This week's article includes keep it Cooley in Utah, the Islanders' captain heating up, Hutson racking up helpers, Dobes/Demko making plays for more time in net, several long-term injuries and Lafreniere looking like a first overall pick bust.
First Liners (Risers)
Logan Cooley, C, UTAH: Cooley recorded 44 points as a rookie, then upped his production to 25 goals and 40 assists last season. Playing on the final season of his entry-level contract and looking for a long-term deal, Cooley is off to a fine start with seven tallies and four helpers in 10 contests. Cooley is in a perfect position, centering the Mammoth's second line between Dylan Guenther and JJ Peterka, while skating on the first power play unit. Look for a new career-high from the 21-year-old center.
Jack Hughes, C, NJ: Scoring has never been a problem for Hughes; staying healthy has. He is again off to a strong start, notching eight goals and four assists in nine games. Hughes' big week earned him the NHL Third Star of the Week. The only true question is whether Hughes can avoid the injuries that cost him 20 games each of the last two seasons. If he can, Hughes certainly has the talent around him in New Jersey to hit the century mark for the first time in his career while also playing on Team USA in the Olympics.
Adrian Kempe, RW, LA: Kempe is one of those players who fantasy owners seem to undervalue, resulting
This week's article includes keep it Cooley in Utah, the Islanders' captain heating up, Hutson racking up helpers, Dobes/Demko making plays for more time in net, several long-term injuries and Lafreniere looking like a first overall pick bust.
First Liners (Risers)
Logan Cooley, C, UTAH: Cooley recorded 44 points as a rookie, then upped his production to 25 goals and 40 assists last season. Playing on the final season of his entry-level contract and looking for a long-term deal, Cooley is off to a fine start with seven tallies and four helpers in 10 contests. Cooley is in a perfect position, centering the Mammoth's second line between Dylan Guenther and JJ Peterka, while skating on the first power play unit. Look for a new career-high from the 21-year-old center.
Jack Hughes, C, NJ: Scoring has never been a problem for Hughes; staying healthy has. He is again off to a strong start, notching eight goals and four assists in nine games. Hughes' big week earned him the NHL Third Star of the Week. The only true question is whether Hughes can avoid the injuries that cost him 20 games each of the last two seasons. If he can, Hughes certainly has the talent around him in New Jersey to hit the century mark for the first time in his career while also playing on Team USA in the Olympics.
Adrian Kempe, RW, LA: Kempe is one of those players who fantasy owners seem to undervalue, resulting in him going later than he should in most drafts. He has at least 67 points each of the past three seasons; posting 104 goals in that period. This season is shaping up to be no different, as Kempe already has five goals and eight assists in 10 games, helping the Kings survive the absence of Anze Kopitar. Kempe, in the final season of the four-year, $22 million contract he signed in July 2022, certainly has shown his worth if he makes it to free agency.
Anders Lee, LW, NYI: Lee has made up for a slow start to the season lately. After going four games without a point to start the season, Lee has a pair of goals and six assists his last four contests. Lee rebounded from a poor 2023-24 season where he scored 37 points to tally 29 goals and 25 helpers last season. The Islanders' captain, Lee is skating on the third line at even-strength but on one of the top two power play units. Stick with Lee while he is hot on the Island.
Lane Hutson, D, MTL: Hutson won the Calder Trophy last season, posting six goals and 60 assists as a rookie. If there is one criticism on Hutson, it's that he doesn't shoot enough, as he notched just 91 shots last season. Hutson has just 14 shots in 10 games this season, so his attempt volume has not spiked significantly. Despite that, Hutson is still a solid producer, as he has posted eight assists on the man-advantage, though just two points to date have come in those situations.
Thomas Chabot, D, OTT: Jake Sanderson is still the top offensive blueliner in Ottawa, but he had a slow start to the season, at least until Monday, when he tallied a three helpers. Chabot picked up his scoring pace when Sanderson scuffled, notching a pair of goals and four assists over six contests after failing to score the first four games of the season. His overall ice time is down 30 seconds a contest, though his power-play time on ice is up by a similar amount, resulting in three of his five points coming on the man-advantage.
Jakub Dobes, G, MTL: Dobes got off to a hot start as a rookie when he was first promoted, finishing with a 7-4-3 record, 2.74 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 16 games. He is showing that his performance last season was no fluke, as he is 5-0-0 with a 1.77 GAA and a .940 save percentage. Dobes has outplayed Sam Montembeault, who is 2-3-0 with a 3.82 GAA and .842 save percentage through five starts. A change is not imminent, but if Dobes continues to play well and Montembeault struggles, one could occur in Montreal.
