Robust eight-game schedule provides many options including JJ Peterka
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
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JJ Peterka, RW, BUF vs. FLA (37% rostered)
Peterka built off a solid 2022-23 rookie campaign by scoring 28 goals and recording 50 points in 82 games last season. He is on pace to obliterate those totals, notching four markers with three apples in seven contests this season. Peterka's 36.4 percent shooting percentage will come down, but his assist total should rise with Tage Thompson finding his form.
Anton Lundell, C, FLA @ BUF (47% rostered)
Lundell's increased value and usage may be close to hitting its top mark. Not because Lundell did anything wrong, but Aleksander Barkov, sidelined since October 10, is closer to returning from his lower body injury. Coach Paul Maurice will need to find a way to keep Lundell in the top-six. But if he or Sam Bennett can't move to wing, then Lundell will slide back to the third line.
Kirill Marchenko, RW, CLM vs. EDM (13% rostered)
Marchenko scored for the third time in four games Saturday. The 24-year-old is thriving on Columbus' top line with four goals, five assists, 19 shots on net and a plus-5 rating over seven contests. Sean Monahan has proven to be the perfect pivot for Marchenko, who has to date found the consistency that eluded him previously. Marchenko is shooting at an unsustainable 21.1 per cent rate, but the production should remain solid based on the chemistry he has with his linemates.
Zachary L'Heureux, C, NAS @ TB (0% rostered)
L'Who? L'Heureux was the Predators first-round pick, 27 overall, in 2021. He notched his first point, an assist, Saturday, skating 13:34 in Nashville's 4-3 win. L'Heureux's main value is in hits, as he has 13 while skating on the fourth line. But his solid play in those three contests kept Jusso Parssinen and Philip Tomasino as healthy scratches and limited Luke Evangelista to just 6:56 of ice time.
Conor Geekie, C, TB vs. NAS (1% rostered)
Geekie notched his first NHL goal Saturday. Skating as the right wing on the second line, Geekie saw 13:26 of ice time and has two points his last three games. Geekie is the Bolts' top prospect and the future is bright, though for now, he will move up and down the lineup. He has a quick release and great hands, which should afford him continued opportunities to stick where he is now.
Lukas Reichel, LW, CHI @ COL (0% rostered)
Reichel, who showed signs of sliding into a top-six role in brief stints in 2021-22 and 2022-23, fell off a cliff last season. He tallied one point in 11 games in 2021-22 and 15 points in 23 games the following season. In 2023-24, Reichel posted just 16 points with a minus-29 rating. Reichel is receiving another chance at sticking opposite Connor Bedard. If he makes the most of this chance, look for his point production and rostered percentage to rise accordingly.
William Eklund, LW, SJ @ UTAH (11% rostered)
Eklund is certainly under-rostered, though that percentage may be due to his poor plus-minus and team surrounding him. Coming into the season, many felt that Eklund was likely to build off his fine rookie campaign in 2023-24 while skating to Macklin Celebrini. That duo lasted for one contest before Celebrini was injured, but Eklund has remained productive despite his center's absence, boding well for the future when the stud rookie returns.
Matias Maccelli, LW, UTAH vs. SJ (5% rostered)
Coming into the season, one would have thought that Maccelli's 57- and 49-point outputs would be sufficient enough to secure a top-six role for the winger. How wrong we would have been, as Maccelli was relegated to third- and fourth-line placement. Utah's offense has hit the skids recently, which could result in Maccelli moving back up to the second line, as he has already slid up one trio.
Jack Roslovic, RW, CAR @ VAN (1% rostered)
Roslovic failed to make the most of his original placement on the top line with New York after he arrived from Columbus. He was moved down to the third trio but saw his ice time slashed. Roslovic signed a one-year deal with Carolina this offseason where he was expected to skate in middle-to-bottom six role. He has exceeded expectations, notching three goals in seven contests, but he likely will eventually land on the third line due to the presence of Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis.
Pavel Dorofeyev, LW, LV vs, CGY (4% rostered)
Dorofeyev, a third-round pick, 79 overall in 2019, showed signs of a breakout last season, posting 13 goals and 24 points in 47 appearances despite averaging only 13:17 of ice time. He entered training camp this year with a shot at a top-six spot. Dorofeyev has recently settled into the right of Tomas Hertl and Brett Howden, notching three goals and as many assists his last five games.
Defensemen
Adam Boqvist, FLA @ BUF (4% rostered)
This one is for those who are building a roster and looking for a less expensive DFS option. Boqvist is firmly on the third pair, but due to injuries, he has recently been seeing first unit power-play time on ice, making up slightly more than the two minutes of the 11 he is receiving each contest.
Bowen Byram, BUF vs. FLA (27% rostered)
Byram posted 29 points last season while splitting time between the Avalanche and Sabres. That total was the second straight season that Byram increased his output, though the presence of Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power limits his upside. Byram is a blueliner whose real life value exceeds his fantasy value, but like Boquist, may come less expensive than other blueline options.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, TOR @ WPG (47% rostered)
OEL saw a slight uptick in production last season, his one year in Florida. Toronto signed him this offseason to likely fill a third duo role, but OEL is skating next to Morgan Rielly on the top pairing. In addition, he has seen some first unit power-play duty as the Maple Leafs look to unlock their struggling man-advantage. Enjoy the placement while it lasts.
Michael Kesselring, UTAH vs. SJ (14% rostered)
Utah has hit a little bit of a pothole recently. Despite those struggles, Kesselring's play has remained strong while skating on the top pairing next Mikhail Sergachev, having replaced the injured Sean Durzi. The Hockey Club will be without Durzi for almost the rest of the regular season and John Marino for much of the year, adding pressure, responsibility and value to Kesselring.