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.
Bo Horvat, C, NYI @ CAR (71% rostered) – FanDuel $7,200
Horvat went from 70 points in 2022-23, split between the Canucks and Islanders, to 68 the following season and 57 in 2024-25. The major reason for his decline was due to his drop in power-play production, an issue on Long Island for several seasons. Horvat is off to a strong start with four multi-point efforts in nine outings, giving him six goals and five assists in addition to 34 shots on net and a plus-6 rating. Four of his 11 points have come on the man-advantage, which is more than halfway to the seven he posted last season.
Logan Stankoven, C/LW, CAR vs. NYI (30% rostered) – FanDuel $4,900
Stankoven is receiving a chance to fill Carolina's second line center spot that has been an issue for years. His production has been up-and-down, as he notched points in just four of his nine contests. Despite having just three goals and two assists, the future is very bright for Stankoven, though he may need a few seasons to reach his potential. Get on board now while the cost is relatively low.
Morgan Geekie, C/LW/RW, BOS vs. BUF (66% rostered) – FanDuel $5,200
Geekie is on some kind of a goal roll. He has lit the lamp in five straight games, tallying six goals in that span. Geekie went from 17 goals in 2023-24 to 33 last season, and is up to eight in 12 contests thanks to that hot streak. He benefits from skating next to Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak but is proving to be an offensive weapon in his own right for the Bruins. He shows no signs of slowing.
Drake Batherson, LW/RW, OTT vs. CGY (86% rostered) – FanDuel $6,500
Batherson has posted 62, 66 and 68 points, respectively, the past three seasons. He missed the first three games of the season, though that has slowed him little. Batherson has dented the scoresheet in six of eight contests played, posting a multi-point effort in three straight games, compiling four goals and four assists. He is up to 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in eight appearances.
Anthony Cirelli, C, TB vs. DAL (29% rostered) – FanDuel $5,700
Cirelli has quietly increased his production from 29 to 45 and 59 points the past three seasons. He has become a second-line center who can be deployed in all situations. Cirelli is off to a fine start, posting five goals and four assists in 10 games, including the 300th point of his career. He is seeing a minute more of ice time a contest, all of which has come on the power play, which should enable him to remain hot even as his 26.4 per cent shooting percentage regresses to the mean.
Luke Evangelista, RW, NAS @ PHI (1% rostered) – FanDuel $5,700
Evangelista took a step back last season, putting up 32 points (68 games) after posting a 39-point campaign in 2023-24. He signed just before the season began, missing the first contest of the season. Since then, Evangelista has notched a goal and five assists in 10 games while skating as the third line right winger. Nashville is utilizing him on the second unit power play, affording him additional chances to produce.
Trevor Zegras, C/LW, PHI vs. NAS (20% rostered) – FanDuel $4,800
Zegras was in desperate need of a change of scenery, having worn out his welcome in Anaheim. He got it, as Zegras was dealt back to the East Coast, landing in Philly. Zegras finally notched his first two goals of the season last Saturday and has added seven assists in nine contests. He is skating as the Flyers' third line left winger but is deployed on the team's first power play unit.
Bryan Rust, RW, PIT @ MIN (66% rostered) – FanDuel $5,600
Rust has raised his scoring output from 46 to 56 and then 65 points the past there seasons. Expected to be on the block this season as Pittsburgh looks to the future, the Penguins' hot start has likely changed that view. Rust is off to another good start, posting three goals and five assists in nine games while skating on the first line next to Sidney Crosby.
Marco Rossi, C/LW, MIN vs. PIT (25% rostered) – FanDuel $5,600
Despite going from 40 to 60 points last season, Rossi still had his doubters as he experienced ups-and-downs throughout 2024-25. Minnesota signed Rossi to what is basically a shown-me contract, giving him $15 million over three years rather than a long-term deal. He is doing his best to change their view. notching a pair of goals and eight assists in 10 games, centering Kirill Kaprizov on the Wild's first line.
Connor Bedard, C/RW, CHI @ WPG (99% rostered) – FanDuel $6,500
Bedard notched the first hat trick of his career Tuesday. Despite going from 61 points as a rookie to 67 points last season, many - including myself - felt that he had an okay but not great season. Bedard, aided by an improved supporting cast, including Frank Nazar, is off to a strong start. The 20-year-old, 2023 first overall pick is up to 12 points (six goals, six helpers) through 10 games.
Mika Zibanejad, C/RW, NYR @ EDM (75% rostered) – FanDuel $5,600
Zibanejad has drawn the ire of Rangers' faithful as his production declined again. After going from 91 to 72 points, he fell to 62 last season. But those numbers doesn't tell the full story since his game and output picked up following the acquisition of JT Miller and Zib's move to the wing. Zib opened the year at wing but moved back to center following the loss of Vincent Trocheck. He tallied the team's only even-strength goal Tuesday and is heating up on offense with three goals and two assists over his last five games
Will Smith, C/RW, SJ vs. NJ (40% rostered) – FanDuel $5,200
Smith was overshadowed by Macklin Celebrini in 2024-25, yet had a solid season in his own right. He posted 18 goals and 27 assists in 74 contests as a rookie, moving from center to wing. Smith finished strong with 30 points his final 34 games and he carried that uptick into 2025-26, nothcing three tallies and six helpers through 10 outings. He and Celebrini are the future stars for the Sharks.
Dylan Larkin, C, DET @ LA (97% rostered) – FanDuel $7,600
Larkin has posted 69, 79, 69 and 70 points the past four seasons. As seen by those numbers, Larkin has been a good but maybe not elite player. He may be tearing down that moniker in 2025-26. Larkin already has eight goals and as many assists in 10 contests, helping Detroit to a 7-3-0 record. Five of those points have come on the man-advantage and Larkin sits just eight points shy of 600 points for his career.
Adrian Kempe, RW, LA vs. DET (99% rostered) – FanDuel $7,400
Right now, Kempe is slated to be a free agent after the season. Most of the big name players who were slated to be on the market next year have already signed, so if Kempe makes it there, he will be set for a big deal. Kempe is proving he is worthy, He is up to five goals and nine assists in 11 games, ahead of the pace he set the past three seasons when he posted 104 goals and 111 helpers in 240 contests.
Remember to bookmark The Hockey News Fantasy site for stats, news, analysis, rankings, projections and more, including the Sleepers and Keepers fantasy hockey podcast!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum