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 can be used in standard fantasy leagues or for daily fantasy games.
Forwards
Alex Laferriere, RW, LA @ NAS (27% rostered)
I profiled Laferriere a few days ago. No reason not to go back to the well again based on his rostered percentage and his current play. Laferriere has bulged the twine in three straight games, and after scoring 12 goals in 81 regular-season contests as a rookie in 2023-24, he's already tallied eight times in the first 12 games of the current campaign.
Gustav Nyqvist, LW, NAS vs. LA (20% rostered)
For a first line winger, Nyqvist has a very low rostered percentage, Part of that may be due to many believing last year's career-best campaign by a wide margin was a fluke. Nyqvist posted 23 goals and added 52 assists in his first year in Smashville. After a slow start this season, the winger has four goals and three assists over his last seven outings.
Vasily Podkolzin, RW, EDM vs. NJ (1% rostered)
Podkolzin punctuated his placement on Leon Draisaitl's line with a pugilitic exercise that won't be soon forgotten. His one punch takedown of Jeremy Lauzon resonated across the hockey universe. Podkolzin has upped his physical quotient the last two seasons, posting 71 hits in 19 contests last season and 30 in 11 so far in 2024-25. Now skating next to Draisaitl makes Podkolzin worth a look.
Defensemen
Darnell Nurse, EDM vs. NJ (50% rostered)
Nurse barely hit our roster percentage threshold for article inclusion. He has helpers in two straight, the second time this year he has done so. Nurse lags far behind Evan Bouchard as an offensive option, but he provides hits, blocked shots and 21+ minutes of ice time in each game. All that production in those categories has value in many leagues.
Goalies
Calvin Pickard, EDM vs. NJ (9% rostered)
Pickard has his hands full Monday night, Stuart Skinner started Sunday, leaving Pickard to face the Devils, who come in off a 3-0 loss to the Flames, but has been relatively hot prior. Pickard has won his last three starts, allowing five goals on 80 shots for a 1.67 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. He actually has outplayed Skinner but will only see periodic starts, mainly on the tail end of back-to-back games.