FORWARD
Artturi Lehkonen, RW, COL
53 percent rostered in fantasy
The Colorado Avalanche forward is expected to make season debut against Seattle Kraken on Tuesday and should see time either on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen or Casey Mittelstadt on the second unit.
NOTE: Forward Valeri Nichushkin has been cleared to practice with the team. He remains in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHL Players' Association Player Assistance Program.
Gabriel Vilardi, C/RW, WPG
32 percent rostered in fantasy
The Winnipeg Jets forward is playing on the top line with Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele and first power play with Connor, Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and defenseman Josh Morrissey. Vilardi is among the NHL EDGE stats leaders in high-danger shots on goal (92nd percentile) and high-danger goals (96th).
William Karlsson, C, VGK
33 percent rostered in fantasy
He's playing on the third line for one of the NHL's highest-scoring offenses (4.50 goals per game; second behind Winnipeg Jets' 4.92) and also the second power play with exposure to forward Ivan Barbashev and defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Noah Hanifin.
Connor McMichael and Aliaksei Protas, C/LW, WSH
44 and 13 percent rostered in fantasy
Protas is playing on the top line with Dylan Strome and opposite wing of Alex Ovechkin, while McMichael is playing mostly on the second line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Tom Wilson. McMichael also plays on the first power play with Ovechkin, Wilson, Dubois and defenseman John Carlson. McMichael and Protas have both excelled in EDGE categories like 20-plus mile per hour speed bursts (McMichael is 89th percentile; Protas is 80th percentile) and max skating speed (McMichael is 93rd percentile).
Ryan Donato, C/LW, CHI
10 percent rostered in fantasy
The Chicago Blackhawks forward is playing on the top line with elite center Connor Bedard and wing Philipp Kurashev and first power play with Bedard, Tyler Bertuzzi and defenseman Seth Jones.
Alex Laferriere, RW, LAK
39 percent rostered in fantasy
The Los Angeles Kings forward is quietly leading them in goals (eight in first 12 games of season) playing mostly on the third line with Quinton Byfield and Warren Foegele and first power play with forwards Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala and defenseman Brandt Clarke.
Jack Roslovic, C, CAR
1 percent rostered in fantasy
The Carolina Hurricanes forward is quietly tied with Martin Necas for their lead in goals (six in first 10 games). Roslovic is playing on the top line with high-scoring forwards Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov and second power play with defenseman Brent Burns.
Other forward to consider: Rickard Rakell, PIT
DEFENSEMAN
Jake Walman, SJS
35 percent rostered in fantasy
The San Jose Sharks defenseman had consecutive three-point games last week and is tied for third on the team in points (nine in 13 games). Walman plays on the first power play with high-scoring forwards Mikael Granlund and Tyler Toffoli and should benefit from the eventual return of injured rookie forward Macklin Celebrini (No. 1 pick in 2024 NHL Draft). Walman is among the EDGE stats leaders in total skating distance (93rd percentile) and top shot speed (94th percentile).
Other defenseman to consider: Maveric Lamoureux, UTA
GOALIE
Anton Forsberg, OTT
4 percent rostered in fantasy
The Ottawa Senators goalie has three wins and two shutouts in six appearances this season and, in terms of save percentage (.910), has outperformed timeshare teammate Linus Ullmark (.902 in six games). Per EDGE stats, Forsberg ranks fourth in midrange save percentage (.940).
Other goalie to consider: Alex Nedeljkovic, PIT
