On every game day this season, THN Fantasy will highlight players and goalies for fantasy managers to stream or roster for the rest of the season. The recommended players and goalies are rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and can be selected in standard fantasy leagues and/or for daily fantasy games.
Dawson Mercer, C/RW, NJ @ TOR (16% rostered) - DraftKings $4,200
Mercer, who seemed to be prominently mentioned in every trade rumor the past several years in New Jersey, is in his fifth year as a Devil. Drafted in the first round, 18th overall in 2020, Mercer is playing on the second line, as he has in the past. Mercer is off to a strong start with three goals and a pair of assists in five contests. He's failed to hit the 40-point mark in each of the last two seasons, but if his hot start continues, he could challenge his career year of 56 points set in 2022-23.
Jeff Skinner, LW, SJ @ NYI (2% rostered) - DraftKings $3,500
Skinner got a taste of a long postseason run with the Oilers last season. He contributed just 16 goals and 29 points over 72 regular-season appearances in 2024-25, signing a one-year, $3 million contract to provide the baby Sharks a veteran presence. Skinner has been more than a caretaker, moving up to the top line in recent games. He shown some chemistry with Macklin Celebrini, notching three goals, a helper and 13 shots on net through the first five games of the season.
David Perron, LW/RW, EDM @ OTT (2% rostered) - DraftKings $3,300
Perron failed to hit double-digits in goals for the first time in 13 in 2024-25, lighting the lamp just nine times last season. In the final year of the two-year, $8 million contract he signed with the Senators in July 2024, Perron is off to a much better start to this season. Perron has scored in each of the last two games with both goals coming on the power play. He will need to produce to help the Senators manage the absence of Brady Tkachuk (thumb).
Justin Brazeau, LW, PIT vs. VAN (9% rostered) - DraftKings $3,100
Brazeau provided some hints of offensive talent, scoring 11 goals between Boston and Minnesota. But no one had him with four goals in four games this season, Brazeau signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Penguins in July to be a bottom-six winger. His hot start has moved Brazeau up to a loftier spot in the lineup - second line winger next to Evgeni Malkin. Ride him while hot.
Ryan Leonard, RW, WAS vs. SEA (9% rostered) - DraftKings $3,600
Leonard, through six games, has already surpassed the one goal he tallied in the nine contests he played after coming to the Caps off the Boston College campus. On the downside, he is seeing less action than he did last season, skating on the third line. The positive is Leonard is playing on the second power play unit, where he tallied yesterday.
Andrei Kuzmenko, LW/RW, LA @ STL (25% rostered) - DraftKings $4,600
Kuzmenko is off to a solid start for LA, notching two power-play goals and four total points through six games this season. He likely will miss Anze Kopitar (foot, week-to-week) as his center, with Kopitar probable to be replaced by Philip Danault or maybe Quinton Byfield. Kuzmenko does a good portion of his damage on the man-advantage, where the Kings have solid talent.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, STL vs. LA (20% rostered) - DraftKings $4,100
Snuggerud is skating on the second line in St. Louis with Pius Suter and Pavel Buchnevich. He cracked the scoresheet for the third time over his last four games Saturday, tallying his third goal of the season. Snuggerud played seven games for the Blues after joining the team following his junior campaign at the University of Minnesota, giving him valuable experience. Look for Snuggerud to potentially contend for the Calder Trophy.
Chris Kreider, LW, ANA vs. WAS (45% rostered) - DraftKings $5,500
Kreider has all of his production in two games, notching four goals and an assist in those contests. He is scoreless in his other three contests, though his five points on the season are vastly ahead of his 2024-25 scoring pace. Three of Kreider's four tallies have come on the man-advantage, which is where he will do substantive damage for the Ducks.
Dmitri Voronkov, LW, CLM vs. DAL (16% rostered) - DraftKings $4,400
Voronkov tallied 34 points as a rookie in 2023-24 and raised his production last season. He had a solid sophomore campaign in 2024-25, recording 23 goals, 47 points, 55 PIM and 71 hits across 73 appearances. Voronkov is off to a strong start to the 2025-26 season, notching a pair of markers and three apples in five contests, all of which have come at even strength as he skates on Columbus' top line.
Nick Schmaltz, C/RW, UTAH vs. COL (63% rostered) - DraftKings $6,000
Schmaltz has scored between 58 and 63 points each of the past four seasons. He is off to a blazing start to 2025-26, posting back-to-back multi-point efforts while also getting on the scoresheet in five of six games this year. Schmaltz has already notched three goals and six assists in six games this season while playing with Clayton Keller and Barrett Hayton in Utah.
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