Fantasy picks, props, futures with EDGE stats
Daily players to watch with projections, advanced metrics; new podcast episodes
© Arianne Bergeron/NHLI
WED. OCT. 22
Player to watch for assist and/or multiple points: Nick Suzuki, F, MTL (at CGY; 8:30 p.m. ET; RDS, SN)
Suzuki, who had NHL career highs in points (89; tied for 13th in NHL), assists (59; tied for 13th), game-winning goals (nine; tied for first) and overtime goals (five; tied for second) last season, leads the Canadiens with 10 points (tied for sixth), nine assists (fourth) and four power-play points in seven games this season. The center has had at least one point in six straight games and has three multipoint games over that span. Suzuki ranks fourth in the NHL with 63 points (20 goals, 43 assists) in 52 games since Jan. 1 and has had at least one point in 26 of his past 33 regular season games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Suzuki ranks highly among forwards in 20-plus mph speed bursts (18; 91st percentile), max skating speed (22.55 mph; 89th percentile), skating distance (22.14 miles; 93rd percentile) and offensive zone time percentage (47.1; 92nd percentile). Suzuki has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past six games in Calgary. -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for goal, assist and/or shots on goal: Zach Benson, F, BUF (vs. DET; 7:30 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, FDSNDETX, TNT)
The Buffalo Sabres wing leads them in assists (six) and points (six) despite being limited to three of their six games because of injury. Benson is playing on the top line with elite goal-scorer Tage Thompson and, with 11 shots on goal through three games, is tied with Thompson for Buffalo's most shots on goal per game (3.67 each). The Sabres are 2-4-0 to start the season but rank among the NHL's top 10 in power-play percentage (26.3) and shots on goal per game (29.5). Two of Benson's six assists have come on the power play, where he plays on the first unit with Thompson, Josh Doan, Jason Zucker and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Per NHL EDGE stats, five of Benson's 11 shots on goal have been from high-danger areas, and he ranks seventh in the entire League in power-play offensive zone time percentage (68.9). Benson has seven points (three goals, four assists) in six career games against the Detroit Red Wings. -- Pete Jensen
Player to watch for goal, assist and/or shots on goal: Nico Hischier, F, NJD (vs. MIN; 7:00 p.m. ET; FDSNWIX, FDSNNOX, MSGSN)
The New Jersey Devils center has six points (two goals, four assists), 28 shot attempts and 12 shots on goal through their first six games of the season. Hischier, who leads New Jersey forwards in ice time per game (20:13), is playing on the second line at even strength with wings Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer as well as the first power play with elite forwards Jack Hughes (leads team with six goals) and Jesper Bratt (leads team with 10 points). The Devils have won five straight games and rank among the NHL leaders in goals per game (4.00; tied for second) and power-play percentage (27.8; fifth) this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Hischier ranks in the League's 90th percentile among forwards in both top shot speed (87.02 mph) and 22-plus mph speed bursts (two) this season. Hischier has points in six of his last eight games against the Minnesota Wild (10 points, five goals, five assists during that span), including a hat trick on March 29, 2025. -- Troy Perlowitz
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Others to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:
Cole Caufield, F, MTL (at CGY)
Matt Boldy, F, MIN (at NJD)
Tage Thompson, F, BUF (vs. DET)
Emmitt Finnie, F, DET (at BUF)
Others to watch for point:
Juraj Slafkovsky, F, MTL (at CGY)
Dawson Mercer, F, NJD (vs. MIN)
Jonathan Huberdeau, F, CGY (vs. MTL)
Zeev Buium, D, MIN (at NJD)
Others to watch for assist:
Lane Hutson, D, MTL (at CGY)
Jack Hughes, F, NJD (vs. MIN)
Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN (at NJD)
Lucas Raymond, F, DET (at BUF)
Others to watch for shots on goal:
Joel Eriksson Ek, F, MIN (at NJD)
Timo Meier, F, NJD (vs. MIN)
Dylan Larkin, F, DET (at BUF)
Nazem Kadri, F, CGY (vs. MTL)
Josh Doan, F, BUF (vs. DET)
Point combos/trios to consider:
MTL: Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki -- Juraj Slafkovsky
NJD: Timo Meier -- Nico Hischier -- Dawson Mercer
MIN: Kirill Kaprizov -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Matt Boldy
DET: Dylan Larkin -- Lucas Raymond
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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.
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy:
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Cole Caufield, F, MTL
- Matt Boldy, F, MIN
- Dylan Guenther, F, UTA
- Pavel Dorofeyev, F, VGK
Art Ross Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Jack Eichel, F, VGK
- Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL
- Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
- Nick Suzuki, F, MTL
Hart Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Jack Eichel, F, VGK
- Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL
- Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
- Nick Suzuki, F, MTL
Norris Trophy:
- Cale Makar, D, COL
- Lane Hutson, D, MTL
- Thomas Harley, D, DAL
- Shea Theodore, D, VGK
- Jake Sanderson, D, OTT
Vezina Trophy:
- Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG
- Igor Shesterkin, G, NYR
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL
- Jake Oettinger, G, DAL
Calder Trophy:
- Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI
- Ivan Demidov, F, MTL
- Zeev Buium, D, MIN
Stanley Cup:
- Colorado Avalanche
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Dallas Stars
