is Awful
Whether it’s contract disputes, Dylan Larkin’s early upper-body injury, or the Red Wings’ inability to create offence, there hasn’t been much to like in Detroit. If your fantasy team includes Red Wings right now, you’re probably not having a good time.
Owning Goalies on Bad Teams is NOT a Good Strategy
Dustin Wolf (.797 SV% | 6.01 GAA), Kevin Lankinen (.824 SV% | 6.50 GAA), and Spencer Knight (.875 SV% | 4.04 GAA) all reminded us how dreadful it can be to own goalies on bad teams.
If you rostered any of these starters in Week 1, there’s a good chance you lost your goaltending categories.
Plenty of Top-120 Picks Still Have No Points
The names may surprise you, but Jason Robertson (7.0 ADP), Matthew Boldy (14.0), Brady Tkachuk (19.5), Mark Scheifele (36.5), Juraj Slafkovsky (50.5), Porter Martone (64.0), Lucas Raymond (69.0), Robert Thomas (71.0), Drake Batherson (81.0), Timo Meier (101.0), Dylan Holloway (105.0), and Roope Hintz (114.0) have yet to contribute a point to their fantasy teams this season.