Every team has played at least 16 games, making it easier to evaluate them and what direction they seem to be headed. Injuries, slumps and other unknown factors will undoubtedly alter any projections, but short-team data still can be used to make fantasy decisions.
And while you're contemplating your next moves, here are a few players who may be able to immediately boost your lineups.
(Rostered rates as of Nov. 14)
Forwards
Anze Kopitar, LA (Yahoo: 41%): Kopitar already has announced this will be his final season, so you know he'll want to go out on a high. Don't expect anything near his peak of 92 points, but something in the 60 to 70 range will work. And while the nine so far is behind pace compared to recent years, Kopitar is still prominently placed in all attacking situations with major minutes (not many other 38-year-olds are averaging 18:35) to be a regular scorer and fantasy contributor. Get him back over 50 percent since that's where he belongs.
Brock Boeser, VAN (Yahoo: 39%): Other than a 73-point breakout, Boeser usually ended up in the high-40s/low-50s – though a couple campaigns were affected by injury. There shouldn't be any worry about his power-play production considering he has 144 combined PPPs across eight previous seasons while he maintained a place on Vancouver's top unit. Despite Boeser being knocked down to the second five-on-five line, no one should have a problem with five goals, four assists and 22 shots from his last nine outings.
Pavel Buchnevich, STL (Yahoo: 27%): If I told you three years ago who the first three NHL Waiver Wire entries would be on Nov. 14, 2025, you probably would've called me crazy. I mean, there's no way three firmly established scorers could be below 50 percent coverage. And yet, here we are. At least with Buchnevich, a clear lack of output is the reason he's available in nearly three of every four Yahoo! leagues. He only has two goals with 31 pucks on net, so that 6.3 shooting percentage should eventually increase based on his double-digit marks during every campaign (and nothing lower than 13.0 since 2019-20). Further hope for improvement comes from Buchnevich regularly skating alongside Robert Thomas.
Marcus Johansson, MIN (Yahoo: 23%): Johansson reaching 1,000 NHL regular-season games on Sunday was special, yet it probably hid the fact his scoring streak (5G, 6A) extended to nine that evening. While that run would end next time out, he could start another one teaming up with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy at even strength and sneaking onto one of Minnesota's man-advantages. Enjoy Johansson's upswing for however long it lasts, or add and trade him before the clock strikes midnight.
Kyle Palmieri, NYI (Yahoo: 21%): Palmieri usually finds his way into this column every year due to erratic offense. He's currently riding the wave with five goals, eight assists and a whopping 47 shots on 19:11 a night – including almost four minutes on the power play. And yet, Palmieri has room to grow as he's comfortably below his standard shooting percentages (10.6 vs. 13.1 to 14.2 the last three campaigns). Let's not project him for some unreachable total, and let's just believe there will be more consistency on the first trio/PP for him to become a regular fantasy provider.
Jackson Blake, CAR (Yahoo: 10%): It's good to see Blake excel in his sophomore season, as he was already trending up during the latter portion of 2024-25. He's already racked up 12 points and 43 shots operating in the top-six and averaging 2:22 with the extra man. The future's bright for Blake in Carolina after he signed a long-term extension in July, so grab him while his stock still has room to skyrocket.
Matthew Wood, NSH (Yahoo: 6%): Speaking of promising youngsters, Wood has quickly adapted to the pros after he was sidelined for a few weeks. The 15th pick from 2023 recorded a goal during two AHL contests before jumping up to Nashville and creating a sensation, most notably supplying a hat-trick on six shots Monday – two of those markers of the PPG variety. Monitor Wood's situation the next few matchups to see if he can keep receiving decent minutes.
Arseny Gritsyuk, NJ (Yahoo: 2%): Following a few successful years in the KHL and an eye-opening preseason, there was plenty of buzz about Gritsyuk for Calder consideration. While some of that talk has disappeared after he didn't score in five straight, things may be looking up, thanks to Gritsyuk joining Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer on the lead line Wednesday and logging 20:39. While that may be only temporary, and a steady PP role would be nice, Gritsyuk offers enough skill, shots and scoring potential to work well with others.
