The upcoming NHL offseason is anticipated to be quite active, with the free agency period commencing on July 1st. Prominent players such as Mitch Marner, Sam Bennett, and Nikolaj Ehlers are among those expected to become unrestricted free agents, while numerous other players could potentially be moved via trades.
For fantasy hockey enthusiasts aiming to gain an advantage, understanding how player roles may change and which valuable roster spots could open up is essential for assessing potential risers and fallers before your fantasy drafts.
Evander Kane to the Vancouver Canucks
After being sidelined for the entire 2024-25 season, Kane demonstrated sufficient effectiveness for fantasy consideration during the Oilers` push to the Stanley Cup Final. He posted 1.7 fantasy points per game over 21 playoff appearances, placing him on the edge of fantasy relevance in standard formats. This production occurred despite limited ice time alongside the “McDraisaitl” pairing (Leon Draisaitl ranked fifth among forwards in shared five-on-five minutes with Kane, and Connor McDavid was seventh).
Considering the likely departure of Brock Boeser from the Canucks and other potential offseason roster adjustments, Kane might emerge as Vancouver`s top scoring winger heading into the season. This possibility could elevate his fantasy profile, particularly if he earns playing time with a (hopefully) revitalized Elias Pettersson and secures power-play opportunities, which were scarce for him in Edmonton.
Mason Marchment to the Seattle Kraken
Mason Marchment is the kind of forward who can be a valuable fantasy asset in short bursts, especially when placed on a line with compatible players. The Kraken`s roster, built around depth rather than relying on a few superstars, could offer an ideal environment for this type of winger. Consequently, depending on line combinations, Marchment could realistically find himself playing anywhere from the third line to the first line. (Alternatively, one might argue that any of Seattle`s top three lines could be considered its first or third.) The primary challenge is that his fantasy ceiling is likely limited by his ice time, which may hover around 15 minutes per game, unless he earns a spot alongside Matty Beniers.
Marchment has also shown strong defensive capabilities, sometimes described as “Selke-like,” which enhances his appeal in leagues that still track the plus/minus statistic. In this regard, he has ranked among the top 20 forwards over the past four seasons.
Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers
If you are approaching the later rounds of your fantasy draft and your main roster spots are filled, selecting Zegras with the Flyers represents a potentially rewarding risk (`flier`). The initial excitement surrounding Zegras, fueled by his highlight-reel `Michigan` goals in his rookie year, has significantly decreased. However, it`s worth considering how much of this decline was influenced by his previous team environment and injury issues.
A less optimistic perspective might argue that moving to the Flyers, another team undergoing a rebuild, doesn`t represent a significant improvement in environment. Yet, looking at the situation positively, it`s unlikely his streak of bad injury luck will persist for a third consecutive season. Zegras missed 76 games over the last two years, severely impacting his fantasy performance. Even in the 2022-23 season, when he played 81 games and averaged 18:49 of ice time, his production was only 1.65 fantasy points per game, which is not particularly impressive.
While Zegras will compete with players like Sean Couturier and Noah Cates for minutes at center, the opportunity exists for him to carve out a significant role. With potential wingers such as Matvei Michkov and Travis Konecny available, Zegras still possesses considerable upside for fantasy managers.