Thatcher Demko, G, VAN: Demko suffered through an injury-plagued 2024-25 season and was limited to just 23 starts. Fully healthy, Demko has put last season's struggles in his rearview mirror, getting off to fine start by posting a 4-2-0 record with a 2.36 goals-against average (GAA) and a .922 save percentage over six outings. Right now, Demko is alternating starts with Kevin Lankinen, but if he stays hot and healthy, look for Demko to see more action between the pipes for the Canucks.
Others include Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Sidney Crosby (1,700 career points), Anthony Cirelli, Nick Suzuki, Clayton Keller, William Nylander, Arseny Gritsyuk, Emil Heineman, Will Smith, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Alex Tuch, Jake Walman, Kris Letang, Simon Nemec, Mikhail Sergachev, Jake Allen, Joey Daccord, Logan Thompson and Frederik Andersen.
Buy Low
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, CAR: Ehlers has had a bit of a rough start to his Carolina career. He failed to notch a point his first five games as a 'Cane and has yet to light the lamp through eight contests. The good news is that Ehlers has tallied an assist in each of his last three appearances and has posted 20-plus tallies in eight of the last nine seasons. Sooner or later Ehlers will get hot, and he's a good buy low candidate until that happens. See if an owner in your league is a bit concerned about him before he gets going.
Training Room (Injuries)
Rickard Rakell, LW, PIT: Rakell is expected to be out for six to eight weeks after undergoing hand surgery, which will see him sidelined until mid-to-late December. He suffered the injury late-Saturday against Columbus. Rakell, who has a career-high 70 points (35 goals, 35 assists) in 2024-25, was off to a great start this season, registering eight points (three goals, five assists) in nine games. His absence removes a major offensive weapon from the Pittsburgh attack.
Others include Anze Kopitar (foot, activated this past Saturday), Robert Thomas (upper body, out Monday), Patrik Laine (core muscle surgery Saturday, will be out of action for three to four months). Jake Neighbours (lower body, out Monday), K'Andre Miller (lower body, expected to miss third straight game Tuesday), Joseph Woll (personal, LTIR, returned to practice) and Jacob Markstrom (lower body, dressed Sunday as the backup goaltender).
Fourth Liners/Press Boxers (Fallers)
Tyler Seguin, C, DAL: Seguin only has a pair of goals and two assists in nine games after being limited to just 20 contests last season due to a hip injury. He posted 21 points in that limited action in 2024-25, showing that offense was not a problem for him. Seguin may get a chance to center Dallas' first line if Roope Hintz misses any time with his injury while Matt Duchene remains sidelined with his ailment. Up Seguin's short-term value if that happens even with his early struggles.
MacKenzie Weegar, D, CGY: Weegar posted 20 goals and 32 assists in 2023-24 and eight markers and 39 helpers' last season. Coming into the season, concerns existed that Weegar could cede first line power-play duty to Zayne Parekh, which would adversely impact his numbers. Weegar is still seeing four minutes-plus of ice time on the man-advantage, so that has yet to be a concern. But he has just two assists and a minus-10 rating in 10 games as the Flames are struggling offensively.
Yaroslav Askarov, G, SJ: Askarov is struggling in his first full season in the NHL. The talent is certainly there, as Askarov had a successful stint last season with AHL San Jose (11-9-1 record, 2.45 GAA and .923 save percentage). Askarov's time with the parent club has not been as smooth, as he has gone 1-3-1 with a 4.80 GAA and an .855 save percentage in his five starts so far. In dynasty leagues, hold onto Askarov. In redraft leagues, feel free to cut bait even though his numbers should improve.
Others include Marco Kasper, Sam Bennett, Matvei Michkov, Matthew Coronato, Artyom Levshunov, Jackson LaCombe, Sam Montembeault and Joel Hofer.
Sell High
Alexis Lafreniere, LW, NYR: In some circles in New York, Lafreniere is being referred to Alexandre Daigle and Nail Yakupov 2.0, otherwise known as a first overall selection bust. Lafreniere looked to be on the ascent after tallying 28 goals and 29 assists in the 2023-24 regular season and having a strong postseason. His fine start to the season last year earned Laf a seven-year, $52.15 million contract extension with the Rangers in October of 2024. But after posting eight goals and as many helpers in 19 games to start the year, he fell apart, finishing with just 45 points, and has just three points in 10 contests this season.
