Hutch's Hockey: Finding a Groove

Elite NHL Teams Dominating Early in 2025-26 Season: Analyzing League Trends for Fantasy Hockey

The NHL season is now two months old. Whatever you thought about a team going into the year, based on last season's numbers, should be out of mind given the work they've done so far. 

The vast majority of teams feel just about average. That's been pretty obvious from early on. There are a handful of teams that should be pivoting toward next season, but even then, a few good weeks could turn them around. 

On the other hand, the only true elite teams so far are the Avalanche and the Stars. The Stars get that title in my book because of how many injuries they've weathered to still be second in the league. Jake Oettinger hasn't even been at his best, and the defense has come together excellently given all the absences. 

Still, the Avalanche are in a completely different class. They have arguably the best player in the world -- and I think it's fair to say Nathan MacKinnon might be just that right now -- alongside the best defenseman in Cale Makar. There are two good scoring lines and a bottom six that doesn't hurt the team. The defense is deep, and the goaltending duo of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood has been elite as well. Their ability to get games to at least overtime has been superb. It's rare to see the league's top offense also be the best defense. I could lead with their exploits nearly every week, they've been that good. 

Looking at the Avalanche is a good place to start digging on waiver-wire moves. Gabriel Landeskog has gone three games without a point, but don't cut him loose yet -- he had eight points over six contests prior to this short cold stretch, which has occurred during a road trip. The splits are pretty stark here, as Landeskog has three points in 16 road games and 11 points over 13 contests inside Ball Arena. The Avalanche are at home for six of their next 10 games, so Landeskog has some potential to pick up the pace over the rest of December. 

Top Waiver Wire Defensemen for Fantasy Value

I'm willing to give Darren Raddysh a longer look even with Victor Hedman back in the Lightning's lineup. Raddysh filled in admirably during the worst of the Lightning's injury woes on defense, picking up 15 points over 12 appearances while Hedman was out. Moving forward, Raddysh will be on the second power-play unit rather than the first. He isn't the safest option for fantasy -- when the Lightning are fully healthy, they occasionally scratch him or limit his minutes by dressing seven blueliners. He's proven he can handle more usage, but he can also get streaky, so there's a risk-reward situation to balance, especially if he slips down the lineup. 

For a more all-around defenseman, Matt Roy is doing enough lately to draw attention. He has six helpers, eight hits, 20 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating over his last seven games. John Carlson (upper body) battled an injury during the Capitals' road trip and was still out Sunday, allowing Roy to pick up a bit more ice time. If you roster Roy, you do it for the non-scoring numbers first and foremost -- any offense is a bonus. 

Patrick Kane is not in his prime, but he's still productive enough, especially on the power play, to help in fantasy. The scoring winger has two goals and eight assists, including a trio of power-play helpers, over his last eight games. He's in a second-line role, and even when his ice time is low, he can still rack up points and shots. The Red Wings' top six is strong, especially with the man advantage, and Kane's playmaking has been a big part of that. 

Key Forward Breakouts Impacting Fantasy Lineups

There's almost nothing to love about the Predators this year, but they've finally found some combinations that work. Michael Bunting has seven points over his last seven games, and three of those points have come with the man advantage, including two of his three goals in that span. His third-line role at even strength isn't ideal, but there's no immediate path to the top line, which has clicked with a combination of Ryan O'Reilly centering Steven Stamkos and Luke Evangelista. Bunting also hasn't been as agitating, at least on paper, this year, which limits his all-around appeal for when his offense starts to fade. 

Speaking of Evangelista, that new top line has seen him rack up two goals and six assists over his last six contests. It's fair to say Evangelista's stock has dropped, and some of that is his fault for a mildly disappointing 2024-25 (32 points in 68 games). The winger was also a holdout for training camp, but that missed practice time hasn't slowed him down, as he's at 19 points, 58 shots on net and a plus-5 rating in 27 outings this season. He's on pace for about 55-60 points, which would easily be a career high, but his 6.9 shooting percentage is a career low. The momentum is there -- he just needs to be a little more efficient with his shots. 

For a bit more grit on the wings, Bobby McMann is still getting the job done for the Maple Leafs. He's at a respectable 14 points in 28 games overall, but he's picked up the pace lately with three goals and three assists over his last four contests. He's also racked up 66 hits, 15 PIM and a plus-1 rating this season. I'm still a believer that the Maple Leafs will turn things around -- they have the offense in place, but they need the goaltending to be reliable, and it may take some time for that to happen. A little firewagon hockey is fine for fantasy, and McMann's all-around skills in a middle-six role are a perfect fit as a depth forward in most formats. 

Ivan Provorov has managed to carve out some power-play time in 2025-26, which elevates what's usually an uninteresting fantasy profile. With a goal and three assists over four games in December, Provorov might generate enough short-term offense to be a streaming option. He's earned 11 points, 47 blocked shots, 17 hits, 59 shots on net, 12 PIM and a plus-5 rating through 29 appearances this season. He's defensively sound more than tough, and he's usually a safe bet for 30 points and 100 blocks. This year, he's also on track to top 150 shots on goal. 

Goaltender Trends and Streaming Options to Watch

Tristan Jarry has been too good to ignore this year, but he's out there in half of fantasy formats as of Sunday. Over his last five games, he's allowed 14 goals on 165 shots (.915 save percentage), which is right in line with his season numbers. Jarry and stability haven't exactly been synonyms in recent years, but his quality play has been a big part of the Penguins' ability to stay afloat in a tight Metropolitan Division. 

Dennis Hildeby will be out there in most formats, but he should be a decent short-term addition for fantasy managers. The Maple Leafs are without Joseph Woll (lower body) for at least a week, and Anthony Stolarz (upper body) is out as well. Hildeby has just a 1-2-2 record over eight appearances this year, but he's added a 2.51 GAA and a .927 save percentage. Toronto is at home for the next four games, facing the Lightning, Sharks, Oilers and Blackhawks. It won't be easy, but Hildeby could end up starting all of those games, with the playing time being the biggest asset. 

For the middle part of the season, fantasy hockey is all about keeping up with trends. You know what you've got on your team, but you need to rotate depth players to address injuries and avoid zeroes in your lineup. Finding the right hot streaks and playing the matchups will help you stay ahead until you're ready to make your preparations for the end of the season. 

This middle stretch will be from now until the Olympics, and it could be tricky, as this is also a peak time for surprise scratches due to illness. Staying up to date not just on NHL scores and stats but also injuries and absences will be of the utmost importance to keep your team competitive for this part of the year. That makes for a busy time on the waiver wire, and I'll keep bringing my look around the league every Monday to set you up for success each week. 

Stuck between two players available on the waiver wire? Check out the NHL Player Comparison Tool or the NHL Trending Players to help break the tiebreaker on your waiver wire decisions.