Defensemen
K'Andre Miller, CAR (Yahoo: 37%): After five solid seasons on Broadway, Miller cashed out with a sizable sign-and-trade contract that landed him in Carolina. He may have missed six games after suffering a lower-body injury, but he has more than exceeded expectations by notching eight points, 24 shots, 14 PIM, 12 blocks and nine hits on 23:11 a night with significant roles on both special-teams units. Miller is leading the Canes' blueline and should continue operating as a prominent cross-category producer even when Jaccob Slavin returns.
Artyom Levshunov, CHI (Yahoo: 20%): Sam Rinzel initially handled PP1 quarterbacking duties, though that spot was ultimately destined for Levshunov – who's delivered there via four PPAs over the last four contests. He's still only 20 with mediocre-at-best output for shots, hits and blocks, though that man-advantage placement alongside Connor Bedard combined with his pedigree should be enough to get him on more fantasy rosters.
Nick Blankenburg, NSH (Yahoo: 3%): Roman Josi (lower-body) hasn't been in action since Oct. 23 and won't be playing for the Preds during their weekend double-dip against Pittsburgh in Sweden. That's left a large hole on the blueline, including one on the main power play. Blankenburg has stepped into that opportunity and has registered six points (and 12 shots) across six appearances, two of those coming while up a man. It's still uncertain when Josi will be back, so you should try to max out on Blankenburg for as long as he's in a favorable position.
Hampus Lindholm, BOS (Yahoo: 3%): Lindholm was absent for most of October before returning a couple weeks ago and going right into a seven-game run that saw him tally a goal, four assists, 12 shots, eight PIM and seven blocks. He's receiving his usual elevated ice time while holding down a spot on PP2 and a lead place on the penalty kill. The Bruins may not be the most consistent scoring side, but Lindholm has been reliable in fantasy for most of his career and is least worth a flyer.
Goaltenders
Yaroslav Askarov, SJ (Yahoo: 38%): It's been a long road for Askarov from debuting in the KHL at 17 to becoming Nashville's 2020 first-round pick to requesting a trade before last season. The Sharks acquired him to be their future No. 1, where he went on to produce modest – yet encouraging – returns. Askarov struggled to start this campaign by posting a 4.69 GAA and .844 save percentage through six appearances, but he has been dominant with a 1.19/.965 line from the last five while going 4-1 (the lone loss coming Thursday where he only allowed one goal). He should maintain decent numbers behind an exciting offense and better defense that will allow him to earn more wins.
Dan Vladar, PHI (Yahoo: 38%): Raise your hand if you thought Vladar would currently be a top-five goalie for GAA and SV percentage. While that wouldn't have seemed plausible, it's even more absurd that he'd already be able to pick up six victories for a Flyers team that wasn't expected to do much. Samuel Ersson has been decent the last couple weeks (2-0-1, 2.49), yet it's Vladar who's receiving the bulk of the starts. He may eventually regress as the season progresses, though he's currently Philly's lead and performing well.
Players to consider from past columns: Dylan Cozens, Leo Carlsson, Frank Nazar, Will Smith, Victor Olofsson, Nick Schmaltz, Kiefer Sherwood, Zach Benson, Jonathan Huberdeau, Dawson Mercer, Chris Kreider, Troy Terry, William Eklund, Will Cuylle, Tyler Bertuzzi, Marco Rossi, Alexis Lafreniere, Anton Lundell, Conor Garland, Jack Roslovic, Mackie Samoskevich, Evander Kane, Teuvo Teravainen, Jake DeBrusk, Jordan Eberle, Dmitri Voronkov, Pavel Zacha, Jimmy Snuggerud, Josh Doan, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Matias Maccelli, Matthew Coronato, Ben Kindel, Barrett Hayton, Ryan Leonard, Brock Faber, Brandt Clarke, Kris Letang, Travis Sanheim, Filip Hronek, Rasmus Andersson, Jake McCabe, Brent Burns, John Klingberg, Philip Broberg, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Justin Faulk, Simon Edvinsson, Dmitry Orlov, Cam York, Spencer Knight, Jakub Dobes, Alex Lyon, Jake Allen, Cam Talbot, John Gibson, Elvis Merzlikins, Akira Schmid
