NHL Fantasy picks, props, futures with EDGE stats
Daily players to watch with projections, advanced metrics; new podcast episodes
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Thu. Jan. 1
Player to watch for goal, assist and/or shots on goal: Bryan Rust, F, PIT (vs. DET; 7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, SN-PIT, SNP, SNW, SNE)
-Leads the Pittsburgh Penguins in points (19 in 17 games), goals (10), power-play points (9) and shots on goal (46) since Nov. 26; Rust has as many multipoint games than zero-point games (5 each) during that span.
-Despite missing the opening two games of the season, Rust leads the team in power-play points (16) and game-winning goals (4) while he is tied with Sidney Crosby for the lead in shots on goal (91); Crosby and Rust have factored in on the same goal 19 times, including 7 times since Dec. 1.
-Has points in 6 straight home games with 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) during that span; only Crosby (21) has more home points than Rust (19) among Penguins players this season.
-Among the 48 forwards with at least 15 goals this season, Rust has the 2nd-most blocked shots (38) behind Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs (52).
-Rust, who is from Pontiac, Michigan which is about 30 miles outside of Detroit, has 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in his past 13 games against the Red Wings.
-EDGE stats: Ranks highly among forwards in midrange goals (7; 95th percentile), midrange shots on goal (36; 92nd percentile), high-danger shots on goal (36; 91st percentile) and total skating distance (112.31 miles; 88th percentile). -- Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for shots on goal, point and/or goal: Bobby McMann, F, TOR (vs. WPG); 7 p.m. ET; SNO, TSN3, NHLN)
-Has 20 points (12 goals, 8 assists) and 75 shots on goal in 38 games for the Maple Leafs this season.
-Has 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in his past 6 games and 20 SOG in span, with at least 3 SOG in 5 of those games.
-Led the Maple Leafs with 6 SOG in his most recent game and had 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist), including the game-winning goal on the power play.
-Leads the Maple Leafs in shot attempts (29) at 5-on-5 over their last 8 games; Ranked 4th in attempts (55) and was tied for 2nd in SOG (30) at all strengths in Dec.
-EDGE stats: Ranks among the leaders at forward max skating speed (24.25 mph; third in entire NHL), 20-plus mph speed bursts (122; 97th percentile), 22-plus mph bursts (12; 97th percentile), hardest shot (89.22 mph; 86th percentile), midrange goals (4; 85th percentile), high-danger goals (7; 83rd percentile) and long-range SOG (9; 85th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for point, shots on goal and/or power-play point: Luke Evangelista, F, NSH (at SEA); 10 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, KHN/Prime, KONG, SN)
-Leads the Predators in power-play points (10), is tied for 1st in assists (23) and ranks 3rd in both points (29) and shots on goal (89) in 38 games this season.
-Has 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists), 3 power-play points and 20 SOG in his past 6 games.
-Has had at least 2 SOG in 7 straight games and at least 3 SOG in 5 of his past 6 games, with 4 SOG in 3 of those games.
-Averaging a career-high 16:20 TOI/GP (compared to 13:52 last season).
-Is 1 assist and 11 points shy of reaching new NHL career highs set from his sophomore season in 2023 when he had 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) in 80 games.
-Playing on PP1 with Filip Forsberg, Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos and Roman Josi.
-EDGE stats: Ranks 7th among forwards in offensive zone time percentage (47.5) and ranks among the leaders at his position in long-range SOG (12; 92nd percentile), midrange SOG (26; 82nd percentile) and high-danger SOG (26; 75th percentile).
-The Seattle Kraken have the second-worst penalty kill percentage (71.7) in the NHL. -- Meaney
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Others to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:
Alex DeBrincat, F, DET (at PIT)
Wyatt Johnston, F, DAL (at CHI)
Cole Caufield, F, MTL (at CAR)
Brayden Point, F, TBL (at LAK)
Kyle Connor, F, WPG (at TOR)
Others to watch for point:
Darren Raddysh, D, TBL (at LAK)
Patrick Kane, F, DET (at PIT)
Anthony Mantha, F, PIT (vs. DET)
Eeli Tolvanen, F, SEA (vs. NSH)
Juraj Slafkovsky, F, MTL (at CAR)
Others to watch for assist:
Sebastian Aho, F, CAR (vs. MTL)
Roope Hintz, F, DAL (at CHI)
Lucas Raymond, F, DET (at PIT)
Ivan Demidov, F, MTL (at CAR)
Chandler Stephenson, F, SEA (vs. NSH)
Others to watch for multiple points:
Nikita Kucherov, F, TBL (at LAK)
Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL (at CHI)
Sidney Crosby, F, PIT (vs. DET)
Dylan Larkin, F, DET (at PIT)
Nick Suzuki, F, MTL (at CAR)
Others to watch for shots on goal:
Rickard Rakell, F, PIT (at DET)
Filip Forsberg, F, NSH (at SEA)
Andrei Svechnikov, F, CAR (vs. MTL)
Adrian Kempe, F, LAK (vs. TBL)
Jared McCann, F, SEA (vs. NSH
Point combos/trios to consider:
PIT: Rickard Rakell -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
DET: Alex DeBrincat -- Patrick Kane
CAR: Sebastian Aho -- Andrei Svechnikov
DAL: Wyatt Johnston -- Mikko Rantanen
MTL: Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki
NSH: Filip Forsberg -- Ryan O'Reilly -- Steven Stamkos
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FUTURES WATCH
NOTES: The below players are candidates to watch, from front-runners to sleepers, for various 2026 NHL Awards. These lists are a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen, Chris Meaney and Troy Perlowitz.
Art Ross Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Leon Draisaitl, F, EDM
- Jason Robertson, F, DAL
- Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
- Morgan Geekie, F, BOS
Hart Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS
- Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL
- David Pastrnak, F, BOS
Key injury: Connor Bedard, F, CHI
Norris Trophy:
- Cale Makar, D, COL
- Quinn Hughes, D, MIN
- Jakob Chychrun, D, WSH
- Lane Hutson, D, MTL
Day to day: Zach Werenski, D, CBJ
Vezina Trophy:
- Logan Thompson, G, WSH
- Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL
Day to day: Ilya Sorokin, G, NYI
Calder Trophy:
- Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI
- Ivan Demidov, F, MTL
- Beckett Sennecke, F, ANA
- Jesper Wallstedt, G, MIN
Jack Adams Award:
- Jared Bednar, COL
- Joel Quenneville, ANA
- Rick Tocchet, PHI
- Lindy Ruff, BUF
- Ryan Warsofsky, SJS
Stanley Cup:
- Colorado Avalanche
- Dallas Stars
- Florida Panthers
- Vegas Golden Knights
