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Sean Allen
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JJ Peterka, to the Utah Mammoth: While Peterka is undoubtedly on the rise — having crested into fantasy relevance at just 23 with 1.72 fantasy points per game in 2024-25 — it’s not unthinkable he sees fewer key minutes with the Mammoth. After averaging 18:11 per game with the Sabres, including 2:54 on the top power-play unit, he may have to do more with less on a suddenly crowded depth chart. For Peterka to top last season and become a true fantasy difference-maker, a spot on the top power play is essential. With Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley arguably locks, Peterka needs to secure the final forward spot. His jump of 11 power-play points from 2023-24 was the catalyst behind his breakout, so that deployment matters. The future remains bright in keeper leagues, as Peterka is locked into a core that should be fantasy-friendly for years to come. Dynasty managers should boost his value accordingly. Going the other way to the Sabres, both Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan could offer situational value for 2025-26 depending on their usage. Their rate stats suggest fantasy upside if they get the minutes, but no need to draft either, as they’ll be waiver material early on.
Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks: After missing the entirety of the 2024-25 season, Kane showed he was still effective enough for fantasy consideration in the Oilers run to the Stanley Cup final. He earned 1.7 fantasy points per game across 21 playoff contests — borderline relevancy in standard leagues. That was without a ton of access to “McDraisaitl” (Leon Draisaitl was fifth among Kane’s teammates at forward for shared minutes at five-on-five, while Connor McDavid was seventh). With the expectation that Brock Boeser is moving on from the Canucks and pending other offseason moves, Kane might be the best option for scoring from the wing the Canucks will have going into the season. That could push him back into a fantasy role, especially if he secures the time with a (hopefully) rebounding Elias Pettersson and time on the power play (which he wasn’t getting a lot of in Edmonton). –Allen
Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken: Marchment is the type of fantasy pickup that can be useful in streaks if he has the right linemates. The Kraken are the ideal environment for that type of winger, as the lineup is built around depth, not star power. So, arguably, Marchment could find himself anywhere from the third line to the first line depending on how the deployments shape up. (Alternatively, you could argue any of the Kraken top three lines is its first or third.) The trouble is that his ceiling is capped by minutes, which may still hover around 15 per game, unless he lucks into an assignment alongside Matty Beniers. He has shown Selke-like ability, so if you still use plus/minus in your league, Marchment’s appeal — top 20 among forwards across the past four seasons — improves. –Allen
Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers: If you are at the end of your draft and your starting lineup is built out, there are worse players to take a … ahem … flier on than Zegras in a new home with the Flyers. The hype level surrounding Zegras has come a long way since his “Michigan”-fueled rookie season, but how much of the lost luster can be attributed to his surroundings and injuries? The glass-half-empty outlook would point out that his surroundings aren’t significantly improved with a move to the also-rebuilding Flyers. But if we are viewing the glass as half full, surely he can’t run afoul of injury luck for a third consecutive season. Zegras missed 76 games over the past two seasons, and his fantasy production cratered. Even when he played an 81-game season in 2022-23 and averaged 18:49 per game, he only posted 1.65 fantasy points per game — not good enough. Zegras will be jockeying with Sean Couturier and Noah Cates for center minutes, but the opportunity is there. With wingers like Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny to play with, the upside remains. –Allen
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