Fantasy hockey managers looking to tinker with their rosters will benefit from zeroing in on specific categories. Whether you are looking for long-term fits or short-term options, there should be a plethora of potential pickups to help your squads.
[Join or create a fantasy hockey league for the 2025-26 NHL season]
Let’s get into this week’s suggestions for your consideration.
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Nick Schmaltz, C/RW, Mammoth (30% rostered on Yahoo)
Category coverage: Assists, Points, Shots, Power-play points
Schmaltz has surpassed the 60-point mark in two straight seasons, and he is well on his way toward another productive year. He has supplied an assist in each of his first two appearances while providing seven shots. He still occupies a spot on the top power-play unit and skates alongside Clayton Keller at even strength. The 29-year-old Schmaltz won’t help potential fantasy managers in hits and blocks, but should score at least 20 goals and 60 points in 2025-26 while topping 175 shots. Utah is in action four times this week, including three appearances on home ice.
Marco Rossi, C, Wild (28% rostered)
Category coverage: Asts, Pts, SOG, PPP
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Rossi progressed in 2024-25 with 24 goals and 60 points across 82 games. After agreeing to a three-year contract with Minnesota in the summer, he has been on the scoresheet in consecutive contests to begin the 2025-26 campaign. He has one goal, two helpers (one on the power play), five shots, two blocks and one hit. The 24-year-old Rossi should find another level this year while skating on Minnesota’s top line between Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. The Wild play four times this week, including three on the road.
Zachary Bolduc, RW, Canadiens (29% rostered)
Category coverage: G, Pts, SOG, Hits, PPP
Bolduc has been hot out of the gate with his new team. After being acquired from the Blues during the offseason, the 22-year-old forward has scored a goal in three straight games to begin the 2025-26 campaign with the Canadiens. He has added one assist, 10 shots and four hits while averaging a career-high 15:03 of ice time per contest. Bolduc also has one goal and one assist on the power play. He has already made an impact early in his Montreal tenure, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he set more personal bests this campaign because of an increased role with his new team. Montreal plays three times this week.
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Calvin Pickard, G, Oilers (21% rostered)
Category coverage: Starts, Saves, Wins
Pickard stopped 14 shots in a 3-1 win over Vancouver on Saturday. He got the nod in Edmonton’s second game of the season after Stuart Skinner surrendered three goals on 22 shots in a 4-3 shootout loss to Calgary on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Pickard has gone 34-17-2 with a 2.61 GAA and a .903 save percentage across 59 appearances over the last two campaigns. He has been a solid No. 2 option and is likely to see his fair share of action if Skinner continues to struggle with consistency. The Oilers play four times this week, including a weekend back-to-back, and Pickard could get one or two starts.
Marco Kasper, C/LW, Red Wings (20% rostered)
Category coverage: G, Pts, SOG, Hits
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Kasper showcased considerable upside in 2024-25 during his rookie campaign while contributing 19 goals, 37 points, 145 shots and 156 hits across 77 games. He heated up down the stretch with nine goals and five assists in his final 18 outings. Kasper has one goal, five shots and five hits through two appearances this season. He has been a great fit in the top-six forward group of Detroit. Kasper has played between Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat this year, but has skated alongside Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond in the past. The 21-year-old Kasper possesses plenty of value as a short- or long-term pickup. Detroit plays four times this week, including three matches at home.
Shane Pinto, C, Senators (27% rostered)
Category coverage: G, Pts, SOG, Faceoffs
Pinto has netted two goals in each of the first two games of the season. He has picked up one assist and seven shots over that span. He ranks third on the team with 12 faceoff wins while winning 70.8% of his 17 draws. He hasn’t earned a power-play point, yet, but is playing on the top power-play unit. Despite a third-line role at even strength, he has averaged nearly 18 minutes of ice time per match. He has reached the 20-goal plateau in two of the past three seasons, and his superb start makes him worthy of more fantasy attention. Ottawa plays four times this week, including three home games.
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Teuvo Teravainen, LW/RW, Blackhawks (17% rostered)
Category coverage: Asts, Pts, SOG, PPP
Teravainen came close to hitting the 60-point plateau for the fifth time in his career during his first season with Chicago in 2024-25. He notched 15 goals while ranking second on the team with 43 assists and 24 power-play points across 82 appearances. He is off to a good start this campaign, earning one goal and three helpers in three outings thanks to a pair of multipoint performances. He has two shots and one assist on the man-advantage over that span. Teravainen continues to be an integral part of the Blackhawks’ top-six, and he should be rostered in more fantasy leagues. Chicago has four games scheduled for this week.
Dmitry Orlov, D, Sharks (9% rostered)
Category coverage: Asts, Pts, SOG, Hits, Blocks
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Orlov has earned at least one assist in two consecutive contests to begin the 2025-26 season. He has amassed three helpers, four shots, seven hits and one block. He has seen an increase in playing time with the Sharks, up to 21:32 per game after averaging 18:36 in two years with Carolina. The 34-year-old Orlov hasn’t reached the 40-point mark yet in his NHL career, but he is capable of solid category coverage. San Jose plays three times this week.
Mackie Samoskevich, RW, Panthers (8% rostered)
Category coverage: Asts, Pts, SOG, Hits, PPP
Samoskevich has reached the scoresheet in two of Florida’s first three games, collecting one goal and two assists. He also has six shots on goal and eight hits while chipping in one goal and one helper on the man-advantage. While his ice time has been up and down early in the year, he has been productive across several categories. Samoskevich is worthy of a short-term pickup during a busy four-game road trip this week for the Panthers.
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Beckett Sennecke, RW, Ducks (7% rostered)
Category coverage: G, Pts, SOG, Hits
Sennecke has burst onto the NHL scene with two goals, one assist, eight shots and five hits through two games. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft is occupying a top-six role with the Ducks due to the absence of Ryan Strome, who is out with an upper-body injury. The 19-year-old Sennecke has a tremendous amount of fantasy value in keeper leagues, and his category coverage makes him an intriguing target for standard formats. Anaheim plays three times this week, including two on home ice.
